News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

Skidmore College President Marc Conner and members of the president's Cabinet briefed employees on the state of the College’s finances, including ongoing efforts to reduce the College workforce by 10% over the next five years.

A geological location not to be taken for granite

A campus located between the Proterozoic metasediments of the Adirondacks, the Cambro-Ordovician Taconics, and the Devonian Helderbergs has its perks, and geoscience students are taking advantage.

Skidmore soccer teams qualify for postseason play

Both soccer teams qualify for postseason

The Skidmore College men’s and women’s soccer teams qualified for the Liberty League Championship Tournament by winning their final regular season games. The sixth-seeded men’s team beat Bard 4-0 to get into the tournament and then knocked off third seed Rochester Institute of Technology 1-0 to move into the semifinals. The Thoroughbreds face second seed Ithaca College on Nov. 6 at Rensselaer. No fans will be allowed at Rensselaer. The women, seeded fifth, beat Bard 4-0 in the regular season final, then lost 2-0 to fourth seed RIT in the tournament quarterfinals.

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Booster Shots

With increased availability of booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccination, Skidmore College encourages and supports eligible employees in getting a booster shot. As employees of an educational institution, all Skidmore College employees who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination may get a booster six months after their second shot and may choose from a Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) booster. Employees who received the J&J vaccine are eligible for a booster two months after vaccination and may also choose from a Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J booster. COVID-19 boosters are free, and employees may use paid time off for appointments that take place during work hours. For additional information on choosing your COVID-19 booster shot and where to receive your booster shot, please visit the CDC website.

HERO Act Designation Extended

The designation of COVID-19 as a highly contagious communicable disease has been extended until Dec. 15 by the New York State Department of Health. In turn, the College's Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan will remain in effect through Dec. 15, and all employees must continue to complete the Daily Health Certification form at the beginning of each workday. Any employee with symptoms of COVID-19 must contact their healthcare provider and follow their instructions, including referral for a COVID-19 test. Clearance by a healthcare provider or proof of a negative COVID-19 test must be submitted to Human Resources at hr@skidmore.edu before returning to work on campus. Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must notify Human Resources for further instructions.

Fall semester COVID-19 guidelines, testing, and related protocols

The College’s policies are outlined in this fall testing policy for employees and posted to the Campus Planning website. Employees who are well (i.e., have no COVID-19 symptoms) but are concerned that they have been exposed to COVID-19 through work-related activities may contact Human Resources to request to test on campus. As a reminder, effective Oct. 18, the on-campus testing location has been moved to the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall.

The College’s detailed guidelines for masking, social distancing, visitors, gatherings, and dining are posted to the Campus Planning website , and updates to frequently asked questions are posted as soon as information becomes available. The College is currently at a “yellow” status level, due to a "substantial" to "high" COVID-19 transmission rate in Saratoga County, as categorized by the CDC. Therefore, indoor masking is currently required for everyone on campus, regardless of vaccination status.

Dining Services

Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, Spa specials, hours of operation, and other information.

While the College is operating at a “yellow” status level (“substantial” to “high” Saratoga County COVID transmission rate), Murray-Aikins Dining Hall will be open to students only during the fall semester. The Spa, Atrium Café, and Burgess Café remain open to everyone.

Thanksgiving Pie and Dinner Sale

Dining Services is accepting orders for homemade Thanksgiving pies, breads, rolls, and a fully cooked turkey dinner to reheat at home until Wednesday, Nov. 17. An order form is available on the Dining Services website. Pickup is Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Human Resources

HR welcomes new staff member Jude S. Klein

The Human Resources Department welcomes Jude Klein as assistant director, employment, compliance, and workforce diversity. Jude has more than 20 years of experience in human resource management. Her areas of expertise include recruitment, employee relations, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, recruitment, regulatory compliance, talent management, skills assessment, and workforce training. She holds an MBA from the Sage Colleges of Albany, is a Certified Professional in Human Resources, and is a graduate of the Capital Region Human Resources Association Leadership program.

New Open Positions

Human Resources would like to invite interested Skidmore staff to submit their applicant materials for the openings listed below. These are current, approved, budgeted positions that are being filled due to vacancies.

Environmental Service Technician – Facilities Services
Administrative Assistant – First Year Experience
Senior Budget Coordinator – Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Administrative Assistant, Advancement, Principal Gifts, Presidential/Trustee Strategy (temporary) – Advancement

To apply, please access the Okta portal. Click on the tile for “Oracle HCM,” then click “Me,” and then click on “Current Jobs.”

Save the Date: Benefits Open Enrollment

Benefits enrollment begins on Monday, Nov. 8, and must be completed by midnight at the end of Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Informational Zoom sessions will be held; more details to follow.

EAP Reaching Out Newsletter

The November edition of our Employee Assistance Program’s Reaching Out Newsletter is here. There are a range of interesting articles, including strategies and resources for managing burnout and race-based traumatic stress. We hope you find this month’s newsletter helpful and remind all employees that the professional support team at EAP is available 24/7 by phone or video to help you with legal, financial, and health and wellness related concerns.

Free one-on-one retirement consultations with Vanguard

Employees can schedule a one-on-one phone consultation with a Vanguard retirement planning counselor on Thursday, Nov. 11, or Monday, Nov. 22. You can sign up for an appointment by going to the Vanguard website and selecting New York/Skidmore College/Saratoga Springs/one-on-one sessions. You can also schedule a phone consultation appointment at your convenience. Visit the Vanguard website and select “Schedule Phone Meeting” to speak with a Vanguard retirement specialist.

Free TIAA-CREF Individual Counseling Session

TIAA is holding one-on-one phone consultations with employees on Thursday, Nov. 18, and Wednesday, Dec. 15. Call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment or visit the website.

Skidmore Spotlight

Meet Rosier Cade

Rosier Cade is evening circulation assistant at Scribner Library. As part of the circulation department, Cade helps train and lead student assistants to serve library patrons, answer questions, and keep library materials circulating in and out of the library.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

We welcome submissions from faculty and staff related to professional accomplishments and scholarly endeavors.

Michael C. Ennis-McMillan, associate professor of anthropology, published a journal article. Read more>>

Stephen Ives, associate professor of health and human physiological sciences, co-authored a research paper. Read more>>

Marketa Halova Wolfe, associate professor of economics, was quoted in a news article. Read more>>

Lectures

Latin American and Latinx Studies Fall 2021 Speaker Series

Natalie Belisle, assistant professor of Spanish and comparative literature at the University of Southern California, will discuss “Haitian Invasion: Rethinking the (Black) Frontera” from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4. Register online to attend.

Bitcoin, Skidmore, and the Digital Dollar: A Journey from Saratoga and Washington, D.C., into the Future of Money

Skidmore alumnus and 13th chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Christopher Giancarlo ’81 will speak about his life from his time at Skidmore to his nominations by presidents Obama and Trump as CFTC chairman, and about the world of cryptocurrencies and digital assets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8.

2021 Frances Steloff Lecture

Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips will discuss “The Trouble With Sanity" at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11.

2021 Moseley Faculty Lecture

Professor of History Matthew Hockenos will discuss “Then They Came For Me: America and the Making of the Niemöller Myth” at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, in Gannett Auditorium.

To view all upcoming lectures and for details on how to submit information about upcoming Skidmore academic lectures, named lectures, and faculty panels, visit the Skidmore Lectures webpage.

Announcements

Schick Art Gallery

The Schick Art Gallery will present a Zoom Artists’ Talk with Chris Duncan, DeWitt Godfrey, Coral Penelope Lambert, and Mary Neubauer, four sculptors whose work is on view in the current exhibition “Parallel Play.” The talk will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4. Contact Rebecca Shepard for a link.

Monthly Staff Meeting

The monthly staff meeting will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5. A link to the Zoom meeting has been sent by email. The agenda will include comments from President Conner and updates on Title IX and sexual and gender-based misconduct, Campus Master Planning, the Market Compensation Study, COVID-19, and the recent presentation on College finances.

Presidential Office Hours

President Conner will hold in-person open office hours from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. To schedule a 10-minute appointment during the hour, please send a request via email to presoff@skidmore.edu by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Requests will be handled in the order that they are received. Due to time limitations, it is possible that not all requests will be granted this time, but additional open office hours will be announced throughout the year.

Applying to Graduate Schools: Tips for Creating a Strong Application

The Career Development Center will be hosting an admissions representative from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to discuss “Applying to Graduate Schools: Tips for Creating a Strong Application,” at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5. Please register on Handshake for the link. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Rodriguez in the Career Development Center.

Skidmore College Inaugural National First Gen Day Celebration

Skidmore and other institutions celebrate the identity of first-generation college students, faculty, and staff across their communities. We invite you to join us from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, in The Center to receive a Skidmore College First-Gen Day pin and celebrate with fellow community members. The event is open to Skidmore faculty, staff, retirees, and students only. Contact Lynn DiMenna with any questions. RSVP online.

Honoring our veterans

Please join us at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the flagpole near the entrance to campus for a brief ceremony to honor our veterans and acknowledge the debt we owe to those who have served their country in the armed forces. We particularly want to recognize the service of those veterans who are part of our Skidmore community — students, staff, faculty, and retirees.

Presentation by Shadi Abu Awad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger of Roots/Shorahim/Judur

Presented by the President’s Racial Justice Initiative and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) in collaboration with the Office of Student Diversity Programs and the Jacob Perlow Fund, Shadi Abu Awad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger of Roots/Shorahim/Judur will share personal, interconnected stories and present the challenging grassroots work of this unique collaboration of Palestinians and Israelis at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17, in Gannett Auditorium. The event is open to in-person attendance by current Skidmore students, faculty, and staff and will also be livestreamed. For questions about the Skidmore event email ORSL. Students interested in meeting with speakers during small group sessions before the evening gathering are encouraged to sign up with ORSL.

Be part of International Education Week

Off-Campus Study and Exchanges invites you to be part of International Education Week (IEW), Nov. 15-19. Please consider holding an event during this important week. You can find more information about IEW and how to submit an event to the IEW calendar on the OCSE website or by contacting Kendra Nelson.

OCSE Passport Processing Day

Staff from Off-Campus Study and Exchanges and the U.S. Postal Service will host an on-campus passport processing day on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are interested in signing up for a time slot, please contact Emily Gaul.

EMS now open for spring semester room reservations

EMS is now open for the spring semester, through May 21, 2022. Please try to plan all events in advance to the extent possible. Dining Services and Facilities require two weeks’ notice so they can staff accordingly. Helpful how-to documents are listed on the Scheduling Webpage. One-on-one trainings are also available. Contact Megan Bove in the Scheduling Office for any questions or call 518-580-5599.

Davis Projects for Peace 2022: $10,000 for Your Project

The annual Davis Projects for Peace prize competition is underway. Because Skidmore is a Davis Scholar partner school, any Skidmore student is eligible to win a $10,000 prize toward a peace/social justice project of their own design, implemented during the summer of 2022 anywhere in the world. Please read these instructions and review the Q&A section of the Davis Projects for Peace website. Applications are due Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Please contact Chloe Jaleel for more information.