News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

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President Marc Conner briefed Skidmore staff on a number of important topics, including COVID-19, human resources initiatives, leadership positions at Skidmore, and new gifts to the College, at the Friday, April 29, staff meeting in Filene Auditorium. A recording of the presentation is also available.

The Wild Center

The natural partnership between Skidmore and The Wild Center in the nearby Adirondacks demonstrates the power of combining the arts and sciences.

Skidmore athletics

The baseball team hosts Clarkson University in a best of three series Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, at Castle Diamond. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday followed by Game 2. If needed, Game 3 will be at noon on Sunday. The winner advances to the league Final Four May 19-21. The softball team faces host Rochester on Thursday in the double elimination tournament that continues through Saturday. Both the men’s and women’s tennis team have first-round byes in the Liberty League championships being played May 6-8 at Cornell University. Both teams are defending champions, with the women’s squad looking for its 11th straight league title.

COVID-19 Updates

The College’s Campus Planning webpage is up to date and includes information regarding current policies and guidelines, an archive of College messages, public health resources, the COVID-19 Dashboard, and more.

 

As announced on Friday, April 29, KN95 masks (or equivalent masks, i.e. N95 or KF94) will continue to be required in all indoor public spaces, subject to previously approved exceptions, through at least Friday, May 13. Free KN95 masks continue to be available to all on campus and will be made easily accessible at all events and gatherings. COVID-19 protocols for upcoming campus events will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis and may include additional required testing and safety measures.

 

PCR testing available

Optional, drop-in PCR testing is available to all students, faculty, and staff from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays in Sussman Village Apartment A1. Please visit the Health Services website for details.

Dining Services

$5 Fridays at The Spa

Join us at The Spa every Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 13 for special $5 menu items — all are combo meals and include your choice of fountain drink, bottle of water, coffee, or tea. Menu options vary each week.

 

Spa Rewards Program through May 13

The Spa is offering its new loyalty rewards program now through the end of the spring semester. Customers who purchase nine meals ($5 or more) will receive their 10th meal free (a $7.99 value). The loyalty cards are kept on file at the cashier station.

 

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

 

In line with recent updates to Skidmore’s COVID-19 policies, Murray-Aikins Dining Hall is now open to faculty, staff, and visitors in addition to students

Human Resources

New Open Positions

Human Resources would like to invite interested Skidmore staff to submit application materials for the opening listed below. This is a current, approved, budgeted position that is being filled due to vacancy.

 

  • Operational Director – Greenberg Childcare Center

 

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

 

Human Resources encourages Skidmore staff to review open positions on campus and to encourage their professional networks to apply. You can also access current open positions that are open for external applicants here.

 

Employee Retirement and Recognition Event

This year's Employee Retirement and Recognition Event will be held in person, from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, on Case Green. A formal invitation with additional details was emailed to employees on Tuesday, May 3.

 

Free one-on-one retirement consultations with Vanguard

Employees can schedule a one-on-one phone consultation with a Vanguard retirement planning counselor Tuesday, May 10, or Wednesday, May 25. You can sign up for an appointment by going to the website and selecting New York/Skidmore College/Saratoga Springs/one-on-one sessions.

 

Free TIAA-CREF individual counseling sessions

Rachel Fiedler, a TIAA retirement planning counselor, will hold one-on-one phone consultations with employees on Thursday, May 5. Call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule an appointment or visit the website.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

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

Abigail Caldwell ’03, director of Health Services, co-authored a scholarly paper. Read more >>

 

Hope Casto, associate professor of education studies, presented a paper at a scholarly gathering. Read more >>

 

Kristofer Covey, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, was interviewed about his work and delivered two invited presentations. Read more >>

 

Jenny H. Day, associate professor of history, received two grants for research. Read more >>

 

Jennifer Fawcett, visiting assistant professor of English, was featured in a Times Union article. Read more >>

 

John Galt, assistant professor of art, participated in a series of talks at Arizona State University. Read more >>

 

Stephen Ives, associate professor of health and human physiological sciences, co-organized a virtual conference. Read more >>

 

Oscar A. Pérez, associate professor of Spanish, published an article. Read more >>

 

Chris Vecsey, associate professor of neuroscience, Sarita Lagalwar, associate professor of neuroscience, and Bernard Possidente, professor of biology, co-authored 17 research poster presentations with 28 Skidmore students. Read more >>

Announcements

Fiscal Year-End Reminders from Financial Services

Please review these detailed guidelines ahead of the close of the fiscal year on May 31. You are encouraged to submit expense reimbursements, invoices for payment, and related items in advance of the deadlines. As a reminder, all transactions are now handled through Oracle Cloud.

 

MDOCS Golden Acorn Awards

Come and see some of the incredible student-created documentary work done in Documentary Studies courses and across campus. For one afternoon only, there will be a pop-up multimedia show of non-fiction video, audio, photography, and more. Open viewing hours are from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in DOCLab (Scribner Library 113).

 

Two students win 2022 Projects for Peace awards

Congratulations to Novilhelha Moleni ’22 and M. Ntsetselelo Dlamini ’24, this year’s Projects for Peace winners from Skidmore. Novilhelha’s project will take place this summer in Malawi, while Ntsetselelo and his team will be working in Eswatini. This is the second year in a row that more than one student has been chosen for this prestigious award.

 

Juniors Show

The Juniors Show is on view at the Schick Gallery from Wednesday, May 4, through Friday, May 13. The exhibition presents work by 11 junior art students nominated by their art professors. Please visit the Schick website for hours of operation and additional information.

 

Creative Matter Repository – Senior Thesis and Capstone Preservation

Students should be aware that senior theses and capstones may be preserved and made accessible in Skidmore's institutional repository, Creative Matter. Why do it? Because Creative Matter will preserve students’ scholarship and make it available to future researchers here at Skidmore and around the globe. Students will receive a permanent URL to include in their resume and retain copyright as author. Upload instructions and more information are available online.

 

President's Awards for Leadership and Service 2022

The President’s Awards for Leadership and Service are presented to Skidmore community members who have embraced the educational mission and cooperative spirit of the College through their exemplary commitment to personal excellence, campus pride, and service to our campus community. Student awards, which were presented at the Student Leadership Awards Event on April 28, went to Malchijah Hoskins ’22, Christina Lindstrom ’22, Austin Rook ’22, and Geraldine Santoso ’22. The faculty, staff, and team awards will be presented at the Retirement and Recognition event on May 24. Staff awards go to Patricia A. Choukeir, senior project coordinator in Academic Affairs (1964-2022), and Jim Rose, executive chef in Dining Services. Joerg Bibow, professor and chair of economics, and Erica H. Wojcik, assistant professor of psychology, have been named recipients of faculty awards. The team award goes to the COVID-19 Cleaning Team: Sarah Ford, Man Rana Mager, Patricia Overholt, Christopher Pitts, and Kayleigh Winne. President Conner extends his heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all recipients for their extraordinary service to Skidmore.

 

State-of-the-College Finances and Compensation Presentation

From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, President Conner will lead a virtual presentation on the State of the College, with information presented by Vice President of Finance and Administration Donna Ng, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Orr, and Interim Director of Human Resources Sarah Delaney Vero. Topics will include the budget for next year as approved by the Board of Trustees; a summary of the budget for this current fiscal year; next year’s general salary adjustment (GSA); results from the staff and faculty compensation studies; an overview of Skidmore benefits and compensation; and other key elements of the College’s financial status and outlook. All Skidmore employees are invited to attend. The presentation will also be recorded and available to view later. There will be opportunities and mechanisms for questions and feedback. More details will follow in the coming weeks.

 

Give+Go Help Needed, Sunday, May 22

Our annual student move-out donation collection diverts tens of thousands of pounds of usable material to reuse in the Saratoga community. Staff and faculty volunteers are needed to sort and bag material for our nonprofit partners from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 22. Volunteers will be given lunch and an on-campus dining gift certificate as thanks. Family members are also welcome. Please sign up online. Visit the Give+Go webpage or contact Jen Natyzak for more information.

 

9 Miles East Fall CSA

Skidmore students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to participate in the popular Saratoga community-supported agriculture (CSA) each fall. 9 Miles East Farm delivers a big assortment of freshly harvested vegetables each week for 12 weeks during the fall semester. The 2022 season is scheduled for Sept. 9 to Nov. 23. The cost is $360 for the 12-week season. A subscription is required; only 100 shares are available. Sign up online.

 

Senior week sponsorship

Departments are able to sponsor non-graduating students (first-year students, sophomores, and juniors) to remain on campus from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 22. Non-seniors who are not sponsored are required to depart by Friday, May 13. Only students currently residing on campus may be sponsored. Students residing in residence halls must have a meal plan. The cost is $10.50 per day. Please contact Darlene LeBaron, card office coordinator, with your department budget number. Students who reside in the apartments do not need a meal plan. Students must leave campus no later than 10 a.m. Sunday, May 22. To sponsor a student, please email the Office of Residential Life with the student’s full name, the date of their departure from campus, the office sponsoring the student, and the reason for the sponsorship.

 

Reunion student assistant positions

The Office of Alumni Relations and College Events has temporary job openings for students (16 to 23 years old) for two Alumni Reunion Weekends, June 2-5 and June 10-12. Please apply online by May 18. Contact Janis Petroski for more information.

 

Skidmore Shop

Don’t forget Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8. We have mom-specific gifts in store and at skidmoreshop.com, including T-shirts, hats, mugs. car decals, and so much more. Check out our selection of Northshire Books and take 40% off the original price.

 

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Events

May 4-13

The Juniors Show

Schick Art Gallery

Wednesday, May 4

8-11 p.m.

Tang Party

On the grounds of the Tang Teaching Museum

 Please send submissions to the Office of Communications and Marketing. 

Skidmore College

 

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 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000