News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Skidmore News

In It 7 presents Freeman Hrabowski

Freeman Hrabowski III helped transform University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) into the leading undergraduate school in the nation for Black students who later complete doctorates in engineering and the natural sciences. Learn more about this extraordinary educator — who also studies French daily, is a classical pianist, and practices acupuncture and Tai Chi — during a facilitated conversation with President Marc Conner at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in Gannett Auditorium. More information about this event and others is available on the In It 7 website. Please consider participating.

COVID-19 Updates

Skidmore has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, and the CDC has updated the Saratoga County Community Level to “medium.” A detailed email on Monday, Sept. 19, reiterates that students and employees who are symptomatic should stay home when sick, wear a mask around others in public, test, and closely follow isolation guidelines.

All students and employees may now pick up one box of rapid tests per visit at Case Information Desk, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at Campus Safety at any time. (Note: The expiration dates for many rapid antigen test kits, including tests distributed on campus, have been extended.) Students and employees must report positive test results. Updates will continue to be posted to the Campus Planning website, and the College's COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated weekly on Thursdays. Skidmore strongly encourages all individuals who are eligible for the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster to get theirs as soon as possible.

Human Resources

Mandatory anti-harassment training

All employees — faculty, staff, and student workers — are required to complete mandatory anti-harassment training between Monday, Oct. 3, and Friday, Oct. 28. Please review the College’s Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity, and Anti-Harassment Policies and Procedures for staff and faculty and then complete the “Prevent Discrimination and Harassment Together” module on the Compliance Training website. Faculty and staff (but not student employees) must also complete the training related to interacting with and the protection of minors, which is available on the same page. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions.

Dining Services

Dining Services will be hosting a Garden Harvest Theme Dinner today, Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. The dinner is open to all members of the Skidmore community.

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

Faculty-Staff Achievements

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

Paul Arciero, professor of health and human physiological sciences, was quoted in a Medical News Today article. Read more>>

Yelena Biberman, associate professor of political science, published an article on the Atlantic Council website with a recent graduate and was quoted in a Business Insider article. Read more>>

Jason Breves, associate professor and chair of the Biology Department, co-authored an article in the journal General and Comparative Endocrinology. Read more>>

Hope Casto, associate professor of education studies, has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more>>

Kris Covey, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences, and collaborators from the The Soil Inventory Project, which he co-founded, have received a $20 million grant. Read more>>

Mark Huibregtse, professor of mathematics, has had an article accepted for publication in the Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics. Read more>>

Laurie Rabinowitz, assistant professor of education studies, co-authored a book chapter. Read more>>

Announcements

Oracle Cloud System Community Feedback Sessions

Information Technology, Human Resources, and Finance are seeking the community’s feedback on ways to enhance the Oracle Cloud system used for financial and human resources functions during a series of community feedback sessions this week and next. Sessions cover expense reporting; invoices and purchase requisitions; timekeeping, payroll, and benefits; approving transactions and budget reporting for supervisors; employee data for individual employees; and the hiring process and employee data for supervisors. Please review the Oracle Cloud website and SWB for more information.

Admissions and Financial Aid Information Session

This year's informational workshop on admissions, financial aid, and tuition benefit programs will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in Emerson Auditorium. The workshop, which should be particularly helpful to employees with high school age dependents, will address requirements for admission to Skidmore, the admissions and financial aid process at Skidmore and other colleges, the Tuition Exchange program, and Skidmore's internal and external tuition benefit programs.

Skidmore Encore

The 42nd annual Skidmore Encore faculty lecture series for community members age 55+ returns in person. This year’s program runs on Tuesday mornings from Oct. 4 through Nov. 15 in the Arthur Zankel Music Center. Faculty and staff are cordially invited to attend a faculty presentation at no cost. No registration is necessary for current employees. Contact Coleen Stephenson for more information.

Learning event in the Skidmore Community Garden

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences A.J. Schneller, students in his Environmental Education course, and Shelburne Farms invite first, second, and third graders and their parents to “Fab. 5 in the Garden” from 2:10 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Skidmore Community Garden. Children dress up as plants and insects and embark on a fun-filled adventure learning about all the elements needed for healthy soils and plants to grow. Email A.J. Schneller to RSVP.

Library Book Club

In this book club, which will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, via Zoom, each individual brings a book to share with the group as a kind of "show and tell." No registration is required. Contact Hannah Matecko-Conti for more information.

New Tang exhibition ‘Parallax: Framing the Cosmos’ opens Oct. 1

“Parallax: Framing the Cosmos” presents photography, textiles, prints, drawings, sculpture, and painting to show outer space as a backdrop for understanding ourselves. Co-curated by Dayton Director Ian Berry, Associate Curator Rebecca McNamara, and Associate Professor of English Maggie Greaves, the exhibition runs Oct. 1 through June 19, 2023, with an opening reception at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

All In To Win Fundraising Challenge for Athletics

The sixth annual All In To Win fundraising challenge to support Skidmore Athletics runs through Sunday, Oct. 2. Last year’s fundraising challenge raised more than $300,000 to support student-athletes. This year, we have a $25,000 matching gift challenge for gifts made in support of Friends of Skidmore Athletics (FOSA) from the FOSA Leadership Council, a group of alumni and parent donors and volunteers. Make your gift today.

BikeMore is now CDPHP Cycle

CDPHP Cycle is now on campus and free to everyone with a Skidmore email address. To join, visit www.cdphpcycle.com, click “unlock your access tab,” and sign on with your Skidmore email address.

Student Employment Sick Leave Updates for the 2022-2023 Academic Year

New York’s Paid Sick Leave law established the right to paid leave for employees, including student employees who are paid on an hourly basis. Student employees should review this information concerning eligibility. Supervisors of student employees should review this explanation of eligibility and approval of student employee sick leave. Please email Financial Aid Student Employment for more information.

Pricing to begin at EV Charging Stations

Skidmore will institute pricing ($0.25/kWh energy fee and $4/hour overstay fee after three hours) at the ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations starting Saturday, Oct. 1. The planned change helps Skidmore better manage the charging station program and supports sustainability initiatives at the College. For more information, contact Tarah Rowse.

MDOC Storytellers Institute arts residency applications now available

Skidmore student applications are now open for the MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute, a fully funded non-fiction arts residency on campus in June. The institute is a fully funded opportunity offering students time to work on personal non-fiction arts projects, access to professional documentarians, networking, and other opportunities. Applications are due Oct. 10.

A busy Homecoming

It will be a busy homecoming for several Skidmore teams. The women’s tennis team kicks off the weekend with a home Liberty League match against Union College on Friday at 5 p.m. Home events on Saturday include volleyball vs. Mass College of the Liberal Arts (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), field hockey vs. Rochester (1 p.m.) and women’s soccer vs. Rensselaer (3 p.m.). There will be several alumni games Saturday morning, starting with women’s lacrosse (9 a.m.), then softball (10 a.m.), men’s lacrosse (11 a.m.), and baseball (11 a.m.).

Skidmore Shop

The Skidmore Shop will be open for extended hours for Homecoming on Saturday. Come see us between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for all of your Thoroughbred gear.

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