News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Bulletin

Weekly Highlights

Jess Sullivan, associate professor of psychology, answers questions about artificial intelligence
The February staff meeting will be held this Friday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Tang’s Payne Room with a Zoom option as well
The playoff-bound Skidmore ice hockey team will vie for home ice

Skidmore News

Questions about artificial intelligence loom large

Jess Sullivan, associate professor of psychology and faculty director of Skidmore College’s Schupf Family IdeaLab, is teaching a course this semester that examines the stakes and consequences of increasingly compelling artificial intelligence (AI). In this video Q&A, she responds to questions submitted by members of the Skidmore community, including what AI might mean for the future of the workforce and higher education, whether it has the capacity for original ideas, and whether it has the potential to become dangerous.

Dining Services

Chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day

Dining Services is selling chocolate-covered strawberries and cupcakes for Valentine's Day. Orders must by placed online by Friday, Feb. 10, and can be picked up in The Spa from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Please visit the Dining Services website for updates, Spa Specials, and other information.

Human Resources

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) presents ‘Reclaim Your Brain’

Presented by an EAP counselor, the “Reclaim Your Brain” session from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 2, on the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall is designed for individuals to focus on their brain health. Learn more and register online.

Position openings

Human Resources invites interested Skidmore employees to submit application materials for the openings listed below:

Assistant Director, Student Support and Advocacy – Opportunity Program
Senior Cook – Dining Services
Senior Administrative Assistant – Office of the President

To apply, please access the Okta portal. Click on the tile for “Oracle HCM,” then click “Me,” and then click on “Current Jobs.” You can access current open positions for external applicants here.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

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

Catherine J. Golden, professor of English, published an article in Illustration Magazine and was appointed pedagogy consultant on the Advisory Board of the Collective Organization for Virtual Education. Read more>>

Ryan Overbey, assistant professor of religious studies and Asian studies, delivered an invited lecture and ran a seminar at the SOAS Centre for Buddhist Studies in London. Read more>>

Lucas Perelló, visiting assistant professor of political science, published an article in Studies in Comparative International Development. Read more>>

Maryuri Roca, senior teaching professor of chemistry, co-authored a research article with current and former students. Read more>>

Announcements

Hazardous Weather Outlook

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Saratoga Springs area for Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7, when temperatures could drop as low as -17 degrees Fahrenheit. Community members should make sure all windows and doors are completely closed and are encouraged to wear hats, gloves, and face coverings to avoid potential frostbite. Temperatures in this range can cause additional challenges for animals, vehicles, and water delivery. Please pay attention to community alerts and use extra caution when walking around campus.

COVID-19 Reminders

As emphasized in a Jan. 25 email, masking indoors is not currently required on campus but remains strongly recommended at crowded events, while traveling, or in other places where transmission may be more likely. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or if you are symptomatic, do not attend group gatherings or events. Please mask up and test if symptoms develop. Free KN95 masks are available at the Case Information Desk. Students may continue to pick up free rapid tests at Case Information Desk or at Campus Safety. Employees are reminded that additional free rapid tests are available through www.covid.gov/tests, and that MVP covers the costs of rapid tests. Students and employees must notify the College if they test positive for COVID-19. If you have not received your COVID booster or your flu shot, please consider doing so as soon as you are eligible. COVID-19 updates continue to be posted to Skidmore’s Campus Planning website and Skidmore’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

Arts Admin @ Work Webinar: Freelancing and Careers in Arts Consulting

Learn about careers in freelancing and arts consulting in an engaging webinar from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6. Learn more and register here. Contact Elizabeth Dubben for more information.

Asana through Art: Yoga at the Tang

The Tang invites the Skidmore community to a series of art-inspired yoga sessions. Asana through Art: Yoga at the Tang are free, beginner-friendly yoga classes open to faculty, students, and staff on three Tuesdays: Feb. 7, March 7, and April 11. All sessions begin at 4 p.m. Registration is required, as space is limited. Contact Olivia Cammisa-Frost for more information.

SWOP Lunch and Workshop

Join Sustainability Office staff from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, on the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall, rooms 1 and 2, for a catered lunch and workplace sustainability workshop to discuss the Sustainable Workplace Operations Program. Please register on our SWOP page. Contact Maggie Carmody for more information.

Employee fitness class registration employees only

Registration for employee fitness classes is now open. Classes begin Monday, Feb. 6, and take place in Williamson Sports Center. Please register online. Contact Lacey Largeteau for more information.

Skidmore Weekly Bulletin submission procedure

Please help reduce bulk emails by posting your announcement in the Bulletin. Submit announcements and events, academic lectures, and faculty-staff achievements by completing the appropriate online form. The deadline for all submissions is noon on Monday. Please email swb@skidmore.edu if you have questions.

February staff meeting

The next staff meeting will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in theTang’s Payne Room. The agenda is posted here. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format, and staff are encouraged to join in person at the Tang or via Zoom. Login information has been shared via email. Please use this form to suggest topics, questions, feedback, or agenda items for our monthly staff meetings.

Ensemble Connect returns to Skidmore

Ensemble Connect is celebrating its 16th year at Skidmore. A spring 2023 Skidmore residency will take place Feb. 14-18. It will feature lessons and coaching with music students, class visits, and community outreach, and it will culminate in a performance in Arthur Zankel Music Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Tickets are $5 for Skidmore students, faculty, and staff; to purchase, visit the Zankel website.

IMPACT National Conference

Skidmore’s Office of Civic Engagement, Career Development Center, and Benef-Action are co-sponsoring eight students who wish to attend the IMPACT Conference, focused on civic engagement of college students in community service, advocacy, and other forms of social action, Feb. 23-25 at UMass Amherst. Students may apply here through Feb. 8. For more information, contact Michelle Hubbs or Zach VanGalder.

Jazz artist Takuya Kuroda kicks off new Zankel season

From adventurous soul-jazz to indie-rock, to time-honored classical and its contemporary interpretations, Zankel Music Center is set to deliver a series of exciting musical experiences this spring. The season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, with jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda and his band. Tickets are $5 for Skidmore community members. Contact Zhenelle Lebel for more information.

Camp Northwoods registration opens Feb. 9

Online registration for Camp Northwoods, Skidmore’s summer day camp for children, will open for employees at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Skidmore community members receive priority in the registration process and should watch their email for specific instructions the morning of Feb. 9. For more information, contact Christine Merrill.

Spring 2023 lottery for Tang art-loan program

Students are invited to take part in the Tang art-loan program Roommate: Living with Tang Art. Twelve works of art returned by students now studying abroad will be available in a lottery at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. Students must register in advance via a form available on the Tang website. Contact Kelsey Renko for more information.

Red Cross Blood Drive

There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in the IM/Dance Gym. Register online and use Skidmore as the sponsor code. Contact Michelle Hubbs for more information.

Skidmore Shop

We’ve got everything you need for all your classes, from labs to seminars. Stop in or visit us as at skidmoreshop.com and place your orders for pick-up. As a reminder, Feb. 7 is the last day to drop classes, and it is also your last day to return your books for a full refund. If you want to sell your books back to us, we will be hosting a buyback again at the end of the semester.

Athletics News

It’s the final regular-season home weekend for the ice hockey team. The playoff-bound Thoroughbreds are fighting for home ice in the New England Hockey Conference playoffs that begin Feb. 18. Skidmore will host Hobart College, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, at 7 p.m. Friday, and the team hosts Elmira College at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Thoroughbreds are 12-6-2 overall and 6-5-2 in league play. Learn more on the Skidmore Athletics website.