News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Highlights

First-Generation Celebration reception; Friendsgiving-themed dinner today
‌Skidmore Cares — save the dates
Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for Friday
COVID-19, flu vaccines offered this week
‌Mandatory HR training deadline is Friday; Open Enrollment continues through next week
‌Fundraiser for the Burke family during the men’s basketball season-opener
‌‘Unpacking recent Supreme Court decisions in higher education,’ Thanksgiving baked goods sale, Skidmania, ‘Arboreal’ at the Schick Gallery, Skidmore Theater presents ‘The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs,’ and other events

Skidmore News

Skidmore Cares — our annual campus-wide effort to support individuals and families in need in our community — is now in its 18th year. Visit the Skidmore Cares website to learn about ways you can support local community organizations. Collected items can be dropped off at Scribner House Carriage House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29 and 30.

Nov. 3 staff meeting recap

President Marc C. Conner and College administrators provided updates about required trainings; upcoming events, including Skidmore Cares; goals for the current academic year; and other important issues.

Fostering entrepreneurship and creativity at StartUp Skidmore

This fall, StartUp Skidmore offered Skidmore students the opportunity to develop their business ideas, work and network with successful entrepreneurial alumni, receive feedback, and even make prototypes — all in an intense, one-day workshop.

Dining Services

Friendsgiving-themed dinner

Murray-Aikins Dining Hall will host a Friendsgiving-themed dinner, from 5:30 to 7:30, today, Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Thanksgiving bread and pie sale

‌Dining Services will be selling baked goods, including breads and pies, for Thanksgiving. Orders must be received by Thursday, Nov. 16, and can be picked up from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, or from 9 to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, in the Atrium Café. Order here, or contact Mark Miller with questions.

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

Human Resources

Mandatory HR compliance training

‌All Skidmore employees (including student workers) are required to complete HR Sexual Harassment and Workplace Discrimination Training by Friday, Nov. 10. Please review the College’s Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity, and Anti-Harassment Policies and Procedures for staff and faculty; then complete the training courses assigned to you on the Learn More Skidmore platform, which can be accessed via Okta or training.skidmore.edu.

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‌Open Enrollment Benefits

‌Open Enrollment must be completed by the end of Friday, Nov. 17. Additional information has been shared by email and is available on the Benefits website. Recordings of Zoom information sessions for union (passcode: VXmQP6J.) and non-union (passcode: =4+cerdP) employees are available.

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‌Sick leave and COVID-19 leave

‌As we enter the flu and cold season, employees are encouraged to review Skidmore’s policies on COVID-19 and sick leave.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Paul Arciero, professor of health and human physiological sciences, published a piece in an academic journal. Read more>>

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‌Ryan Homsey, director of academic advising, composed original music for a new documentary, and a piece from the score was performed recently. Read more>>

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‌Heather Hurst, professor of anthropology, directs the San Bartolo-Xultun Archaeological Project, which recently received the 2023 International Archaeological Discovery Award “Khaled al-Assad" with special distinction as the people’s choice prize. Read more>>

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‌Michael Janairo, manager of communications and strategic initiatives at the Tang Teaching Museum, presented at a symposium. Read more>>

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‌Bernard Possidente, professor of biology, presented a poster with two alumni. Read more>>

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

Announcements

Honoring our veterans ‌

‌Please join us at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at the flagpole near the entrance to campus for a brief ceremony honoring our veterans, including those who are part of our Skidmore community. In case of rain, we will gather in the Glotzbach Atrium of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences. ‌

Campus COVID-19, flu vaccine clinics

‌Health Services is partnering with Adirondack Health and Wellness to offer updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in Falstaff's. ‌‌You can sign up to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine, your flu shot, or both at the clinics. For more information about the clinics and to register, please visit the Health Services website.

‌‌‌First-Generation Celebration reception

‌All Skidmore students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to celebrate Skidmore’s first-generation college students on national First-Generation College Celebration Day at a reception today from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Glotzbach Atrium of the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences. The program, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, will feature a photo booth, food, activities, and first-generation alumni speaker Altagracia Montilla ’12.

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‌Unpacking recent Supreme Court decisions in higher education

‌Join us as we discuss and unpack recent Supreme Court rulings and their impact on higher education, including the Harvard and UNC rulings on affirmative action and student loan forgiveness, from noon to 12:50 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 9, on the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. Hear insights from Professor of Political Science Beau Breslin, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jess Ricker, and General Counsel Sarah Vero, with conversation and questions moderated by Dean of Students Adrian Bautista. Cookies and beverages will be served.

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‌Pay tribute to 1973 music at Skidmania

‌Skidmania, an annual charity concert celebrating the music of 50 years ago, will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18, in Arthur Zankel Music Center. Audience members can expect an exciting and inclusive bill of music and Skidmore student musicians, with tributes and creative twists on familiar music — all based on selections from the music of 1973. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday shows can be purchased online. For more information, contact Jeremy Day-O'Connell.‌

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‌‘Arboreal’ opening reception

‌Schick Gallery presents the opening reception of “Arboreal,” an interdisciplinary exhibition addressing trees and the environment, to take place tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 9, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit features art by seven artists and research materials used to understand forest ecosystems supplied by Skidmore staff and faculty. Visit the Schick Art Gallery website to learn more.

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Seeking Thanksgiving meal hosts for international students

‌Willing to host a student(s) at your celebration? Student Academic Services is pairing Thanksgiving meal hosts with international students. Interested hosts can contact Chloe Jaleel. Please specify if you can also provide transportation.

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‌Kids Night Out

‌Kids ages 5 to 13 are invited to come enjoy well-supervised recreational activities provided by the great facilities of Skidmore College’s Williamson Sports Center 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. No pre-registration is necessary. Cost is $10 per child. For more information, email Ron Plourde.

‌‌Skidmore Theater: ‘The Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs’

This devilishly fun play by one of Spain’s most successful ladies of letters will run Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3. (The 8 p.m. performance on Friday, Dec. 1, will offer open captioning.) Find tickets online, or contact Skidmore Theater Box Office for more information.

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‌Skidmore Lifeworks Thanksgiving basket project

The annual Thanksgiving Basket Project helps local neighbors in need. To make a donation or learn how to help in other ways, visit the LifeWorks website. Consider noting “Skidmore” on your check or on the website. Skidmore initiated this program over 35 years ago and continues to be among its largest institutional supporters. For more information, contact Roy Rotheim.

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‌The Surrey-Williamson Inn guest rooms

‌The Surrey-Williamson Inn welcomes college guests and visitors to Saratoga Springs. Discounted rates are available to department guests, parents, and other members of the Skidmore community. Reach out to surrey@skidmore.edu to learn more or visit our website to reserve a room.

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‌Toys for Toga toy drive and fundraiser

‌The Skidmore Shop will be participating in this year’s Toys for Toga drive and fundraiser. If you have any new, unwrapped toys you’d like to donate please visit our drop box in-store by Dec. 9. Donated toys will be distributed to Franklin Community Center (Saratoga Springs), CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services (Clifton Park), and the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center in time for the holidays. The donation box will also have a QR code that can be scanned to donate to the Toys for Toga GoFundMe page.

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‌Skidmore Weekly Bulletin publication schedule, submission procedure

Submit announcements and events, faculty-staff achievements and academic lectures by completing the appropriate online form. The deadline for all submissions is noon on Monday. Please email swb@skidmore.edu if you have questions. Please note, during the week of Thanksgiving, SWB will be published on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Athletics News

There will be a fundraiser for the Burke family during the men’s basketball season-opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, when the Thoroughbreds host New Paltz. Coach Joe Burke, his son Alec Burke ’25 and their family recently lost their home in a devastating fire. Gift cards for food, clothing and other essentials will be collected for the family at the game, which will be played at home. A GoFundMe page is also available.

Winter sports are in full swing: In addition to the men’s basketball season-opener, the 3-0 men’s hockey team will host Albertus Magnus at 6 p.m. on Friday. and SUNY Canton at 4 p.m. Saturday. The riding team hosts a 10-team show at 9 a.m. Saturday, while the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams take on Union College at 1 p.m. For more information, visit the Skidmore Athletics website.