July 2016
Dear Members of the Class of 2020,
Welcome to Skidmore! By now you know that we have chosen Ta-Nehisi Coates' book, Between the World and Me, as the summer reading selection for your class. The selection committee—Professors Sarita Lagalwar (Neuroscience), Maria Lander (World Languages and Literatures), and Minita Sanghvi (Management and Business)—join me in urging you to utilize the resources on the FYE Summer Reading webpage as you plunge into this highly provocative text.
On this webpage, you will find various articles, reviews, and related materials about Between the World and Me, as well as some "Questions to Ponder" while you are reading. I trust you will be especially eager to consider the various faculty responses to the book, representing a variety of disciplinary approaches. Together these essays provide a sense of the breadth and depth of thinking made possible by an education in the liberal arts.
I am happy to announce that the Class of 2020 summer reading event, to be held on Monday evening, September 12, will feature Professor Emily Bernard of the University of Vermont. Professor Bernard is an expert in cultural and literary studies and has written a variety of works that concern race issues in the United States. She was also a featured commentator last summer when the Atlantic magazine ran a special "online book club" concerning Between the World and Me. She is eager to address the first year class about the meanings and resonances of Coates' text.
Meanwhile, read thoughtfully, discuss the book with your family and friends, and come prepared for lively discussion. See you in September.
Professor Janet Casey
Director, First Year Experience
Professor of English
Checklist of Upcoming Deadlines
June Checklist
| Activity | Due Date |
| Mail in Health Services forms | Due July 15 |
| Submit ID picture | July 1—August 1 |
| Write RAP | July 1—August 30 |
| Register for Pre-Orientation | June 1—July 15 |
| Register for Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS) | Ongoing |
| Create email account | Ongoing, upon receipt of letter from IT |
Upcoming Deadlines
| Activity | Due Date |
| Complete online alcohol education class | August 1—31 |
Past Deadlines
If you have missed any of these deadlines, please contact the appropriate office as soon as possible.
| Activity | Due Date |
| Residential Life Housing Questionnaire | Contact Residential Life |
| Registration | Contact the Registrar |
For a complete list of dates and deadlines, visit the Dates and Deadlines page.
London First-Year and Opportunity Program students should use the dates and deadlines for your programs:
Your Skidmore ID
Your ID is essential for your first day at Skidmore. It is not just for the dining hall and library; your ID is also the key to your residence hall, your room, and a declining balance card. Prior to arriving on campus, we ask you to upload a photo for your ID. Once approved, your photo will be processed and your ID will be available at your residence hall when you check in on your first day of Orientation. However, students who do not submit appropriate photos (or never submit photos) will face unnecessary delays when they arrive on campus.
Please use the guidelines below when submitting your photo. Photos that do not follow these guidelines or are deemed inappropriate will not be processed.
Between July 1 and August 1, incoming students should upload a photo for their student IDs.
Photo Submission Guidelines
- This picture is for identification purposes
- The picture must be in color
- The picture must be less than 500 KB in size
- The picture must be a minimum of 300 x 300 pixels
- The picture must be a file type of .jpg, .jpeg, .gif., or .png.
- Please use plain light color or blank background
- No hats, sunglasses, jewelry, or garments that obstruct the view of your face
- Eyeglasses should be worn if normally used by students
- Eyes should be open and looking at camera
- There should be a small space between your head and the top of the image
- Head should be positioned directly facing the camera, not leaning on anything
Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Card Office at 518-580-5854.
What is Student Academic Services (SAS)?
SAS serves all Skidmore students interested in strengthening their academic performance or skills by organizing peer tutoring, study groups, and drop-in tutoring and by offering professional one-on-one and small group academic support. SAS collaborates with other campus offices and faculty to support Skidmore students—with specific responsibility to international students, English Language Learners (ELL), students of color, student-athletes, and students with disabilities.
Student Academic Services and Accommodations
Welcome to Skidmore College and congratulations on your acceptance! Skidmore College cultivates an inclusive and supportive learning community and values the diverse learning styles of our students. In pursuit of this effort, we are committed to providing students with disabilities full and meaningful access to all college programs and activities, and we strive to provide individualized accommodations necessary for students to realize an equal opportunity to succeed.
Following admission, we encourage students to submit an Application for Accommodation along with supporting documentation as soon as possible. The purpose of early application is to foster an interactive process of accommodation, to familiarize students with the Skidmore community, and to enable students to be fully informed about Skidmore's disability services policies and procedures (prior to the first semester on campus). There are also important differences between high school and college that students should be aware of. The central purpose of accommodations at the college level is to provide equal access to Skidmore's academic programs and curricular and cocurricular activities. All accommodations must be approved by the Coordinator for Student Access Services and are never retroactive.
Common Accommodations
- Extended test time
- Testing in a distraction-reduced location
- Supplemental class notes
- Texts in alternative (digital) format
Differences between High School and College
| High School | College |
| Academic support is often scheduled for students. | Students must schedule and access the support they need. |
| Teachers, guidance counselors, and parents typically take the lead on advocating for students. | Students must advocate for themselves. |
| Parents can provide students with excused absences due to illness or the effects of a disability. | Attendance requirements are established and enforced by individual faculty members.
All students are expected to adhere to class attendance policies which cannot be waived
as an accommodation for a disability.
Similarly, assignment due dates cannot be waived or altered as an accommodation for a disability. |
Students can also reach our Coordinator for Student Access Services, Meg Hegener, at (518) 580-8150.
See you in September!
Required Wellness Education Course for Incoming First-Year Students
We know you're excited about coming to Skidmore, and we are thrilled to welcome you to our community. Skidmore College is deeply committed to the health, well-being, and happiness of its community members. In an effort to prepare you for the unique challenges and responsibilities of college life, we require that every new incoming Skidmore student take the Think About It course offered through our partnership with CampusClarity.
We believe you'll enjoy the assignment. It is an innovative, engaging, and informative online course, created with students for students. In the course, you will examine the interconnected issues of hooking up, substance abuse, sexual violence, and healthy relationships through a variety of interactive, realistic scenarios and guided self-reflection. The course promotes a healthier and safer campus environment for everyone.
- The course will become available to you on August 1, 2016. The deadline for completing
the course is August 31, 2016. Failure to complete the course may result in a hold on your Skidmore account and
a fine.
The instructions and the link for accessing the course will be sent to your Skidmore email address. Once you click the "Start Training" button, you will be taken to the login page. Please enter your Skidmore email address to log in.
Think About It takes approximately two to two-and-a-half hours to complete. You can work at your own pace from any computer. You can leave and return to the course at any time, and when you return, it will open to the page where you left off.
If you have questions about accessing the course, please contact Kimberly Golemboski at (518) 580-5484.
Please note: We will also be assigning a second and third course throughout your first
year at Skidmore. Additional information and instructions for these courses will be
sent to your Skidmore email account once the semester begins.
Pre-Orientation Programs
One of the best ways of making the transition to college life is through participation in one of the many Pre-Orientation Programs at Skidmore. Whether it's hiking in the Adirondacks, creating sculpture, or doing community service, there are many ways to meet students with similar interests and goals. Participation in Pre-O is optional, and takes place just before Orientation (which is required for first-year students.)
For any other questions or concerns, please contact us via email or call us at (518) 580-8338.
There are spaces available in the following programs:
- Behind the Scenes at the Tang
Art lovers (not just art majors) are invited to learn all about the Tang Teaching Museum. You'll explore the exhibitions, take a look behind the scenes, and make art. No previous art-making experience required, just an openness to new experiences and a willingness to have fun. - Skidmore on the Radio: WSPN 91.1 FM
Are you an aspiring radio DJ? Do you have a great radio D.J. name but don't have a radio show? Join the WSPN pre-orientation program to learn everything you need to know about being a radio D.J. This program is led by both upper class students and professional DJs. - Record Club/ Writing Rock
A good excuse for the music-obsessed to get together to discuss music, check out some local shows, visit record shops, and write about songs we love. - Theater
Skidmore's Theater Company opens its doors to first-year students who would like to experience some stage improve and a play in Lenox, MA. Meet new people in a fun environment. Come "play" with us!
There are also a limited number of spaces left in SCOOP. For more information, please visit the SCOOP webpage.
Class of 2020 on Facebook
If you haven't done so already, please join the FYE at Skidmore Facebook group (this
is separate from the Class of 2020 Facebook page.) This is a closed group for students
in the Class of 2020 only, so if you'd like to join, please visit the page and send a friend request. If your Facebook username is different than your legal
name, please email our student monitor Joseph Doino and let him know both your legal name and your Facebook username.