FYI from FYE - May 2018
Welcome Class of 2022
Welcome to "FYI from the FYE."
I hope you'll take the time this summer to consider what you'd like to get out of your time at Skidmore and how the intellectual risks you take may contribute to your development. We look forward to welcoming you as you embark on your undergraduate journey.
Sincerely,
Professor Janet Casey, Director of the First-Year Experience
Checklist of Upcoming Deadlines
May and June Checklist
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Enter Scribner Seminar selections | By May 16 |
| Fill out Academic Interest form | By May 16 |
| Complete Directed Self-Placement for Expository Writing (DSP) | By May 21 |
| Create email account | Ongoing, upon receipt of letter from IT |
| Submit housing information | June 4-15 |
| Talk with summer advisors | June 1-22 |
| Register for classes | June 20-21 |
| Register for Pre-Orientation | June 1-July 13 |
Upcoming Deadlines
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Submit ID picture | July 1-August 15 |
| Mail in Health Services forms | Due August 1 |
| Write RAP | July 1-August 30 |
| Complete online alcohol education class (instructions will be sent via email) | August 1-30 |
| Register for Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS) | Ongoing |
For more dates and deadlines, visit the Dates and Deadlines page.
A Note for London First-Years and Opportunity Program First-Years
London First-Years
For information about the London program and dates and deadlines, please be sure to
visit the London FYE 2018 page and join the Skidmore College London First-Year Experience, Class of 2022 Facebook group. Orientation schedules can be found on the FYE Orientation website.
Opportunity Program First-Years
For Opportunity Program dates and deadlines, please be sure to visit the OP page and join the OP 2018 Facebook group. Orientation schedules can be found on the FYE Orientation website.
Summer Advising
Summer advising for the Class of 2022 takes place June 1 through June 22. We have 50+ summer advisors who will contact new students to talk about their academic and personal goals and how to navigate the course registration process. Because summer advisors are matched with students according to shared interests, it is important that you enter your academic interests by May 16. Interests are entered using an online form available through the Registrar's website.
Summer advisors
Our summer advisors are faculty who are familiar with Skidmore's academic programs
and opportunities. The advisors are ready to help students make decisions about fall
semester scheduling and beyond. Whether you enter that "my passion is science" or
"I am totally undecided," you will find a summer advisor who is eager to discuss strategies
for making the most of the first semester at Skidmore. Students should ask their summer
advisor about a range of academic and co-curricular issues, such as interests in the
sciences, studio arts, or athletics. If students are undecided on a major course of
study, they can talk to their summer advisor about a variety of liberal arts courses
as well as the all-college curriculum.
Beginning with the summer advising and registration process, the College will communicate important information via the Skidmore e-mail network only. Members of the Class of 2022 will receive important information about registration and advising by email from the registrar’s office (registrar@skidmore.edu) and from the Office of Academic Advising (advising@skidmore.edu). Summer advisors will also contact students through email to provide specific information about preparing for and scheduling an advising time to talk over the phone. Please make sure to set-up and check your Skidmore email frequently.
The Office of Academic Advising will maintain a Summer Advising Hub that consolidates important advising & registration links in one place; this is another place to check frequently.
Scheduling your Scribner Seminar
By May 16, you should also enter your top 10 choices for the Scribner Seminar (SSP-100)
using the online form. The Registrar's Office will send an email on or around May 29 notifying students
that seminars have been assigned and providing instruction about how to view their
assignments. During the following weeks, each student should then decide on the additional
courses they want to take in consultation with their summer advisor. All students
should be prepared to enter those courses into the registration system during their
assigned registration time on June 20 or 21 (see specific link on registration time and process). Except for the Scribner Seminar, students are
able to adjust their schedules through the add/drop period in September. If a student
registers for classes after their assigned time on June 20–21, it is highly likely
that many courses will be closed. Students with any questions about summer advising
may contact the Office of Academic Advising via email or by phone at (518) 580-5720.
A special note to parents
Since we treat college students as emerging adults, each advisor needs to talk directly
with each student about their college goals. We appreciate that parents are often
eager to assist their child in the transition to college; however, we find it particularly
helpful when parents review this newsletter and other registration information and
then encourage their child to prepare for their summer advising session with specific
classes and questions.
Best wishes,
Kim Marsella
Director, Office of Academic Advising
(518) 580-5720
Pre-Registration Diagnostic Exams
Chemistry, Calculus, World Languages, and Music
Chemistry
Chemistry is required for students majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environmental
Sciences, Geosciences, Health and Human Physiological Sciences, and Neuroscience as
well as for those interested in Pre-Health (pre-med, pre-vet, pre-PA, pre-PT, etc.) and Pre-Engineering career tracks. Skidmore offers two pathways through the introductory chemistry curriculum. The Chemistry Department has developed an online diagnostic to place you into one
of two courses. Based on your diagnostic score and previous chemistry experience, you will be given
permission to register for either Fundamentals of Chemistry (CH 115) or Principles
of Chemistry (CH 125). A student cannot register for either chemistry course without
completing the diagnostic. If you are interested in any of the fields requiring chemistry,
we strongly encourage you to take the diagnostic at you earliest convenience. For
more information, please visit the Chemistry website. For questions, please contact the chair of the Chemistry Department.
Both CH 115 and CH 125 are only offered in the Fall. Spots are held in both courses for first-year students. Please plan accordingly. Students who complete CH 125 fulfill the introductory chemistry requirement of the programs listed above. For students who complete CH 115 in the Fall, CH 126 is offered in the Spring to fulfill the introductory chemistry sequence required by those programs. CH 126 has a CH 115 pre-requisite and is only offered in the Spring. Students in the London FYE program who are interested in fields requiring chemistry are especially encouraged to contact the chair of the Chemistry Department.
Calculus
Skidmore offers several levels of calculus. If you are planning to take a calculus
course next year or in a later year at Skidmore, it is important that you complete
the Calculus Placement Exam online. The Placement Exam is a tool that helps the department
advise students which calculus course is best suited for them.
For more information, please visit the Mathematics website.
World Languages
To fulfill the Language Requirement at Skidmore College, all students must complete
one course in a foreign language-designated course in the Department of World Languages
and Literatures or the Department of Classics. In order to provide the best academic
experience, the Department of WLL works toward finding the most accurate placement
for each one of its students.
French, German, Italian, and Spanish
Students planning to continue study in French, German, Italian, and Spanish language and literature classes in the
fall must take the foreign language diagnostic exam (webCAPE) prior to registration.
Students with no previous study in these languages should not take the placement exam.
Students beginning French (FF 101) or Spanish (FS 101) must contact the instructor
for permission to enroll as these courses are reserved for students with no previous
study of the language.
Chinese and Japanese
Students with some experience in Chinese and Japanese must take diagnostic exams that
are not currently available online. Students interested in taking Chinese should
contact Professor Mao Chen and students interested in Japanese should contact Professor Masako Inamoto.
Only students with no experience with these languages can enroll in WLC-101 and WLJ-101.
For more information about language courses and placement exams, please click here.
For questions about the exam and/or other languages offered at Skidmore, please email the department chair.
Greek and Latin
Students interested in Greek and Latin should visit the Classics Department’s website. For more information, please contact Michael Arnush, Professor and Chair, Department of Classics.
Any student who deliberately does poorly on the Skidmore language placement exam or who knowingly and willfully enrolls in a class below his/her/their language proficiency level is in violation of the Skidmore College Honor Code and may be referred to the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Advising and/or the Integrity Board for further action. Students should be aware that the penalties attached to an academic integrity violation may jeopardize a student's standing at the college. Students should also be aware that those who have committed academic integrity violations are ineligible for college honors, including but not limited to Dean's List, graduation honors and inclusion in certain honor societies. Students who have questions about their placement should speak to their class instructor.
Music
Majoring or Minoring in Music
Students considering a Music Major or Minor should start with either MU-200 “Thinking
About Music” (offered in the Spring semester) or a course in music theory appropriate
to the student’s level of experience (offered every semester): MU-101 “Rudiments of
Music” for students with little or no musical education; MU-141 “Foundations of Theory
and Musicianship” for students with experience reading only one clef; or MU-241 “Materials
and Structures,” for students with experience reading bass and treble clefs and/or
with some background in written theory. (A diagnostic test given during the first
class session of MU-141 and MU-241 will help to determine student placement; the respective
teachers of MU-141 and MU-241 may also be consulted with questions about placement
prior to the start of classes.) Students are advised to begin their theory study during the first year, though many
successful Majors have started in the sophomore year.
Lessons and/or Music Ensembles
If you are interested in private lessons or an ensemble, please use this online form - Interest in Music to inform the Music Department of your interest. Actual registration for private
lessons or for a music ensemble will not be finalized until you arrive in September.
More information
Please visit the Music Department’s First-Year Information page for contact information and answers to other questions about music at Skidmore.
Housing Questionnaire
From June 4–June 15, students will be able to fill out and send their Housing Questionnaire to the Office of Residential Life. If you will not be available to submit the questionnaire during this time period, please contact the Office of Residential Life as soon as possible, via email or by phone: (518) 580-5765.
Computer Q&A
Are students required to bring a computer to campus?
While buying a computer is not a requirement, we find that many of our students bring
a computer to campus. In a recent survey, most Skidmore students have laptops. Skidmore
students who choose to buy a computer can take advantage of our purchasing relationships
with Apple and Dell, who offer small educational discounts. Visit the IT website for
more details at www.skidmore.edu/it.
Can I get free or discounted Microsoft Office?
Yes! As long as you are a current Skidmore student, you are eligible to use Microsoft
Office. For more information, visit the IT website.
What types of IT support services does the campus provide
- The IT Help Desk offers some support for students. It is located on the first floor of Scribner Library and is open during most normal library hours. You may also contact the Help Desk via e-mail (helpdesk@skidmore.edu) or (518) 580-5900. Students can get basic help and instruction on a range of technologies.
- Formal training on a variety of software is usually available through the college For more information, visit the Academic Technologies website.
- Assistance with multimedia production is offered through Media Services. Media Services is in the basement level of the library.
Phishing – be careful!
Phishing is a form of identity theft. The bad people throw out a “hook” in the form
of a semi-legitimate looking request. They hope that you will take the bait and provide
your credentials or financial information. With your username and password (or credit
card number or bank PIN), a lot of damage can be done to your mail account, your financial
status, or our servers. If you’re not certain about the legitimacy of an email, please
contact the IT Help Desk, located on the first floor of Scribner Library, near the
glass staircase – and PLEASE don’t click on any links if you’re not sure where they
go!
Does the college provide technical support for students who bring their own computers?
While the college does not repair non-college-owned computers, the Help Desk offers
some limited troubleshooting advice and can give recommendations for off-campus service
providers.
What public computing access is available to students?
Skidmore has approximately 200 public computers available to students, 100 of which
are located in Scribner Library. Internet connectivity (wireless) is also available
for students in each dorm room. Please do NOT bring a wireless access point, or a
wireless printer (without a USB cable), as they will not be allowed in the dorms.
How does the campus support printing for students?
The college does not currently charge students for printing, but for sustainability
reasons, printing is managed in the Library using PaperCut. Students will find printing
available in many of the public computing areas.
What self-service opportunities are available to students online?
Students are able to manage most of their academic and personal information online.
For example, students can register for courses, add/drop classes, view transcripts,
register vehicles, sign-up for emergency notifications, etc.
What technology resources and assistance are available to students with special needs?
The Coordinator for Students with Disabilities is a resource for students who require
modifications and/or accommodations on campus and in the classroom. For more information, please visit the Student Academic Services website.
Are library collections and resources available online?
Most of the library's online resources are accessible from on and off campus through
the Scribner Library website. Online resources include the library catalog, most databases,
electronic journals and books, interlibrary loan, course reserves, and research tools.
Orientation and Family Logistics
Due to the popularity of tourist travel in Saratoga Springs in August, we encourage families that may need to stay overnight to make local hotel reservations as soon as possible. Please click here for information from the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Please note that residence halls open for New Student Orientation on Sunday, September 2 at 8:30 a.m. For more information and the Family Orientation Guide, visit the FYE Orientation website.
Pre-Orientation
Pre-Orientation offers a rich and diverse set of opportunities for students to get
to know Skidmore and to make new friends before classes begin. More than half of the
incoming class participates in these programs each year. For more information about
the various programs please click here. Students participating in Pre-Orientation programs will arrive on campus on Thursday,
August 30. For schedules and the Family Orientation Guide, visit the FYE Orientation website.
Please note: Registration for Pre-Orientation opens on June 1 and closes on July 13. A limited number of scholarships are available for high-need students on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning in mid-May. Students may receive 50% to 100% off the program fee. If you would like to apply for a program scholarship, please go to our Pre-Orientation webpage and fill out the scholarship application. You will be notified of your scholarship award by the end of May prior to registration opening.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Mary Ann Toia.
Class of 2022 Facebook group
If you haven't done so already, please join Skidmore’s Class of 2022 Facebook Group! Meet your classmates and meet the group moderator, Becca Schilsky, '20. Becca is there to answers questions and update the group on dates, deadlines, and other important information you will need as you get ready for the fall.
* This is a closed group for members of the Class of 2022 ONLY! If your Facebook username is not the name you listed on your college application, please be sure to email Becca your Facebook user name and your legal name so she can add you to the group. Becca will only add students to the group who are confirmed members of the Class of 2022.
