August 2019

Dear Class of 2023,

My name is Amon Emeka.  I am an Associate Professor of Sociology and the Director of the First-Year Experience here at Skidmore College.  I have occupied the first of these roles for a long time, but the second title is brand new to me.  It is a big change, and I will miss sharing the classroom with the extraordinary students who find their way to sociology.  But I am thrilled to be joining the group of professionals dedicated to making your first experience as enriching as it can be.  

I have spent the last two decades teaching a range of sociology courses from the most introductory “gateway” courses to more specialized courses on population dynamics, immigrant adaptation, racial inequality and statistical methods.  I love teaching those courses because I am a student in those subject areas too.  Because knowledge production is ongoing, even the most seasoned teachers must continue to study.  My own research has revolved around the identities and achievements of the children of recent immigrants in the U.S.  It has led to publications in social science journals but before that it required lots of reading which was facilitated by my teaching of “Immigrant Adaptation in Sociological Perspective.”  You will find that many of your professors are studying at the same time as they are teaching.  They are studying the latest in prose and performance, in technique and technology, in action and reaction; they are studying to stay apace with the state of their respective arts, sciences, and vocations.  They are top flight teachers, learners, and scholars all at once! 

In your First-Year Seminar, you will have the opportunity to study with a faculty person who has been asked to address their subject matter in an interdisciplinary way.  They will stretch into ways of thinking that are unfamiliar to them about subject matter with which they are very familiar.  They will ask you to join them—to make new, different, and, perhaps, better sense of the very familiar.  In this process, you will pick up habits of thought, inquiry, and expression that will benefit you at Skidmore and beyond.  Pay close attention and enjoy!

 Along the way, you will no doubt have challenges as you transition into the academic life and culture of the college.  Between your Faculty Advisor, your Peer Mentor, and the good people in the Offices of Academic Advising, Student Academic Services, and the First-Year Experience, none of these challenges will be insurmountable.

Welcome to Skidmore College!

Sincerely,

Amon Emeka, Ph.D.
Director of the First-Year Experience &
Associate Professor of Sociology

 

A Message from Cerri Banks

Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs

Welcome and Congratulations!

My name is Cerri Banks and I am the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs at Skidmore. I hope that you are as excited as I am to be a part of the Skidmore community and that you are proud of all that you have accomplished to get to this moment.

Everyone on campus is eagerly awaiting and preparing for your arrival. The staff in Facilities is making sure that the campus is beautiful and that the buildings are clean and safe. The faculty and staff in Academic Affairs are finalizing their syllabi and schedules for an exciting fall semester. In Student Affairs, we are working to make sure that you are able to enter the community and thrive.

When you arrive on campus for Orientation, you will begin to get to know the campus and the Skidmore community. I have accrued a list of things that I think make Skidmore so great:

• A fierce commitment to student learning and thriving at the highest levels of excellence both inside and outside of the classroom
• A beautiful campus setting
• A commitment to sustaining a diverse community and learning across differences of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, religious and spiritual practice, and global perspectives
• A friendly, helpful, talented, and supportive faculty and staff who are experts in their fields

I am eager to see what will be on your list after your first few weeks on campus.

Creative Thought really does matter at Skidmore College and you will find that you can pursue almost any interest you have. Skidmore is fully committed to the liberal arts and we believe that your education here will prepare you in important ways for any path you choose to take now and in the future.

Take advantage of all that is here. The Student Government Association oversees approximately 100 clubs and organizations; students participate in research projects with faculty; student performances are plentiful throughout the academic year; visiting artists and lecturers are regular features on our weekly calendar; and our athletic teams are competing hard to represent the college well in intercollegiate athletics.

Take a chance. Learn to play a new instrument, write for the school paper, travel abroad, become a mentor, try a new sport, visit your professors during office hours, secure an internship, and spend time with people who are different from you. Ask lots of questions and reach out for support early if you find yourself facing challenges. Doing so is an excellent way to make your college experience fun and successful.

Best of luck as you continue to prepare to embark on this exciting journey. I cannot wait to meet you.

Cerri Banks

Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs

 

---

Checklist of Upcoming Deadlines

August Checklist

Activity	Due Date
Submit ID picture	July 1—August 15
Write RAP	July 1—August 30
Complete online wellness education class (instructions will be mailed to your SKIDMORE email account)	August 1—31
Register for Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS)	Ongoing
New Item: First-Year Student Survey	Please check your inbox for a letter from Dean Cerri Banks with a link on/around July 24.  Due Sept. 18.

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
Mail in Health Forms (due Aug.1)	Contact Health Services

For a complete list of dates and deadlines, visit the Dates and Deadlines page on the FYE website.

London First-Year and Opportunity Program students should use the dates and deadlines for your programs:

• London FYE dates and deadlines
• Opportunity Program dates and deadlines

Post Office Reminders

Your student mailbox assignment will be available the first week of August. To obtain your assignment and mailbox combination, please visit the Post Office website and click on student mailbox information. You will be asked to log in with your username and password.

Incoming mail and/or packages should be addressed:

John/Jane Doe—Class of 2023
Mailbox #____________
Skidmore College
815 N Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Important: Do not use "PO Box" as the local post office will send your mail elsewhere in town, which will delay your items. Be sure to have mail addressed to your "Mailbox."

---

Field Trips: Important Information If You Are Under 18

If your Scribner Seminar has scheduled a field trip* and you will not be 18 years old by the date of the trip, Skidmore requires a parent or guardian to give permission for you to attend. Parents and guardians should email permission messages to the FYE Office.

Sample e-mail

Dear FYE,

This email grants permission for [student’s full name] to attend field trips on [dates] for his or her Scribner Seminar [name of seminar] and permission to attend the following trip/s [date/s]. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at [phone and/or email].

Sincerely,
Name

* Students under age 18 should inquire of their faculty members whether or not a field trip is planned.

---

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 15, 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.

---

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, wellbeing and happiness of its community members. In an effort to prepare you for the unique challenges and responsibilities of college, we require each incoming student to complete the following online courses offered through our partnership with 3^rd Millennium Classrooms:

1. Alcohol-Wise.
   This is an alcohol prevention program. Whether you drink or not, Alcohol-Wise will empower you to make well-informed decisions and will help you cope with the drinking behavior of peers.

2. Marijuana-Wise
   This is a marijuana prevention course that provides you with accurate information about marijuana, including its effects.

3. Consent & Respect
   This is a comprehensive course addressing intimate partner violence, healthy relationships, bystander empowerment and consent.

The courses will become available to you on August 1, 2019. The deadline for completion is August 31, 2019. Failure to complete the courses may result in a referral to the Student Conduct Office.

The instructions and the link for accessing the courses will be sent to your Skidmore email address.

If you have questions, please contact Kim Golemboski at kgolembo@skidmore.edu or 518-580-5484.

Please note: We will also be sending a Part 2 to these courses approximately 30 days after the start of the semester. Additional information and instructions will be sent to your Skidmore email account once the semester begins.

---

YOUR THOUGHTS MATTER – THE FIRST-YEAR STUDENT SURVEY

Skidmore College is participating in a national study about incoming college students conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA.  We want to hear from you and we need your input!  In late-July, you will receive an email from Dr. Cerri Banks, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs at Skidmore, requesting your participation. The request to participate will be coming from the following email address: CIRPFreshmanSurvey@DataRecognitionCorp.com on behalf of Cerri Banks (cbanks@skidmore.edu).

We’d greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes to tell us about yourself by completing this First-Year Student Survey.  Your responses will help us to better understand our incoming students and their needs.  The survey will provide us insight regarding your expectations for college, your academic experiences, what influenced your college choice, your goals and values, and how you spend your time. 

We assure you that your responses will remain confidential and will never become part of your permanent record at Skidmore.  All findings will be reviewed in aggregate form only.  We look forward to hearing from you!

---

Connect by Communication
Connect through Respect
Connect through Conversation

by Ann Marie Przywara, Associate Dean of Residential Life and Student Conduct

Whether you were assigned one roommate or two, it is important that you make time to contact your roommates before you arrive on campus. These first conversations are a simple way to begin to develop your relationship. 

Consider asking questions such as:

• Where are you from? What is your home like?  
• How did you choose Skidmore College?  
• What academic major are you considering?  
• What do you hope to get out of college?
• What clubs and organizations would you like to join?  
• What are some of your hobbies and interests?  
• Have you ever lived with another person?  
• What kind of music do you like?
• Are you a morning or a night person?

When you contact your roommate(s), also consider having a conversation about the space in the room, the items you will bring, and what you are willing to share. Of course, you should be prepared to answer these questions for your roommates!

Sometimes after talking to roommates, students worry that they are different from their roommates. However, developing a friendship is not the main factor in having a great roommate relationship. The key is open and ongoing communication.

If you find that you need help, please do not hesitate to contact your Resident Assistant (RA). Your RA is an upper-class student who is hired from a highly selective pool of applicants. RAs participate in two weeks of training on topics including mediation, counseling skills, and how to access campus resources. When it comes to your roommate concerns, your RA is there to help. Your RA will not choose sides, but rather will work with you and your roommates to find a solution to the matter at hand. 

If all else fails, you can apply for a room change. Please note that a room change is not your first option in resolving an uncomfortable situation. It is important to invest in finding a solution to any issue at hand.

As you prepare for meeting your roommates, keep in mind what some former "triplets" were happy to share about living in a triple room. 

• "I ended up loving my two roommates, but I think an important thing to do at the beginning of the year is to communicate. We sat down and talked about how each of us studied, and how much we wanted personal space, and if it was okay to use each other's things."
• "I got to meet a lot of people (through my roommate) who I probably wouldn't have met otherwise." 
• "It was nice to have two automatic buddies to go to the D-Hall with!"

Skidmore Shop News! 

We’ve got the Beats! Buy a new Mac or iPad from the Skidmore Shop and get Beats (wireless headphones) on us. Shop with education pricing and save even more – including discounts on AppleCare+.