FYI from FYE - June 2019
To the Class of 2023
Dear students,
It's time to begin preparing for September in earnest!
Becoming a college student means taking charge of your own education, and you will begin that process this month by constructing your fall schedule of classes. Your advisor will call you to discuss your interests and options, but it's your job to be prepared: read the materials we have sent you, peruse the Master Schedule, and be ready with questions and ideas. This conversation will be your first opportunity to interact one-on-one with a Skidmore faculty member, so be sure to make the most of it. And if a course you want turns out to be full for the fall (which sometimes happens), seize the opportunity to explore new options!
Indeed, now is the time to start comporting yourself like a college student, and that includes not only delving into new experiences, but also taking on a variety of college-level responsibilities. Check your Skidmore email account regularly, submit all required forms on time, and familiarize yourself with Skidmore's resources.
If you have a question or concern, call the FYE Office or another relevant office on campus—and resist the temptation to have a parent or other adult do these things for you. After all, college readiness is about more than academic preparation; it's also about learning to advocate for yourself. (For your convenience, a list of important contacts on campus is available here.)
We stand ready to assist you with your transition to a new level of independence.
Yours,
Professor Janet Casey
Director of the First-Year Experience
UPCOMING DEADLINES
June
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Check Skidmore email | Daily! |
| Submit housing information | June 10-17 |
| Talk with summer advisors | May 31 - June 21 |
| Register for classes | June 19 or 20 |
| Register for Pre-Orientation | June 5-July 15 |
Upcoming Deadlines
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Submit ID picture | July 1-August 15 |
| Mail in Health Services forms (portal opens June 6) | Due August 1 |
| Write RAP | July 1-August 30 |
| Complete online alcohol education class | August 1-30 |
| Register for Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS) | Ongoing |
For a list of dates and deadlines, visit the FYE Dates and Deadlines page. For dates, deadlines, and links to complete tasks, please visit the FYE Checklist
London First-Year and Opportunity Program: students should use the dates and deadlines for your programs:
- London: Please use the FYE London Checklist and information you receive from OCSE.
- Opportunity Program: Please use the FYE Checkslist for links, but use the dates and deadlines from the Opportunity Program website.
Important Information from the Registrar about Scribner Seminars and Registration
Scribner Seminar placements are now complete. You can view your assigned seminar by logging into the Skidmore Student System and clicking 'View Registration Info (View Only)', then select a term of “Fall 2019”.
If you find that you have a conflict with your Scribner Seminar, please discuss this with your summer advisor to assess the severity of the situation. Changes to the Scribner Seminar should not be taken lightly. Valid reasons to request a change might include a time conflict with a course that is necessary for your planned major and is part of a set sequence; an unforeseen conflict with a team practice schedule; or unexpected issues with rehearsal schedules. Changes will be subject to course availability and must be completed by July 15. If you need to make a change prior to your registration timeslot, email the Registrar.
Remember, all first-year students are required to take a Scribner Seminar in their first semester at Skidmore.
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 2019 page and join the Skidmore College London First-Year Experience, Class of 2023 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 2019 Facebook group. Orientation schedules can be found on the FYE Orientation website.
SUMMER ADVISING
This information originally appeared in our May 2019 newsletter.
Summer advising for the Class of 2023 takes place May 31 through June 21. 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 15. 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 email network only. Members of the Class of 2023 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 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 15, 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 19 or 20 (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 19–20, 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, MUSIC, and physics
This information originally appeared in our May 2019 newsletter.
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 Policy 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 every semester) or a course in music theory appropriate to the
student’s level of experience (also 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.
Physics
If you are planning to take Physics courses during your time at Skidmore, you might
consider completing the Physics Placement Exam. This Exam is optional, and you are not required to take the Placement Exam.
Skidmore offers two courses of Introductory Physics through the first-year physics
curriculum. This Placement Test will determine whether or not you can enroll directly
in the second course of the Introductory Physics course sequence (PY208) and skip
the first course (PY207). If you plan to enroll in the first course of the sequence
(PY 207), there is no need to take the Placement Exam.
Summer Advising FAQ
your Skidmore email, so
please be sure to check this
account.
When will my summer advisor contact me?
Starting May 31, you should expect an email to your Skidmore email account from your
advisor to set up an appointment. If you have not heard from your summer advisor by
the time you get this newsletter, please contact the Office of Academic Advising. (However, if you have not heard from your advisor and you have NOT checked your
Skidmore email, please check your Skidmore email first.)
What if I have not received my registration email from the Registrar's Office?
This email was only sent to Skidmore emails. If you haven't checked your Skidmore
email, please check your Skidmore email. If it isn't there, please contact the Registrar's Office.
How should I address my summer advisor?
Students have a variety of high school experiences. We suggest that your initial contact
with your summer advisor and/or faculty members be formal. When emailing faculty
members, please address them as "Professor _____". They will let you know if he or
she would like to be addressed in a different manner.
Housing Questionnaire
From June 6–June 17, 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.
Summer Reading on the Web
While the July newsletter will have more information about this year's summer reading selection—Factfulness—please start reading and be sure to visit the 2019 Summer Reading page.
A Note from Health Services
Welcome to Skidmore! The staff at Health Services is looking forward to meeting the Class of 2023. We are busily preparing for your arrival. Please feel free to visit our website for a comprehensive list of our services, health information, and much more—including downloadable copies of all required health forms.
A letter from Health Services was emailed to you in May. All students are required to register for the online student health web portal, complete the portal forms, and submit the paper forms by August 1. Paper and portal forms for students participating in the Summer Academic Institute are currently due. Students should periodically check your Skidmore email including your Junk folder for notifications.
If you have yet to schedule an appointment for a physical and/or immunizations, we ask that you do so soon. During the summer months doctors' offices often become backed up for several weeks with appointments. We really appreciate timeliness in returning health forms to us.
As a reminder, all students attending Skidmore need to have proof of U.S.-based health insurance. Skidmore offers a reasonably priced, primary student insurance plan. During the month of June the Bursar's Office will be providing information about the health insurance plan available to Skidmore students. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Bursar's Office at 518-580-5831.
If you have a chronic medical condition, we would encourage you or your parent/s to reach out to us before arriving on campus. If there are any services that we can provide or that you have questions about, feel free to call us at 518-580-5550 or email us.
Please feel free to contact us over the summer or stop by once you have arrived on campus. The Offices of Health Services and Counseling are on the first floor of Jonsson Tower.
See you soon!
Patty Bosen, FNP
Clinical Director, Health Services
Phone: (518) 580-5550
Fax: (518) 580-5556
Notes from Campus Safety
A member of the Department of Campus Safety can be reached at any time by calling 518-580-5566 or 5567, or you can submit routine questions via email – Emai is NOT for reporting incidents. Please take the time to enter Campus Safety’s number in your phone NOW, before you need it!
Skidmore Urgent Notification System (SUNS)
Skidmore's Department of Campus Safety offers staff and students the chance to receive
text messages and email notification in the event of an emergency, via the Skidmore
Urgent Notification System (SUNS). There is no need to wait until you arrive at Skidmore
to partake of this service. Click here to get started!
Registering Your Vehicle
Beat the rush and register your motor vehicle online. There is a fee of $110 for the
academic year (or $55 per semester) to park a vehicle on campus. This fee is charged
to the student's account. Click here to get your vehicle registered.
Questions about the Skidmore College motor vehicle rules and regulations? Check our posted policies.
Registering Your Bike
The Department of Campus Safety offers a FREE bicycle registration program for those
students who plan to bring their bicycle to campus. Once the bicycle is registered
the student may store his or her bicycle in a secured area of the College through
the Office of Residential Life.
Training Programs
The Department of Campus Safety also periodically offers training programming such
as CPR/AED/Basic First Aid, a Defensive Driving classroom course, and R.A.D. (Rape
Aggression Defense) course. We encourage those individuals who are interested in taking
one of these courses to watch their Skidmore email for sign up information.
Class of 2023 on Facebook
If you haven't done so already, please join the FYE at Skidmore Facebook group. This is a closed group for students in the Class of 2023 only, so if you'd like to join, please visit the page and send a friend request.
If you do not use your legal name for your Facebook account, please include your legal name in your friend request or email Becca Schilsky, the Class of 2023 Facebook student liaison to let her know your username.
The Source
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