FYI from FYE - May 2020
Hello, Class of 2024!
My name is Amon Emeka. I am the director of the First-Year Experience (FYE) and associate
professor of sociology here at Skidmore, and I welcome you to the College! By now
you have received the detailed email I sent last week (Monday, May 6). I hope you
have begun to carefully make your way through the list of important activities outlined
in that letter. The contents of this one are a bit less about the business of getting
ready for college and a bit more about getting you mentally and emotionally prepared
for the adventures that lie ahead of you.
Be assured that adventures do await you—adventures in thought and action; adventures in art and science; adventures inside classrooms and outside of them! We are working hard to see that this happens no matter what circumstances may await us. Our adventures together will begin this summer as we delve deeply into the provocative set of short stories that has been chosen as this year’s FYE Summer Reading. (Curious? Hint: One of the stories was made into a filming starring Amy Adams. If you still can’t figure it out, you’ll have to wait until next week when you receive your very own copy of the book!). Activities around these stories will engage faculty, staff, and students alike in conversations about myriad possibilities for ourselves and our world. We engage in this way because building a lively and cohesive intellectual community is critical to the liberal arts enterprise.
While many have come to think of “social distance” as a good and/or necessary thing in the recent months, we have been busy thinking about how to nurture greater “social cohesion” in our college community! In sociology, social distance refers to antipathies between social groups. When “social distance” is greatest between hypothetical Groups A and B, the members of Group A insist that no members of Group B should be allowed to enter the country for any reason. You can imagine my surprise and dismay the first time I heard social distance referred to as something to be striven for! I have taken to saying that we must practice safe physical distancing (or public health distancing) while we build on our social cohesion so that we are better equipped to deal with this or any challange. I hope you have seen this idea playing out in your own communities, and I promise you that it is at work here at Skidmore College.
In the weeks to come the First Year Experience website will be updated with the latest information regarding summer and fall dates and deadlines as well as video content that will give you a better sense of the adventures that await you. Our Office newsletter, FYI from FYE, will also be published and distributed via email every month, along with other periodic email communications of interest.
In the next week, you will receive a copy of the FYE Summer Reading package. Be on the lookout. We know that many of you have High School graduations on the horizon, and we are thrilled for you! You may have mixed emotions given our present difficult circumstances, but be assured that there are wonderful things waiting for you at Skidmore College.
Take good care and stay in touch…
Sincerely,
Director of the First-Year Experience
Upcoming Deadlines
May and June
Use the FYE Checklist to meet deadlines.
| Activity | Due Date |
|---|---|
| Submit housing information | June 8-15 |
| Talk with summer advisors | June 1-June 22 |
| Register for classes | June 23-24 |
| Register for Pre-Orientation | June 15-July 15 |
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 and the FYE Checklist.
Summer Advising
Summer advising for the Class of 2024 is scheduled to take place in June. 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 18. Interests are entered using an online form available through the Registrar's website.
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 2024 will receive important information about registration and advising by email from the Office of the Registrar (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 check your Skidmore email frequently.
Selecting your Scribner Seminar
By May 18, you should also enter your top 10 choices for the Scribner Seminar (SSP-100) using the online form. The Registrar will send an email in late May 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 (see specific link on registration time and process). 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 individual 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
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 Calculus Placement Exam 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 (WLL) 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 of its students. Please be sure to review Skidmore's Honor Code policy for language exams before beginning your exam.
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.
Classics: Greek and Latin languages and literatures
Students interested in Greek and Latin should visit the Classics Department’s website. For more information, please contact Dan Curley, Professor and Chair, Department of Classics.
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 theory study during
their first year, though many successful majors have started in their 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 it.
Skidmore offers two courses of introductory physics through the first-year physics
curriculum. This Placement Exam will determine whether or not you can enroll directly
in the second course of the introductory physics course sequence (PY 208) and skip
the first course (PY 207). If you plan to enroll in the first course of the sequence
(PY 207), there is no need to take the Placement Exam.
Housing Questionnaire
From June 8–June 15, students will be able to fill out and send their Housing Questionnaire to the Office of Residential Life. If you cannot submit the questionnaire during this time period, please contact 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 do
bring a computer to campus. In a recent survey, most Skidmore students indicated they
have laptops. Students who choose to buy a computer can take advantage of our purchasing
relationships with Apple and Dell, which offer small educational discounts. Visit the Information Technology (IT) website for more details
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 basic help and instruction on a range of technologies. 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 email (helpdesk@skidmore.edu) or (518) 580-5900.
- Formal training on a variety of software is usually available through the College. For more information, visit the LEDS website.
- Assistance with multimedia production is offered through Media Services, located in the basement level of the library.
Phishing – be careful!
Phishing is a form of identity theft. Identity thieves throw out a “hook” in the form
of a semi-legitimate-looking request in the hope 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 email account, financial
status, or our servers. If you’re not certain about the legitimacy of an email, please
contact the IT Help Desk 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 we do not repair non-college-owned computers, the Help Desk provides 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 work 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 our public computing areas.
What self-service opportunities are available 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.
Class of 2024 Facebook group
If you haven't done so already, please join Skidmore’s Class of 2024 Facebook Group! Meet your classmates and the group moderator, Matt Clark, '21. Matt is there to answers questions and update the group on dates, deadlines, and other important information as you get ready for the fall.
* This is a closed group for members of the Class of 2024 ONLY! If your Facebook username is not the name you listed on your college application, please be sure to email Matt your Facebook user name and your legal name so he can add you to the group. Matt will only add students to the group who are confirmed members of the Class of 2024.
PEER HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM
If you are interested in health and wellness, considering a career in the health professions, like the idea of providing support and peer counseling to your fellow students, or are interested in working with an amazing group of students to create and run health promotion programs, then the Peer Health Education Program (PHE) could be for you!
Ten spots are being held for incoming students in the fall 2020 training program. To learn more about our PHE program visit: https://www.skidmore.edu/health_promotion/peer/index.php . To apply for Fall 2020 visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PHEf20. Applications are due by Monday May 18 at 8 a.m. If you have questions, please reach out to Director of Health Promotion Jen McDonald at jmcdonal@skidmore.edu.
Meet the Tang!
Friday, June 5, 3:00 p.m. EDT
Via Zoom (Zoom link)
The staff at the Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College invites incoming students to "Meet the Tang" on Friday, June 5, 3:00PM-4:00 EDT. Hear from staff in our departments and learn how you can get involved in one of the most vibrant campus museums in the country. Learn about upcoming exhibitions, events, and volunteer and work opportunities. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions. To learn more about the Tang, visit: https://tang.skidmore.edu/
Join the meeting by using this link via Zoom. For more information, please contact Assistant Director for Engagement Tom Yoshikami at tyoshika@skidmore.edu.
Vector drawing of the Tang Museum by Jean Tschanz-Egger