CIS Update and Open Forum Invitation
Dear Members of the Skidmore College Community,
Over the summer the President’s Cabinet, the Board of Trustees, and many others on campus continued planning for the construction of the Center for Integrated Sciences (CIS), which is the College’s highest strategic priority.
Fundraising for the project has proved challenging; however, we are pleased to have made considerable progress. Just recently we received a commitment of $300,000 from a Skidmore family and a gift of stock totaling $2 million from another generous donor. In addition, I am earmarking $200,000 from my President’s Discretionary Fund, to move the needle by $2.5 million. Our total raised toward the CIS is now $43,077,907. That’s more than we ever have raised for a single building in Skidmore College history, but, of course, the CIS is the largest and most ambitious building project the College has ever envisioned.
On the recommendation of President’s Cabinet, I am most pleased to announce that this month, the Board of Trustees and the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC) endorsed the complete CIS plans as funding becomes available and the construction of the North Wing to be funded by gifts, operating funds, and debt. We are in the process of developing plans to follow up on the site work that has been in progress for several months and updating construction documents. Our goals include finalizing the documents, sending them out to bid, and doing further planning so we can begin construction of the North Wing next May. We are intensively developing additional funding and will begin construction on the East Wing as soon as resources allow.
This is a celebratory moment for the College. I deeply appreciate the partnerships—including the support of science faculty, members of the administration, and members of the Board of Trustees—that we have developed over the years of work on this most crucial priority. These partnerships will be even more important in the coming weeks and months.
We are inviting community members to an open forum on CIS, where we will provide updates on funding, construction, and other matters, and invite discussion. Please join us Wednesday, October 4 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall. We hope to see you there and thank you for your attention.