Athletics Facilities Project Update

To:       The Skidmore Campus Community
From:  Philip A. Glotzbach, President
Date:   Monday, February 17, 2020
Re:       Athletics Facilities Project Update

My memo of February 13, 2020 regarding the Athletics Facilities project has continued to prompt comment. At its meeting last Friday, February 14, the members of the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC) again discussed this project, along with other important topics relating to Skidmore’s financial sustainability. Following the IPPC meeting and additional comments we have received from community members – to ensure that we have sufficient time to hear and consider this feedback, to complete the analysis of the viability of further sustainability investments, and to investigate further the feasibility and potential timeline for relocating the Greenberg Center – I have decided to pause the start of construction. It remains my hope that we can resolve the questions that have been raised and move forward as soon as we can to make these important upgrades to our athletic facilities. But it is important that we first do everything possible to consider the concerns that have been raised, so that we can proceed with the understanding and support of the community.

I and the members of the President’s Cabinet continue to hear the range of voices participating in this conversation. As I said in the earlier memo, we are committed to creating additional opportunities for more public discussion of the Athletics Facilities plan and other matters of importance relating to the College’s financial sustainability.

Here are the events that are now scheduled that will provide additional opportunities for discussion:

• Open Forum: Thursday, March 5, at 3:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium.
• Community Meetings: Tuesday, March 3, at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall (second floor).
• Faculty Meeting: Friday, February 28.
• In addition, Student Affairs has scheduled special opportunities for students, which will be announced elsewhere.

I encourage people to attend one (or more) of these events and to continue to participate in this important conversation.

Thank you for your continued attention.