Important spring semester plan update

Dear Skidmore Community, 

We are now within two weeks of having our students back on campus, and although the vaccine progress is encouraging, it is clear that it will be months before vaccinations are sufficiently widespread to make a palpable difference in living with the pandemic. In the meantime, the positivity rate of the COVID-19 virus is at its highest level since the pandemic began, and a more contagious strain has appeared. Although our community has demonstrated that it knows how to live and work with the virus, the situation is quite serious and we need to be extremely vigilant to accomplish another semester of safe residential operations. Consequently, I write to share three important updates regarding our Spring 2021 Return to Campus plan.  

The majority of what we communicated earlier this month to students and their families, as well as to faculty and staff, remains the same, including our plans and timeline to welcome nearly 2,200 students back to campus for residential learning. Students who are required to quarantine will join us on Jan. 22, while others from New York and contiguous states will move in starting Jan. 28, 29, 30 and 31. Quarantine requirements based on individual circumstances were emailed directly to students on Jan. 5. Quarantine housing assignments and assigned move-in dates will be emailed directly to students later this morning from the Office of Residential Life. 

We are, however, implementing three important modifications based on current circumstances and recommendations from medical experts. These adjustments are part of our community efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus on campus during the crucial arrival and beginning-of-semester period. Limiting the positive cases upon arrival is of the utmost importance and will enable us to move into the semester with safety and to focus on maintaining a virus-free campus to the greatest extent possible. 

Adjustments to the first two weeks of the semester

1) For the first week of the semester, Skidmore College will operate in a “safe shelter” mode. This will allow time for the College to track any positive COVID-19 cases that emerge during the arrival phase and respond accordingly through contact tracing and containment.

• Week 1: All students will remain in their residence halls or apartments, all meals will be delivered and there will be no gatherings of any kind, with the exception of academic classes. Classes will meet as scheduled, either remotely or in person, as previously determined by the instructor. Faculty scheduled to teach in person may choose to switch to remote for the first week and should alert their students to any changes no later than Friday, Jan. 29. Most student employment will be suspended during this week unless the work is required to support instruction. Students will be able to work with their supervisors to make up any missed hours in the following weeks.
• Week 2: There will be no dining outside of rooms, and all students will pick up their meals at the dining hall. There may be limited gatherings. Classes will meet as scheduled and planned. 

2) For the first two weeks of the semester, every student and employee working on campus will be tested TWICE weekly, both times using the Broad Institute testing process we have used since August.

• Week 3: We will aim to resume in-person dining, and more activity may follow, depending on the health conditions on campus and in the surrounding community. Testing will likely return to once per week.

3) Additional pre-arrival testing requirements

EVERY student returning to campus, including those who are living off campus, must now take a COVID-19 test within three days (72 hours) prior to their arrival to New York state and submit documentation of this testing to prearrivaltesting@skidmore.edu before they begin their travel.

Students do not need to receive the results of this testing before entering New York, although that is preferable. Negative test results should be sent to prearrivaltesting@skidmore.edu as soon as received. If you receive positive test results, please contact Health Services immediately. 

Students returning to Skidmore can find detailed arrival, testing and quarantine information and instructions specific to their unique situation in our Return to Campus plan as follows: 

• Students who are living on campus and are from a noncontiguous U.S. state, U.S. territory or CDC Level 2 or higher country, please read here.
• Students who are living on campus and are from New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey or Connecticut or a CDC Level 1 country, please read here. 
• Students who are living off campus and are from a noncontiguous U.S. state, U.S. territory or CDC Level 2 or higher country, please read here. 
• Students who are living off campus and are from New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey or Connecticut or a CDC Level 1 country, please read here.
• Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 12 weeks, please read here. 

Students should carefully review these steps and requirements to ensure they fully understand the steps required of them for their return. Any questions regarding pre-arrival testing or ongoing testing should be directed to Health Services at health@skidmore.edu or 518-580-5550.     

We understand this information is complex, so we have also created an interactive chart for quick and easy reference.  

This approach, which was developed specifically for our community, is based on health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the state of New York and Saratoga Springs Public Health. Our plan puts us at the very forefront of care and prudence among colleges. As always, we will continue to monitor developments along with new and official health guidance and share updates via emails, the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin and our Campus Planning website as they become available.  

Sincerely,  
Marc C. Conner
President