News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Highlights

Skidmore announces new baseball field, coming soon
‌President Conner and Skidmore administrators will present information about the College budget on March 6
‌Dr. Frederick Lawrence, secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, will be on campus for a residency on freedom of expression and related issues, March 19-21
‌The Office of the President welcomes nominations for the 2024 President’s Awards for Leadership and Service
‌The Perlow Lecture, “Women and the Making of Torah,” and associated art programming will be presented next week

Skidmore News

Image of Lucy Scribner Library, taken from its eastern side.

Israeli and Palestinian peace activists shared stories of their personal transformation, their reconciliation efforts, and the exceptional challenges of their work amid spiraling violence in the region since October.

Lovefest poster, designed by David Salinas ’25

‘Love is all you need’

Love was in the air as students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Wyckoff Center for Lovefest, a colorful celebration that included reiki, a sound bath, chair massages, emotional support animals, arts and crafts, delicious treats, and so much more, courtesy of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Strategic Planning.

Skidmore announces new baseball field coming soon

Skidmore’s Board of Trustees has approved a project to move Skidmore Baseball from its current location on Denton Road to a new field on Daniels Road for the team’s spring 2025 season. Donors will fund the bulk of the $3.4 million project, with the remainder covered by College capital reserves.

Human Resources

Summer employment for Skidmore students: New hiring guidelines

‌The process for hiring Skidmore students is changing for summer 2024. Please carefully review this memo with important details, dates, and instructions. Human Resources manages all hiring needs during the summer months, including for Skidmore students. Procedures will be implemented during the first week of March, and training will be announced within a week, including Zoom sessions and instructional documents. Please contact Jim Calhoun via email or by phone, ext. 5802, with any questions regarding summer hiring.

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‌Professional development, events, training, and other opportunities

‌Retirement Planning Workshop, 5 to 7 p.m. March 12 through March 14 (Zoom)
‌Breakfast with HR supervisor roundtable, 9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 29 ‌

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‌For more information, including registration details and a full listing of opportunities, visit the Professional Development and Training website.

Dining Services

Dining Services is again selling its famous homemade bread. Use your Skidmore credentials to order online by Friday, March 1, for pickup on Friday, March 8.

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‌Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, Spa Specials, hours of operation, and other information.

Announcements

Save the dates: Dr. Frederick Lawrence residency in March

‌Skidmore is excited to welcome Dr. Frederick Lawrence, secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, to campus from March 19-21 for a three-day residency on freedom of speech, expression, academic freedom, and related issues. Meetings, discussions, and workshops are planned, and additional details and opportunities to participate will be shared soon. Lawrence, who previously served as president of Brandeis University, is an accomplished scholar, teacher, and civil rights attorney and one of the nation’s leading experts on civil rights, free expression, and bias crimes. His visit will help to advance community conversations in support of speech and expression, which continues to be among Skidmore’s five top strategic goals in our Strategic Action Agenda this year.

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‌Update on College budget

‌President Marc Conner, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer Daniel Konstalid, and other College administrators will present information about the College budget from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, on the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. All faculty and staff are invited to attend in person or via Zoom. The presentation will include information about the budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year and other key elements of the College’s financial status and outlook. The presentation will include ample opportunities for questions and feedback.

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‌Call for nominations: President’s Awards for Leadership and Service

‌The Office of the President invites community members to nominate deserving individuals or teams from the Skidmore community for a 2024 President's Leadership and Service Award. It is appropriate to recognize those in our community who have gone above and beyond to contribute to our College and its mission. Students, faculty members, exempt staff, non-exempt staff, or union personnel may be nominated (self-nominations will not be considered). Please submit nominations by 4 p.m. Monday, March 18. Please check your email for the nomination form, which was sent on Feb. 16 from the Office of the President. To nominate a person or team, please complete the form and submit via email or via campus mail to the Office of the President, Palamountain Hall. Student winners will be recognized at the Student Leadership Award Ceremony on April 24, and faculty and staff at the Employee Retirement and Recognition Event on May 21.

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‌Perlow Lecture: 'Women and the Making of Torah'

‌Artist and soferet (Hebrew scribe) Rabbi Linda Motzkin will discuss the history of women’s involvement in the Jewish scribal tradition and the process of Torah production during her lecture at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, in the Payne Room in Tang Teaching Museum. Rabbi Motzkin is one of a handful of women in the world trained as a Hebrew scribe, a role traditionally reserved for men. No registration is needed; refreshments will be provided. Learn more about the lecture and other programming on the event page.

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‌President’s office hours ‌ ‌ ‌

‌President Conner will hold office hours from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 4. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to request a 10-minute, in-person appointment. To register, please email presoff@noujcf.com. Requests will be handled in the order that they are received.

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‌COVID-19 updates ‌‌

Employees must inform their supervisor or department chair, email Human Resources, and follow CDC guidelines. Employees are also encouraged to review Skidmore’s policies about absences, including caring for dependents who may be ill.

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‌Challahmore baking event and sale ‌

‌Challahmore will be selling challah from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. Fill out an order form by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22. Proceeds benefit the Wilton Food Pantry and SNACpack.

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‌Exploremore: Majors and Minors ‌

‌Exploremore is devoted to helping first-year students and sophomores explore potential majors/minors and other areas of academic interest. This year’s event will run through Friday, March 1.

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‌Registration for Skidmore Summer Sports Camps

‌Summer Sports Camps, led by Skidmore’s award-winning coaches, teach teamwork concepts and skills in baseball, basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swim, volleyball, and softball. Registration opens March 1. For more information, contact Coleen Stephenson.

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‌Falstaff’s renovation information and listening session

‌SGA's Falstaff’s Operation Committee invites Skidmore community members to participate in a discussion about upcoming changes to Falstaff’s at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. For more information, contact Carlos Navarro.

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‌Swim lessons

‌The Skidmore swimming and diving team is offering swimming lessons for children 4 years and older every Thursday beginning March 28. Sign-ups will take place in person at the Williamson Sports Center lobby from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7. Email Head Coach Jill Greenleaf for complete program information.

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‌Library book club

‌Scribner Library’s non-traditional book club invites Skidmore community members to bring what they’re reading to a show-and-tell event from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Library Room 128A. No registration is required. For more information, contact Hannah Matecko-Conti.

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‌Summer Experience Fund award applications ‌‌

‌Applications for the Summer Experience Fund and Post Grad Awards are due April 11. Stipends of $4,500 are awarded to support students completing internships, research assignments, community service projects, artist residencies, apprenticeships, and more. Email sef@noujcf.com for more information.

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‌Make Your Voice Heard Skidmore Public Policy Prize competition ‌

‌Applications for the 2024 Make Your Voice Heard Skidmore Public Policy Prize competition are due at 5 p.m. Friday, April 12.

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‌Consortium on High Achievement and Success 2024 Student of Color Conference ‌

‌Interested students are encouraged to apply to attend this year's conference, "Renaissance: In the Wake of (Re)imaginings, Movements, and Joy," which aims to celebrate movements, creativity, and resilience, April 5-7.

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‌0% interest computer loan program with Skidmore Shop

‌Skidmore College’s Computer Ownership Assistance Program offers Skidmore faculty and staff 0% interest loans toward Apple devices. The program is intended to make computer purchases more affordable for Skidmore employees. Contact Skidmore Shop with questions.

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‌Skidmore Weekly Bulletin submission procedure and schedule

‌Please help reduce bulk emails by posting your announcement in Skidmore Weekly Bulletin, which is distributed to all students and employees. Submit announcements and events, academic lectures, and faculty-staff achievements by completing the appropriate online form. The deadline for all submissions is noon on Monday. Please email swb@noujcf.com if you have questions.

Athletics News

The women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey teams will host conference semifinal games this weekend. The women’s basketball team will open defense of its Liberty League title against Ithaca or RIT at home Friday night at a time to be announced. There is no charge for basketball. The hockey team will take on No. 8 Elmira College at 7 p.m. Saturday in an NEHC semifinal. It will be the first time the 12th-ranked Thoroughbreds have hosted a semifinal. There will be a free bus from Case Center at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 general and $3 for students with ID. Free tickets are available to the first 100 students at the door, courtesy of Student Affairs. Saturday will also feature a home lacrosse doubleheader. The men’s team will host Bates College at noon, while the women’s team opens its season against Cortland at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the Skidmore Athletics website.