April 26 staff meeting recap
President Marc Conner and College administrators welcomed staff to the final staff meeting of the academic year, where they reminded staff of upcoming opportunities, reflected on the semester’s successes, and encouraged community feedback during future planning processes.
Director of Human Resources Julie Delay encouraged staff to review the guide mailed to employees about the College’s transition to TIAA as the single service provider for retirement plans. More information about upcoming events can be found in the Skidmore Weekly Bulletin. Director Delay also encouraged , and reminded them that a quiet period, during which there can be no new enrollment into the TIAA program and no adjustments made to existing TIAA accounts, runs Sunday, April 28, through Wednesday, May 8.
Delay invited everyone to submit a message of appreciation for an employee through the Thoroughbred Thanks program. Recipients of Thoroughbred Thanks will be entered into a drawing for a prize during the Annual Employee Retirement and Recognition Celebration on Tuesday, May 21.
During summer break, eligible employees will be able to work remotely for up to two days each week with supervisor approval May 27- Aug. 23. More information was sent to eligible employees by email on Friday, April 26.
Several employee wellness events are coming up, including the Drink 8 to Hydrate Challenge.
Live More Skidmore will also be organizing more opportunities to sign up for chair massages in future months.
President Conner reviewed the College’s current financial standing and reflected on the ongoing Strategic Planning process. He emphasized the importance of a shared governance structure and affirmed that strategic planning would remain a collaborative process moving forward. Several Strategic Planning information and collaboration sessions will be held during the fall semester. A finished draft of the College’s next Strategic Plan is due to the Board of Trustees in February 2025.
President Conner closed out the meeting by expressing his gratitude for the Skidmore community and members’ resilience throughout a challenging academic year. He commended Skidmore students for thoughtfully expressing their beliefs and conducting themselves respectfully amongst the wide range of perspectives represented on campus.
The next staff meeting will take place in September.