Academic Support Services
The following resources provide support to students as they navigate their years at the College. Some offices require appointments, while others have open office hours. All of the staff welcome students seeking assistance for academic success.
Office of Academic Advising (OAA)
The Office of Academic Advising (Starbuck Center; tel. x5720) oversees Skidmore’s academic advising programs and services and disseminates information about academic policies, procedures, and programs of study. Academic Advising staff work closely with students, faculty, staff, and families to inform students’ academic decisions and to guide them to academic support services as necessary. In addition to coordinating the faculty-based advising system, the OAA counsels students on personal and medical leaves of absence and reviews the academic standing of all students to ensure compliance with Skidmore’s standards for continuation.
Office of Student Academic Affairs (OSAA)
The Office of Student Academic Affairs (Palamountain Hall; tel. x5725) oversees the credit-bearing internship process, student opportunity funding (both on-campus projects and travel to present at conferences), summer learning opportunities, national merit scholarships and fellowships, and academic integrity. The Associate Dean of Faculty also oversees semester honors (Dean’s List) and coordinates prizes and honors (department/program and all-College) awarded at the annual Honors Convocation and Commencement.
- Credit-bearing Internships: reviews all internship applications for summer and academic-year work and provides administrative support for IN-100 (Exploration Internship) opportunities.
- Student Opportunity Funds: provides competitive grants in support of student research, creative projects, and travel to read or present at professional conferences.
- Summer Funded Experiential Learning Opportunities: oversees the SEE-Beyond Award and the Thorne Family Award for First-Generation College Students. These awards support students seeking to fund experiential learning opportunities related to their academic goals.
- National Merit Scholarships and Fellowships: supports students seeking institutional endorsement for undergraduate and graduate merit fellowships, scholarships, and grants.
- Academic Integrity: responds to violations of the Honor Code.
- Dean’s List: coordinates with the Registrar’s office honors awarded each semester to students who complete 14 credits and earn a GPA of 3.650 by the regular grading deadline.
- Honors Convocation: oversees the presentations of department and program prizes and awards at this annual spring semester event.
- All-College Honors: coordinates with the Registrar’s office awards for graduating seniors earning cum laude (3.650-3.749 GPA), magna cum laude (3.750-3.899 GPA), and summa cum laude (3.900-4.000 GPA) distinction.
Career Development Center (CDC)
The Career Development Center (Starbuck Center; tel. x5790) offers career planning and information on internships, post-college employment, and graduate study. As part of the College’s commitment to providing access to experiential learning opportunities, the Career Development Center manages the Summer Experience Fund, which provides funding for unpaid internships as well as The Peer Advisor Network, a directory of students who are willing to share their insight with peers interested in the same internship sites. They also provide a robust on-campus recruiting program, networking opportunities, and skill building workshops that support career readiness.
The Counseling Center (Jonsson Tower, first floor; tel. x5555) provides a supportive context in which students may access assistance for acute developmental, interpersonal, and psychological difficulties that impact their college experience. Services include short-term psychotherapy, skill-building workshops, day-time and after-hours emergency support, and tailored referral assistance.
Office of the First-Year Experience (FYE)
The First-Year Experience office (Starbuck Center; tel. x8111) coordinates Scribner Seminar Peer Mentors who provide assistance to first-year students facing challenges with the transition to college. Their experience as more advanced students, selected both for their academic achievement and their ability to steer new students to effective engagement, makes them a valued resource for enhancing the education of new Skidmore students. Peer Mentors bridge the space between the classroom and the residence hall by serving as academic and social role models for first-year students. They also support new students’ transition to college by encouraging their integration into the larger community of scholars through the promotion of academic and co-curricular opportunities.
Language Resource Center (LRC)
The Language Resource Center (Palamountain 426) is a space that provides resources for world language study. The facility includes multiple computer stations and serves as an area where students meet with language tutors. The LRC, when not in use as a classroom, also provides an open study area with computer workstations and a lounge.
Lanzit Center for Computers and Writing
The Charlotte M. Lanzit Center for Computers and Writing (Palamountain Hall 302), when not in use as a classroom, provides multiple computer stations for students working on academic or personal writing projects.
Off-Campus Study & Exchanges (OCSE)
The Off-Campus Study & Exchanges office (Starbuck Center; tel. x5355) provides information on international study opportunities and a limited selection of study opportunities within the United States. Students interested in these opportunities can consult with the OCSE staff about how off-campus study can support their academic and professional goals. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better is needed in order to study off-campus; students must also have declared their majors and met all-college requirements appropriate to their year of study (or have an acceptable plan for completing such requirements).
The Office of the Registrar provides valuable services and information to the Skidmore community: student registration; class scheduling and room assignments; maintenance of student academic records; processing of data for new students, returning students and alumni; and the administration of unofficial and official transcript services.
Student Academic Services (SAS)
Student Academic Services (Starbuck Center; tel. x8150) works to promote high student academic achievement and help students take full advantage of the wide variety of opportunities available at Skidmore. As part of the college’s commitment to academic excellence, SAS serves all Skidmore students by organizing Peer Academic Coaches (PACs), peer tutoring, and offering individual and group academic guidance and training (see more on these below). SAS also collaborates with other campus offices and faculty to support international students, English Language Learners (ELL), students of color, student athletes, and students with disabilities.
Peer Academic Coaching (PAC): Peer Academic Coaching provides relaxed open study spaces for students to work individually or in study groups. During these sessions, students have the opportunity to receive content support from Peer Academic Coaches (PACs), attend workshops, learn subject-specific study skills, and participate in exam review sessions. Students will always know when and where they can access peer support. Disciplines supported include the following (see the website for days and times):
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Environmental Studies & Sciences
- Geosciences
- Health & Human Physiological Sciences
- Management & Business
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Open PAC
Peer Tutors: SAS hires students recommended by faculty to provide one-on-one tutoring with students in specific courses. Peer tutors are available for course work in most disciplines and classes. Students request a tutor in the SAS office and there is no fee for tutoring services.
Disability and Accessibility Services: The Associate Director of SAS and Coordinator of Student Access Services arranges for academic accommodations and assists students with other disability-related issues. Eligibility guidelines are available on the SAS web site. SAS also employs a Learning Specialist who works individually with students with disabilities to promote academic development and success.
The Philip Boshoff Writing Center (Scribner Library, Room 440; tel. x8441) offers students one-on-one help for any academic and personal writing project. Directed by a faculty member, the Center is staffed by trained Skidmore students majoring in subjects across the disciplines. We also have a specialist for English Language Learners in any academic subject. Writing tutors help students at any stage of the writing process, including brainstorming, drafting, organizing material, and strengthening writing. The Writing Center is not a proofreading service, but tutors will work with students on their concerns, including grammar, punctuation, and effective style. Whether students are new to college writing or already experienced writers, they will find that a one-on-one meeting with a writing tutor will help them become better, more self-sufficient writers. The Writing Center is open daily, afternoons and evenings; it offers both in-person and online appointments. Students may make an appointment , or they may walk in for tutoring during open hours. Other writing resources include the Skidmore Guide to Writing.