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Skidmore College Profile

Saratoga Springs, New York

The Basics

Founded in 1903, Skidmore College is a small private liberal arts and sciences institution located in the historic New York State town of Saratoga Springs. The footprint of the site is split into 3 geographical open spaces, one being the southern edge of the college’s footprint with the athletic fields, and Recreation Centers off Clinton Street. The second large area being the residential facilities on the eastern edge of the campus off Lower Scribner Village Road, the third being the Academic Quad in the middle of the campus. The Skidmore campus map separates the college into a north, and south side with academic and residential quads linking both sides of the campus together. The school also has several large grassy, and tree lined areas on all four sides of the campus which highlights it’s rural campus landscape.

Skidmore is unique because it has a small suburban school feel to it, while still being large in regard to physical geography and student activities. The school is also located in a small town that is famous for its horse racing (Saratoga Race Track) and it’s mineral water deposits and it becomes very popular during the summer months. The college has a large footprint of approximately 750 acres of park like property within the school’s Adirondack Mountain/Lake George region campus in northern New York State. The physical layout observes historic academic buildings, along with several new campus life facilities shared by students, local residents, and Skidmore employees.

The campus itself has approximately 50 buildings including lecture, residential, research, performing arts, athletics, and dining facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between the academic quads, student housing, and several student life facilities including the Athletic Complex & Fitness Center, and the Case Student Center due to the time of day.

Skidmore’s student center, library, and campus quads are linked together by a maze of side walks that allows for quick access to student housing, academic, and student life buildings. The school is also unique because all of the internal sidewalks are covered with metal roofs to reduce exposure to the elements. This feature makes some of the pathways look dark, but it also reduces the need to keep shoveling snow of the sidewalks in the winter. The overall design helps a big campus feel smaller than it’s geographical footprint, which really helps in the winter months. The school also has several large green areas behind it’s residence halls that students refer to as “Green Beach’s that gets busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were very clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. Skidmore students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The college also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the college describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Skidmore has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Sciences educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The College is home to relatively small campus population of approximately 1,059 male, and 1,553 female full, and 56,male, and 141 female part time students enrolled. Skidmore also has a small graduate school population of 11 male, and 43 female students attending the college. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 32% of students are from New York; the other students are from 44 states, and 41 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 75% of students are white, 10% Asian Americans, 5% are Black, and 7% are Hispanic.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Skidmore College has a large educational system for a small private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Freshman Class: 6,768 applied, 2,479 accepted, 684 enrolled. SAT Verbal 630, SAT Math 630. ACT 28 Application Deadline January 15.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units. Skidmore College guarantees on campus housing for all four years through a lottery system. Students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students receive housing.

Currently the college has 1,948 students living on campus which is approximately 85% of it’s student population. The college has several different housing facilities including the south, and north quads, with the Murray-Aikens Dining hall separating the two sides. Skidmore also has several upperclassmen housing facilities adjacent to the south quad including (McClellan & Wilmarth Halls), and student apartment facilities with the Northwood’s student housing village. Skidmore College is going through a growth period in regard to housing facilities; I spoke to several students who are living in a quad environment with 4 students to a room. These students didn’t complain about the resources, they only wanted me to know about the student growth. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document. Off Campus Housing: Skidmore has been described as a small private college within a very popular tourist community in northern New York State. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Skidmore’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows almost every student to have housing within walking distance to college facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other college housing demands. The college itself has 85% of it’s student population living on campus which reduces the need, or demand for off campus housing. Information about available off campus housing resources can be found on the quick links page.

Campus Life

The Skidmore College campus environment provides students with an excellent social, and educational atmosphere due to it’s level of commitment to student life and activities. The college has an above average number of student activities for a small school including lacrosse, soccer, ice hockey and tennis to name a few. The college also has a relatively large athletic facility for students to enjoy including an indoor pool, and dance center. The school’s location within New York State also makes several outdoor activities popular including skiing in the winter, and boating in the spring on Saratoga Lake. My student guide told me the school provides a campus shuttle to the ski areas during the skiing season, which makes the winter more enjoyable.

Skidmore also has several student performing arts, and student multi-purpose centers to listen to local music, comedy, theatre productions, or student poets. The college understands that developing excellent student facilities year round helps students navigate the winter season because the first thing you learn at Skidmore during freshman orientation is to love the State of New York. New students participate in several team leadership activities during their first weeks at the school including hiking, canoeing, and lake activities to help them embrace the outdoor culture. Students that aren’t inclined to enjoy the great outdoors usually participate in several community workshops within the Town of Saratoga Springs.

The local area of Saratoga Springs can be considered a popular rural community because it’s located between the state’s largest mountain range (Adirondack Mountains) about 45 minutes away, and Albany, the state capital of New York that’s about 30 minutes away. The town can also be considered a student friendly transportation resource because Amtrak links to Saratoga Springs on a regular schedule. The Albany airport also makes travel easier in this area of the state with several national airline carriers located within 45 minutes from the college. The Town of Saratoga Springs can also be considered a small college town with several retail and restaurant resources within 10 minutes of the college on South Broadway. These local facilities have improved campus life for students because they are close to the school, and they can be accessed by a short walking, and driving distance.

Skidmore College students enjoy a local transportation resource called (the Capital District Transportation Authority or CDTA) that links to the Town of Saratoga Springs, Albany, Troy, and Schenectady New York on an hourly basis for additional campus life/entertainment resources. The CDTA Transit Bus is vital to students who don’t have cars, or don’t want to shovel out their cars to go to town. The shuttle also makes trips to several shopping, retail, and entertainment resources including movie theatres in the area.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with outdoor activities including hiking in the fall, skiing in the winter, and water sports in the spring.

Students are also actively involved in local community, and performing arts groups during the entire year. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, and the Case Student Center. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, athletics, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Students went as far as hanging banners outside residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

Skidmore also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment borders several park like areas within the Town of Saratoga Springs with trees and bushes that are situated overlooking the campus which gives students a great way to get away to enjoy New York State’s natural environment. College students at Skidmore also have the luxury of enjoying several student art pieces within the Tang Art Gallery, Saisselin Art Building, and the Eissner Admissions Center. Finally, the college has a state of the art music & performing arts facility (Zankel Music Center) for students to perform, and enjoy throughout the year.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Skidmore has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops, outdoors leadership activities, and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 80 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 10 intramural sports activities. Skidmore also has 19 NCAA teams for men, and for women including soccer, lacrosse, swimming, golf, and basketball. The school also has several reasonably large athletic facilities including a new athletic complex for students to enjoy.

Student life on campus at Skidmore can be considered very active due to several notable on campus venues including the Athletic Center, Wachenheim Field Complex, and the outdoor tennis courts, which are the main student recreational, and athletic centers on campus. The school also has a student run performing arts venue within the Bernhard Performing Arts Center, and music center within Zankel Center. The Case Student, and Murray-Aikens Dining Hall are also popular destinations for nightly, and weekend entertainment activities, along with the campus coffee house. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to develop social relationships by experiencing school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums together. The Local Town of Saratoga Springs also allows for additional campus life activities within a 10-minute walk of the campus gates.

Public Transportation

Skidmore College students use the Capital District Transit Authority Bus System (CDTA) for reliable bus transportation for students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The Town of Saratoga Springs also has several reliable taxi companies that provide additional transit resources to the Albany Airport, and downtown Saratoga Springs for Amtrak service. The college has a large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads. In formation about this service can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Regional Public Transportation Resources

Student transportation to the Town of Saratoga Springs & Albany New York can be found within the office of student services. Students can sign-up for paid transportation links (Car & Bus Services) to the airport, ski resorts, and regional train service for Amtrak. The State of New York also has several highway networks that links students to several northeast states including Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York City within Interstate Routes 87,90, & 88. Local highway networks that connect Saratoga Springs to local towns and cities include State Highway # 22A, 4, and 9. These major highway systems connect the entire northeast from Canada, to New York City. Major hotel & restaurants, as well as retail shopping centers can be found along these highways.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. The town of Saratoga Springs enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Northern New York also receives a large amount of snow due to it’s geographical relationship with the Canadian border, and Lake Champlain. The state also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well.

Community Profile

The City of Saratoga Springs has been described as an active suburban community that has grown around it’s historic horse racing and natural mineral water deposits. Skidmore College and the community have grown together over the years with students, tourists, and local residents enjoying the horse racing/college town landscape. The area has also been described as a family centered rural/farming community within striking distance to the City of Schenectady, and the state capital of Albany. The town also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Skidmore College. Saratoga Springs has become favorable to students over the years because the area has gone through a re-investment stage with the old buildings being converted into new restaurant and retail spaces. The local area has also become popular with local residents because it offers parking and pedestrian walkways on Broadway, and Putnam Streets (Route #9), which links students, and local residents to a several restaurants and local shops within the southeast edge of town.

The drive from Skidmore College to the above-mentioned meeting places is approximately 5 minutes. The city itself is located within the northeastern area of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and local highway networks. The community culture of Saratoga is also very interesting because the town hasn’t lost it’s horse racing reputation. This culture is clearly expressed within several areas of downtown with painted horse sculptures lining Broadway in plain view of all its town visitors. The outlining areas of the city provide residents several large farming resources for fresh vegetables and dairy products. The area also provides visitors with several outdoor activities throughout the year including skiing in the winter, and sailing on Lake Saratoga in the spring and summer.

The Saratoga/Lake George/ Adirondack Mountain Region has become a tourist heaven with visitors throughout the year with visitors enjoying the small towns in northern New York State. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these local areas, as well as transportation networks after a short drive from the campus.

The following demographics for the City of Saratoga Springs describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 28,499 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Skidmore College has strong relationships with the town because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% residents are male, 52% are female. 93% of residents are white, 3% is African American, 3% is Hispanic or Latino, and 1% is Asian. The median age of population is 36 years old. 81% of residents are 18 years old or over, 73% age 21 and over, and finally 14% of town residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Saratoga Springs is also interesting. 93% of all housing units within the city are occupied. 44% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 56% of units are owner-occupied. 7% of total available housing was vacant.

Skidmore College Quick Links

Saratoga Springs Area Hotel Quick Links

Saratoga Hilton
534 Broadway
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866
Courtyard by Marriott Saratoga Springs
11 Excelsior Ave
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866
Hilton Garden Inn Saratoga Springs
125 South Broadway
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866
Holiday Inn Saratoga
232 Broadway
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866
Comfort Inn & Suites Saratoga Springs
17 Old Gick Road
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866
Hampton Inn Saratoga Springs
25 Lake Avenue
Saratoga Springs N.Y. 12866

Malta area Hotels approximately 20 minutes away from Skidmore

Fairfield Inn & Suites Malta/Saratoga
101 Saratoga Village Blvd
Malta N.Y. 12020
Hyatt Place Malta/Saratoga
20 State Farm Place
Malta N.Y. 12020

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Saratoga Springs N.Y.. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found off Interstate 87 & 90 in Albany & Schenectady New York. Additional resources can be found in Glens Falls, and Troy New York on State Highway # 9 & 4.

Saratoga Springs Restaurants

Coffee Shops in Saratoga Springs

Ice Cream/Dessert Stores

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