Faculty granted $750K

Skidmore has received a $750,000 grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation to extend the tenure of anticipated retiring faculty and hire new faculty for the next three years.

The Mellon Foundation has granted funds to various liberal arts colleges, such as Union College, Hamilton College, Colgate University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and St. Lawrence University.

Skidmore has received grants from the organization in the past to help increase its collaboration with other academic institutions, enhance sabbatical support for professors and assist professor exchanges between schools.

The grant has arrived during a deep national recession that has affected the college and made hiring new faculty financially unfeasible for colleges across the country.

In addition, a significant portion of the college's 135 tenured professors is nearing retirement. The grant provides funding to extend their presence at the college.

Over half of tenured professors will be eligible for retirement within this decade.

"This grant will allow us to invest in the future of Skidmore's faculty and ensure stability and smooth transitions over a period where there may be clusters of retirements," said Susan Kress, VP of Academic Affairs.

To ensure a smooth transition, nine faculty members are in phased retirement in which professors teach part-time for one to five years.

Three new faculty members will be hired in different departments, including the Economics Department. The college will announce the other two departments in which the college plans to hire new staff within the next couple of months.

The hiring process is already underway for the Economics Department, which is expecting campus visits within the next couple of months.

The department received many applicants for the position and is upgrading a non-tenure track position to a tenure-track position.

The Economics Department is looking forward to strengthening its faculty. "It is an exciting opportunity," said Mehmut Odekon, chair of the Economics Department.

The other two grant-funded positions will not be tenured. Kress will not have details on them for several months.

The college is seeking professors who are scholarly, creative and display a high level of quality citizenship.

The college hopes for faculty members who have taken part in committees in previous academic institutions, published articles and essays and shown great interest in joining the Skidmore community.

"Good planning dictates that we hire some people who are closer to the mid-level of their careers, to ensure the overall strength of a department and avoid clusters of faculty at the same level of experience," Kress said, in reference to the grant application.

During the final stage of the hiring process, potential faculty will visit the campus to meet current professors and demonstrate their commitment to joining the community in person.

The college seeks highly dedicated and eager professors.

"We never have as many recourses as we have ambitions," Kress said.

The college has expressed its appreciation for the $750,000 grant.

"One of the great delights of this grant is that it allows us to build and sustain excellence of faculty. It is an unusual grant to get and it is something to celebrate," Kress said. "We are grateful for this support from the Mellon Foundation, which has been a generous and committed friend of the college, particularly in its support of faculty."