Skidmore College

Originally founded in 1903 as the Young Women’s Industrial Club, Skidmore College has since expanded into a coeducational learning institute and one of the premier liberal arts colleges in New York State. Since 1960 the main campus of Skidmore has been at Saratoga Springs, spread across a picturesque 890 acre location. The college is named for its founder, Lucy Skidmore.

The focus of study at Skidmore is on undergraduate education, and the college takes an interdisciplinary approach to study, with students often combining or creating their own majors through the classes offered. There are a wide range of BA courses available, from geosciences to art history, and BS courses in business, dance, education, exercise sciences, and social work. The Summer Faculty Research Programme at Skidmore offers five to ten week programmes designed to involve students in scholarly work and development.

Salmagundi is a quarterly magazine published by Skidmore College since 1969, focusing on essays in language and the arts and works of creative writing. Highlight of previous editions include interviews with philosopher John Gray, and writings from J.M Coetzee.

The National College Comedy Festival has been held every year at Skidmore since 1990, featuring student comedy troupes and improv groups from across the region. Past performers have gone on to write for hit TV comedies such as The Office and Community.

Alumni of Skidmore include actor Jon Bernthal, businesswoman Cynthia Carroll, journalist Arwa Damon, editor of Vogue Grace Mirabella, and the electronic rock duo Ratatat. The motto of the university is ‘under the shield of divine love’ which in Latin can be a play on the ‘Skidmore’ name.