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"The Center for Integrated Sciences (CIS) will give students and faculty access to cutting-edge technology and pedagogical tools and create a space in which intellectual passion and curiosity will be encouraged to roam freely across disciplinary boundaries," said President Philip A. Glotzbach in remarks to more than 100 trustees, faculty, students and staff gathered in the Dana Atrium on May 17 to mark the beginning of Phase 1 construction of Skidmore's new CIS — a major milestone in Creating Our Future: The Campaign for Skidmore.

Kelly Sheppard, associate professor of chemistry and department chair, and Erica Bastress-Dukehart, associate professor of history, echoed Glotzbach's sentiments, noting the importance of a facility that will further advance creativity and collaboration on campus. Bastress-Dukehart said, "We are, at heart, a community of makers. We are curious, inventive and hungry to collaborate. Some of the best learning happens when students from all disciplines lean across tables to explore, share and experiment with new ideas."

Akaylia Morgan '18 described the transformative power of a science education. A physics major and recipient of the Skidmore S3M scholarship — awarded annually to only eight students who major in science or math — Morgan spent last summer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, thanks to a Skidmore-funded internship. "The practical experience that students can gain from access to improved facilities [in the new CIS] is necessary to be competitive in the workforce," she said.

W. Scott McGraw, chair of the ߣߣÊÓƵ Board of Trustees, announced that the college has raised "$46.8 million toward our $50 million goal to fund the construction of Phase I of CIS, which encompasses the north wing."

Once completed, CIS will bring Skidmore's 90 science faculty and 10 departments together under 200,000 square feet of new and renovated space, including 46 research labs, 22 teaching labs and 16 classrooms, as well as the IdeaLab. A formal groundbreaking ceremony for the building will be held in the fall.

Creating Our Future: The Campaign for Skidmore is dedicated to the principles Skidmore holds dear: creativity, collaboration and community. Visit the website to learn more about the campaign.