Smith eDigest
The Smith eDigest is sent to all campus e-mail accounts on Tuesday and Thursday each week during the academic year, and on Tuesday during the summer, providing important notices, college news, links to articles of general interest to the community, deadline notifications, and other college information. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. the day before publication date. Information on submitting items is available at: https://www.smith.edu/news-stories/edigest-form/.
01/07/2025 Digest
Geothermal Energy Project
Geothermal Energy Project Update
Tuesday, Jan. 7
Drilling is ongoing at the athletic fields with the use of two drill rigs. Piping distribution activities will continue on Upper College Lane, near the Lyman Plant House and Sabin Reed. Building access restrictions and road closures will be in place. Building conversion work will continue in basements and mechanical spaces in all Quad buildings and select Central District buildings. Traffic will be impacted on Green Street near Sage Hall for excavation activities across the roadway. Visit https://smithgeoenergy.info/project-overview for more information and to sign up for the weekly project update.
Faculty/Staff Notices
eDigest Moves to Once-Weekly Schedule Through Interterm
Beginning today, eDigest will move to its once-weekly publication schedule until spring semester classes resume. We will resume our twice-weekly, Tuesday/Thursday, schedule on January 28.
Smith 150 Special Logo
Smith College is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025. College Relations encourages campus offices to use a special Smith150 logo during the 2025 calendar year on anything where you would normally add the general college wordmark or seal. This could include things like event posters, email headings, special publications, slide decks, and more. To access the drive of various logo formats or for questions, please email publications@smith.edu. General questions about Smith’s 150th anniversary can be sent to smith150@smith.edu. A website with stories, a historical timeline, a calendar of events, and more can be found at http://smith.edu/150.
Reminder: Review Home Address for W-2 Distribution by Jan. 8
This is a reminder to all employees to review your home address in Workday to ensure accurate distribution and timely receival of your W-2. Updating your address is easy in Workday! Simply type "change home address" in the Workday search bar and select the task "Change My Home Contact Information."
Round Two of the Staff Spotlight Award Nominations Is Open
Through March 22, 7 p.m.
Round Two of the Staff Spotlight Award nominations is now open and will run through Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 7 PM. The criteria for a nomination include those individuals who have contributed significantly to the working environment at Smith College, including exceptional customer service, solving a problem resulting in a positive impact for others, promoting inclusivity and collaboration. Nominations must highlight accomplishments that occurred between April 1, 2024 – March 15, 2025. For more information: http://smith.edu/about-smith/hr/staff-recognition
Spring 2025 Faculty Technology Workshops
January 14-24, 2025
Get ready for Spring 2025! Learning, Research & Technology is offering a series of faculty workshops from January 14-24, and sessions will be offered both in-person and online. Workshop topics include setting up your course in Moodle, accessibility & universal design, AI tools and policies, classroom technology orientation drop-in sessions, one-on-one pedagogical consultations, and more. To sign up, visit the following link: https://go.oncehub.com/facultyworkshops
Register Now: Hiking and Writing with Friends--Community Building at MacLeish Field Station
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1 p.m., MacLeish Field Station
Do you want to spend time on your writing and have a change of scenery? Come find inspiration in a place of natural beauty! We will write in the company of others at the MacLeish Field Station, in the hills of West Whately. In the middle of the afternoon, participants will either enjoy a loop trail in the woods (weather permitting) or keep writing. Snacks will be provided. Feel welcome to join anytime. Part of the Spring 2025 Faculty Development Series (https://www.smith.edu/academics/provostdean-faculty/faculty-development). Register in advance (https://forms.gle/8HLCKkZegAKd947Q8)
Teaching With AI Cohort
Apply by January 8
Sponsored by the Committee on Educational Technology, this program supports faculty in exploring the impacts of AI tools on teaching and learning for one of their Spring 2025 courses. Participants in the Faculty AI Cohort will meet monthly during the spring semester, partner with the Learning Research & Technology team to design a digital project for one of their Spring 2025 courses, and will receive a $400 research grant at the completion of the program. Apply here: https://forms.gle/rcCfyJ8eaM9yAk5g8
Request Spatial Analysis Lab Support for Spring Courses and Research
Have a question or idea regarding maps or spatial data? Contact the Spatial Analysis Lab (SAL) for support and collaboration on spring courses and research. The SAL manages two computer classrooms/labs and is available for data collection and analysis, co-developing lessons, mapmaking, place-based storytelling, and more. Please fill out this form (https://forms.gle/ZXpMg2rX5dstvj2g8) to start a conversation. We will review and respond to requests on a rolling basis, but requests submitted by January 10th would help us plan. Email sal@smith.edu with any questions.
Register Now: January Art of Leading Teams--The Mid-Year Team Reflection (VIRTUAL ONLY)
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 12:15 p.m., Virtual Event
January is an excellent time to press pause after the intensity of the fall semester and check in together as a team. This VIRTUAL ONLY session is an opportunity to bring your whole team or department and engage in some collective reflection, with exercises and tools you can use together both in and after the session. Open to all faculty and staff, individually or as a group. Sponsored by the Wurtele Center for Leadership and co-facilitated by Kelsey Parks Smith, Assistant Athletic Director for Equity, Inclusion and Student-Athlete Well-Being. RSVP for calendar invite and Zoom link: https://forms.gle/jdx8NH88T7viNXCo6
Finding Funding Opportunities With Grant Forward
Tuesday, Jan. 14, Noon, Virtual Event
Smith College faculty and staff have access to the Grant Forward funding opportunities database, developed by faculty at the University of Illinois. With this database you can locate information about grant, fellowship and award opportunities in a wide range of disciplines. A member of the Grant Forward team will lead an interactive session on Zoom in which you will learn how to find grant opportunities, tailor searches to more closely match your interests, and receive notifications from funders of interest to you. Part of the Spring 2025 Faculty Development Series (https://www.smith.edu/academics/provostdean-faculty/faculty-development). Register in advance (https://forms.gle/8HLCKkZegAKd947Q8)
Register Now: Everyday Tools for Having Challenging Conversations Across Differences Part 2
Thursday, Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m., Virtual Event
Tools for Having Challenging Conversations Across Differences Part 2. New year means new tools! This will continue our September discussion about how we can communicate with care for ourselves and others when we disagree. Note: This session will only be offered on Zoom. Register here: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/i0hMsA6/g/7sC1QgP32s
Student Notices
Announcing Smith Spring Showcases 2025
Throughout the spring semester, students share their perspectives and present their research work, community engagement, and artistic and creative endeavors: Smith in the World, Amplify Competition, Joypalooza, Smith Arts Day, and Celebrating Collaborations. As part of an initiative to collaborate and work together to plan these events, we are launching a new umbrella, the Smith Spring Showcases, to help the community to navigate the different events and encourage students, faculty and staff participation. We hope you will engage with these events as participants, audience members, and as faculty/staff mentors. Learn more: https://bit.ly/smith-spring-showcases
Smith College Alumnae Scholarship
Deadline is March 24
Seniors or alumnae planning to enter their first year of graduate study are eligible to apply for an Alumnae Scholarship. Awards are based on merit as determined by the department of your major. Students who receive awards are expected to pursue full-time graduate study. Applications are available at https://www.smith.edu/academics/class-deans#alumnae-scholarships-1 Recommendations from your department are required as part of the application. The application deadline is March 24.
eDigest Moves to Once-Weekly Schedule Through Interterm
Beginning today, January 7, eDigest will move to its once-weekly publication schedule until spring semester classes resume. We will resume our twice-weekly, Tuesday/Thursday, schedule on January 28.
Mail Services Hours and Package Pick-up Update
Starting Monday, Jan. 6, please pick up all packages at the Mail Services pick-up window. The package lockers are being replaced and should be operational by January 18.
Raise Your Voice For Positive Change! Amplify Competition Now Open - Prizes Up to $500
Register by January 15
The Wurtele Center for Leadership’s Amplify Competition is now open and offers Smith students the chance to share their knowledge, stories and perspectives in a public forum. Submit an op-ed, a zine, and/or present a TED-style talk on an issue that matters to you. The top three submissions in each category win a cash prize. For more information and submission links: https://www.smith.edu/academics/integrative-learning/wurtele-center-leadership/amplify-program/amplify-competition
Apply Now! Reunion Student Program 2025!
Current Smith students play a crucial role in the success of commencement and reunions, making these events fun and an essential source of connection. The Office of Alumnae Relations hires 165-200 students annually for around 6,000 job shifts in May, including leadership and programming roles. Students working for RSP can depart campus after 5 pm on Sunday, May 25th. Meals and housing provided. This application is intended for students able to work BOTH weeks of reunion: May 15th - May 18th and May 22rd - 25th. Follow this link to learn more and apply: https://forms.gle/7VCkSFpFoDKbGKEa9
Smith in the World: Collaborative Leadership, Design & Innovation
Tuesday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world Collaborative Leadership, Design, & Innovation (CLDI) is an immersive internship experience for students who are looking for intensive opportunities to put collaborative leadership, design and entrepreneurial skills into practice. The program connects teams of students with embedded, fully-paid summer internships around the world where they have a chance to practice collaborative change-making in the context of a local organization and help lead the advancement of of socially, economically, and environmentally healthy communities. Join the Summer 2024 cohort to hear about their experiences in Barbados, Costa Rica, Kenya and Senegal. Register for Zoom link here: https://smith.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcOqhrjkpE9WXssdVjQNRLRH_-odsA54e
Smith in the World: Business, Finance, Consulting & Entrepreneurship Panel
Thursday, Jan. 9, 9:30 a.m., Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference is held annually to celebrate students’ off-campus experiential learning, including internships, community service and research. In a series of panels, students reflect on how their experiences have impacted and enriched their academic and professional paths. Business, Finance, Consulting & Entrepreneurship Panel: Hear from students who will share their experiences in: Quantitative Asset Management; the Stock Exchange of Thailand; Economic Consulting with Cornerstone Research; the Girls Who Invest program and an investment analyst internship at the Oregon State Treasury. For more information, and to register for Zoom link, please visit: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world
Smith in the World Conference: STEM Panel
Monday, Jan. 13, Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference is held annually to celebrate students’ off-campus experiential learning, including internships, community service and research. In a series of panels, students reflect on how their experiences have impacted and enriched their academic and professional paths. STEM Panel: Hear from students who will share their experiences in: Research on how climate change affects coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean; Metamorphic petrology in India; and Amazon Software Development internship, in Machine Learning for Kindle book covers. For more information, and to register for Zoom link, please visit: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world
Smith in the World Conference: Education, Non-Profit, Social Impact Panel
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference is held annually to celebrate students’ off-campus experiential learning, including internships, community service and research. In a series of panels, students reflect on how their experiences have impacted and enriched their academic and professional paths. Education Non-Profit, Social Impact panel: Hear from students who will share their experiences in: Advocacy for communities affected by natural disasters in Brazil; Advocacy for farmworkers in South Carolina; Educating women in Afghanistan under a Taliban regime; Education research for students in juvenile detention. For more information, and to register for Zoom link, please visit: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world
Smith in the World Conference: Government, International Affairs, Law, Policy Panel
Friday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference is held annually to celebrate students’ off-campus experiential learning, including internships, community service and research. In a series of panels, students reflect on how their experiences have impacted and enriched their academic and professional paths. Government, International Affairs, Law, Policy panel: Hear from students who will share their experiences with the Democratic National Committee; International Law and advocacy for Pakistani prisoners; the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA); a Climate-focused NGO in Geneva. For more information, and to register for Zoom link, please visit: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world
Smith in the World Conference: Arts, Media & Communications Panel
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event
The Smith in the World conference is held annually to celebrate students’ off-campus experiential learning, including internships, community service and research. In a series of panels, students reflect on how their experiences have impacted and enriched their academic and professional paths. Arts, Media & Communications panel: Hear from students who will share their experiences in documentary filmmaking, language immersion in Italy, studio art in NYC and independent publishing in feminist poetry. For more information, and to register for Zoom link, please visit: http://www.smith.edu/news-events/events/smith-in-the-world
Lectures/Symposia
Jung Lecture: 'The Post-Heroic Journey' Sharon Blackie
Saturday, Jan. 11, 11 a.m., Virtual Event
The concept of the "Hero’s Journey," coined by American mythologist Joseph Campbell, has been profoundly influential, but it has also been subject to many criticisms. In response to those criticisms, in Sharon Blackie's 2018 book, "The Enchanted Life," she suggested that the time of the Hero is over, and proposed instead the concept of the "post-heroic journey." Sharon Blackie, Ph.D., M.A., FRSA, is an award-winning writer, psychologist and mythologist, with degrees in behavioral neuroscience, creative writing and Celtic studies. Co-sponsored by Smith College Psychology Dept. This lecture presented on ZOOM go to http://www.WestMassJung.org to register.
Performing Arts/Films/Fine Arts
Call for Submissions: Pioneer Valley Arts Festival
The Policy Playhouse is a new Pioneer Valley Arts nonprofit that seeks to bridge the gap between policymakers and the people they serve. The organization is currently seeking playwrights and interdisciplinary artists to submit their play scripts or creative projects for consideration by January 20, 2025. Click the link for more information and to submit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nbn2dWB808eJqQ86jV35MMhivkLH0flwEC_VLz3yHWQ/edit?usp=sharing
Second Friday at Museum of Art
Friday, Jan. 10, 4-8 p.m., Museum of Art
Join us for an evening of art, making, and community fun at the January 10 Second Friday! SCMA is free and open to all! Participate in hands-on art making for all ages. How many ways can you make a snowflake? Inspired by the repetitions of forms in the art of Younes Rahmoun, create one-of-a-kind snowflakes in all different shapes and textures by cutting, folding, tracing, and painting. Light refreshments will be served. From 4–8 p.m., explore and enjoy four floors of art! Plan your visit here: scma.smith.edu/visit
Other Events and Activities
January Bookstore Hours
January 7-17, Eight Green St.
The Smith Bookstore weekday hours through January 17 will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Introductory Bellringing Workshops During Interterm
January 13-17, 4:45-5:45 p.m., Mendenhall Bell Tower
The Smith College bellringers are offering special sessions January 13–17 for any faculty, staff or students who are curious about the Mendenhall Bell Tower or are interested in focused, beginner-friendly ringing practice. No commitment is necessary, although if you come frequently, you will be able to hold your own with the regular band of ringers in the spring! Sessions will be 4:45–5:45 p.m. (followed by regular practice on Monday and Thursday). For more info, visit http://smith.edu/bellringing or contact Micah Walter (mwalter@smith.edu).
Campus School Open House Grades 1-6
Thursday, Jan. 16, 8:30-10:30 a.m., 33 Prospect St.
The Campus School of Smith College will host an Open House for prospective families with students in first through sixth grade. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the school and observe its programs in action. Interested families are encouraged to RSVP by visiting: http://forms.gle/s8hcbuY5QeCrMcAc7
Smith Basketball April Break Kids Sports Academy 4/21-4/24
April 21-24, Ainsworth Gym
Smith Basketball is hosting an April Break Multi-Sports Academy April 21-24 for all kids in kindergarten to Grade 6. College coaches & players will utilize the unique facilities at Smith College (indoor track and tennis facility, 3 full size gyms, squash courts, yoga room, film room, field turf, soccer field, and hiking trails) to facilitate activities that range from team sports (ex: basketball, soccer) and fun initiative games (ex: shipwreck, sports obstacle courses) to arts and crafts, talent shows, and movie screenings.