Frequently Asked Questions
Due to weather concerns, both Baccalaureate and Commencement will be held in Merrill Indoor Gymnasium.
Are tickets needed?
- Tickets are not needed for Baccalaureate on Saturday
- Tickets are required for Commencement on Sunday
How do I get tickets?
Tickets are required for the indoor Commencement ceremony in Merrill Gymnasium. Each family was sent three rain-site tickets in their invitation.
A limited number of additional tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. These first-come, first-served tickets will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2013, in the Dining, Conferences and Campus Events Office located at the baseball field end of the main corridor in Commons.
What if the weather is bad?
It looks like that will be the case. As a result, both Baccalaureate and Commencement will be relocated to Merrill Gymnasium. Any additional weather-related location changes will be communicated on this page as well as via an e-mail sent to your senior. As seating is limited in Merrill Gymnasium for Commencement, a ticket is required for entry.
Overflow Seating
If Merrill Gymnasium is filled to capacity, overflow seating is available at Olin Arts Center and Underhill Arena. Both locations will feature a live video projection of the Commencement ceremony and are pinned on our Campus Map.
What is the Baccalaureate Service on Saturday?
You can find more information about this year’s Baccalaureate Service on the Multifaith Chaplaincy site, or by contacting Emily Wright-Magoon with questions: ewrightm@bates.edu or 207-786-6125.
How is Commencement seating arranged?
Seats will be arranged in Merrill Gymnasium and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents and guests of graduates (with tickets) can sit in any areas not marked as reserved.
Where can I park?
Campus Parking Lots are available to Commencement visitors throughout the weekend. A map of lots can be viewed here. Parking on nearby city streets is permitted according to posted parking regulations.
Is Commencement Weekend handicapped accessible?
All Commencement weekend events are handicapped accessible. Bates reserves a parking lot for the convenience of guests with handicap vehicle tags. The lot is on the corner of Campus Ave. and Nichols St. across from the Historic Quad.
For Commencement itself, which will be held inside Merrill Gymnasium, the first row of parking spaces in the Merrill Gym parking lot will be reserved for guests with handicap vehicle tags.
To assist those who may have difficulty walking on campus, the college provides a number of wheelchairs to be borrowed for the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies. They are kept inside the tent beside Merrill gym and can be picked up before each ceremony, and dropped off after each ceremony. For additional information, please write to cschwart@bates.edu.
Where can we find a hotel?
We recommend you make hotel or inn reservations as early as possible for this busy weekend. As with Parents & Family Weekend, local hotels fill up early, and families find Freeport, Augusta, Brunswick and Portland convenient alternatives. See our list of area accommodations here.
Who are the Commencement speakers?
Bates bestows several honorary degrees at the Commencement ceremony. Honorands speak at various events during the weekend, and one of the honorands offers the Commencement address. Click here to read more about the 2013 honorands.
How do I get a copy of the professional photographs taken?
Bates hires a commercial studio to photograph each senior receiving his or her diploma. Seniors and their families will be contacted in mid-June about ordering prints.
