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Bates College offers residents in the Greater Lewiston-Auburn area the opportunity to enroll in or audit a limited number of courses at a reduced tuition and with a non-degree seeking status.

Courses for Credit

Courses taken as a Community Scholar are limited to two per semester and may not exceed a total of four. Qualified students are admitted on a space available basis, as space permits. Upon successful completion of courses, students may request a copy of their Bates transcript.

Application:  Students apply for community scholar status by submitting an application form and paying the application fee no later than one month prior to the start of the semester. Application forms are available at the Registrar and Academic Systems office.

Registration Procedure: The course registration form is available at the Registrar and Academic Systems office. (Office hours are M-F, 9:00am – 4:00pm). The Schedule of Courses may also be viewed on the web by clicking on the “Course Schedule” link on the Registrar’s Office webpage.

Students must obtain written permission of the instructor to register for courses using the course registration form available from the office. Most instructors are available immediately before the start of the semester; therefore, course registration may be completed within the first ten days of the semester. The registration fee must be paid in full before registering for courses.

Students may make registration adjustments (adds/drops) by the deadlines listed in the Bates Catalog.

Fees:  The application fee is $25, payable at the time of application for special student status. The fee is non-refundable. For 2022-2023, the Community Scholar course fee is $2,100. The course fee is payable at the time of registration.

ID Card:  Community Scholars will be issued a Bates ID card for access privileges during the period in which they are taking courses.

Refunds:  Community Scholars wishing to drop a class must submit a Registration Adjustment form to the Registrar’s Office before the last day to drop courses as listed in the Bates Catalog. Refunds will only be given prior to mid-semester as follows: first 10% of the semester, 90% refund; end of first 10% to end of first 25% of the semester, 50% refund; end of first 25% to the end of the first 50%, 25% refund.

Please note: Community Scholars may enroll in fall and winter semester courses only and may not enroll in a Short Term course.

Auditing a Course

Bates College offers members of the Greater Lewiston-Auburn community the opportunity to audit certain courses with permission of the instructor and the Registrar. No credit is earned; the audit is not recorded on a permanent record. An auditor should not expect to have papers and exams graded; therefore, auditing is seldom permitted in courses where the method of instruction involves significant individual attention and guidance. An audited course may not be converted to a course taken for credit at a later date by paying the regular course fee.

Application/registration: The application and registration forms are available at the Registrar and Academic Systems office. (Office hours are M-F, 9:00am – 4:00pm). The Schedule of Courses provides information on courses offered each term.

Registration Procedure:  Students must obtain written permission of the instructor to audit a course. Most instructors are available immediately before the start of the semester; therefore, course-auditing registration may be completed within the first ten days of the semester. The auditing fee must be paid in full before registering to audit a course.

Fees:  For 2022-2023 the Auditing course fee is $750.

ID card:  Auditing students will not be issued a Bates ID card. Auditing students are extended privileges accorded to members of the Lewiston-Auburn community.

Please note: Auditing students may audit fall and winter semester courses only and may not enroll in a Short Term course.

For additional information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 207-755-5949 or registrar@bates.edu