Family Weekend Schedule
We’re delighted to share this schedule with families to help you plan your Back to Bates visit. We will continue to add details, event times, and more.
- A note on tickets: While we are back to pre-pandemic capacities for all weekend activities, high interest this year means that many ticketed offerings are at or near capacity. If an event is sold out, we encourage you to make backup plans and enjoy the many activities throughout the weekend that do not require tickets.
- Registration closed at 5 pm Eastern on Friday, Sept. 23.
- Any families wishing to register after 5 pm Eastern on Friday, Sept. 23 should do so by using the walk-in option at the Family Welcome Center under the Library Arcade from 2-9 pm on Friday, Sept. 30, or from 7 am-8 pm on Saturday, Oct. 1. We do not anticipate tickets to the Harvest Dinner will be available to walk-ins, so please be sure to make alternate dining arrangements.
- Dining in Commons during the course of Family Weekend is open to Bates students with ID only.
Questions? Reach out to us at backtobates@bates.edu. We look forward to seeing you at Back to Bates: Family Weekend!
*Current as of September 23, 2022
Friday, September 30
| Time | Event Description |
|---|---|
| 10 am-5 pm | Bates Museum of Art Fall exhibit: Pedagogy This fall’s exhibition focuses on the essence of the museum’s role on campus: to support the academic mission of Bates. As an academic museum at a liberal arts college, the Museum of Art and its exhibitions, collections, stewardship, and interpretation bring a world of ideas to campus that enhances the vitality of the intellectual and cultural life of Bates, the surrounding communities, and beyond. |
| 2-9 pm | Welcome Center Location: Library Arcade Make this your first stop when you arrive on campus to pick up name tags and pre-ordered tickets or to register as a walk-in. |
| 3-4:15 pm | Joint Ventures: Student-Faculty Partnerships in Teaching, Research, and the Arts Malcolm Hill, Dean of the Faculty, moderator Location: Pettengill G54 (Keck Classroom) Faculty at a liberal arts college are committed to teaching undergraduates, but they go above and beyond to engage students in dynamic, meaningful work in their field, whether that is helping to develop a course, engaging with the local community, conducting cutting-edge research, or creating unique spaces for artistic exploration and production. In this session, faculty members will talk about their collaborative work with students, the discoveries they all make, and the benefits of these partnerships. Panelists: Lori Banks, Assistant Professor of Biology Learning through Community Engagement: Teaching Nutrition at Lewiston Middle School Asha Tamirisa, Assistant Professor of Music Exploring Music and Technology: Creating a Sound Studio Joe Hall, Associate Professor of History, and Anelise Shrout, Assistant Professor of Digital and Computational Studies Student-Faculty Research: Reckoning with the Bates Origin Story |
| 4:30-5:45 pm | Student summer research poster session Location: Perry Atrium, Pettengill Hall |
| Dinner | Commons will be open for Bates ID holders only. Your student will be excited to eat off-campus with you! Families should make local dining arrangements as soon as possible; this list is a good place to start. |
| 6:30-8 pm | Shabbat Evening Services and Dinner Location: Library Quad Tent Free but advanced sign-up required. In partnership with the Jewish Student Union. Jewish student leaders will lead a Shabbat service before dinner is served. We are pleased to share that because this Shabbat falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a visiting student rabbi will also be with us. |
| 7 pm | Bates Volleyball vs. Trinity College Location: Alumni Gym |
| 8:30 pm | Acapella group performances Location: Gray Athletic Building Join us for the return of an all-time campus favorite event and enjoy performances by Bates acapella groups. No tickets needed, but the venue has a capacity of 1,000. Doors open at 7:30 pm. |
| NOTE | Restrooms can be found at Merrill Gym, Benjamin Mays Center, and Gray Athletic Building. |
Saturday, October 1
| Time | Event Description |
|---|---|
| 10 am-5 pm | Bates Museum of Art Fall exhibit: Pedagogy This fall’s exhibition focuses on the essence of the museum’s role on campus: to support the academic mission of Bates. As an academic museum at a liberal arts college, the Museum of Art and its exhibitions, collections, stewardship, and interpretation bring a world of ideas to campus that enhances the vitality of the intellectual and cultural life of Bates, the surrounding communities, and beyond. |
| 7 am-8 pm | Welcome Center Location: Library Arcade Make this your first stop when you arrive on campus to pick up name tags and pre-ordered tickets! This is also where you can register as a walk-in. |
| Morning | Admission Tours Location: Lindholm House Bates will run its usual Saturday schedule of admission tours. Learn more if you have a Bobcat sibling interested in signing up for a tour. |
| 7:30 am – 2:30pm | Family Grab-n-Go Coffee Location: Library Arcade Stop by for a quick cup of coffee and hit the ground running for Family Weekend! Muffins provided until 9:30 am. |
| 8-9 am | Volunteer with Bates! Location: Fireplace Lounge (Commons, 1st floor) Network with current parent volunteers and find out more about volunteering with Bates. Light refreshments provided. Free, but advanced sign-up is encouraged. |
| 8-9 am | Kripalu Yoga Location: Commons 221/222 Start your day with a Kripalu yoga session led by Katia Ryan ’23, one of the student organizers of Bates Yoga Kula. This is an all-levels yoga class, and beginners are welcome. Bring your yoga mat, if available, but we will have extras. Limit 25 participants. |
| 9:30-10:30 am | Q&A with President Spencer and Senior Leaders Location: Olin Auditorium Join us as President Spencer reflects on Bates today and what lies ahead for the academic year. She will be joined by Josh McIntosh, Vice President for Campus Life, and Malcolm Hill, Vice President for Academic Affairs. This session will be moderated by Tracey Reeves, Vice President for Communications and Marketing. |
| 10:45-11:45 am | Families of 2023 gathering Location: Dana Hall Living Room This year, Bates will launch the inaugural Senior Parent Gift program, which this year will raise funds to name the Dana Hall Living Room. Join other senior class families to tour this newly renovated space, which has quickly become a vibrant gathering spot that seniors and their fellow students use for studying, group work, meeting with professors and mentors, and more. |
| 11 am | Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity Location: Russell Street Field |
| 11 am | Field Hockey vs. Trinity Location: Central Avenue Field |
| 11 am | Cross Country: Maine State Meet Location: Away at Saxl Park, Bangor, ME |
| 11:30 am-2:30 pm | BBQ Lunch Location: Commons Tent, with seating in the Bardwell Tent Tickets: $20 per adult, $15 for children ages 12 and under. Bates students must present their ID. If you did not register for the BBQ by 5 pm on Sept. 23, please be aware that limited walk-in tickets will be available. |
| 1 pm | An Artistic Showcase, presented by the Theater and Dance Department Location: Plavin Dance Studio Bates students are brimming with talent and artistic excellence. This showcase will present a sampling of all things awesome, cool, and downright nifty. Kick off your shoes (really, we want to protect our Marley floor) and join in what will be a fantastic Back to Bates arts bonanza! Tickets are available now through the Theater and Dance Department. |
| 1 pm | Bates Volleyball vs. Wesleyan University Location: Alumni Gym |
| 1:30 pm | Men’s Soccer vs. Trinity Location: Russell Street Field |
| 2-3 pm | Purposeful Work: Student Panel Location: Pettengill G21 Preparing students for lives of meaningful work lies at the heart of the liberal arts mission. Join us as a panel of students discusses their Summer 2022 internship experiences as part of this signature Bates program. |
| 2:30 pm | Men’s Rugby vs. Bowdoin College Location: Garcelon Field |
| 4-5 pm | MOSAIC Families Networking Location: Bonney Science Center Living Room Bates MOSAIC Families seeks to build community among the family members, guardians, and support networks of underrepresented racial, ethnic, LGBTQIA+, first-generation-to-college, and international Bates students. Free, but advanced sign-up is encouraged. |
| 5:30-8 pm | Join us for the return of the Harvest Dinner! Location: Gray Athletic Building Capacity: 750 This high-demand event has reached capacity. If you are on the waitlist, please make alternate plans for dinner. In the unlikely event tickets become available, we will contact waitlisted families shortly after registration closes on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5pm. |
| 8-9:30 pm | Parent Wine and Cheese Gathering Location: Library Quad Tent Get to know other Bates parents while sampling an array of beer, wine, and treats. Sorry, no Bates students or guests under age 21. |
| NOTE | Restrooms can be found at Merrill Gym, Benjamin Mays Center, and Gray Athletic Building. |