Welcome! It is the mission of Bobcat Catering to provide our customers with outstanding service and innovative culinary creations. To achieve this goal, we source locally whenever possible, track current culinary trends and constantly pursue educational opportunities to keep our service updated. This website was developed to assist in event planning and includes most often requested items and important ordering/policy information. Should you have a specific need, or dietary concern that is not covered on these pages, please contact Donald Desrosiers, Catering Manager at (207)786-6298 or Bobcatcatering@groups.bates.edu.

Information about Dining in Commons Meeting Rooms and Catering

Bates community groups who book space in meeting rooms in Commons (201, 221/222, 226, 225) may take advantage of the through the line catering option. This option allows meeting participants to make meal selections in Commons and return to their reserved space to eat.

Groups interested in the through the line option must book space in Commons through EMS and receive approval from Bobcat Catering at Bobcatcatering@groups.bates.edu.  Please be sure to include an account number and number of individuals attending when you reach out to Bobcat Catering. 

Information about how faculty and staff can order catering and to go meals for college sponsored meeting and events can be found here. If you have any questions please reach out to diningfood@groups.bates.edu. 

Students living off campus who are not on the board plan and would like information about accessing meals in Commons should contact Jenny Graves, Dining, Conferences and Campus Events Business Manager at 207-786-8281 or jgraves2@bates.edu.

Visitors at Indoor Events and Programs

Visitors, including family members of a student, may only enter campus buildings under the conditions outlined below.

Bates is a mask-optional campus. Members of our community may choose to wear a mask at any time for any reason, including and not limited to their own level of comfort, personal medical status, family medical status, or personal risk. We encourage you to be courteous and respectful with regard to the needs and choices of others about masking. Someone you interact with on campus may request that you wear a face mask when indoors with them, and we hope that you will honor this request.

College departments, employees, and students may host visitors in college buildings. In order to enter campus buildings, visitors must be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, or have a negative COVID-19 test result within the previous 48 hours. The college may ask for proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster or negative COVID-19 test result during one’s time on campus. If visitors have concerns about their own health risk factors related to attending mask-optional college events, they should seek guidance from their primary care physician.

Attendance at student social events on campus remains limited to Bates students, faculty, and staff. Vendors, third-party contractors, and other services that have been hired by Bates College to provide essential services at these events are the only exceptions to this policy.