Commons serves as home to the dining hall and multiple meeting and dining spaces which can be reserved through the Event Management System (EMS). This broad range of rooms allows students to meet with friends and peers, faculty and organized groups in a comfortable setting. Designated tabling spaces can also be reserved through EMS.

• Tabling is available  in-front of Milts
• Tabling is available outside Commons to the right of the main doors.

Please refer to the Space Reservations/EMS section of the DCCE website for more information.

Each student on the board plan gains access to Commons by swiping their Bates ID. Board plan members also receive five bonus meals per semester to be used for themselves over a break or for a guest, as permitted by dining policy. Students not on the board plan can eat at Commons by paying at the door per meal or by purchasing a meal card in advance.

• Shoes and shirts are required.
• No pets allowed. Service animals are permitted.
• Access to Commons is limited to:
  • Bates students
  • Faculty and Staff who charge their meals to a Bates Department org number or pay at the door, as permitted by dining policy.
  • External community members, as permitted by dining policy.
• Students who give their ID card to another person, share meals with someone not on the meal plan, carry food out of the dining hall or otherwise create a disturbance therein may be subject to fines, loss of dining privileges or the performance of community service hours in Dining Services, as determined by Student Affairs.

Patrons may eat as much as they’d like while in the dining room, but the packing out of bulk food is prohibited, as is the removal of Commons china, glasses or silverware. A selection of to-go items are available at the Grab ‘n Go station, located near the entrance to Commons.  Patrons are welcome to take a snack – such as an apple, bagel, or ice cream cone –  or a beverage in an RBC (reusable beverage container.) 

Students with Special Dining Needs

If you have questions about special dining needs, please email dccespecdining@groups.bates.edu or reach out to Josh Palomera, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator at jpalomera@bates.edu,or Daisy Haskell, Purchasing Manager and Special Dining Needs Liaison, at  dhaskell@bates.edu

Students With Class or Work Conflicts

A grab n go meal is available in Commons beginning at 7:00 am Monday through Friday. Students with class or work conflicts that do not allow them to come to Commons during meal hours should email bobcatcatering@groups.bates.edu. We require a minimum of three working days in advance to arrange a to-go meal alternative.

Students Leaving On Approved Academic, Athletic, or Organization Trips

Catering arranges food orders for academic field trips, athletic events, and approved student organization trips at no charge for board plan participants. These orders should be placed for the entire group by the person in charge of the trip (eg. a professor or designee, a coach, or a responsible person of a student organization.) Please contact Donald Desrosiers, Catering Manager, at bobcatcatering@groups.bates.edu or x6298. A notice of at least five working days is required for all orders.  

Ill & Injured Students

Students who are unable to go to Commons for medical reasons should contact Health Services to make dining arrangements.

Posting Inside the Dining Hall

• There is no posting of any form allowed inside the dining hall except on the wall leading to the back exit in the area labeled “student posting”
• Only items pertaining to student activities/academic events many be posted in the area.
• Do not post over existing postings
• All items must be dated and will be removed once the event is over. If the item posted is not dated it will be taken down after five days
• No more than two of the same postings can be tacked to the board. Any more than two will be removed
• Large “sheets” and postings larger than 24 in x 24 in are not allowed in this area
• Bates community groups may advertise in the table holders on the tables in Commons/Den. To reserve a space reach out to Kevin Perry @ kperry@bates.edu. Ads are scheduled to a first-come-first served basis, are limited to no more than seven days and can not run consecutively.  Ads are limited to student activities/academic events.

Posting in the Building

• Posting is allowed on the tackable surfaces located in the lower and upper hallways only, not on any other walls/windows/doors. Items posted elsewhere will be removed
• All items must be dated and will be removed once the event is over. If the item posted is not dated it will be taken down after five days
• Large “sheets” and postings larger than 24 in x 24 in are allowed in this area
• No more than three of the same postings can be tacked to the board. Any more than three will be removed
• Do not post over existing postings
• Items are to be tacked to walls, not taped or stapled. Tacks are available at the clicker station located at the entrance to Commons. Improperly hung items will be removed.