The following policies represent the administrative policy and guidance in use by the Dean of the Faculty. See also the Faculty Handbook and the College Catalog for Legislated Policies.

Advising
The Dean of the Faculty and the AAC established this visiting faculty independent study and thesis advising policy in 2017

Building Access
Campus Safety is responsible for the security of campus facilities. Bates Community Members can access most buildings with their Bates ID during Building hours. Bates Community Members can enter their “home” building 24/7.

Budget Management for Chairs

• In collaboration with the chairs, the Dean of the Faculty created a guide for Chairs to managing academic unit budgets for chairs in Fall of 2025.
• The Dean of Faculty’s Office updated the approval process for budgetary expenditures for reimbursements, payments of invoices, and stipends in April of 2026.

Campus Guests
Student Affairs updated the college’s guest access policies in 2025.

College Vehicles
Faculty wishing to use a College vehicle must read the Bates College Motor Vehicle Policy carefully and take seriously the responsibilities associated with operating a College vehicle. The College also offers a Van Driver Orientation Program.

Communication & Events
The Dean of the Faculty and Bates Communication and Marketing established policies for moderated content in 2024.

Curriculur Art Installation

The Public Art Committee reviews requests for installation of art in public campus spaces from faculty for pedagogical reasons. View the policy for short-duration public art installations and/or longer-duration public art installations (created by the previous iteration of the Public Art Committee, not the committee approved in 2026) and start the process with a proposal form.

Courseload
The Dean of the Faculty updated its Course release and buyout policy in 2025.

Data Governance
The Data Governance Group updated the college’s data governance policies in 2025.

Endowed Chairs
Bates has more than 30 endowed professorship for its teaching faculty. The AAC revised endowed professorship policies in 2025.

Emergencies
The VP for Finance and Administration and the Dean of the Faculty established this weather emergencies policy in 2021.

Hiring and Contractual Matters

• The AAC updated its long term faculty line retention policy in 2025.
• The Dean of the Faculty and the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion updated the policy for target of opportunity hires in 2025.
• The Dean of the Faculty created a Basic Guide to Startup Funds and a policy on startup fund extensions in 2025.
• In April of 2026 the Dean of Faculty, in consultation with the Committee on Faculty Governance and the Academic Affairs Committee, created a policy regarding faculty titles for those with affiliations with an academic unit other than the one they are appointed in.

Grading & In-Class Matters

• In January of 2026, the AAC created this policy related to faculty retention of graded student work.
• The Dean of the Faculty established this policy in 2016 regarding student academic appeals.

Majors and Minors
The AAC established this policy on Changes to Majors or Minors in Departments and Programs in 2016.

ORSP Research Compliance Policies and Resources
ORSP keeps updated information regarding Research Compliance Policies and Resources to assist faculty with external grants.

Professional Development & Travel
Accounting updated its travel policies in 2025.

Retirement
The Dean of the Faculty updated the options for faculty retirement plans in 2021.

Recognition
The Dean of Faculty’s office established a Faculty Recognition program in 2025 to celebrate faculty at three points in their career: promotion, tenure, and retirement.

Short Term
The Dean of faculty and AAC agreed on this policy regarding Short Term courses taught by faculty in their first year of teaching.

Tenure and Promotion
The Faculty Personnel Committee (FPC) approved this policy in April 2026 regarding Soliciting Student Letters for to gain student perspective during Tenure and Review cases.

Travel
The Off-Campus Study Committee is responsible for allocating funds to support faculty visits to Off-Campus Study sites. Additional information is available from the Global Education Office.