Campus Map. This interactive campus map shows the locations of all buildings, parking lots, emergency “blue phones” and other locations of interest at Bates College.

Recommended Entry Course Page: This page includes information that 1) briefly summarizes the field of study of each academic unit, 2) highlights introductory courses or entry points for students who might be interested in that field of study, and 3) explains how those entry courses also fulfill requirements of the General Education Program (Major + 1, 5 MOIs, 3 Ws).

The General Education Program: This page provides a helpful summary of the Bates general education requirements, which includes the Major +1, 5 MOIs, and 3 Ws). For a rationale for the program please see either the college catalog or review this PDF about “Exploring the Bates Curriculum.” Students and faculty may find the advising pyramid graphic helpful as it visually depicts all of the requirements of the general education and illustrates how the 5MOIs can be understood as a foundation on which a Bates educational experience may be built. For answers to Frequently-Asked Questions about the MOIs, please see this document prepared by the Registrar. In addition, you can watch the video below, which explains the general education requirements at Bates.

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Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Policies are discussed in the Bates Catalog. To review these policies, go to the Catalog, click on  “Academics at Bates” on the left, then “Academic Policies.” Other policy information may be found on various webpages. The following policies may be of particular interest: 

• Degree Requirements
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Applying Non-Bates Credit
• Information and Policies on Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, and Unintentional Misuse of Source Material
• Course Attendance Policy
• Course Grading
• Academic Appeals Procedures
• Course Attendance Policy
• Course Deferrals
• Make-Up Exams
• Leave of Absence
• Religious Holiday Observance

Registrar. The Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems maintains the permanent academic records of all students. The Registrar is located at Libbey Forum on Mountain Avenue and can be reached at registrar@bates.edu. The office oversees and provides services related to the curriculum, course registration, production of the Course Schedule each term, classroom scheduling, grades, management of applying non-Bates credit to your Bates degree, e.g., AP credit, transcripts, transfer credit, enrollment certifications, independent study, and diplomas. It also maintains the “First Day of Class Meeting Drop Policy.” And, there are a number of resources that the Registrar maintains to assist faculty in a range of activities, including but not limited to guides on Garnet Gateway; major, minor, and concentration declaration; course planning; and creation and implementation of the scheduling grids that are used to generate the course schedules by term.

The Peer Learning Commons (PLC): The PLC is students’ central hub for academic support at Bates. Located in the ground level of Ladd Library, the PLC houses the Student Academic Support Center (SASC) and the Student Writing and Language Center (SWLC). Each of these Centers are staffed by peer tutors and professional staff to assist students in engaging their academic work across the curriculum as well as in developing study skills ranging from time management and note-taking to inclusive study group practices.

Accessible Education.

Student Research Support and Funding.

Library and Research Support.

Advising Guides for Particular Fields of Study.

Computing Support: If your advisee has computer and/or laptop needs, e.g. their current laptop is being repaired, please refer them to their Student Support Advisor. The SSA will then connect the student to resources which may include a loaner laptop.

Pre-Health Professions Information and Pathways: Students interested in pursuing a health profession should be sure to review all of the resources at this site put together by the pre-health advisors at the Center for Purposeful Work. It is important that students considering a pre-health pathway take CHEM 107, which is only offered in the Fall semester.

Language, Chemistry, and Math Placement

Center for Global Education.

Fall 2025

• Add/Drop opens at 7am, Sept 2. The first week of add/drop is open, the 2nd week is instructor permission
• Last day to add or drop a class: Sept 16
• Last day to select pass/fail or change from letter to P/F (or vice versa) from Fall 2025 course: Dec 5
• Last day to withdraw (rolls to a W on transcript) from Fall 2025 course: Dec 5
• Winter 2026 grids due Sept 22
• Winter 2026 new course proposals due Sept 22
• Winter 2026 draft schedule available Oct 6
• Winter 2026 advising period starts, Oct 24 (15 days)
• Winter 2026 registration opens Oct 31. Closes Nov 7 (4pm)
• Winter 2026 petition period opens Nov 12, Faculty review Nov 17-23, Results available Dec 1
• Add/Drop for Winter 2026 opens Dec 2

Winter 2026

• Last day to add/drop a Winter 2026 course: Jan 27
• Draft ST/Fall schedule released Feb 9
• ST/Fall schedule corrections due Feb 18
• ST/Fall advising period opens Feb 23
• ST/Fall registration opens Feb 27
• ST/Fall petitioning period opens Mar 11-15, Faculty Review Mar 16-25, finalized Mar 30
• Add/Drop for ST/Fall opens Mar 31
• Last day to change grade from letter to p/f or vice-versa and to withdraw from Winter 2026 classes, April 17.

Bates utilizes an “Advising Team” approach whereby each student has a network of support. In the BatesReach system, this network is referred to as “My Success Network,” and it includes 1) a student’s Academic Advisor, Student Support Advisor, Athletic Coach (if the student is a student-athlete), and all of the student’s faculty instructors during a given semester.

Each first-year student has a set of three advisors–their Academic Advisor, their Student Support Advisor, and their Junior Advisor–and each has a different role. The Academic Advisor is most often a student’s First-Year Seminar until the student declares a major. Then the academic advisor is a faculty member in that major field of study (if a student declares two majors, they work with an Academic Advisor in each field of study, and if a student declares a minor, they also have an Academic Advisor in that minor field of study). Here is a bit more information about each role:

Academic Advisor: Until a student declares a major (no later than March 1 of their second year), their pre-major academic advisor is most often their First-Year Seminar instructor. Once a student declares a major, a faculty member within that academic unit becomes their academic advisor. The academic advisor helps students explore the curriculum to discover their interests and to fulfill general education requirements, e.g., 5 Mode of Inquiry credits, Major + 1 (where the “+ 1” can be a second major, a minor, or a General Education Concentration), 3 W credits, 32 total credits toward degree (including 2 short-term courses, each short-term course counts as 0.5 credits).

Student Support Advisor (SSA): The Student Support Advisor supports student success by ensuring they know whom to go to when they need guidance, assistance, or just someone to talk to. Students are assigned a Student Support Advisor prior to their matriculation and remain with their advisor for the duration of their enrollment at Bates. While your pre-major academic advisor – who is your First-Year Seminar (FYS) instructor – provides the primary academic advising for students, Student Support Advisors are an additional point of contact and support for students who have concerns or questions about their academic plans.

Residential Junior Advisor (JA): At Bates, all first-year students live within First-Year Centers in the residence halls. Each FYC has an assigned junior advisor (a residential advisor often a sophomore or junior) who serves as a key peer resource to assist students in navigating opportunities at Bates. Most common questions about residence life at Bates, e.g., housing accommodation, roommate information, etc., are answered at the Office of Residence Life and Health Education website.

Student Affairs. This is the main website for Student Affairs. The overarching goal in Student Affairs is to support every student for a successful Bates experience, and to help prepare students for rewarding and engaged lives after Bates. The site contains links to all offices within Student Affairs as well as key resources such as BatesReach. You can also access the Student Advising Hub at this site.

Overview of Student Support Resources: This brief document summarizes a range of health and wellness and other support resources at Bates. It provides information on health-related, community, confidential, and emergency response resources and can be a good first step in identifying the appropriate resource for your student.

Information on Student Support Advisors.

Student Conduct and Community Standards.

BatesReach: See https://www.bates.edu/student-affairs/batesreach-training-materials/

Residence Life.

Information on Accessible Education support.

Bates Health Services.

Information on Counseling and Psychological Services.

Confidential Resource Advisor (CRA): The CRA (formerly known as the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate of SAVA) provides confidential advocacy and support for survivors of sexual violence, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and other types of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct..

Bates Care Collaborative.

Financial Support Resources.

Student Emergency Fund

Well-Being Initiative

Information on the Multi-faith Chaplaincy and Support It Offers.

Student Center for Belonging and Community.

SPARQ!–LGBTQIAP2+ Support.

Center for Purposeful Work

Center for Global Education.

Academic Policy and Advising Refresher-2025-26 (Click for resources-Bates Community Only)

Academic Policy and Advising Refresher — 2024-25 (Click for resources-Bates Community Only)

Academic Advising Refresher 2023-24 (Click for resources-Bates Community Only)

Advising Workshop Series 2022-23 (Click for resources-Bates Community Only)