Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Hello Class of 2027!

Last week, on May 31, 2023, we sent you our welcome email, and we outlined the First-Year Experience or FYE at Bates. We listed out the 8 component programs as well as the 6 values that animate the First-Year Experience (FYE).

In this email, we have 2 goals:

First, we remind you of previous information sent to you regarding completing important forms (what we call First-Year Forms) that you can access on the Garnet Gateway.

Second, we provide you with an overview of summer communications and resources to which you will have access. This email outlines when you will receive important information. Summer communication is a key component of the First-Year Experience; it is a first way for you to learn about the range of opportunities and resources available at Bates.

You will hear from us about once per week in June, July, and August. Many of these emails will guide you to a website we use at Bates called Lyceum, which is our course management system. On Lyceum you will have access to lots of short videos and other materials that will help you learn about Bates, help you register for classes for the upcoming Fall semester, and help you prepare for Arrival Day in late August. 

First-Year Forms

You will need to fill out all of the First-Year Forms prior to matriculating to Bates in the Fall. All of these forms are accessed through Garnet Gateway. A schedule of the forms open and due dates is listed at the First-Year Forms page on the First-Year Experience website. To login and access these forms, please follow this link to Garnet Gateway. 

Summer Communications and Resources

Here is an overview of what is coming soon:

• Wednesday, June 28, 2023 – Summer Resources Part I (Welcome and Values) opens at your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page. This section provides an important overview of the entire First-Year Experience. Don’t worry, we will send you an email later in June that provides information on how to access your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page.

• Monday, July 10, 2023 – Summer Resources Part II (Academic Resources and Exploration) opens on your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page. This section will provide everything you need to know in order to register for your Fall 2023 semester classes as well as information on academic exploration, on general education and degree requirements, on community-engaged learning opportunities, purposeful work and career exploration, pre-health career tracks, majors, minors, concentrations, and more!

• Monday, July 17, 2023 – First Year Seminar (FYS) Registration Opens at 10 AM Eastern Time on Garnet Gateway. Students register only for the required First-Year Seminar. Registration is NOT first-come, first-serve. You can register at any time between the opening on July 17 and the closing of the registration period on Friday, July 21 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. You will be able to list your preferences for your required FYS so be sure to indicate your top choice for your FYS in addition to  no fewer than 8 unranked alternates.

• Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – Zoom Ask Me Anything Webinar on Academic Exploration and Course Registration from 6 to 7:15 PM Eastern Time (Topics: General Education Requirements, Social Sciences, Humanities, Sciences, Math, Interdisciplinary Programs, Languages, the Arts, Engineering, and Pre-Health Professions Coursework). Get your questions answered by a panel of faculty and academic staff. The panel will be recorded so you can re-watch or watch if you cannot attend.  We will send you the Zoom link about 24 to 48 hours before the event.

• Friday, July 21, 2023 – First-Year Seminar (FYS) Registration closes at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Be sure to have indicated your top choice and no fewer than 8 unranked alternates on Garnet Gateway.

• Friday, July 28, 2023 – What FYS Will I Be Taking? FYS Assignment Notification is sent to students.

• Wednesday, August 2, 2023 – Registration for Fall 2023 courses (all of your other Fall courses beside your First-Year Seminar (FYS)) opens on Garnet Gateway at 10 AM Eastern Time concurrent with registration consultation period. Each student is assigned an August Registration Consultant who will reach out to you through your Bates email. They are a faculty member or a student affairs staff member who are available to assist you in your course selection if you need help. Course registration–just like FYS selection–is NOT first-come, first-serve. You may enter your preferences at Garnet Gateway between 10 AM on August 2 and 11:59 PM on August 8. Be sure to enter your 3 top choices and at least 10 unranked alternate courses. You do not need to enter different sections of the same course as an alternate. If you select a course that has multiple sections, the Registrar will put you in any available section. So you can keep your alternate slots for distinct courses.

• Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – Registration for Fall 2023 Courses closes at 11:59 PM Eastern Time with closing of concurrent registration consultation period.

• Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Summer Resources Part III (Bates’s History, Mission, and Ongoing Commitment to Equity) opens on your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page. This section will detail important information about Bates’s History and Mission statement. It will also address concepts of equity and inclusion that will be further explored in other parts of the First-Year Experience as well, such as during New Student Orientation and the First-Year Experience Workshops.

• Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – Summer Resources Part IV (Community Exploration, Expectations and Supports) opens on your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page. This section introduces you to some important community guidelines and different members of our community who lead resources such as Bates Health Services, the Office of Intercultural Education, various student academic support resources, the Office of Campus Life, and more!

• Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – (View Your Courses) Full course schedules released to Class of 2027 and viewable on Garnet Gateway at about Noon Eastern Time. No adjustments can be made at this time. But, don’t worry. Students will have an opportunity to make changes to their class schedule during the course Add/Drop period, which will open on Tuesday, September 5 at 7 AM Eastern and remains open until September 20. And, you will get to meet with your FYS instructor/pre-major academic advisor on September 1 to review your course schedule with them.

• Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – Summer Resources Part V (We Can’t Wait to See You!) opens on your Class of 2027 Summer Resources Lyceum Page. This section will include some important last-minute information prior to Arrival Day on Thursday, August 31.

• Thursday, August 31, 2023 – Arrival Day and the Start of New Student Orientation on campus.

• Friday, September 1, 2023 – Your first First-Year Seminar Meeting (from 9 AM to Noon) and Academic and Resource Fair (1 PM to 2:15 PM) among other Orientation activities! 

• Tuesday, September 5, 2023 – Course Add/Drop Period to Adjust Your Course Schedule Opens at 7 AM Eastern Time and the Convocation Ceremony

• Wednesday, September 6, 2023 – First Day of Classes

Those are some highlights from our summer communications and other important dates! Be sure to check your email regularly around the dates specified above so you can stay up to date on information. 

We hope this email provides you with a clear overview of what to expect in terms of coming communications and information. More detail will be provided in the future, and don’t worry, you’ll hear from us a lot in the coming weeks.

Best,

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life and First-Year Experience