5/20: Welcome to Bates from the First-Year Experience Team
In this mailing:
- A warm welcome from the First-Year Experience (FYE) Team
- Information about:
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Dear students in the Class of 2029 and transfer students,
Welcome to Bates! We are so excited to welcome you into our vibrant community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
We are Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty, Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students, Nick Dressler, Associate Dean of Students for Residence Life and First-Year Experience, Catie Luedee, Associate Director of Outdoor Education and Programs, and Luke Allen ‘22, Coordinator of Campus Life Programming and First-Year Experience. We will be communicating with you throughout the summer to provide information and resources, which will help you prepare for your arrival to campus in late August.
Throughout the summer you will receive emails from us. Each email will contain important information meant to assist you in making the most of the Bates First-Year Experience or FYE. More information about the First-Year Experience and New Student Orientation is at the FYE website.
The Bates FYE and Course Selection for Fall 2025
The Bates FYE is made up of 9 distinct programs held throughout your first year. These programs are organized around 6 values that support you in your transition to college. You can read more about the FYE here. We know that a successful start to your college experience requires far more than just a few days of Orientation. The FYE is organized to support you throughout your entire first year to help you build the foundation to thrive throughout your time at Bates.
The first of the FYE programs with which we ask you to engage is Summer Resources. These time-released resources are accessible on your Bates Lyceum Page and will open to you on June 3, 2025. Information about Fall 2025 course registration will become available through Summer Resources on or near June 17, 2025. Please visit the FYE Summer Calendar so that you know what is coming soon!
One of the most important dates this summer is the Fall 2025 Course Selection period:
First, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 your Lyceum Summer Resources that focuses on Registering for Fall 2025 Classes: Academic Resources and Exploration) opens. This section provides everything you need to know in order to register for your Fall 2025 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!
Second, beginning on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, course selection for all Fall 2025 courses (including First-Year Seminars) begins. Students will be contacted by their summer course selection consultant via email on or near July 1, 2025 to set up a time to meet – via Zoom, email, or phone – during the course selection period (July 9 to July 23). Students are asked to select 1 top choice required First-Year Seminar or FYS (and 8 unranked alternatives) and 3 top-choice courses besides FYS (and 12 unranked alternatives). Course selection is NOT first-come-first served. Students will be able to select your courses at any time between July 9 and July 23, 2025.
Third, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Fall Course Selection closes and Consultation Period ends at 4 PM Eastern. Please note that course selection is NOT first-come/first-served, so students can make their selections on the Garnet Gateway between July 9, 2025 and July 23, 2025.
More information about course selection will be in your Lyceum Summer Resources starting June 17, and will come to you as well via email.
You will need access to the internet to select your courses between July 9 and July 23, 2025.
First-Year Forms
You will need to fill out all 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 go to the Quad and then click on “Log in to Garnet Gateway.”
The Garnet Gateway
Finally, the Garnet Gateway should now be open to you. Please check your Bates admission portal to receive your login information if you haven’t done so already. You must complete all First-Year forms by their due dates. These forms include your housing application, your Bates email, health forms, AESOP application, emergency contact information, class registration, and more. So it is very important that you log in sooner rather than later!
We are excited to work with you throughout the summer and throughout your first year.
Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty
Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students
Nick Dressler, Associate Dean of Students for Residence Life and First-Year Experience
Catie Luedee, Associate Director for Outdoor Education and Programs
Luke Allen ‘22, Coordinator of Campus Life Programming and First-Year Experience