New Student Advising Team

Each new student at Bates has an advising team made up of 4 individuals: 2 professional advisors and 2 peer advisors.

All students have:

First-year students also have:

Transfer students also have:

More information is below:

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 requirements.

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. Student Support Advisors respond to student concerns as they arise and are the primary point of contact for personal or social concerns. While First-Year Seminar (FYS) instructors and major advisors provide 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 requirements or who may be struggling academically.

Residence Life Junior Advisor (JA): 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 Residence Life website.

Residence Life Transfer Community Advisor (Transfer CA): At Bates, all incoming transfer students live within a Transfer Community in the residence halls. Each community has an assigned Transfer CA 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 Residence Life website.

Transfer Student Mentor: Transfer Student Mentors serve as a trusted resource for new transfer students throughout their first year at Bates College. Their primary role is to serve as advisors and consultants on issues relevant to acclimating to the Bates environment, primarily providing peer support and advice on a range of topics, including navigating academic support and resources, the social environment, Bates culture, and the wide array of resources available to students. They are trained to be a resource and advocate for you! Engage with yours frequently.

Writing Course-Attached Tutor (W-CAT): At Bates, all first-year students enroll in a First-Year Seminar (FYS) during their Fall semester. Each FYS includes a peer writing tutor, who is a sophomore, junior, or senior who serves as a key resource to assist students in developing their writing and communication skills within the FYS. First-year students can meet with their FYS W-CAT throughout the Fall semester to review FYS assignments with them as well as to get assistance on the First-Year Experience Workshops, which are tethered to the FYS. The W-CATs are part of the student staff at the Student Writing and Language Center, which is part of the Peer Learning Commons. The Peer Learning Commons is on the Ground Level of Ladd Library.