Early Return Policy for ​Winter Season ​Varsity Athletes

The goal of this program is to support the competitiveness of Bates teams within NESCAC, to support students’ and their coaches’ desire to build a cohesive team, to encourage these students to study abroad, and to encourage more students to study abroad during the fall semester which serves the College’s enrollment management needs.

Students who study abroad at universities in the southern hemisphere typically complete their final exams in mid-November.  Varsity team athletes may return to Bates later in November to join team practices for the winter season if certain conditions are met.

Eligibility 

 This “early return” option is available only for participating varsity athletes and only during the fall semester, at the beginning of their team’s winter season. Students must be on the roster for a winter varsity sport and must have a positive social history at Bates

There are also limiting factors to student’s ability to be on campus. The Office of Residence Life and Health Education must have extra beds available so it can to provide a bed on campus that does not inconvenience other student.  Any inappropriate behavior during the “early return period” will result in immediate departure from campus

Process

Student must supply the following to the Center of Global Education:

  • Provide proof of a 10-15 hour a week volunteer or work commitment on or off-campus
  • Provide a letter of support from the student’s coach stating they support the student’s early return
  • Provide a letter from the Office of Residence Life and Health Education that they have the availability to provide a bed on campus

Coordinated by the Center of Global Education, the Dean of Students has sole discretion on whether an early return is appropriate and whether the student may remain on campus during the “early return period.”