We encourage you to watch this parent/family information session in its entirety to hear all panelists and their live answers to questions. Remember that the information on this page was current as of December 14, 2020, and may have changed since then. For the most current information, visit our main parent page or the Fall 2020 website.

Written Questions & Answers

Academics

Short Term is critical for getting specific credits to meet requirements for academic majors. How will that be handled?

We are looking to spread the extra sections of existing courses around the time grid in Modules C and D. The goal is to have more selections, and we anticipate that students will see additional course options once these sections are placed on our schedule. This will likely help with the situation you describe.

Has Bates considered adding Short Term or other class options in the summer?

We won’t be adding any Short Term courses in the summer. There are several reasons for this. The majority of our faculty are deeply engaged in the scholarship during that period, some that also involve Bates students in that work, and the summer of work last year was lost in preparation for the fall. Some faculty are working to bring their Short Term T course into Mod C or D. We also will be faced with the same physical distancing, covid testing, and masking challenges. We have focused on building towards a strong rebound of Short Term next year, bringing some of that into the calendar in the winter, and fortifying the teaching that happens from Feb-March.

Are you encouraging professors to teach in person? Why are some classes partially or fully taught online.

Faculty adopted modes of instruction/teaching strategies that worked for their pedagogical goals. Some remote options worked for classes or met the faculty member’s health needs. Some faculty adopted mixed strategies for reasons that matched the curricular needs of the class (e.g., flipped classrooms, working problems in person, analyzing datasets outside of class, interpreting texts on their own before coming into the classroom (remotely or in person) etc.). But with close to 75% of the faculty teaching with some degree of in person, this was the dominant mode of instruction.

Athletics

How does the change in schedule affect spring sports? 

The change in schedule does not change any plans for spring sports as of now. The only difference is that potential practices will not be able to start until we complete an acclimatization period once students return to campus. That said, any NESCAC seasons will likely be delayed anyway since almost all of the NESCAC institutions are not returning to campus until February, including a few who will return after Bates does. While the NESCAC Spring schedules are likely to be modified if we are able to compete at all, we are hopeful that there will be some type of sports this spring. That will eventually be determined by the NESCAC Council of Presidents sometime in the weeks to come. Stay tuned to the NESCAC and Bates websites and social media accounts. And, feel free to direct specific questions directly to our coaching staff. 

My student plays hockey. I understand that the rink is unavailable this year as it is being used for Covid testing, but is there any reason a hockey rink cannot be placed on the football field in February? 

Thanks for this interesting question! While we have looked at many outdoor options to keep students active, building an outdoor ice hockey rink on Garcelon field is not being considered. The costs and logistics associated with a project such as this coupled with the very short period of time that it would be in use make this tough. Garcelon is used by so many other teams and students that as soon as the snow is cleared; students and teams use it for practice even in the winter. Hockey has sometimes been played recreationally on the frozen Lake Andrew (The Puddle), and depending on how frozen it gets, perhaps we can explore that and some other possibilities for outdoor “frozen recreation.” Please encourage your student to reach out to Scott Lehmann (slehmann@bates.edu) to discuss hockey possibilities. 

College Calendar

What are the plans for Spring Break?

The break schedule that you may have become used to in previous academic years looks different for this academic year.  There will be a break between modules C and D on Saturday, April 3 – Sunday, April 4. There will then be 3 rest days in module D: April 20, April 28, and May 6    

Note that the 3 rest days in Module D could be pulled into the break between Modules C and D if we found ourselves needing to switch from in-person to remote learning following Module C and before Module D.

Campus life

What can Bates do to create more social interaction so first-years can build relationships with a broader set of the community?

This is certainly something we have been thinking of and focusing on this year in the Office of Campus Life. There are a variety of ways all students can get connected on campus in a ‘covid friendly’ way. One would be events that are hosted every weekend, both in person and virtually, by the student led programming board Campus Activities & Traditions (CAT). The tentative schedule for these events can be found here.      

Our clubs and organizations have been active this year, remote and in person. In Mod C, we are planning a variety of first-year specific programming each weekend that will help them get connected with one another and with clubs they may be interested in. A description of our many (many!) clubs can be found here.  

Please encourage your student to take a look at these public Instagram pages that advertise smaller-scale events that take place each weekend: 

https://www.instagram.com/bates_cat/

https://www.instagram.com/batescampuslife/

https://www.instagram.com/batesvcs/

If your student isn’t sure how to get connected, please have them reach out to Jen at jhaugen@bates.edu

Unavoidably, first-years have had an unusual social experience this year. Next year, they might be sophomores in an almost “socially freshmen” situation. Will the college be looking at that possible need for them next year, while also greeting and planning for the next incoming class?

Absolutely. We are thinking of ways to really lean into this class throughout Mods C and D and in the fall. We think there are lots of possibilities to have another new start this year and next fall. 

Are the tents back and are they heated?

We had tents in certain places in the fall, but tents can be challenging in the snow. With the Maine winters, adding sides and heating those tents creates spaces with airflow dynamics that are worse than indoor classrooms.

Is it possible for this first-year class to participate in AESOP in the fall?

AESOP is a program designed for First-Year students transitioning to Bates to introduce them to clubs, organizations, and Maine in order to foster social connection. If students are looking for connection, they now have the opportunities to pursue these engagements right away when they return in the winter since they are part of the fabric of the college community. 

If a student is particularly inclined to participate in outdoor activities, they can look into the Outing Club and participate in trips that would have fit into the AESOP design (as soon as the pandemic and restrictions allows for more travel and recreation). In addition, if a student would like to make social connections with other types of engagement – such as theater or dance or board games or video games –  they can do so by engaging with clubs.

Have you considered adding fire pits around the campus to give the students another avenue for being outside socially?

We have looked at this in prior years, and safety and proximity to campus buildings have limited the opportunities on campus. We have reviewed specific sites with the Lewiston Fire Department but without success at this time.

In the fall, students were permitted to leave campus, but not permitted to go to other dorms. Have you considered having a quarantine period when they first return in February, and then allowing more interactions -with masks- in a bigger campus bubble to enhance social interaction?

As several panelists mentioned in the verbal remarks, we anticipate opening for the winter semester with the same public health policies in place. This includes restrictions related to visiting other residence halls and limitations on gathering sizes. We will keep a close eye on the public health situation in Maine to see when we might be able to loosen these restrictions.

CAPS

Will CAPS be available for students during january?

CAPS is available in January for students with some restrictions, given that professional licensure limits CAPS providers to only provide clinical services to those who are in Maine. However, we are doing our best to offer what we can during the extended break. Please look at our website for details.

Dining

Will Commons open? As we all know without Commons, community at Bates is compromised

We appreciate how important Commons is in a non-pandemic year, and share your sentiment on community. Bates continues to be constrained by the state limitations to indoor capacities and gatherings, currently 50 people. We have not turned to heated tents, as airflow in such spaces are more compromised than indoor spaces with mechanical ventilation systems. Our team in dining is looking for ways to accommodate appropriate dining given the constraints. 

What about gluten-free/vegetarian/other specialized dining needs? 

This is an area on which we have been focusing. We have added gluten-free options at every meal. For students who can eat gluten, we have included more whole grains. As part of the updated menu rotation for winter semester, we have increased vegetarian offerings. 

Should your student have specific needs which are not being met, please have them reach out to cschwart@bates.edu, and we can develop a plan to make sure that they are taken care of.

Is there any possibility of opening the Gray Cage for dinner in order to relieve pressure at Commons?

Gray Cage was open for dinner in the initial weeks of fall semester, and we found that students did not use the facility. Traffic patterns indicate that for dinner, students prefer to dine through Commons.  We will of course continue to track traffic patterns and adjust as patterns change.

Housing

When will students find out their assigned housing given the change in calendar?

Students in the winter placement process will still receive notification of their housing assignment by the original deadline (12/18). Students in this group heard from us [on Dec. 14 ] via housing@bates.edu with additional details. If your student has a specific question or did not participate in the winter placement process, have them reach out to us at housing@bates.edu. We are always happy to talk more specifically with students about their personal situations. 

What about the students who could not go home and are staying at the Hampton Inn? 

We have been providing this group of students with need-based grant aid and will continue to do so for the duration of the break.

Will students still live in the hotel for the next two modules?

Yes, we anticipate students will continue to be housed at the Hampton Inn next semester as well.

Purposeful Work

Will the career center be available during the break so students can use some of that time to research summer internships?

The staff at the Center for Purposeful Work will absolutely be on hand during this time to help students plan for summer 2021. Purposeful Work will also host three Virtual Road Shows to help students explore careers in tech, arts and entertainment, and finance.  Please tell your student to watch their inbox for more information.

What support is Bates providing for graduating seniors during these unprecedented times to assist with post-graduate outcomes?

In addition to our regular programming and focus on seniors, graduating seniors will once again be eligible for funded internships in the summer of 2021.

How can we parents help with either connections or support for internships, providing specific knowledge or experiences that may be helpful for students or staff?

Thank you for the offer! [Allen Delong] would welcome the conversation about support for internships (or other forms of support for students). For those interested, please send me a quick email at: adelong@bates.edu to explore the possibilities.

Registration

When will students be able to see/register for the Short Term classes that will now be part of Module C and D? 

We are working with the faculty now to understand the updates to the winter 2021 Schedule of Courses. We’ll be updating students on specific new course sections and new seats by mid-January, and there will be time for them to look over new options well in advance of an added registration adjustment period, which we are finalizing now. This registration adjustment period will be towards the end of January and will occur several weeks before classes start. Please have your students watch email for additional details.

Some students could not register for certain Mod D courses because they had not taken a prerequisite course, despite the fact that those same students were registered for the prerequisite in Mod C.  Has this been addressed?

Unfortunately, given that registration had to occur for both modules at the same time, the registration system was not able to see the Module C courses as completed prerequisites. Students should feel free to reach out to instructors, though, as they have the ability to give prerequisite overrides if they feel the student will be prepared for the course. We were certainly not trying to have first-years end up in more remote courses than other classes. I hope that students will be able to take advantage of the new courses and seats that will open as a result of cancelling Short Term. Additional information on new offerings, added seats, and registration will be coming in January. Please have your student watch email for additional information.

Will the additional courses be only half credit?  Will additional sections of popular courses be added?

The courses being added will be full credit courses. Faculty will offer some new courses but are mainly focusing on adding additional sections of the popular courses students have already registered for in Modules C and D so more students can enroll. Please have your student watch email for additional details regarding offerings and registration.

Remote study

Do students have an option to choose remote learning in Feb?

Yes,  students who wish to switch to remote learning can email studentaffairs@bates.edu to discuss this option.

Short Term

Will current sophomores [Class of 2023] still be required to do 2 short terms in their tenure at Bates?

Sophomores will be expected to complete two Short Terms, except those who may elect to study abroad next winter semester. Students in that situation will automatically receive a waiver for one Short Term. Others with compelling circumstances may petition the Academic Standing Committee to request a waiver. This information was communicated to all sophomores at the end of last week [week of Dec. 7]. Sophomores will continue to need to earn 32 units towards graduation.

Study abroad

Will there be study abroad for the year 2021?

Yes, we hope so! We are working with students to plan for study abroad during the 2021-2022 academic year. They can find out more about the process here.