Hello, Bates Class of 2025 Families,

While the weather forecast is looking a little gloomy, the energy on campus couldn’t be brighter as we near Commencement for the Class of 2025!

🎉 Friday’s Events

To kick off the weekend, we hope you’ll join us on Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. in the Fireplace Lounge at Commons to celebrate the success of this year’s Senior Parent Gift. Together, we’ve raised over $500,000 – and counting! All are welcome at this gathering. We hope you’ll also attend the Senior/Parent Wine and Cheese Tasting in the Bardwell Field Tent at 8:30 p.m. Check out the Commencement Weekend schedule →

🌦️ Saturday

Families are welcome to attend Baccalaureate on the Historic Quad at 11 a.m. Both Baccalaureate  and Sunday’s Commencement ceremony will take place outside, rain or shine, so be prepared! In addition to your rain jacket, we also recommend bringing a reusable water bottle for filling up and staying hydrated around campus.
Find answers to your other questions at the Commencement FAQ →

🅿️ Parking

On Sunday, Campus Avenue will be closed off to through traffic throughout the middle part of the day. The easiest parking option will be the big lot at Merrill Gymnasium, which can be reached via Russell Street. Accessible parking is available behind the Bonney Science Center. View the campus map →

🎓 Seating Info

Seating on the Historic Quad opens to families at 7 a.m. on Sunday, May 25. If you wish to hold seats, a person from your party must remain with your held seats. Unattended seats are not considered held, even if you leave items on the chairs. Families who need accessible seating are reminded to look for chairs with blue covers. Staff ushers will be happy to help you find them.

📷 Commencement Photos

• A professional photographer will take photos of each graduate as they cross the Coram Stage. Seniors who have provided the college with a post-Bates email address will receive a link approximately two weeks after Commencement to view and purchase any photos in which they appear.
• You are welcome to take photos throughout the event from your seat (standing when your graduate crosses the stage), from the edges of the seating area, or from the barricades near the front.
• We ask you to stand clear of the graduate seating area and the parade path once the procession has started. Additionally, as diplomas are awarded, guests must keep all main aisles clear as a safety precaution. Ushers will remind you to keep these areas clear, and we appreciate your help with this.

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus and celebrate this milestone together.

See you soon!
The Bates Parent Team

PS – Looking for a past Commencement email update? Find them all here!

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