The 2026-2027 On-Campus Residential Regulations are available here. Below are the regulations for the current academic year.

On Campus Residential Regulations
STUDENT RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Office of Residence Life is dedicated to the development of inclusive communities that foster a sense of belonging for all students. Intentional programming, mentorship, and holistic well-being are at the heart of our residential model. Guided by our values, we promote accountability and skill-building to encourage individual growth and prepare students to engage in community.

Residences and Living Spaces

Residential Campus

All students living on-campus, with a meal plan, or interacting with residential
spaces are expected to abide by college regulations and policies related to residential living and dining. This includes, but is not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct, the On-Campus Residential Regulations outlined here, as well as other Residence Life policies such as opening and closing notices, break housing policies, and housing selection policies. In addition, students are required to abide by the policies of other offices including (dining, EHS, Campus Safety, Community Standards, etc.), and dining and dining hall policies from Dining, Conferences and Campus Events (DCCE). Violations of this policy may be referred to the Office of Community Standards; see the relevant section below for more details.

Residency Requirement

Bates College is a residential college. Campus residence is required of all students
except for those individuals who have been granted special permission by Student Affairs.

Room Assignments

Room assignments for upperclass students are determined through a
room selection process based on class year. Students who do not participate in the housing
selection process will be assigned housing through a placement process. For new students,
including first-years, transfer students, and exchange students, assignments are made through
a placement process based on room preference applications. Students may not move from one
room to another without the permission of the Office of Residence Life. Should an upperclass
student not ultimately move into their selected room, all occupants may be removed from the room/suite and assigned to a different room/suite.

Room Reassignment

The Office of Residence Life reserves the right to reassign students for
any reason and at its sole discretion, including the relocation of students without roommates or
the placement of additional students in rooms that are not full. Whenever possible, such
reassignments will be finalized by the start of each term. The Office of Residence Life does not
permit one person to live in a triple or suite alone or students to reside in suites with low
occupancy. Students in such situations must work with Residence Life to find a room/roommate
or they may be reassigned to a new space on campus.

Occupancy and Accountability

All members of a room or suite may be held responsible for the actions or activities that take place in the space regardless of their presence at the time of incident. All occupants may be held responsible for damage, illegal activity, or prohibited activity in the space.

Damage to Personal Property

Bates College will not be responsible for the theft or damage of student property. Students are strongly advised to ensure that their property is covered by family homeowners’ insurance or private/dorm insurance to cover the repair or replacements of their personal property. It is also advised that students lock their room door to prevent theft or damage by others.

GradGuard College Renters Insurance Option

Students and families may wish to consider enrolling in GradGuard’s College Renters Insurance Plan specifically designed for students which can help overcome financial losses due to unexpected events such as theft, fire, and water incidents.

Residential Lounges

Some residence lounges may be reserved for general social and cultural functions.
Reservations for event space may be made online at events.bates.edu. At the time of approval, the sponsoring student or student club will be informed of any additional costs associated with cleaning up after an event in a lounge or other public space in the residence.

Quiet Hours and Noise

Quiet hours are in place from 10:00pm-8:00am Sunday-Thursday and 1:00am-9:00am Friday and Saturday. During quiet hours, conduct that disturbs or interferes with another student’s ability to sleep or study is prohibited. Students should keep noise to a low level that does not impact occupants of other rooms. There are also 24/7 courtesy hours in all student residences, during which excessive noise is prohibited. There are also campus policies, such as the Social Misconduct Policy, and Lewiston Noise Ordinances from Lewiston City Ordinances, that students must abide by while in residences.

Alcohol and Cannabis

Students must abide by the Student Code of Conduct Alcohol and Cannabis Policy while on campus, including in student residences. Public spaces as outlined in the Alcohol and Cannabis Policy includes common spaces in residences such as bathrooms, lounges, hallways, and stairwells.

Recyclables

The Facility Services Department administers the comprehensive recycling programs in all
residential, academic and administrative buildings. Once in the common bins, recyclables are considered property of the college.

Use of Resources

Bates College does not permit the use of its resources (physical, electronic,
financial, or other) to support commercial enterprises, not-for-profit activities unrelated to the
educational goals of the college, work on behalf of political candidates, or any activity that could
compromise the tax-exempt status of the college. Reasonable use of college resources for personal
noncommercial purposes is permitted if it does not entail a direct cost to the college, impede
operations, or violate college policies. Please refer to the College’s “Acceptable Use Policy” for more
information regarding computer use related to the above activities.

Outside Contractors

Bates College does not allow students to contract with outside vendors to perform services inside student residences.

Solicitation

Bates College does not allow door to door solicitation of any kind without prior approval from the Office of Residence Life.

Withdrawal

Upon a College recognized leave or suspension, students have forty-eight hours, or a
time frame as determined and communicated by Residence Life, to vacate their residence. At that
time, students will lose their Bates ID card access to campus buildings and the dining hall.

Services Provided in Residences

Internet Connections in Student Rooms

The college-wide network system provides wireless internet access in each residence. Use of the network and network services is subject to the terms set forth in the college’s “Computer Use Policy.” In case of intentional damage to network
equipment, fees may be assessed for repair in addition to referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Satellite Dishes and Cable Access

Satellite dishes and individual contracts for cable or Internet services are prohibited. Unauthorized installations or use are prohibited.

Facility Services

Facility Services is responsible for the maintenance and repair of residential buildings and spaces. Students living in residences are responsible for reporting issues in their room or building in a timely way by submitting a work request to Facility Services. Issues that need to be reported include damage, heat concerns, noticeable water staining, moisture, or
leaking, pests, environmental health and safety concerns, broken furniture or fixtures such as lights or windows, or key and lock problems. A full list of information for students can be found on the Facility Services website.

Custodial Services

Custodial workers are responsible for the normal upkeep of common areas of the residences including the bathrooms, with the exception of bathrooms within suites. Students are responsible for the upkeep of their room, including routine waste removal. Upon vacating the assigned room, all waste and personal items must be removed; if the room is carpeted it must be vacuumed, and if the room has a hard floor it must be swept clean. Students may check out a vacuum or broom and dustpan from their custodian. Facility Services assesses a cleaning fee for any room not in compliance with these guidelines or for excessive cleaning necessary in other areas of the residences.

Pets

Small fish are the only pets allowed in residence halls, and fish tanks may not exceed 10 gallons in size. If a pet outside of this standard is found in a student room, the animal(s) will be required to be immediately removed. For information on Emotional Support or Service Animals, see the Housing and Dining Accommodations section under General Information.

Safety and Security

Campus Safety and Access Control

Access Cards

All students are issued a Bates ID card and are expected to carry it with them to access campus buildings and identify themselves. Bates ID cards are used to gain entrance to the student’s residence building 24 hours a day and all other student residences during specific hours. Some academic and athletic buildings may be accessed with the ID card during evenings
and weekends. Current building hours may be viewed at Access Control’s website here. The card is also used for identification in the college Library and Dining Services. ID cards may be replaced by the Access Control Office.

Key Policies

Each student is issued one set of key(s) to their room, if applicable.

• Students must present their Bates ID card and sign for all key(s) received at the time of issuance.
• All room keys must be returned prior to leaving campus and in accordance with the key Issuance Agreement.
• If keys are not returned to the Access Control Office in accordance with the key Issuance Agreement, they will be considered unreturned/lost and a per key charge and late fee will be billed to the student’s account. Current fees may be reviewed at Access Control’s website.
• If a student moves during the year, all key exchanges must be conducted at the Access Control Office to ensure proper documentation. Key swapping among students is not allowed. Students have 48 hours to hold keys to both their previous residence and their new residence. Failure to return the key for the previous residence within 48 hours will result in a charge.
• Students who leave campus early must surrender their keys to the Access Control Office prior to leaving campus, or their accounts will be charged as stated above.
• Additional information on Key and Access policies can be found in your Key Issuance Agreement and on the Access Control website.

ID Misuse

Students willingly giving their Bates ID cards or keys to others for use, access to campus spaces, or access to the student’s room while they are not present is prohibited.

Lockouts

Students who are temporarily locked out of their rooms may contact Campus Safety to gain access to their room. There is one free lockout service per student per semester, and subsequent lockouts will result in a charge. Students are expected to identify themselves so that Campus Safety officers can confirm they reside in a space when providing a lockout service.

Tampering with Safety Equipment

Students are responsible for willful or accidental damage to safety equipment including locks, door closures, and card scanners. Students are expected to keep their room and/or suite doors locked at all times. Any effort to tamper with a door’s ability to close and lock, including a student’s room door, is a violation. Additional Campus Safety policies and information are listed on the Campus Safety website.

Safety and Privacy

Bates College is an institution of higher learning and as such provides a safe and secure environment for academic and social development. With this in mind, Bates College retains the right to enter student rooms at any time. This agreement provides a non-exhaustive list of reasons for college representatives to enter your room. The safety and well-being of Bates College community members will always be the overriding factor when determining when to enter student rooms. During
these room inspections, special attention will be paid to unsafe conditions. Additional Safety Policies and information beyond those shown below are listed on the Environmental Health & Safety website.

Illegal Drugs

Bates Campus Safety will contact Lewiston Police if illegal drugs or evidence of illegal drugs are in plain view or discovered in the course of a room search. In addition, the matter will be referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Flammable Materials

Candles, wax melters, incense, or any source of open flame or ignition are prohibited in student residences. Flammable materials, such as gas or propane, or excessive combustibles, such as an excessive amount of personal furniture or paper, may not be stored or used in student residences.

Electrical Safety

Any electrical device which is modified after purchase or shows signs of visible damage is prohibited and will be removed. Students may not add wiring, remove or alter existing wiring or use unsafe wiring devices. Outlet expanders are prohibited and will be confiscated. Thin wire extension cords used for any purpose other than extending a single, low wattage item (e.g. lamp, radio, alarm clock, cell phone charger) will be removed. Overloading thin wire extension cords can lead to overheating and fire. Do not plug power strips into thin wire extension cords. In no case should power strips be plugged into a second power strip. In no case may wires be run under carpets or taped across walking paths, door thresholds or through doorways or windows where pinching or other damage can result. Fines may be issued for unsafe wiring practices.

Electrical Appliances

Electric line load limitations prohibit the use of heavy-demand appliances in student rooms. One small refrigerator/freezer/microwave combination unit is permitted per room. Students should coordinate this with their roommate(s). Larger sized refrigerators, keg refrigerators, coolers, air conditioners and space heaters are prohibited. If in doubt about multiple appliance usage, please contact the Facility Services electrical staff for guidance. All electrical items should be unplugged if the student room will not be occupied for an extended period of time, such as break periods.

Lighting

All lamps must be safely designed and operated. Halogen lamps, lamps with bulbs that exceed their recommended wattage, or which operate at high temperatures, pose a serious fire risk and are prohibited. Lamps taped to bed frames or covered with potentially combustible material (e.g. clothing, tapestries, fabric, paper, athletic gear) will be confiscated. Fines may be charged. 

Fire Extinguisher Discharge Policy

If a fire extinguisher is discharged for reasons other than to put out a fire, the individual or individuals will be charged for the activation of the fire alarm, the cost to recharge or replacement of the fire extinguisher, and fees associated with the clean-up. Depending on the circumstances, individual(s) discharging an extinguisher may also be referred to the Office of
Community Standards.

Cooking

Cooking is among the most frequent causes of residential fires and is not permitted in student rooms. Fire alarms set off due to cooking in rooms are subject to safety fines and confiscation of prohibited appliances. Cooking may only be done in designated kitchen areas and must not be left unattended. The following items may be used only in kitchens: microwaves, bread makers, and slow cookers. The following cooking appliances are not permitted in residences on campus: deep fat fryers, toasters, toaster ovens, gas stoves, camp stoves, portable burners, and air fryers.

Decorations

No type of decorations, electrical lights, ropes, signs or personal items may be hung or attached
in any way to electrical fixtures or on the sprinkler pipes or sprinkler heads. Clear space of 22 inches or more is required around each sprinkler head. Live trees, wreaths, and garlands are prohibited. No decorations may be placed on the outside of residences. No alterations or adjustments are permitted which could potentially cause a sprinkler head to discharge. Tapestries are not permitted on ceilings; they can be hung on walls as long as they do not interfere with fire alarms. Safety fines may be assessed for violations and items will be confiscated.

Healthy Living Conditions

Rooms and common areas (including hallways) must be kept clean and uncluttered to maintain a clear pathway for egress in the event of an emergency. Living conditions that could adversely affect residents’ health and safety are prohibited. When residence hall staff, residence hall occupants, or other college staff determine that such conditions exist, immediate corrective action must be made. Cost of additional cleaning will be charged to room occupant(s). Hallways may not be used to store personal items (i.e. boots, sneakers, skateboards, scooters, bikes, snowboards, skis, etc.).

Lofts

Loft beds are permitted only under circumstances consistent with room safety standards. Students should contact Facility Services with questions or concerns. It is the student’s responsibility to dismantle and dispose of all loft materials when vacating their room. Lofts installed not meeting room safety standards will be removed.

Roofs

Roof access to any campus building is prohibited. Students who allow others to access a roof
through the window in their room may also be held accountable for this violation.

Smoking

Smoking or the burning of any type of pipe, cigar, cigarette, vape, or similar product, legal or illegal, is prohibited in all campus buildings including student residences and their stairwells, porches or garages. Smoking and vaping is also prohibited within 50 feet (approximately 20 paces) of all campus buildings, including residences.

Firearms and Weapons

In accordance with the Campus Safety Weapons Policy, weapons and ammunition are not permitted anywhere on campus, except in the secured location provided by the Campus Safety Office. Please make arrangements for storage with the Campus Safety Office to avoid violation of local ordinances and college regulations.

Bicycles

Bicycles may not be stored on porches, in lounges, or in stairwells or hallways. Bicycles may only be locked to authorized bicycle storage racks. Please refer to the Bates Bicycle Policy for authorized locations. Bicycles found in violation of this policy may be confiscated, and chains, cables, or locks on those bikes may be cut, if necessary, at the owner’s expense.

Life Safety Equipment and Procedures

Evacuation

When an alarm sounds, students must evacuate the building immediately. Remaining in the building during an alarm is a violation of this policy and fire code.

Tampering with Life Safety Equipment

In order to ensure that local, state and federal fire safety rules, as well as Bates College policies are being followed, Bates Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), the local Fire Department, as well as private contractors periodically inspect student rooms. During these inspections, any violations of Bates College policy that are found will be addressed as described by the EHS Department, and the responsible student may be fined and referred for follow up from Residence Life or the Office of Community Standards.

Fire Protection

The misuse of fire safety equipment (e.g., fire escapes, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and fire alarms) is not permitted and is a violation of public safety laws in the State of Maine. Smoke detectors, sprinkler heads and fire alarms may not be covered with tapestries or other materials. Students are responsible for all costs for the repair/replacement to any life safety item.

False Fire Alarm Policy

Bates and the City of Lewiston charge a $150 fine for false alarms. Whether produced by human error, faulty equipment, or pre-meditation, false alarms waste resources and endanger the lives of firefighters and civilians. A false alarm is defined as: “a visual or audible signal transmitted by an alarm system which indicates the existence of an emergency situation, when in fact no such emergency exists.” This includes the activation of an alarm system by the following means:

• The intentional and/or accidental pulling of a fire alarm pull station.
• Intentionally and/or accidentally introducing smoke or other objects into a smoke detector. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside student residences.
• The throwing of articles such as balls and frisbees, which inadvertently activate a smoke or heat detector.
• The cooking or heating of food and water in a bedroom or any room other than the kitchen.
• Improper use of kitchen facilities which could include allowing food to burn in an oven, toaster, toaster oven or microwave oven.

Additional information related to false fire alarms is outlined in the “False Fire Alarm Policy” and in the Social Misconduct section of the Code of Student Conduct.

Security Screens

Security screens are to be opened only in cases of emergency.

General Information

Dining Information and Policies

Meal Plans

All on-campus students are required to be on the meal plan, sometimes referred toas the board plan. All off-campus students, having signed the Agreement Governing Off-Campus Living with the Office of Residence Life, may adjust their meal plan selection in accordance with its terms.

Dining Hall Access

Access to the dining hall is limited to those students who have the proper identification card and to guests who purchase individual meals or use a student’s guest pass. Students who give their ID cards to another person, share meals with someone not on the meal plan, carry food out of the dining hall, or otherwise create a disturbance therein may be subject to fines, and loss of dining privileges. Shirts and shoes must be worn in all college dining areas at all times. As a reminder, in accordance with the College’s Alcohol and Cannabis Policy, alcohol consumption is prohibited in public spaces, which includes all dining areas and buildings. Additional Dining policies and information, including meal schedules, dining hours, menus,
and more, are listed on the Dining Services website.

Housing and Dining Accommodations

Accommodations

Accommodations to a student’s housing, housing process, or meal plan come from one of two campus partner offices, the Office of Accessible Education and Student Support or the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance. Residential Life does not decide these accommodations, but implements them once an accommodation has been approved.

Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Students with disabilities who rely on support from a service animal or ESA must contact the Office of Accessible Education prior to bringing an animal to campus. For definitions, policy, and procedures regarding service animals and requests for accommodation, including involving ESAs, please see the Office of Accessible Education – Assistance Animals.

Resources

For more information on these accommodations, approval processes, and deadlines, please see the Housing Accommodations page of the Residence Life website, the Special Dining Needs page of the Dining website, and the Housing Accommodations or Dining Accommodations pages of the Accessible Education and Student Support website.

Furnishings and Prohibited Items

Furnishings

Each resident student is furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair, bureau, wastebasket, and
recycling containers.

• All furniture must remain in the original student’s room.
• After students have vacated a room, any remaining items that were not originally allotted to the room will be removed.
• Alterations in the structure or painting of rooms, including built-in furniture, are prohibited.
• All college-owned lounge furniture must remain in the lounge space.

Prohibited Items

• No structure serving as a bar or facilitating the distribution of alcohol is allowed.
• Waterbeds are not permitted.
• Please see the Safety and Security and Damage sections for more information on prohibitions.

Guests in Residential Spaces

Guest Policy

Each student is entitled to use of their room at all times when the college is in
session. A guest is defined as anyone in a residence who is not assigned to a room in that
residence or anyone in a room who is not assigned to that room. Students are expected to get
their roommates’ or suitemates’ permission prior to having guests in their room. Guests should
be accompanied by hosts while in the residences. Hosts are responsible for the actions of their
guests and will face disciplinary action if their guests violate college or residential policies.
Guests’ presence may not infringe upon the rights of other Bates students.

Overnight Visitation

Even where a student’s roommates / suitemates consent, guests may stay in a student’s room for a maximum of three consecutive nights with a maximum of 3 nights per week. If the situation warrants, an exception to the three-night limit may
be obtained from Residence Life.

Guest Accountability

Where possible, guests will also be held responsible for their actions while on the Bates Campus. This may include barring an individual from College property, serving a criminal trespass warning, or otherwise involving local law enforcement.

Disruption due to a Guest

If a student’s comfort, convenience, or sense of privacy is violated by unwelcome guests, they should first discuss the matter with the host student. If that discussion is ineffective and the concern persists, the student should contact their JA, CA, the
Office of Residence Life, or Campus Safety. Follow-up steps may include mediation, other forms of reconciliation, or referral to the Office of Community standards.

Storage of Personal Items

Students may not store their items in public or common spaces within student residences. See below for more information on limited and designated student storage. Additional storage policies and information is listed on the Facility Services website.

During Academic Year

The college has a limited amount of space in designated buildings for student storage available on a first come, first served basis. Students must contact the Office of Residence Life to apply for use of the storage spaces. Students utilizing this space are storing their personal items at their own risk and the College is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged items. Once the academic year has ended, any property not registered with Residence Life will be disposed of. In storage areas with cages, all personal locks will be cut, and the college will not be responsible for reimbursement for cut locks.

During Summer

There is no general summer storage provided at Bates College. The Office of Residence Life maintains a small amount of storage for limited use in extenuating circumstances. Please contact housing@bates.edu for inquiries about this.

Abandoned Items

After the predetermined storage timeframe has ended or once a student is no longer considered an active Bates student, the Office of Residence Life will attempt to contact students via email and phone to collect any stored items. After two weeks’ time, the items will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of or donated.

Violations of Policies and Regulations

Disciplinary Action

Violations of these regulations, any Residence Life policies or procedures, or other Bates College policies that relate to residential living may constitute a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Violations may be handled by Residence Life and/or referred to the Office of Community Standards and may result in disciplinary action.

Fines and Charges

Violations of these regulations, including those that are safety violations or result in disciplinary action, additional labor, restoration from Facility Services or other college departments may result in fines or charges.

Fines may be assessed:

• By Facilities Services and EHS as a result of disciplinary action.
• The level of fine will be determined based on the risk, frequency of violations, and effort or time required to restore safe conditions. All registered residents of a room will split the total fine amount.
• For excessive damage in a residence, if no individual comes forward to take responsibility, the fines will be attributed to all students in the residence.
• Additional information on Facility Services charges are listed on the Dorm Damage Standard Charges List and Facility Services Billable Rates list.

Confiscation

Violations of these regulations, especially related to safety and damage, may result in confiscated items. This includes, but is not limited to, items that interfere with life safety equipment or safe egress, items that cause damage to college property, or illegal items.

• Items are generally confiscated by Campus Safety or Environmental Health and Safety.
• Depending on the item confiscated and circumstances, students may be able to reclaim items at the end of a semester or academic year to bring them home.
• Please work with the office that confiscated items in a timely manner to inquire about the reclaiming process./

Damage

We hold our students responsible for their conduct at all times. In the context of this policy, “damage” is defined as harm that is more than would be expected from normal use, wear and tear. Students are responsible for any damage caused to their own rooms. Damage to common areas is assumed by the person or group deemed responsible. When it is impossible to identify the responsible party, charges for repairs may be billed to all floor or building residents. Charges will appear on end of semester bills. Failure to pay dorm damage charges may lead to transcripts being withheld and/or disciplinary action.

• If the College is able to determine which individual or individuals caused the damage, the incident may be referred to the Office of Community Standards for resolution under the Student Code of Conduct.
• Each instance of damage is recorded, a work order and bill are created, and then the repairs are scheduled and performed. A full description of damage costs can be found on the Facility Services website. If you have a question regarding your dorm damage charges, please contact Facility Services at 207-786-6207.

Room Inspections for Damage

Rooms may be evaluated for damage at the end of each semester and during move out. Items found in need of repair or replacement (other than normal wear) are charged equally to the most recent occupants unless the charges have been
previously assumed. Additional damage policies and information is listed on the Facility Services website.