June 7-12, 2021.

While we hope that alumni classes ending in a 1 or a 6 will attend, Bates Virtual Reunion is open to Bates alumni of all class years.

Registration is open now! 

There is no charge to participate in the virtual Reunion 2021 program.

This year’s event will be a highly comprehensive and interactive experience. We have contracted with a virtual events platform that will allow us to offer a wider range of programming, social connection, and activities. 

We also want input from you! We’ll be sending out a survey to all Reunion classes shortly for your ideas.

We have created several resources and how-tos videos ahead of time so that you feel comfortable attending Reunion.

You can also view this printable Bates Virtual Reunion How-To-Guide that provides step-by-step instructions.

After much consideration by College leadership, Bates will launch Reunion 2021 as a virtual experience in June 2021. While there is real progress at both the state and national level on vaccination, there is sufficient uncertainty due to variations in vaccination rates, the unknown impact of the variants of COVID-19, and Maine guidelines for indoor gatherings and face coverings, for us to go forward with such a large-scale event.

At this time we do not anticipate inviting this year’s Reunion classes to campus to celebrate before 2026. We plan to make an exception for the classes of 1970 and 1971, since they have missed out on their milestone 50th Reunion. Should there be other opportunities for classes to gather together as Bates moves toward  its “new normal,” we will confer with volunteer leaders.

We rely heavily on the availability of residence halls and other campus buildings in order to host Reunion classes on campus. Because of this, we are unable to schedule a Reunion celebration when residence halls are in use by students.

The campus, its buildings, and its dorms are filled to capacity when we host a Reunion celebration for just one set of classes. Unfortunately, adding in another full set (or two) of Reunion classes is not feasible.

These classes are small enough that we will be able to accommodate them. Additionally, the milestone 50th Reunion is of such significance that we hope to be able to invite them to campus to be with their classmates for this important celebration.

The college invests in Reunion weekend and registration fees help offset a portion of those costs.  Funds that are not spent this year will be used by the college to help cover some of the costs incurred during the pandemic: COVID-19 testing for students, faculty, and staff; technology for remote and hybrid learning; alterations to dining; creation of outdoor spaces for students; and more.

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, our ongoing concern is for the safety of alumni, staff, and the broader community. We have shifted Reunion 2021 to a virtual celebration in large part because of our commitment to protect public health and safety. We are unable to take responsibility for any independently organized gatherings and recommend against it. 

Our goal remains to bring the Class of 2020 back to campus for a celebration when public health conditions permit large campus gatherings that do not require physical distancing, allowing us to manage the celebration in concert with other campus programs.

We are able to host Commencement for the Class of 2021 because they are completing an on-campus year under strict health guidelines. Once they depart, our residence halls and Commons will close for the summer, with a few exceptions made for students undertaking research projects or working in Admission. We will not be able to host a 2,000 person Reunion weekend in June or at any other point in the summer. While our hope is to identify opportunities for reunion classes to gather in the coming 12-18 months to celebrate these milestones with classmates and friends, we will continue to make decisions based on CDC guidelines and the safety of our community.

We are working on additional ways for alumni to virtually engage with Bates in the coming weeks and months. Please check your email regularly to learn about our upcoming virtual alumni programs. Join your class Facebook group and let your classmates know how you are doing, and follow Bates and Bates Alumni on our social media platforms. You can also network with students and alumni of all generations through Bates Bridge. Additionally, you may get involved with our annual day of giving celebration, It’s a Great Day to be a Bobcat on March 16.

Not receiving emails about Reunion? Make sure to update your contact information.