Strategic Planning at Bates College

Grounded in our mission and values, Bates’ current (2025–27) strategic planning process is an opportunity for our community to shape the college’s future together. With curiosity, care, and ambition, we are charting a course that will honor our history while preparing Bates to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world.

This site will serve as a central hub for updates  and community engagement as the planning process unfolds. Here you will find:

  • Messages and Updates: Communications from the president and the Strategic Planning Steering Committee.
  • Planning Process: Details about our approach, timeline, and opportunities for input.
  • Areas of Focus: Insights and ideas taking shape.
  • The Plan Itself: When ready, the final strategic plan will be published here in full.

Stay connected. Stay engaged. Help shape what comes next.

Messages and Updates

  • Strategic Planning Update
    by Garry W. Jenkins
    Dear members of the Bates community, As we announced in November 2024, Bates has begun an intensive and broadly collaborative…
  • Strategic Planning Update
    by Garry W. Jenkins
    Dear Members of the Bates Community, I am pleased to announce the membership of a steering committee for Bates’ next major strategic planning effort, which I announced in the fall community letter. The committee’s composition is listed below. I will chair the steering committee, which will begin its work this month.
  • Community Letter Fall 2024
    by Garry W. Jenkins
    Dear Members of the Bates Community, Now that the fall semester is well underway, I thought I would share some thoughts on plans and priorities for our work together this year. As I wrote in August, 2023–24 was an extraordinary year for Bates, full of moments of both celebration and challenge, community-building and collaboration. We have started the 2024–25 academic year on strong footing: with the wonderful new Class of 2028, some incredible Maine weather, and outstanding efforts in our classrooms and at our athletic facilities.

Timeline

Jan-May 2025

Phase I

  • Strategic Planning Steering Committee (SPSC) underway
  • Market positioning study underway
  • Strategic framework and areas of focus identified
  • Feedback period
  • Working Committees formed

AY 2025-2026

Phase II

  • Working Committees conduct work and submit final reports to SPSC
  • Market positioning study concludes
  • SPSC refines, integrates, and prioritizes; drafting of strategic plan underway
  • Feedback period

Fall 2026

Phase III

  • Feedback period
  • SPSC finalizes draft of Strategic Plan
  • Board approves final Strategic Plan (winter)
Questions or feedback? Contact us at strategicplanning@bates.edu