Student Employment Office

SPARQ is a program of the Student Center for Belonging and Community (SCBC). Support, Perspective, Allyship, Representation and Qmunity (SPARQ) was established in 2015. The intention of SPARQ is to provide a space for LGBTQ+, allied and identity exploring students to expand their knowledge and experiences as it relates to gender and sexuality. Through education and social events, SPARQ hosts opportunities where all Bates students can participate, grow and build community across differences while maintaining intentional spaces of belonging. The SCBC is committed to dismantling systems of oppression by actively centering and celebrating the voices and experiences of historically marginalized student identities. We foster belonging by creating spaces that encourage agency, awareness, and self-advocacy. We collaborate with students to explore…

First-Generation Peer Mentors are trained student leaders who help first-year first-generation-to-college students find community, thrive academically, and feel at home at Bates. As part of the SCBC and the Bobcat First and Kessler Scholars Programs, Peer Mentors build meaningful relationships, offer individualized support, and contribute to a campus-wide network that uplifts first-generation students. Each Peer Mentor works with a cohort of intentionally grouped first-year students and helps create a welcoming environment through one-on-one check-ins, group activities, and weekly drop-in “Mentoring Hours.” Peer Mentors also support major first-gen initiatives throughout the year, including Summer Pre-Orientation and First-Generation Week.

Mission – Belonging, Community, Education The Office of Intercultural Education (OIE) strives to provide students with a sense of belonging in their social and intellectual communities, elevate their awareness of their personal power and educate allies among students, faculty and staff by serving as a community hub that harnesses our differences. OIE Community Navigator (CM) aims to create a welcoming environment that supports the academic and personal development of BIPOC, first-generation to college and LGBTQ+ students, and to engage all students in building an inclusive campus community.

The Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI) is committed to the ongoing work of fostering a Bates community where everyone can thrive. In collaboration with our partners all across campus, we offer professional learning opportunities to employees and students as we aim to identify and mitigate barriers to access and to increase a sense of belonging. Our Equity & Inclusion Outreach Ambassadors will serve as an integral part of the OEI team, with a primary focus on developing social media communications, creating promotional materials for office-sponsored events, and serving as a community liaison between the OEI and the Bates student body.