Commons serves as home to the dining hall and multiple meeting and dining spaces which can be reserved through the Event Management System (EMS). This broad range of rooms allows students to meet with friends and peers, faculty and organized groups in a comfortable setting.

Internal Events – Requests for use of campus facilities for internal events can only be made by current faculty or staff, student organizations and academic/administrative departments. Note that requests from student organizations must be approved by Campus Life prior to final approval by DCCE.

External Events – Requests for use of campus facilities for external events must either be “sponsored” by an academic/administrative department or student organization, must be arranged through the Conferences and Campus Events Office (207-786-6299) and require a least a ten working day notice- late requests will not be approved.  A representative of the sponsoring group must be present for the event. Proof of insurance will be required and a facilities fee will be applied. Note that requests from student organizations must be approved by Campus Life prior to final approval by DCCE.

Tabling Spaces – Designated tabling spaces can also be reserved through EMS.

Tabling spaces is limited to:

• 1 table by the Fireplace Lounge 
• 2 tables in-front of Milts 

Easel Posting Spaces – Designated easel posting spaces can also be reserved through EMS.

Easel posting space is limited to:

• 1 in-front of Milts
• 1 at the back door of Commons
• 1 at the front door of Commons
• 1 at the entrance to the Fireplace Lounge

Please refer to the Space Reservations/EMS section of the DCCE website for more information.

Each student on the board plan gains access to Commons by swiping their Bates ID. Board plan members also receive five bonus meals per semester to be used for themselves over a break or for a guest, as permitted by dining policy. Students not on the board plan can eat at Commons by paying at the door per meal or by purchasing a meal card in advance.

• Shoes and shirts are required.
• No pets allowed. Service animals are permitted.
• Access to Commons is limited to:
  • Bates students
  • Faculty and Staff who charge their meals to a Bates Department org number or pay at the door, as permitted by dining policy.
  • External community members, as permitted by dining policy.
• Students who give their ID card 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, loss of dining privileges or the performance of community service hours in Dining Services, as determined by Student Affairs.

Patrons may eat as much as they’d like while in the dining room, but the packing out of bulk food is prohibited, as is the removal of Commons china, glasses or silverware. A selection of to-go items are available at the Grab ‘n Go station, located near the entrance to Commons.  Patrons are welcome to take a snack – such as an apple, bagel, or ice cream cone –  or a beverage in an RBC (reusable beverage container.) 

Students with Special Dining Needs

If you have questions about special dining needs, please email dccespecdining@groups.bates.edu or reach out to Josh Palomera, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator at jpalomera@bates.edu,or Daisy Haskell, Purchasing Manager and Special Dining Needs Liaison, at  dhaskell@bates.edu

Students With Class or Work Conflicts

A grab n go meal is available in Commons beginning at 7:00 am Monday through Friday. Students with class or work conflicts that do not allow them to come to Commons during meal hours should email bobcatcatering@bates.edu. We require a minimum of three working days in advance to arrange a to-go meal alternative.

Students Leaving On Approved Academic, Athletic, or Organization Trips

Catering arranges food orders for academic field trips, athletic events, and approved student organization trips at no charge for board plan participants. These orders should be placed for the entire group by the person in charge of the trip (eg. a professor or designee, a coach, or a responsible person of a student organization.) Please contact Donald Desrosiers, Catering Manager, at bobcatcatering@bates.edu or x6298. A notice of at least five working days is required for all orders.  

Ill & Injured Students

Students who are unable to go to Commons for medical reasons should contact Health Services to make dining arrangements.

Posting Inside the Dining Hall

• There is no posting of any form allowed inside the dining hall except on the wall leading to the back exit in the area labeled “student posting.”
• All items must be dated and will be removed once the event is over.
• No more than two of the same postings can be tacked to the board. Any more than two will be removed.
• Items that are not dated will be removed.
• Large “sheets” and postings larger than 24 in x 24 in are not allowed in this area.
• Individuals wishing to communicate with the campus community while they are in Commons may do so in the Bates Daily, which is normally the only printed information to be made available on tables in Commons.
• Bates community groups may advertise in the table holders on the tables in Commons/Den. To reserve a space reach out to Kevin Perry @ kperry@bates.edu. Ads are scheduled to a first-come-first served basis, are limited to no more than seven days and can not run consecutively.  Ads are limited to student activities/academic events.

Posting in the Building

• Posting is allowed on the tackable surfaces located in the lower and upper hallways only, not on any other walls. Items posted elsewhere will be removed.
• All items must be dated and will be removed once the event is over. 
• No more than three of the same postings can be tacked to the board. Any more than three will be removed.
• Items that are not dated will be removed.
• Items are to be tacked to walls, not taped or stapled. Tacks are available at the clicker station located at the entrance to Commons. Improperly hung items will be removed.