Below please find a summary of recent announcements and upcoming events.

Tom Twist, Bates’ Sustainability Manager, announced that Bates recently made the top ten green school ranking.  Bates has just made the Top 10 Green Schools list for the first time in its history. We have been ranked #8 in Baccalaureate institutions internationally, out of 800+ schools. We have also been ranked #4 in the Air & Climate category, and #1 in the Energy category. We were also a featured school, so the publication included some nice pictures of Bates students. Here’s the flyer –  https://www.aashe.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SCI-Nov-2021.pdf  This was the result of lots of work from the Committee for Environmental Responsibility and the EcoReps – and everyone we had to pester to get data!

Josh McIntosh, Vice President for Campus Life, wrote with an update on a couple of changes to our COVID-19 policies on campus.  We would like to draw your attention to our updated masking policy, which can be found here.  We will continue to monitor the public health situation on our campus and in Androscoggin county, and seek guidance from our advisors at the Mayo Clinic, to continue to inform changes to our public health policies.

President Spencer announced the annual Bates Community Giving Campaign.  The Bates Community Giving Campaign is a meaningful way to contribute to three organizations making a real difference in Lewiston and throughout Maine: United Way of Androscoggin County, MaineShare, and Community Health Charities of Maine.

Every gift matters. Our goal for the 2021-22 Bates Community Giving Campaign is $40,000 and 225 donors between now and December 5. You can make your gift by signing in to the Garnet Gateway. When you give, you’ll become eligible for a series of weekly prize drawings. Look for special events throughout the giving period as well.  If you have any questions about making a gift or about the Bates Community Giving Campaign in general, please send an email to communitygiving@bates.edu.

Kerry O’Brien of the Dean of Faculty’s Office sent a message about December deadlines for student grants.

BATES STUDENT RESEARCH FUND

Deadline December 1 

Supports student research associated with courses and senior work in all disciplines. Grants of up to $300 (sometimes more for very expensive projects) support research supplies, domestic research travel, subject reimbursements, datasets and software, etc.  See https://www.bates.edu/academics/student-research/academic-year/bates-student-research-fund/ FMI.

STEM CONFERENCE FUND

Deadline December 6 NEW DEADLINE!

Supports students in all classes who are presenting their research in STEM at regional and national scholarly meetings. Grants cover registration, travel, housing, meals for student presenters. Grants typically range from $300-$1500.  See https://www.bates.edu/academics/student-research/academic-year/stem-travel-grants/ FMI.

James Morrison, Director Health and Safety sent a message regarding fire safety. Statistics bare out that fires are most likely to occur during winter months and on college campuses, particularly on weekends. While campus fire drills have been limited due to COVID, inspections of fire extinguishers, suppression and alarm systems continue. In addition, there are a number of things we can all do to prevent fires and associated loss.

1.       Know and be familiar with the campus building evacuation policy and individual building plans accessed at: https://www.bates.edu/campus-safety/emergency-preparedness/building-evacuation-policy/.

2.       Be sure to familiarize yourself with the designated assembly area for your building. When an alarm sounds, promptly exit the building to your assembly point.

3.       If someone needs assistance, please escort them to the nearest stairwell and contact Campus Safety at 6-6111 or emergency responders alerting them to the location.

4.       Help keep hallways and stairwells free for stored items. Do not leave doors propped open.

At home, be sure to change batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors which should be located on each occupied level of your home. Fire extinguishers should similarly be placed on each level of your home and especially in the garage and kitchen.

The campus Environmental, Health and Safety Department will be working throughout this semester to review emergency practices with faculty, staff and students. If you have questions, please reach out to them at 207-786-8226.

Ken Emerson announced that Annual Benefits Enrollment will be open through midnight, Tuesday, November 23.  Annual Enrollment is your opportunity to make changes to your medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity plan, life insurance and reimbursement account elections for the upcoming plan year (January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022). It is important that you review your benefit elections carefully and, if you have questions, review Alex, a recorded information session or schedule an appointment with Human Resources.

Changes to your medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity plan and reimbursement account elections can be made through Garnet Gateway, while life insurance changes need to be made through Human Resources.

Even if you are not making any changes to your coverage it is important that you confirm your elections by completing the annual enrollment process through Garnet Gateway.

Next, upcoming events.

Postcolonial Scars: Parallel Histories of Madness, Entitlement, and Misappropriation of Resources in Eastern Congo and the PostColonial Mind.  Laura Balladur – French and Francophone Studies.

Online Positive Psychology Interventions: Strategies to Boost Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood.  Susan Mangan – Psychology.

November 16 at Noon-1:00
This event will be on zoom: https://bates.zoom.us/j/99421935997

Investigating ideas starts this semester with two of our colleagues talking about their research. For those of you new to Bates, Investigating Ideas features two faculty members talking about their research. Each presents for about 15 minutes, after which the floor is open for comment and questions.  

Neither Tutsi, nor Hutu: A Rwandan Memoir
Monday, November 15th at 5:30 PM.
Lewiston Public Library – Callahan Hall
Author Prosper Ishimwe will speak about his book in conversation with Bates College Professor Emeritus Charles (Val) Carnegie.  Masks required.

“Criminal Justice Reform in Maine”

Thursday, November 18th at 12 noon

Virtual (Zoom + Facebook Live)

The 2021-2022 season of the Great Falls Forum continues featuring Maine Representative Charlotte Warren.

Notes from the Field:  Otis Fellowships and Bates Environmental Internships
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2021
12-1 PM  Commons 221
ENVIROLUNCH returns for a limited engagement!  Please join us for lunch and insights on the environment from smart, insightful students.  A panel discussion featuring students who undertook environmental fellowships and internships in summer 2021:
Salma Ali ’24, Living the Nomadic Life in Somaliland (Otis Fellowship); Cam Anderson ’24, Maine Sierra Club (Bates Environmental Internship); Sam Gilman ’22, Mass Audubon Coastal Waterbird Program (Bates Environmental Internship); and Dianna Georges ’22, Landshare Program, Land in Common (Bates Environmental Internship).  Due to Covid, registration is required.  You may do so here.  Sponsored by the Otis Committee