Greetings, Colleagues,

As always, we start with announcements:

Donald Desrosiers from Dining Services sent a message to announce that Dining Services will be offering meat pies for sale. The cost is $10.00 per pie and orders can be placed by contacting Donald Desrosiers, Catering Manager, at ext. 6298, or by email at ddesrosi@bates.edu. Given the popularity of this holiday delicacy, and the fact that we make a limited number, orders cannot exceed eight pies.  The deadline for ordering is Friday, December 9 and pies will be ready for pick-up Thursday, December 15, and Friday, December 16 between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm at Commons 117.  When placing your order, please indicate which day/time you plan to pick up.

Kristen Cloutier from the Harward Center wrote to invite us to learn more about the partnership between Bates and New Roots Farm. Located here in Lewiston, the farm offers students opportunities for hands-on learning that complements and deepens their classroom experiences.  Read more here.

Matt Carter from Ladd Library wrote to ask us to please submit Winter library course reserve requests by December 10, 2022.  Many students struggle with the high cost of textbooks and Ladd Library reserves copies of all required texts. Please let your students know about this option for accessing textbooks.  Our colleagues at the Bates College Store provide us with information pertaining to any textbooks submitted or confirmed through them. If you have personal or departmental copies of textbooks that can be used for reserve, we appreciate that assistance.  To learn more about library course reserves and/or access the online request form please visit Reserves for Faculty on the library website.  Contact us at reserve-request@bates.edu if you have any questions.

Mike Hanrahan of ILS wrote to remind us of the series of workshops ILS has planned to showcase the virtual reality and fabrication resources available in the VizLab. The remaining workshop dates and information are as follows:

VizLab III: VR 

Tues, Dec 13th, 12:00 – 1:00 in Coram 102

During this session, we’ll set up several VR headsets in the XR space in the VizLab to enable the experience of VR.  We’ll have several headsets available to try, including the Vive Pro, Vive Focus 3, Oculus Rift S, Oculus/Meta Quest 2, and the latest Meta Quest Pro.

VizLab IV: Generative AI

Fri, Dec 16th, 12:00 – 1:00 in Coram 102

The VizLab now has Generative AI resources, including DALLE-2 and Midjourney, which use machine learning algorithms to create images autonomously (see the Colorado State Fair for a recent example). We’ll walk through the abilities of each of these programs, as well as tips for prompt engineering.

To register for any of the sessions, please use our online Registration Form.

Malcolm Hill of the Dean of Faculty’s office wrote to share the news that Renee Dana joined the Dean of the Faculty’s office last Tuesday to begin her role as Executive Assistant to the VPAA and Dean of the Faculty. Renee will be filling a position that has been capably filled by Lori Ouellette. Lori’s extra effort over the last year to help keep our office moving forward has been appreciated by all.

Renee joins us from the University of New England (UNE) where she served as Assistant to the Dean at the Westbrook College of Health Professions. Prior to that position, she was the Operations Manager at the School of Pharmacy. She served in a variety of administrative support roles at UNE including as an Academic and Student Services Coordinator, Staff Assistant, and Administrative Assistant. She also served as an Administrative Assistant at the University of Southern Maine.

Renee impressed the search committee with her strong administrative experiences, and keen focus on supporting the work that is vital to the academic wing of our institution. She earned her BA in Business Economics and has certifications in social media marketing. She has a community-minded ethos and is excited to help us offer better services to the faculty and staff who deliver Bates’ nationally distinctive education. 

We are all very excited to have Renee join us. Over the next several weeks, we will find opportunities for colleagues to get to know her. Please join me in welcoming Renee to Bates!

Lindsey Hamilton from the Center for Inclusive Learning and Teaching wrote to share the December Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning newsletter. What’s inside this month?

• Pick up a Finals Week Survival Kit from CITL during De-stress Fest for Faculty! 
• Laptops & cell phones in the classroom? I share perspectives that say yea, nay, and a 3rd way. 
• Did you vote for next semester’s Guilt-free Book Club selection? Find the winner inside. 
• Communities of Practice winter preview. 4 opportunities!
• Course workload estimator – How long does it take your students to read? Use this tool to plan for the Winter semester. 
• Are you excited? It’s coming! An all-new May Conference: a celebration of teaching!
• Save the date! First day of the class syllabus finalization workshop on Jan 9th!

Joe Hall on behalf of the Otis Committee wrote to solicit any suggestions of speakers who might deliver the Otis Lecture next year (during the 2023-24 academic year) or in subsequent years.  You can see in this list here the names of previous Otis Lectures. Carolyn Finney was this year’s Otis Lecturer, so her name will also be added to the list.  You may be interested in the list of names that our colleagues have suggested in previous years which I can send you upon request.

Please send me your suggestions (including any endorsements of those who have already been named) in an email, and I will add them to the list for the Otis Committee to consider. I am hoping that the Otis Committee can meet in the next couple of weeks, but if your suggestion comes later, I will still add it to the list for consideration in future years.

Christine Schwartz of Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events wrote to announce that Bobcat Catering will be closed from December 20 through January 4. Additionally, catering is completely booked for the following dates so no additional orders will be accepted: Thursday, December 8, Friday, December 9, Thursday, December 15, and Friday, December 16.

Darby Ray of the Harward Center wrote to share information on an upcoming conference at Harvard.  Bates students have had good experiences presenting their community-engaged research at this Harvard conference in the past. Would you please share the opportunity with relevant students? Celebrating Research that Inspires Change!  Scholarship and Social Justice Undergraduate Research Conference.  Undergrads:  Submit your research abstracts for presentation consideration by February 13, 2023.  Please contact Darby Ray for the application link.

Next, upcoming events.

EACS/GEO Lunch
Monday, December 5
Noon – Lightning Talks by Senior Thesis Students
12:40 – 1:00 pm: PIZZA!
Carnegie Science 219
Come meet EACS/GEO 2023 seniors and learn about their thesis research projects!  All are welcome!

Healthy Substance Use Group
every Thursday – 11:30-12:30
Commons 211
Looking for a supportive space to talk about your relationship with substances and have regular thoughtful check-ins?  Professor Stephanie Kelley-Romano (SKR), Bates Health Services, and the Multifaith Chaplaincy are holding a Healthy Substance Use Group once a week.  Faculty, staff, and students are all welcome. Drop in for any amount of time you can.  Whether you are in recovery or simply looking to redefine your relationship with substances, feel very welcome to come and join this warm community as you process!

Annual Marcy Plavin Fall Dance Concert
Monday, December 5, 7:30 pm
Schaeffer Theatre
Free Admission- $5 Suggested Donation
For ticketing information: 207-736-6161 or batestheaternanddance.eventbrite.com
All are welcome!

“Mexico’s Violent and Criminal Politics go North:  The Case of Ruben Gil Campos in Izúcar de Matamoros Puebla, Mexico”
Clarisa Pérez-Armendáriz, Associate Professor of Politics
Monday, December 5, 2022 (following the Faculty Meeting)
Commons 221/222
Dinner at 6:15 p.m. followed by Clarisa’s Presentation.

What Works? Integrating Community-Engaged Learning into the Classroom
Tuesday, December 6
12-1 pm in Dana 206
Hear from faculty colleagues Lori Banks, Sam Boss, Emily Kane, Mara Tieken, and Kate Snyder about how they incorporate community-engaged learning into their teaching practices. Lunch provided from Mother India! Panel co-sponsored by the Harward Center and the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Please register with the link so we know how much food to order.

IMPACT 21st (Innovation, Media, Process, Arts, Collaboration and Technology for the 21st Century) and Bates Arts Collaborative
Thursday, December 8 – 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Coram Library
All faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the Sherman Foundation Arts & Technology Grant.  This grant will promote new approaches to teaching and learning in the arts, support Bates faculty, students, and staff in collaborative endeavors, and build on Bates’ commitment to the transformative integration of technology and the arts. Hors d’oeuvres, beverages, interactive technology, and plans for the new IMStudio (Immersive Media) will be shared.  Please register in advance.

Candles and Carols
Sunday, December 11, 7:00 p.m.
Peter J. Gomes Chapel
An annual tradition celebrating the season with multifaith readings and music including Christmas hymns, Bates acapella groups, and the College Choir.