Welcome to Bates from the First-Year Experience Team – GET READY FOR AN EXCITING SUMMER OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES!

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Dear Members of the Class of 2028 and Transfer Students,

Welcome to Bates! We are so excited to welcome you into our vibrant community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty, Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students, Rob La Stella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life, Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life, and Catie Luedee, Assistant Director of Outdoor Education and Programs, and we will be communicating with you throughout the summer to provide information and resources, which will help you prepare for your arrival to campus in late August.

Throughout the summer you will receive emails from us. Each email will contain important information meant to assist you in making the most of the Bates First-Year Experience or FYE. More information about the First-Year Experience and New Student Orientation is at the FYE website.

The Bates FYE is made up of 9 distinct programs held throughout your first year. These programs are organized around 6 foundational values that support you in your transition to college. You can read more about the FYE here. We know that a successful start to your college experience requires far more than just a few days of Orientation. The FYE is organized to support you throughout your entire first year to help you build the foundation to thrive throughout your time at Bates.

These 9 FYE programs include:

1. Summer Resources (a specific site called a Lyceum Page that will open to you on June 10, 2024 and that contains time-released resources in June, July, and August. Information about Fall 2024 course registration will become available through Summer Resources on or near June 17, 2024)
2. Summer Registration Consultation in July (July 9 to July 18) to assist you in selecting your Fall 2024 courses
3. New Student Orientation (On Campus in late August and early September)–Arrival Day is Thursday, August 29, 2024!
4. First-Year Seminars (FYS) (all students must enroll in an FYS for Fall 2024)
5. Pre-Major Academic Advising (throughout 2024-25 and into 2025-26 until you declare your major in your second year–your FYS instructor is your Pre-Major Academic Advisor)
6. First-Year Experience (FYE) Workshops (in Fall 2024 and hosted on a separate Lyceum page that you will be able to access on or near August 30)–tethered to your FYS
7. First-Year Centers (your residence life and housing community for 2024-25)
8. First-Year/First Weekend Fall (programming begins September 6 and 7, 2024, and then First-Year/First-Fall for specific social programs for all first-year students)
9. First-Year/First-Weekend Winter (programming in your second (Winter) semester at Bates, which aims to introduce you to a range of opportunities and resources such as Global Education, Purposeful Work, Community-Engaged Education, and student research and fellowship support)

These 9 programs are animated by 6 values that define the FYE. They include:

1. Fostering Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Anti-Racism
2. Building a Welcoming Community
3. Encouraging Academic Inquiry and Exploration
4. Cultivating Purpose and Identity
5. Promoting Health and Well-being
6. Creating a Sense of Place

In future email communications and on your Summer Resources Lyceum Page, we will go into more detail as to what each of these values means and the opportunities you have to engage with them at Bates. For now, we just wanted to introduce ourselves and provide you with this brief overview of First-Year Experience at Bates!

Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 22), we will send you another email that lays out the schedule of our summer communications. So, please be sure to check your email regularly!

Finally, the Garnet Gateway should now be open to you. Please check your Bates admission portal to receive your login information if you haven’t done so already. You must complete all First-Year forms by their due dates. These forms include your housing application, your Bates email, health forms, AESOP application, emergency contact information, class registration, and more. So it is very important that you log in sooner rather than later!

We are excited to work with you throughout the summer and throughout your first year.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

First-Year Experience at Bates: Summer Resources, Important Dates, and First-Year Forms Reminder

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Hello Class of 2028 and Transfer Students!

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, we sent you a welcome email, and we outlined the First-Year Experience or FYE at Bates. 

In this email, we have 2 goals:

First, we draw your attention to important forms (what we call First-Year Forms) that you access on the Garnet Gateway. You can read more about First-Year Forms here.

Second, we provide you with an overview of Summer 2024  important dates and deadlines. Much of what is detailed below refers to your Summer Resources Lyceum Page to which you will have access beginning on June 10, 2024. This email outlines when you will receive important information about these and other resources. 

You will hear from us about once per week in June, July, and August. Many of our emails will guide you to a site we use at Bates called Lyceum, which is our course management system. On Lyceum you have access to lots of short videos and other materials that will help you learn about Bates, help you register for classes for the Fall semester, and help you prepare for Arrival Day in late August. 

First-Year Forms

You will need to fill out all First-Year Forms prior to matriculating to Bates in the Fall. All of these forms are accessed through Garnet Gateway. A schedule of the forms open and due dates is listed at the First-Year Forms page on the First-Year Experience website. To login and access these forms, please go to the Quad and then click on “Log in to Garnet Gateway.” 

Summer Communications and Resources

Here is an overview of what is coming soon:

Monday, June 3, 2024 – First-Year Summer Meet-Ups email sent to all incoming new students

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 – Information about our brand new Spanish-language First-Year Seminar will be emailed to you. All students will need to register for a First-Year Seminar – there are 35 different seminars. And, registration for FYS and your other Fall courses will take place between July 9 and July 18, 2024.

Monday, June 10, 2024 –  Lyceum Summer Resources Part I (Welcome and Values) opens. This section provides an important overview of the entire First-Year Experience.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 –  Bonner Leader Invitation Email sent to all new first-year students

Monday, June 17, 2024 – Lyceum Summer Resources Part II (Registering for Fall 2024 Classes: Academic Resources and Exploration) opens. This section provides everything you need to know in order to register for your Fall 2024 semester classes as well as information on academic exploration, on general education and degree requirements, on community-engaged learning opportunities, purposeful work and career exploration, pre-health career tracks, majors, minors, concentrations, and more!

Tuesday, July 9, 2024—Course selection for all Fall 2024 courses (including First-Year Seminars) begins. Students will be contacted by their personal course selection consultant via email on or near July 1, 2024 to set up a time to meet – via Zoom, email, or phone – during the course selection period (July 9 to July 18). Students are asked to select 1 top choice required First-Year Seminar or FYS (and 6 unranked alternatives) and 3 top-choice courses besides FYS (and 12 unranked alternatives). Course selection is NOT first-come-first served. You will be able to select your courses at any time between July 9 and July 19, 2024. NOTE: Many courses have multiple sections. Students need only put down 1 section in your list and the Registrar (who constructs students’ course schedules) will put students in any available section of that course that works for your schedule.

Thursday, July 18, 2024 – Fall Course Selection closes and Consultation Period Ends at 11:59 PM Eastern

On or near Tuesday, July 30, 2024 – Fall course schedules released (schedules frozen—students can alter their schedules when they arrive at Bates during the add/drop period, which opens on Tuesday, September 3, 2023 at 7 AM Eastern).

Monday, August 5, 2024 – Lyceum Summer Resources Part III (Bates’s History, Mission, and Ongoing Commitment to Equity) opens. This section details important information about Bates’s History and Mission statement. It also addresses concepts of equity and inclusion that will be further explored in other parts of the First-Year Experience as well, such as during New Student Orientation and the First-Year Experience Workshops during the Fall semester.

Monday, August 12, 2024 – Lyceum Summer Resources Part IV (Community Exploration, Expectations and Supports (Part 1 of 2)) opens. This section introduces students to some important community guidelines and different members of our community who lead resources such as the Bates Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Office of Intercultural Education, the Multifaith Chaplaincy, the Office of Campus Life, and more!

Monday, August 19, 2024 – Lyceum Summer Resources Part V (More Community Exploration, Expectations and Supports (Part 2 of 2)) opens. This section introduces students to more important community guidelines and different members of our community who lead the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, the Center for Purposeful Work, and more!

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – (We Can’t Wait to See You!) opens. This section will include some important last-minute information prior to Arrival Day on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Thursday, August 29, 2024 – Arrival Day and the start of on-campus New Student Orientation

Friday, August 30, 2024 — First meeting of students’ First Year Seminar or FYS (9 AM to 11 AM) and academic advising sessions. Academic and Resource Fair for all first-year students follows at 11:10 AM to 12:25 PM.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024 — Add/Drop and course schedule adjustment period opens at 7 AM for all students. All-College Convocation ceremony is also today.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 — First day of classes for all students

Those are some important dates to help you organize your summer! Be sure to check your email regularly around the dates specified above so you can stay up to date on information. This schedule is also available at the FYE website here.

We hope this email provides you with a clear overview of what to expect for summer communications and information. More detail will be provided in the future, and don’t worry, you’ll hear from us a lot in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions, please email fye@bates.edu.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life  

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

Virtual Meetups for All New Bates Students

Monday June 3, 2024  

Hello students in the Class of 2028 and new transfer students, 

Welcome to Bates! We are so excited to welcome you to campus in the fall.

We know the summer leading up to college is an exciting time, and we hope you can join us for some virtual meetups if they are of interest to you. These meetups are an opportunity for you to connect on a Zoom call with other new students and Bates College staff and/or faculty who share a similar interest or identity with you.

Listed below are the dates, times, and details of each meetup. Feel free to sign up for as many as you’d like.  

Please register for this program by clicking on and completing the form at this link. Please register by 5 PM Eastern on Wednesday, June 19.  If you have any questions, please contact Bates First-Year Experience team at fye@bates.edu.

Monday, June 24, 2024 at 7 PM EDT: Nervous about going to college? 

If you are nervous about starting college, come to this session, which will feature staff in student affairs and faculty. It will also review how you can engage with your Summer Resources to get many of your questions answered. This meetup is hosted by Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life and Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty.  

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 7 PM EDT: LGBTQIA+ Students: 

Are you looking for more information about what LGBTQIA+ student life is like on campus? Come meet with members of our Office of Intercultural Education, as well as current students, to learn more about our LGBTQIA+ community, resources, and support(s) on campus. This meetup is hosted by Anthony Del Real, Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Programs and Cole Taylor, Assistant Director of Residential Operations. 

Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 7 PM EDT: Student Clubs and Activities: 

Much of your college experience will be beyond the classroom and in community with students who share your interests. Learn more about the range of opportunities to delve deeper into co-curricular activities, explore new interests, and apply what you are learning in the classroom to leadership opportunities and activities beyond the classroom. This Meetup is hosted by Nick Dressler, Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life & Student Leadership and Luke Allen, Coordinator of Campus Life Programming & Activities. 

Friday, June 28, 2024 at 7 PM EDT: BIPOC Students: 

Are you interested in learning about what community and support for BIPOC students is on campus? Are you hoping to  connect with and create community with other BIPOC students in the entering class? Come meet with staff and student leaders from the Office of Intercultural Education to build community and get your questions answered. This Meetup is hosted by Mana Abdi, Program Coordinator in the Office of Intercultural Education and Tonya Bailey-Curry, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Intercultural Education. 

Monday, July 1, 2024 at 7 PM EDT: First-Generation College Students: 

You are a first gen student if neither of your parents have a Bachelor’s (4-year) degree. First gen students are trailblazers for their families and often have additional questions about how higher education works. In this session your hosts will answer many of those questions and help you start thinking about how to prepare to blaze your trail at Bates. Many staff, faculty, and students at Bates are first generation students so you will be in good company. This Meetup is hosted by Dri Huber, Assistant Dean and Director of First-Generation Programs and Tatiana Pullen, Coordinator of First-Generation Programs. 

Again, sign up to participate in these Zoom meetups at this link.

We hope to see you! If you have any questions, please email  fye@bates.edu.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life  

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

Class of 2028 – If you are interested in taking the new First-Year Seminar taught in Spanish

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Hello Class of 2028 Students,

All first-year students must enroll in a First-Year Seminar or FYS during their first Fall semester at Bates. You will receive more information about this class (and about course registration more broadly) on or near June 17, 2024. For Fall 2024 Bates is introducing a new FYS taught entirely in Spanish. Information about that course is below. Please note the information is presented first in Spanish, and then it is followed with an English translation.

Seminario de primer año (FYS) en español

El departamento de Estudios hispánicos ofrece todos los años un seminario de primer año (FYS) en español que aborda temas relacionados con el mundo de habla española. Los seminarios de primer año son cursos que completan el requisito W1 de escritura para Educación General al tiempo que sirven para iniciar a los estudiantes en el amplio campo de los estudios culturales hispánicos. Los estudiantes que se matriculan en el seminario de primer año de Estudios hispánicos a menudo eligen estudiar otros cursos de lengua española al mismo tiempo. Si está usted interesada en comenzar o seguir estudiando español con su seminario de primer año o hacerlo aparte, puede encontrar  información sobre cursos iniciales y pruebas de competencia lingüística conectando con este enlace.

A partir del semestre de otoño de 2024, el departamento va a ofrecer un seminario de primer año (FYS en sus siglas en inglés) impartido íntegramente en español, incluidas todas las tareas escritas y orales del curso. Este curso permite a las estudiantes completar su requisito W1 de escritura, haciéndolo en un idioma diferente del inglés. Esto ocurre por primera vez en la historia de Bates College. Está pensado para estudiantes con un nivel de competencia lingüística avanzado que han usado español como primer idioma o como idioma de herencia, o que lo han aprendido como segundo idioma.

Fall 2024 – FYS 575 Colón y Castro: Héroe o tirano. Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero

Para matricularse en el seminario de primer año (FYS) en español deberán completar la prueba de competencia lingüística antes del 22 de junio de 2024, que consiste en dos pasos:

1.   Realizar la Evaluación de gramática y lectura para determinar el nivel actual de competencial del estudiante y poder identificar el nivel de curso de español recomendado. Para ser admitido en el curso de primer año (FYS en sus siglas en inglés) en español se tiene que obtener una nota a partir de los 438 puntos. Para apuntarse y tomar la prueba de gramática y lectura conecte con este enlace.

2.   Realizar en línea la Prueba de escritura en español para determinar el nivel de escritura que se posee en este momento. La prueba será evaluada por el profesor. Puede hacer la prueba conectando con este enlace.

Tras la evaluación combinada de ambas pruebas, el profesor enviará por correo electrónico una invitación a los estudiantes que hayan sido considerados aptos con nuevas instrucciones para matricularse en el seminario de primer año en español. La invitación les llegará el 27 de junio de 2024.

Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este curso, comuníquese con el profesor Baltasar Fra-Molinero en bframoli@bates.edu.

________________________________________________________

First-Year Seminar (FYS) Taught in Spanish

The Department of Hispanic Studies offers a first-year seminar or FYS on topics related to the Spanish-speaking world. As a required W1 course, this FYS fulfills the college’s General Education writing requirements while also introducing students to the rich and varied field of Hispanic cultural studies. In Fall 2024, this FYS (FYS 575) will be taught in Spanish. You can click on this course description: FYS 575 Colón y Castro: Héroe o tirano. Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero

Students interested in taking the FYS in Spanish (FYS 575) should complete the two-step Spanish language assessment before June 22, 2024:

1. Complete the online Spanish language Grammar and Reading assessment to determine your current proficiency level and identify the recommended entry level course. In order to be considered for admission to the FYS in Spanish you must score 438 points or higher. To register to take the Spanish language Grammar and Reading assessment CLICK HERE.

2. Complete the online Spanish language Writing assessment to ascertain current abilities and skills as a writer in Spanish. The assessment will be reviewed by the instructor. To take the Spanish language Writing assessment CLICK HERE.

Students who enroll in the new Spanish-language FYS offered by Hispanic Studies may also concurrently take other Spanish language courses such as HISP 202 (Intermediate Spanish II) or HISP 205 (Advanced Spanish), and many of these students continue on to complete a Major or Minor in Hispanic Studies. If you are interested in starting or continuing your study of Spanish in conjunction with your FYS or separately, for information about entry-level courses and proficiency assessment please CLICK HERE .

Based on results of the combination of assessments, students eligible for admission to the FYS in Spanish will receive an invitation email from the instructor with further instructions required for registration by June 27, 2024. 

If you have any questions about this course, please contact Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero at bframoli@bates.edu.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life and First-Year Experience 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

Class of 2028 and Transfer Students–Your Summer Resources Lyceum Page is Now Open! 

Monday, June 10, 2024

Hello Class of 2028 and Transfer Students!

We hope that you are having a great summer and that you are starting to get excited about coming to campus in late August! 

Your Summer Resources Lyceum Page opens to you today!!!

This email reviews how you can now access your Summer Resources page, which is hosted on the Bates course management website known as Lyceum.

Summer Resources for the Class of 2028 and new transfer students on Lyceum

Your Summer Resources Lyceum Page will help you prepare for the Fall 2024 semester. We will release more resources throughout the summer. For example, on June 17, we will release resources that will help you prepare for your Fall 2024 course selection (that selection period will be from July 9 to July 18, and don’t worry, every student new to Bates is assigned a personal summer course selection consultant and you will get an email from them on or near July 1. That email will contain information on how to meet with them on Zoom, by phone, or over email).

You must review your Summer Resources in their entirety as they are part of your First-Year Experience Program.

The key dates when more information will appear are:

• Monday, June 10, 2024 (Today) – Summer Resources Part I – Welcome and FYE Values opened to students
• Monday, June 17, 2024 – Summer Resources Part II – Registering for Fall 2024 Classes: Academic Exploration opened to students (this will include important information about how and when to register for your Fall 2024 classes in July 2024). Class selection and registration will take place between July 9 and 18, 2024; each student will be contacted by email (their Bates email) by their personal Summer Registration Consultant on or near July 1 to schedule a meeting during the registration period (July 9 to 18) to support them in their course selection process.
• Monday, August 5, 2024 – Summer Resources Part III – Bates’s History, Mission, and Commitments to Equity and Inclusion opened to students
• Monday, August 12, 2024 – Summer Resources Part IV – Community Expectations, Resources, and Supports (Part 1 of 2) opened to students
• Monday, August 19, 2024 –  Summer Resources Part V – Community Expectations, Resources, and Supports (Part 2 of 2) opened to students
• Wednesday, August 21, 2024 – Summer Resources Part VI – We Can’t Wait to See You! opened to students

Your Summer Resources Lyceum page is stocked with videos and other resources to help you learn more about Bates, the many facets of the First-Year Experience (FYE) Program, and the course selection process for Fall 2024 courses (course selection and academic exploration information will be accessible on or near June 17).

Accessing Lyceum

To access Lyceum simply go to the Quad at https://quad.bates.edu/ and click on the bar labeled “Lyceum.”

Once at the Lyceum landing page, enter your username and password. Once you’ve entered Lyceum, you will see a box labeled “Class of 2028 Summer Resources.” Click on it. This will bring you to a letter from us. After reading the letter, simply scroll down and you will see a tile labeled “Welcome to the Bates Community.” Once you click on this tile, a set of resources including short videos featuring Bates faculty, staff, and students will open. Please review these resources and watch these videos in the next few days.

The Next Tile of Summer Resources Opens On or Near June 17, 2024 

As summer continues, more tiles will appear on this Lyceum page, and we will notify you by email when they do. Importantly, on or near June 17, a tile called “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities” will open. It contains information about how to register for your required First-Year Seminar (FYS) and your 3 other classes that will make up your Fall 2024 schedule. So, be sure to check your email and go to your Summer Resources Lyceum page on or near June 17 to access this important information.

We look forward to working with you throughout the summer! If you have any questions, just email fye@bates.edu. 

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life and First-Year Experience 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

Bates Class of 2025: Apply to be a Bonner Leader 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 

Hello students in the Class of 2028!

Congratulations on your acceptance to Bates College! In addition to joining the Bates community, you are about to become a resident of Lewiston/Auburn, a wonderful place with many assets and opportunities for community engagement.

Here at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, we love helping students think about how they’d like to engage with their new home. We support a variety of opportunities, including community work-study jobs, volunteer positions, summer fellowships, paid student civic leadership programs, and The Bonner Leader Program. The Bonner Leader Program is an exciting opportunity for students with a passion for community service and civic engagement. 

Bonner Leaders spend four hours a week working with community partners in the Lewiston/Auburn area. In exchange for participating in all aspects of this program, Bonner Leaders receive a stipend each semester. Current Bonner Leaders participate in a wide range of activities, such as tutoring and mentoring in local schools and after-school programs, gardening, working with adult refugees, and participating in programming for senior citizens.

In addition to working in the community, Bonner Leaders spend about two hours a week together as a group, reflecting on experiences, participating in training to develop personal and leadership skills, and having fun.

I hope that you will strongly consider applying for this program. The application deadline is Monday, July 22, 2024 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. For more information about the Bonner Leader Program, including a brief video and a link to the application, please visit our website. You can also find a direct link to the application here.

One point to consider prior to applying is that students who do best in the program are those able to commit adequate time to it. If you do not have the time to be a Bonner Leader, we have many other ways for you to engage within Lewiston/Auburn!

Regardless of whether or not you become a Bonner Leader, we are all excited to meet you in the fall! You will have an opportunity to meet with folks from the Harward Center at the Academic and Resource Office Fair at New Student Orientation (Friday, August 30 from 11:10 AM to 12:25 PM). And, you can explore our numerous programs and opportunities throughout your first year at Bates.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Regards,

Ellen Alcorn

Director, Bonner Leader Program

Registering for Your Fall 2024 Courses: Academic Exploration Now Open at Your Summer Resources Lyceum Page

Monday, June 17, 2024

Hello students in the Class of 2028 and new transfer students,

This email contains important information about course registration for your Fall 2024 courses. 

Please review the resources that are newly available today on your Lyceum Summer Resources page. The new tile, “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities,” includes information on course registration, much of which is summarized in this email.

This section of your Summer Resources describes in detail when and how to register for your Fall 2024 classes. It also includes information on what courses you might consider taking by providing information on your general education requirements, placement tests for languages and math, recommended entry courses for every field of study, and more. 

How to Navigate the “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities” 

Please review all of the material and watch the videos in this section of FYE Summer Resources Lyceum Page before the course selection period opens on July 9 at 10 AM Eastern Time. 

To access Lyceum simply go to the Quad at https://quad.bates.edu/ and click on the bar labeled “Lyceum.” Once at the Lyceum landing page, enter your username and password. 

Some basic information and dates about the course selection process

Monday, June 17, 2024 – Summer Resources Part II (Registering for Fall 2024 Classes: Exploring Liberal Arts and Academics) opens. This section will provide everything you need to know in order to register for your Fall 2024 semester classes as well as information on academic exploration, on general education and degree requirements, on languages, arts, engineering, pre-health career tracks, majors, minors, concentrations, and more!

NOTE: If you are interested in taking the new FYS 575 (which is taught in Spanish), please see the email sent to all students on June 5, 2024 with additional instructions or go here.

Wednesday, July 3 – Last day to take placement tests for mathematics and languages. Information on placement tests is at your Summer Resources Lyceum Page under the “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses” section. You can also access that information here. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2024—Course selection for all Fall 2024 courses (including required First-Year Seminars) opens. Students will be contacted by their personal course selection consultant on or near July 1, 2024 via email, and they will have an opportunity to meet with their consultant over Zoom, email, or phone. In-coming first-year students are asked to select 1 top choice FYS (and 6 unranked alternatives) and 3 top-choice courses besides FYS (and 12 unranked alternatives). Transfer students should not select first-year seminars. Registration is not first-come/first-served, so students can enter their course selections into Garnet Gateway between 10 AM Eastern on July 9 and 11:59 PM Eastern on July 18.

NOTE 1: If a course has more than one section (e.g., CHEM 107 offers 5 sections), you need only note the course (CHEM 107) once, and the Registrar will place you in whichever section does not time-conflict with the other courses that you’ve selected for your Fall 2024 schedule.

NOTE 2: Pay attention to your Mode of Inquiry requirements (which are discussed in the Summer Resources but about which you can also access information here) when selecting courses. It is recommended that students complete 1 to 2 MOIs in their first semester and that all MOIs be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Thursday, July 18, 2024 – Fall Course Selection closes and Consultation Period ends at 11:59 PM Eastern

Tuesday, July 30, 2024 – Fall course schedules released. Students can alter their schedules when they are at Bates during the add/drop period, which opens on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7 AM. They will have a chance to meet with their pre-major academic advisor/First-Year Seminar (FYS) instructor on Friday, August 30, 2024 from 9 AM to 11 AM.

Thanks for taking the time to read this email and for reviewing your “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities” materials on your Summer Resources Lyceum page as you prepare for Fall 2024 course registration.

We look forward to working with you throughout the summer and to meeting you in person in late  August.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

REMINDER: If interested in Spanish Language FYS 575, be sure to take language placement assessment by June 22, 2024.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Hello Class of 2028 Students,

As we wrote to you on June 5, for Fall 2024 Bates is introducing a new FYS taught entirely in Spanish. Information about that course is below. Please note the information is presented first in Spanish, and then it is followed with an English translation.

If you are interested in taking the course, you must complete the language assessments discussed below no later than 4 PM Eastern on June 22.

If you want to take any other language courses in languages that you have already begun to study prior to attending Bates, please be sure to take the relevant language placement tests by July 3. Information on how to take each language assessment is at your Summer Resources Lyceum page (the section that opened to you on June 17) or can be found at the FYE website here.

Seminario de primer año (FYS) en español

El departamento de Estudios hispánicos ofrece todos los años un seminario de primer año (FYS) en español que aborda temas relacionados con el mundo de habla española. Los seminarios de primer año son cursos que completan el requisito W1 de escritura para Educación General al tiempo que sirven para iniciar a los estudiantes en el amplio campo de los estudios culturales hispánicos. Los estudiantes que se matriculan en el seminario de primer año de Estudios hispánicos a menudo eligen estudiar otros cursos de lengua española al mismo tiempo. Si está usted interesada en comenzar o seguir estudiando español con su seminario de primer año o hacerlo aparte, puede encontrar  información sobre cursos iniciales y pruebas de competencia lingüística conectando con este enlace.

A partir del semestre de otoño de 2024, el departamento va a ofrecer un seminario de primer año (FYS en sus siglas en inglés) impartido íntegramente en español, incluidas todas las tareas escritas y orales del curso. Este curso permite a las estudiantes completar su requisito W1 de escritura, haciéndolo en un idioma diferente del inglés. Esto ocurre por primera vez en la historia de Bates College. Está pensado para estudiantes con un nivel de competencia lingüística avanzado que han usado español como primer idioma o como idioma de herencia, o que lo han aprendido como segundo idioma.

Fall 2024 – FYS 575 Colón y Castro: Héroe o tirano. Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero

Para matricularse en el seminario de primer año (FYS) en español deberán completar la prueba de competencia lingüística antes del 22 de junio de 2024, que consiste en dos pasos:

1.   Realizar la Evaluación de gramática y lectura para determinar el nivel actual de competencial del estudiante y poder identificar el nivel de curso de español recomendado. Para ser admitido en el curso de primer año (FYS en sus siglas en inglés) en español se tiene que obtener una nota a partir de los 438 puntos. Para apuntarse y tomar la prueba de gramática y lectura conecte con este enlace.

2.   Realizar en línea la Prueba de escritura en español para determinar el nivel de escritura que se posee en este momento. La prueba será evaluada por el profesor. Puede hacer la prueba conectando con este enlace.

Tras la evaluación combinada de ambas pruebas, el profesor enviará por correo electrónico una invitación a los estudiantes que hayan sido considerados aptos con nuevas instrucciones para matricularse en el seminario de primer año en español. La invitación les llegará el 27 de junio de 2024.

Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este curso, comuníquese con el profesor Baltasar Fra-Molinero en bframoli@bates.edu.

________________________________________________________

First-Year Seminar (FYS) Taught in Spanish

The Department of Hispanic Studies offers a first-year seminar or FYS on topics related to the Spanish-speaking world. As a required W1 course, this FYS fulfills the college’s General Education writing requirements while also introducing students to the rich and varied field of Hispanic cultural studies. In Fall 2024, this FYS (FYS 575) will be taught in Spanish. You can click on this course description: FYS 575 Colón y Castro: Héroe o tirano. Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero

Students interested in taking the FYS in Spanish (FYS 575) should complete the two-step Spanish language assessment before June 22, 2024:

1. Complete the online Spanish language Grammar and Reading assessment to determine your current proficiency level and identify the recommended entry level course. In order to be considered for admission to the FYS in Spanish you must score 438 points or higher. To register to take the Spanish language Grammar and Reading assessment CLICK HERE.

2. Complete the online Spanish language Writing assessment to ascertain current abilities and skills as a writer in Spanish. The assessment will be reviewed by the instructor. To take the Spanish language Writing assessment CLICK HERE.

Students who enroll in the new Spanish-language FYS offered by Hispanic Studies may also concurrently take other Spanish language courses such as HISP 202 (Intermediate Spanish II) or HISP 205 (Advanced Spanish), and many of these students continue on to complete a Major or Minor in Hispanic Studies. If you are interested in starting or continuing your study of Spanish in conjunction with your FYS or separately, for information about entry-level courses and proficiency assessment please CLICK HERE .

Based on results of the combination of assessments, students eligible for admission to the FYS in Spanish will receive an invitation email from the instructor with further instructions required for registration by June 27, 2024. 

If you have any questions about this course, please contact Professor Baltasar Fra-Molinero at

bframoli@bates.edu.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life and First-Year Experience 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

10 Reasons to Explore Languages During Your First Year at Bates (and reminder of language placement test information)

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Hello students in the Class of 2028 and new transfer students

This past Monday, June 17, 2024, a new section of your Lyceum Summer Resources opened to you. It provides information about registration for Fall 2024 courses as well as information about academic exploration across the liberal arts curriculum at Bates. That email also provided you with a reminder about the timeline for course registration (it will open on July 9, and it will remain open through 11:59 PM Eastern on July 18, and on or near July 1 you will be contacted at your Bates email by your person Summer Registration Consultant who is available to help you with the registration process).

This email draws your attention to the portion of the Summer Resources section that focuses on language study. We encourage you to watch the short video in that section. And, here are just 10 reasons why exploring languages at Bates may be of interest to you.

10 reasons to study world languages during your first year at Bates

●      Become a global citizen:

In our globalized world, being able to meaningfully connect and engage with people from cultures different from your own is a crucial skill as it helps you to see your own culture that you take for granted from a new perspective and to explore how different societies answer similar questions.

●      Make new friends at Bates and around the world:

Taking language classes is a great way to meet new people and form lasting friendships. Through interactive class activities, debates, group study sessions, and language tables, you’ll bond with your peers. Language students often create a supportive community that lasts throughout the time at Bates and beyond.

●      Study in a small class environment:

Language classes typically have smaller student-to-instructor ratios, providing more personalized attention and feedback. This ensures you’re seen and supported, with plenty of opportunities for one-on-one interactions. Building a close relationship with your instructor can be invaluable for college life and securing recommendations.

●      Interdisciplinarity, depth, and breadth:

Taking language courses is much more than learning the language as these courses draw from disciplines across the humanities and humanistic social sciences. If you are interested in exploring the history, politics, art, literature, cinema, or politics of an array of cultures, you can do all this by studying any of the world languages offered at Bates.

●      Fulfill requirements: Modes of Inquiry and Major plus 1

Studying world languages allows you to meet numerous Bates General Education requirements. You will be very likely to fulfill AC (Analysis and Critique), CP (Creative Process and Production), and HS (Historical and Social Inquiry) requirements as you build toward possible majors, minors, or GECs in a world language.

●      Connect with heritage and community:

If you have a cultural or familial connection to a language, you will deepen your understanding and appreciation of your heritage by engaging with the language, culture, and the history of its speakers. Additionally, world language skills enable you to make meaningful contributions to local and global communities.

●      Boost career opportunities:

Language and culture competencies open doors in numerous fields, including law, business, medicine, politics, tourism, entertainment, nonprofits, education, research, and the arts. Language proficiency and intercultural skills make you a more attractive candidate in a globalized job market and increase your potential for success.

●      If you are thinking about graduate school and fellowships:

You may want to go to a graduate school someday and should be aware that proficiency in a second language may be required by many programs that have an international focus. Prestigious international fellowships such as the Watson or scholarships such as the Fulbright value applicants who have studied world languages and cultures.

●      Study abroad:

Taking a world language each semester at Bates will open new possibilities for your junior year (or a semester) abroad. The more proficient you become during your two first years at Bates, the more meaningful and transformative your experience abroad will be as you will be able to take courses and interact in the local language.

●      Personal growth and fun:

Learning a new language is enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. It enhances communication skills, boosts memory, creativity, multitasking, reasoning abilities, and offers insights into different cultures. Mastering another language significantly improves divergent thinking, making you a more original, flexible, and elaborate person.

If you are interested in taking a language course that you have already studied. Please be sure to take the relevant language placement test no later than July 3, 2024. And, if you want to apply to be in the new Spanish-language First-Year Seminar, you must take the relevant placement test and follow the instructions here no later than June 22, 2024. 

All information on this particular Spanish Language FYS (FYS 575) is here. 

For information about language (and math) placement assessments go here. 

All of the information is also available at the June 17 tile of your Lyceum Summer Resources, which details all the information you need for Fall 2024 course registration.

Finally, if you have questions about particular languages, please feel free to contact the faculty members listed below:

Chinese: Li-ping Miao (lmiao@bates.edu)

French and Francophone Studies: Alexandre Dauge-Roth (adaugero@bates.edu)

German and Russian Studies: Jakub Kazecki (jkazecki@bates.edu)

Greek/Latin Classic and Medieval Studies: (June) Laurie O’Higgins (dohiggin@bates.edu) & (July-August) Lisa Maurizio (lmaurizi@bates.edu)

Hispanic Studies: (June-July) David George (dgeorge@bates.edu) & (August) Stephanie Pridgeon (spridgeo@bates.edu)

Japanese: Keiko Konoeda (kkonoeda@bates.edu)

We look forward to working with you throughout the summer and to meeting you in person in late  August.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty 

Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students

Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life

Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life 

Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs

Monday, June 24, 2024

Hello students in the Class of 2028 and new transfer students,

Please do not forget to review important information about Fall 2024 course registration and to prepare for the upcoming course selection period.

Please look over the resources available on your Lyceum Summer Resources page. The section called “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities” includes information on course registration, much of which is summarized in this email.

This section of your Summer Resources describes in detail when and how to register for your Fall 2024 classes. It also includes information on what courses you might consider taking by providing information on your general education requirements, placement tests for language, math, and chemistry, recommended entry courses for every field of study, and more.

How to Navigate the “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities”

Please review all of the material and watch the videos in this section of the Summer Resources Lyceum Page before the course selection period opens on July 9 at 10 AM Eastern Time.

To access Lyceum simply go to the Quad at https://quad.bates.edu/ and click on the bar labeled “Lyceum.”

Some basic information and dates about the course selection process

Monday, June 17, 2024 – Summer Resources Part II (Registering for Fall 2024 Classes: Exploring Liberal Arts and Academics) opened to you. This section provides everything you need to know in order to register for your Fall 2024 semester classes as well as information on academic exploration, on general education and degree requirements, on languages, arts, engineering, pre-health career tracks, majors, minors, concentrations, and more!

On or near Monday, July 1 – You will hear from your Summer Registration Consultant. Your consultant, a member of the Bates faculty or student affairs staff, will send you an email (to your Bates email) inviting you to meet with them to review your course selections. You do not have to meet with them in order to register, but it is strongly recommended that you do so that you understand how your course selections meet general education requirements, enable you to explore the curriculum, and set you up for success in your first semester.

Wednesday, July 3 – Last day to take placement tests for mathematics and certain languages. Information on placement tests is at your Summer Resources Lyceum Page under the “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses” section. You can also access that information here.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024—Course selection for all Fall 2024 courses opens. In-coming first-year students are asked to select 1 top choice FYS (and 6 unranked alternatives) and 3 top-choice courses besides FYS (and 12 unranked alternatives). Transfer students should not select first-year seminars; instead they should select 4 top-choice courses and 12 alternates. Registration is NOT first-come/first-served, so students can enter their course selections into Garnet Gateway between 10 AM Eastern on July 9 and 11:59 PM Eastern on July 18.

NOTE 1: If a course has more than one section (e.g., CHEM 107 offers 5 sections), you need only note the course once; the Registrar will place you in whichever section does not time-conflict with the other courses that you’ve selected for your Fall 2024 schedule.

NOTE 2: Pay attention to your Mode of Inquiry requirements (which are discussed in the Summer Resources, and you can also access information here) when selecting courses. It is recommended that students complete 1 to 2 MOIs in their first semester and that all MOIs be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Thursday, July 18, 2024 – Fall Course Selection closes at 11:59 PM Eastern
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 – Fall course schedules released. Students can alter their schedules when they are at Bates during the add/drop period, which opens on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 7 AM. They will have a chance to meet with their pre-major academic advisor/First-Year Seminar (FYS) instructor on Friday, August 30, 2024 from 9 AM to 11 AM.

Thanks for reading this email and for reviewing your “Registering for Fall 2024 Courses: Exploring the Liberal Arts and Academic Opportunities” materials on your Summer Resources Lyceum page. We look forward to working with you throughout the summer and to meeting you in person in late  August.

Steve Engel, Professor of Politics and Associate Dean of the Faculty
Kim Trauceniek, Senior Associate Dean of Students
Rob LaStella, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Campus Life
Catie Luedee, Assistant Director for Outdoor Education and Programs
Meg Hoppe, Coordinator of Residence Life