First Year Centers

All first-year students will live in a First Year Center, which consists of a group of first-year students living with an upper-class student, a Junior Advisor (JA). First Year Centers are comprised of 10-20 first-year residents, usually arranged in a cluster of rooms.

Junior Advisor (JAs)

Move-In Day for the Class of 2022 at Chu and Kalperis halls.

Junior Advisors (JAs) act as mentors for incoming first-year students in a variety of situations ranging from academic to social in transitioning into college. Your JA will be there when you move in and will help you from orientation through your whole first year of college. By creating programs each month,  JAs create a community in their First Year Center and residence hall. The JAs uphold Bates community standards within First Year Centers but are not responsible for the enforcement of disciplinary actions. Your JA will reach out to you in August before you arrive to introduce themselves and answer any pre-arrival questions you may have.

Orientation

Your Junior Advisor (JA) will be with you throughout orientation as a guide and mentor. For most meals your First Year Center will sit together, so you don’t have to worry about finding a seat! As we tackle challenging topics in orientation, your JA will lead to smaller group discussions and workshops. Please check the Orientation website for more information on dates, schedule, and details.

Programming

The goal of First Year Center programming is to offer residents a wide variety of exciting and engaging events within the residence hall, in the wider Bates campus, and in the surrounding community. Participating in these programs helps residents build a stronger connection with each other and create a positive climate within the residence.

Health Promotion & Wellbeing Programs

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As a part of the programming that your Junior Advisor will coordinate, your First Year Center will participate in a few health promotion and wellbeing-related programs throughout the year. The purpose of these programs is to equip you with the relevant skills and knowledge to help you be the healthiest you possible while here at Bates, and for the rest of your life. Junior Advisors will coordinate this programming according to topics that are most pertinent to students in general, and also topics that you personally are interested in learning more about. Ultimately these programs aim to equip you with the tools necessary to feel supported, capable, and ready to thrive.

Campus Partner Collaboration Programs

As part of the programming that your Junior Advisor will coordinate, your First Year Center will participate in a campus partner collaboration program. The purpose of this type of program is for your First Year Center to expand connections college-wide and learn about how other departments and offices can support you! Sometimes these programs take place in the residence halls while others may take place in the hosting department’s office or in the surrounding L/A community. Topics can range from volunteering at a local organization through the Harward Center for Community Partnerships to a residence hall recycling competition supported by the Office of Sustainability and the EcoReps.

JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) Programs

The Office of Residence Life & Health Education is committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; with one of our office values being “Inclusive Community.” Junior Advisors not only support our department mission and values in the work they do, but they too value these elements that help Bates as an institution and students as individuals grow to be more connected each day through encouraging authenticity, striving for best accessibility practices, not tolerating hateful behavior, and cultivating spaces for all students to show up as they are. As a part of the programming model, your First Year Center will participate in a few JEDI-related programs throughout the year. The purpose of these programs is to reinforce Bates’ values and commitments to supporting all students as they are while challenging them to grow and learn within their residential spaces.

Social Programs

Some of the most popular programs on campus, social programs offer fun, low-stress activities in the residence hall or across campus. Whether it’s a cookout in the warmer weather, catching a basketball game altogether, traveling to an apple orchard, or just enjoying a slice of pizza during a movie night, social programs are a fun and free way to get involved with others.

Types and Locations

There are three types of First Year Centers (FYCs). On your housing application, you will be asked to rank your preferences.

  • Healthy Living: As a substance-free community, 30 first-year students live in Clason House, a large wood framed building on College Street surrounded by other Bates Houses.
  • First-Year Only Houses: Two cozy first-year houses, Milliken House and Frye House,  create a great sense of community for 30 first-year students each.
  • Mixed Class Year Residence Halls: Most first-years live in centers located in larger residence halls with multiple class years. First-year centers are typically located on floors where first-years are the majority or are clustered together.

Not all students can be placed in their first choice residence due to space limitations. We will try to arrange the best possible matches for each student, but we ask you to keep an open mind and remember that flexibility and respect are two very important components of a successful rooming.

You can check out the First Year Housing Tour to see more information on buildings where First Year Centers are located, detailed descriptions of each house, and their floor plans.