Short Term
Conceived by the Faculty, Short Term is a period of focused academic study when students on campus engage in structured coursework for a three-week period.
Short Term students must meet one of the eligibility criteria listed below and then submit a Short Term Housing application if applicable.
Eligibility
To remain in college housing, have meals, and/or card access for Short Term, students (both on-campus and off-campus students) must be registered for one of the following activities:
Enrolled in a Short Term course through the Registrar
By far, the most common reason for Short Term housing eligibility is being enrolled in a course through the Registrar.
Students with questions about registration, limits on the number of Short Term courses you can register for while at Bates, or other Short Term course questions should take a look at the course catalogue or contact the Registrar.
Registered for an Approved Program
Besides courses, Bates also offers a number of academic related programs that allow a student to retain their housing, meals, and card access through Short Term. The list below contains all approved programs.
- Teaching Assistant* (credit optional)
- Research Assistant* (credit optional)
- Local internship that is at least 20+ hours per week and has been reviewed and approved by the Center for Purposeful Work*
- Harward Center Engagement Team*
*These programs have additional registration forms linked below.
For a list of commonly asked about unapproved programs, please see our FAQs below.
Participating as a rostered athlete for an in-season varsity sport
In-season student athletes retain college housing, meals, and card access until 48 hours after their season ends. If a student-athlete is not enrolled in a Short Term course or approved program, then they will need to vacate college housing and will have their access and meals terminated after the 48 hours period is over.
Note that in-season student athletes who register for an approved program (but not a Short Term course) should also follow the appropriate steps outlined below under Application.
Application
Short Term Housing applications will be available in early April 2025 on HouseCat.
The following groups do have to fill out a housing application:
- Participating in an Approved Program
- Students returning to campus from an off-campus study abroad program (see FAQ)
- Students returning to campus from being unenrolled (see FAQ)
The following groups do not have to fill out a housing application:
- Enrolled in a Short Term course through the Registrar if studying on-campus the previous Winter Semester
- Varsity in-season student athletes
Additional Registration Forms
If you are registering for an approved program, you need to fill out the Short Term Housing Application and there may be additional forms for you to fill out. If you are in one of the groups below, please fill out the linked form for your position. After filling it out, the form will prompt for you to send it to your supervisor. After all parties have completed the form, the document will be automatically forwarded to our office. We will then confirm receipt on HouseCat.
- Teaching Assistant: this is filled out by the student and then the faculty member supervising the course.
- Research Assistant: this is filled out by the student and then the faculty member supervising the course or research.
- Internship Pre-approved by Purposeful Work: this is filled out by the student, supervisor of the internship, and then Amy Jaffe in Purposeful Work.
- Harward Center Engagement Team: this is filled out by the Student and Kristen Cloutier (kcloutie@bates.edu) in the Harward Center is the supervisor.
Senior Week
All seniors are allowed access on campus and meals for senior week: Sunday, May 18, 2025 from 8 am until Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 5 pm.
Seniors not staying for Short Term will move out of their residence hall by Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5:00pm with all other students not remaining on campus for Short Term. However, seniors should keep their keys and will be able to move back into their Winter Semester room on Sunday, May 18th at 8 am.
If you graduated in December, please email housing@bates.edu to coordinate a housing assignment for senior week.
Short Term Housing Process & Housing Dates
| Friday, February 28 – Friday, March 7, 2025 | Registration for Short Term Courses. If a student is registered for a Short Term Course, they do not need to fill in a HouseCat application. Their housing will carry over. |
| Late March 2025 | Athletics produces rosters for spring varsity sports. If a student is a rostered spring varsity athlete, they do not need to fill out a HouseCat application. Their housing will carry over until their season ends.* |
| Early April 2025 | Short Term Housing Applications open (see above for reasons to apply) |
| Mid April 2025 | Short Term Housing Applications close at 4:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | Residences close at 5:00 p.m. for students not staying for Short Term.* |
| Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Residence Halls open at 8:00 a.m. for students that were not on campus for the winter semester. The board plan begins at dinner. |
| Sunday, May 18, 2025 | Seniors not staying for Short Term may move back into their Winter Semester room for Senior Week. |
| Thursday, May 22, 2025 | Residence Halls close for non-seniors at 5:00 p.m.* |
| Sunday, May 25, 2025 | Senior residences close at 5:00 p.m.* |
*Move-out info can be found here, including forms to request a late departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay on campus if I don’t take a Short Term course?
Based on the variety of academic and enriching opportunities available during Short Term, there are several options students can register for through the registrar. You must enroll in a Short Term course through the registrar, register for an approved program as listed above, or participate as a rostered athlete for an in-season varsity sport to stay on campus for Short Term.
Students may NOT remain on campus solely for the following reasons:
- To be employed by an administrative office
- To be employed off-campus
- To be a volunteer
- To work on a thesis
- To be members of club sports teams or campus organizations
Can I return to campus for Short Term if I am currently unenrolled?
Unenrolled students (meaning students not studying at Bates [or abroad] for the Winter Semester) are not eligible for Short Term housing outside of enrolling in a course through the Registrar. Students must have been enrolled at Bates College in the preceding Fall or Winter Semester to enroll in a Short Term course in that academic year. For more details on that and course eligibility, see the course catalogue or contact the Registrar. You can be both registered for a course and here for Short Term for another approved purpose.
Students in this category will need to complete the HouseCat application.
Can I return to campus for Short Term if I am currently in an off-campus study abroad program?
Students participating in a Bates approved off-campus study program for the Winter Semester can register for one of the above activities and thus are eligible for housing, meals, and access during Short Term. Students in this category will need to complete the HouseCat application.
Can I move rooms for Short Term?
Because of the brief nature of Short Term, our office does not run a room change process for Short Term. Your winter booking will carry over to Short Term.
I’m a senior who lives off-campus, how can I stay on the meal plan/have building access?
To be an active student and qualify for your card to work around campus, have meals, etc. the same eligibility requirements as on-campus students apply.
Can I stay and watch my friend graduate?
All non-seniors will lose access to their housing on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. If a close friend is graduating, you should make plans to move your items out of your room, return your key, and make alternative arrangements to stay in the area (e.g., arrange to stay with someone off-campus) after Thursday at 5 p.m., as non-seniors will no longer have access.