As part of our mission to foster diverse and inclusive learning and living environments, Bates College is committed to supporting students with documented disabilities. As a residential community, Bates prioritizes the residential experience as an essential part of our institutional commitment to educating the whole person.

All students admitted to Bates enjoy full access to its programs and services, including residence life. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bates has established procedures to ensure students with documented disabilities receive housing assignments that reasonably meet their needs as required by law.

Accommodation Requests

Housing accommodation requests are reviewed on an individual basis. It is important to note that students are not making a request for a specific housing assignment, but rather a request for an accommodation. The Housing Accommodation Committee, comprised of representatives from the Office of Accessible Education and Student Support, Residence Life and Health Education, Health Services, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), reviews each request and determines an appropriate and reasonable housing accommodation.

A standard housing assignment is a two or three-person sleeping room with bathroom facilities located on the same floor, but not in the room. Requests for particular housing assignments based on a student’s preference, rather than need, for a particular type of living environment, such as a certain type of room or location or desire for a quiet place to study will not be honored. Single rooms represent a small portion of available housing options and are granted as accommodations only in rare circumstances. Such requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodation Process

Housing accommodation requests generally take three to four weeks to process but may vary depending on the request. Please see the Office of Accessible Education‘s website for specifics regarding the housing accommodation request process.

Housing Accommodation Deadlines

February 1st	The deadline for current student requests for the 2023-2024 academic year. This deadline allows the Housing Accommodation Committee adequate time to review requests prior to the complex lottery process, which begins in March.
June 1st	Deadline for incoming students to request housing accommodations and submit documentation for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Post-Deadline Requests

If a need for a housing accommodation request arises outside of the above timelines, students should still follow the same application process. The Housing Accommodation Committee will review post-deadline requests and the college will make every attempt to implement approved accommodations based on current availability. Please note that availability for certain types of accommodations may be limited at later points in the year.

Assistance Animals

Assistance animals needed to support students with documented disabilities may qualify as service animals or therapy animals and may be permitted to live in the residence hall when expressly authorized by the Dean of Accessible Education and the Residence Life Office. Students should not bring an animal to campus until they have expressly received approval.

For definitions, policy, and procedures regarding assistance animals, please see the Office of Accessible Education.