The Bates Board of Trustees held its winter meeting virtually on Friday, February 3, 2023. Most standing committees of the Board also met virtually over the course of the preceding weeks and this week to conduct their work.

Trustees took a number of important annual actions, including setting a range for the 2023–24 academic year single fee, which will be finalized this spring; setting the endowment distribution for the 2023–24 academic year; reappointing the college’s auditor, Mayer Hoffman McCann; accepting the conflict of interest report; and approving recommendations for faculty promotion and tenure from the Faculty Personnel Committee. They also elected three new Trustees, who will be announced by the college in the coming weeks.

The Board heard updates and held discussions on important campus events and initiatives, including the search for the next president of Bates and planning for a successful transition, which took place without the president in attendance. Trustees also heard updates on the college’s finances, endowment, fundraising, infrastructure, and the Class of 2027 applicant pool, as well as ongoing work in equity and inclusion. 

An outside expert joined the meeting to speak to Trustees on the topic of the economics of liberal arts colleges like Bates. Also attending the meeting was Bates’ new vice president for equity and inclusion, Leana Amáez, who begins her work officially at the end of February.

Trustees were joined by faculty, staff, or student representatives at most of its committee meetings and plenary sessions. 

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 4–6, 2023.

Clayton Spencer
President
John Gillespie ’80, P’13, P’18
Chair of the Board of Trustees