Dear Returning Students,

Welcome to the 2018-19 academic year. We write to share with you some information about progress and changes in different areas that we hope you will find useful as you begin the fall semester.

Creation of the Bates Center for Purposeful Work

This summer we created the Bates Center for Purposeful Work, under the leadership of Senior Associate Dean Allen Delong, that brings together in one place, under one philosophy, a set of programs and functions that have until now been divided between the evolving Purposeful Work program and the Career Development Center. Our goal in creating a unified organization is to make it much easier and more straightforward for students to navigate the set of activities that support them in exploring and clarifying their interests, identifying work they find meaningful, and developing the skills and capacities that will serve them well as they pursue work during their time at Bates and beyond.

In particular, this organizational change streamlines student access to programs such as internships, job shadows, practitioner-taught and purposeful work infused courses, as well as career exploration, job searches, and graduate and professional school advising. Unifying these functions in The Bates Center for Purposeful Work also underscores for students, employers, and public audiences the distinctiveness of our approach to combining the power of the liberal arts with a thoughtful approach to preparing students intellectually and practically to engage in the world of work after Bates.

For the coming year, the Center for Purposeful Work will be housed primarily at 146 Wood Street (the former BCDC), but we have also created several spaces in Chase Hall to enhance the program and convenience for students. There are now two conference/interview rooms, a waiting and lounge space, and a work and meeting area for resume and cover-letter reviews located in Chase. Staff will hold office hours and advising meetings in Chase, in addition to the offices on Wood Street.

A New Break Meal Plan

Under the leadership of Associate Dean of Students for Campus Life Kim Trauceniek, in 2016 the Breaks at Bates program began with the purpose of providing students with opportunities to host events that foster community on campus during academic breaks. In collaboration with student leaders and other offices at Bates, Dean Trauceniek has continued to examine how we might continue to improve our support for students who must remain on campus during breaks because of financial considerations. It became evident that some students needed assistance with access to meals. Beginning this fall, eligible students will be enrolled in the new Academic Break Meal Plan. More information can be found here.

Expanded Student Transportation Services

As part of the college’s ongoing effort to strengthen connections with the Lewiston/Auburn community and to provide student access to community resources, we revisited our student shuttle and transportation services. Following consultations with representatives from the Bates College Student Government, Security & Campus Safety will expand shuttle offerings for the coming academic year.

The Campus Life L/A shuttle, rebranded as the Bobcat Express, has expanded hours to cover safe-rides in the evening hours on the weekends. These additional hours will help to reduce the wait time for safe rides and will allow us to expand the range of safe rides to include some off-campus locations. Full details on this service and all shuttle and transportation options can be found here.

As in prior years, regular shuttles to community-engaged learning (CEL) sites will continue on both a standard schedule and route, and on an on-demand basis for locations not on the regular route or if the scheduled shuttle is full. Please click here to download a copy of the current CEL shuttle schedule for Fall 2018.

In an effort to reduce barriers to accessing medical care and other resources off-campus, an additional on-demand shuttle has been added and will be available during the week for medical or other appointments in the community. The process for requesting the shuttle can be found here.

Revised Alcohol & Other Drug Policy

Over the course of the past semester, Carl Steidel, Senior Associate Dean of Students, collaborated with the student, faculty, and staff members on the Student Conduct Committee to revise and update the college’s Alcohol & Other Drug Policy and the “Strike” system used to sanction alcohol and marijuana violations. This effort was helped by semester-long projects by students in Professor Stephanie Kelley-Romano’s What is Rhetoric? course from the Fall 2018 semester.

The updated Alcohol & Other Drug Policy better reflects the values of the college and the goals of the student conduct system. The revisions include adjustments to how marijuana violations are handled, taking into account the shifting national and state landscape. We ask all students to review the updated policy and to direct any questions to the Office of Student Support & Community Standards.

Relocation of Offices

Residence Life and Health Education Relocated to Chase Hall

As part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Chase Hall, the Office of Residence Life and Health Education moved from Lane Hall to the second floor of Chase Hall.

Access Control and Transportation Services Relocated to 245 College Street

To create more spaces for student-centered programming and services in Chase Hall, Access Control and Transportation Services has been relocated to 245 College Street, the same building as Security and Campus Safety.

Accessible Education & Student Support Relocated to Ladd Library

To better serve our students seeking accommodations and student support, an office suite and testing center was created on the lower level of Ladd Library for the Office of Accessible Education and Student Support.

I wish you all the best as you prepare for the fall semester.

Sincerely,
Josh McIntosh, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students