Bates CollegeStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Bates College. Free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Lewiston, ME. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Bates College students. No credit card required.

2K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

22

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for Bates College

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
20
Local details
13

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Sep 2, 2026 – Dec 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

6 entries
  1. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  2. Winter Semester 2027
  3. Short Term 2027
  4. Fall Semester 2027
  5. Winter Semester 2028
  6. Short Term 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

20 terms

A

AESOP
Annual Entering Student Outdoor Program, the student-led orientation trip program for incoming students.
ARC
Academic Resource Center, providing tutoring and writing support.

B

BBSU
Bates Black Student Union, a student organization supporting Black students and culture.
Bobcat
The official mascot and the term used to refer to any Bates student.
BOC
Bates Outing Club, the oldest collegiate outing club in the country.

C

Chu
Chu Hall, one of the newer residence halls on Campus Avenue.
Commons
The primary and only dining hall on campus, known for its centralized social atmosphere.

K

Kalperis
Kalperis Hall, a modern residence hall located on Campus Avenue across from the library.

M

Munch
The Munchie Mart, a small convenience store located within the Bobcat Den.

N

Napkin Notes
A feedback system where students write comments on napkins and dining staff post public responses.

P

Page
Page Hall, a centrally located residence hall.
Puddle Jump
A winter tradition where students jump into a hole cut in the ice of Lake Andrews.

R

Rand
Rand Hall, a historic residence hall located near the athletics facilities.

S

Short Term
The unique five-week academic term in May where students take only one intensive course.
Smith
Smith Hall, a large residence hall often housing first-year students.

T

The Den
The Bobcat Den, a retail cafe and grill located in the basement of Chase Hall.
The Puddle
Lake Andrews, the pond in the center of campus.
The Quad
The Historic Quad, the grassy area surrounded by the college's original buildings.
The Village
The Bates College Village, a residential complex consisting of three buildings (Moody, Rzasa, and Hopkins).

W

WRBC
The student-run radio station, broadcasting at 91.5 FM.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

13 details
Bates Card
The official student ID card used for building access, meal plans, and library services.
Bobcat Express
The campus shuttle service providing transportation around Lewiston and to local transit hubs.
bobcat_den
Bobcat Den
commons
Commons
Garnet Gateway
The online portal used by students for course registration, viewing grades, and financial information.
Handshake
The platform used by the Center for Purposeful Work for job and internship listings.
Hathorn
Hathorn Hall, the oldest academic building on campus, topped with a distinctive bell tower.
Ladd
Ladd Library, the main campus library.
Lyceum
The campus learning management system used for course materials and assignments.
Merrill
Merrill Gymnasium, the main indoor athletic facility.
Olin
Olin Arts Center, home to the music and arts departments and the Bates Museum of Art.
Pettengill
Pettengill Hall, the primary academic building for social sciences, featuring a large atrium.
The Ronj
The Ronj Coffeehouse, a student-run coffee shop located in a house at 32 Frye Street.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Sep 2, 2026 – Dec 14, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
20 approved campus terms and 13 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

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Find a few communities to try at Bates College

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

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Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Bates College.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at Bates College

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Life in Lewiston for Bates College Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Lewiston.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$950

Cost of Living Index

92

Student Population

2,600

City Transportation

Walkability

60

Bikeability

45

Public Transit

CityLink bus system (Lewiston-Auburn)

Nearest Airports

Portland International Jetport (regional hub, ~35 mi southwest), Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid continental

Avg Annual Temp

44.5°F

Avg Snowfall

70 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Chu Parking Lot

surface_lot • Limited

Primary pickup location for Bobcat Express shuttles.

Wood Street Parking Lot East

surface_lot

Located at 147 Wood Street.

Wood Street Parking Lot West

surface_lot

Located at 130, 134, and 138 Wood Street.

Campus News

Latest updates from Bates College

Opening Convocation Welcomes Class of 2030

Bates College officially began the academic year with Opening Convocation, welcoming the third-largest class in its history.

Sep 4, 2026

Read More

AESOP Trips Encourage Authenticity and Connection

New students participated in the Annual Entering Student Outdoor Program (AESOP), fostering community through outdoor adventures.

Sep 4, 2026

Read More

Bates Human Resources Earns Award for Excellence in Well-being

The college's HR department was recognized for its commitment to employee health and wellness programs.

Sep 4, 2026

Read More

Field Hockey Falls to Williams in NESCAC Opener

The No. 5 ranked Bates field hockey team lost 2-0 to No. 11 Williams College in their first game of the season.

Sep 6, 2026

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Bates College

Staff Educators Community of Practice

September 8, 2026

Bates College Campus

A gathering for staff educators to discuss learning materials, programs, and productive learning environments.

MOSAIC Book Club: KIN

September 9, 2026

Bates College Campus

The Mosaic Book Club will discuss 'KIN' by Tayari Jones.

Behind the Scenes: Costume and Scene Shop

September 10, 2026

Costume and Scene Shop

An opportunity to get involved behind the scenes or check out the work in the costume and scene shop.

Literary Arts Live: Omar El Akkad

September 10, 2026

Bates College Campus

A literary event featuring author Omar El Akkad.

Orientation Webinar: Academics at Bates

September 10, 2026

Virtual

A webinar for incoming families focused on the academic experience at Bates.

Orientation Webinar: Life Outside the Bates Classroom

September 15, 2026

Virtual

A webinar for incoming families discussing student life and extracurriculars.

Orientation Webinar: Supporting Your Bates Student's Well-Being

September 17, 2026

Virtual

A webinar for families on supporting student health and wellness.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Bates College

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

22 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

10 Frye Street

170 North Bardwell St.

280 College St.

55 Campus Ave

Room types: single, double

96 Campus Ave

Room types: single, double

99 Russell St.

Adams Hall

Capacity: 165

Room types: single, double

Chu Hall

Capacity: 133

Room types: single, double

Kalperis Hall

Room types: not specified

Milliken House

Capacity: 38

Room types: varied

Mitchell House

Capacity: 7

Room types: varied

Moody House

Capacity: 40

Room types: 4-person suites

Moulton House

Capacity: 3

Room types: varied

Nash House

Capacity: 5

Room types: varied

Page Hall

Room types: not specified

Parker Hall

Capacity: 7

Room types: single, double

Rand Hall

Room types: double, triple

Smith Hall (North, Middle, South)

Room types: not specified

Wentworth Adams Hall

Whittier House

Capacity: 16

Room types: varied

Wilson House

Capacity: 7

Room types: varied

Wood St. House

Capacity: 5

Room types: varied

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@bates.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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