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Bates College Profile

Lewiston, Maine

Bates College Campus Profile

Founded in 1855, Bates College is a small private liberal arts and sciences institution located in the residential community of Lewiston Maine. The footprint of the site is split into 3 large open spaces, one being the northwestern edge of the campus adjacent to the Mount David Campus Preserve, the second being the athletic facilities on the eastern edge of the campus off Central & Russell Streets, and finally the academic, and residential villages in the middle of the campus. The Bates campus map separates the college into a north, and south side with the academic mall linking both sides of the campus together. The school also has several large grassy areas to the east, and west of the academic buildings in the middle of campus. Bates is unique because it has a small suburban school feel to it, while still being large in regard to student activities. The campus is small, but it feels larger than the observed geographical footprint.

The college has a large footprint of approximately 109 acres of park like property within the southeastern area of Maine. The physical layout observes numerous historic academic buildings, along with several new campus life facilities shared by students, and local residents. The campus itself has approximately 79 buildings including lecture, residential, research, and dining facilities. The overall campus map is typical for a college setting with wide sidewalks, grass field meeting places, and park like benches. The pedestrian flow of traffic within the facility was centered between the Commons Campus Center, the Academic Mall including the new Pettengill Hall Atrium, and the Ladd Library due to the time of day. My student tour guide also told me that classes are taught outside the science center during comfortable weather days with the help of several large outdoor blackboards. The green areas around Lake Andrews (The Puddle) also gets busy at all hours of the day when school is in session according to my student guide.

The campus buildings and open spaces were very clean and well maintained during my observations. These open spaces allow students the ability to interact with each other in a non-educational manner due to the high number of observed meeting places on campus. Bates students, faculty, and employees enjoy a community, within a community lifestyle in regard to on, and off campus activities and resources. The college also provides several critical student resources including student housing on campus for all 4 years, which helps students connect with each other throughout the year.

The published demographic information for the college describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. Bates College has developed a large campus community to offer students a Liberal Arts and Sciences educational format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors.

The College is home to relatively small campus population of approximately 803 male, and 857 female full time students. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 10% of students are from Maine; the other students are from 46 states, and 70 foreign countries. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including 81% of students are white, 6% Asian Americans, 4% are Black, and 4% are Hispanic.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

Bates College has a large educational system for a small private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

Bates College guarantees on campus housing for all four years through a lottery system. Students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students receive housing. The school has started upgrading housing resources for all students through it’s capital improvement initiatives. Bates College has built several new, state of the art residential facilities around campus including Rand Hall, and the “Village” for upper classmen including Adams Hall, and Moody House with suite style dormitories for students to enjoy. Bates also has several Victorian Houses located on College and Frye Streets to offer non-traditional student housing facilities, the buildings may look old from the outside but they are well appointed on the inside. Information about housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Off Campus Housing

Bates has been described as a small private college within a small residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community is to re-assert the point that Bates’s network of facilities has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows every student to have housing within walking distance to college facilities. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university housing demands. The college itself has 92% of it’s student population living on campus which reduces the need, or demand for off campus housing. Students who want off campus housing can find information about available resources on the quick links page.

Campus Life

Bates College campus environment provides students with an outstanding social, and educational atmosphere due to it’s level of commitment to student life and activities. The college has an above average number of student activities for a small school including football, soccer, ice hockey and tennis to name a few. Bates also has several student performing arts, and student multi-purpose centers to listen to local music, comedy, theatre productions, or student poets. The college understands that developing excellent student facilities year round helps students navigate the winter season because the first thing you learn at Bates during freshman orientation is to love the State of Maine. New students participate in several team leadership activities during their first weeks at the school including hiking, canoeing, and shore activities to help them embrace the outdoor culture. Students that aren’t inclined to enjoy the great outdoors usually participate in several community workshops within the Harward Center.

The local area of Lewiston/Auburn Maine is an old mill town that has been redeveloped over the years to add retail and restaurant resources within several old mill buildings on Lincoln, Chestnut, and Mill Streets. These facilities have improved campus life for Bates students because they are close to the school, and the Lewiston/ Auburn school shuttle links to the area every 30 minutes. The “LA Shuttle” is vital to students who don’t have cars, or don’t want to shovel out their cars to go to down. The shuttle also makes trips to several shopping, retail, and entertainment resources including movie theatres and ski areas on the weekends. And finally, the campus is clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate of the entire community is positive because students are involved with local community, and campus groups including the Harwood Community Center. An observation of this very positive emotional climate can be found by looking at the endless student flyers posted throughout the campus on walls, doors, windows, and light poles. These flyers describe upcoming activities and they invite all students to enjoy the clubs, performing arts, and public discussions on world events. Bates students went as far as hanging banners outside residence halls to invite students to attend social events on campus, which was very nice to see.

Bates also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical campus environment borders a mountain preserve, and a man made lake with trees and bushes that are situated overlooking the campus which gives students a great play to get away to enjoy Maine’s natural environment. The college has also built a state of the art Green Building (Pettigrew Hall) that incorporates several green technologies including clean ground water technology, and an atrium overlooking Lake Andrews (The Puddle) that allows students to enjoy nature without getting cold.

Social networking beyond the campus walls is also a very important issue to be observed at Bates. Students at the college are encouraged to participate in externships with alumni during their spring (4-4-1) class schedule to gain real world experience. These programs, along with internships and global learning centers offer important information about studying abroad. These types of programs help to round out educational activities on campus.

This issue of school culture and emotional attachment is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. Bates has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops, outdoor leadership activities, and seminars for freshman students. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 112 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 16 intramural sports activities. Bates also has 31 NCAA teams for men, and for women. The school also has several reasonably large athletic facilities including a new turf muti-purpose field for students to enjoy.

Student life on campus at Bates can be considered very active due to several notable venues including Davis Recreation Center, Alumni Gymnasium, Underhill Hockey Arena, and Wallach Tennis Center, which are the main student recreational, and athletic centers on campus. The college also has a student run performing arts venue within the Olin Arts Center, and an outdoor Shakespeare style Amphitheater located outside Olin Center of the side of Lake Andrews within a short walking distance to the residence halls. These on campus facilities allows students to enjoy more than academic excellence, it gives them the opportunity to develop social relationships by experiencing school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, restaurants, and local museums together.

Public Transportation

Bates College students use the Lewiston/Auburn free shuttle System (L/A Shuttle) for reliable bus transportation to students who don’t, or can’t have vehicles on campus. The college has a very large number of out of state students who don’t know the streets and highways very well. Knowing the area is key because students who come from local states may know the area better and may be able to walk or drive to local destinations. Foreign, and out of state students might opt to take a bus or train to their destination because they don’t want to risk getting lost on local roads. In formation about this service can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Regional Public Transportation Resources

Student transportation to the City of Portland Maine can be found within L/A Shuttle that links with the airport, and regional train service for Amtrak. Additional airport facilities can be found within Manchester New Hampshire’s airport, which is approximately 90 minutes away by car. The State of Maine also has several highway networks that links students to several northeast states including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York within Route 95. This major highway system connects the entire east coast from Florida, to Maine. Major hotel & restaurants, as well as retail shopping centers can be found along this highway.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a college experience. The twin cities of Lewiston/Auburn enjoy all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. Maine also receives a large amount of snow due to it’s geographical relationship with the Canadian border, the state also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well. A strong indicator of pedestrian traffic around the college can be identified by the northeast weather patterns. Student parking within close proximity to university buildings and student shuttle services help reduce the exposure literally and figuratively.

Community Profile

The City of Lewiston has been described as an old mill town that has grown around it’s local college with students, and local residents enjoying the twin city landscape. The area has also been described as a family centered residential community within striking distance to the City of Portland. The City of Lewiston also has an intellectual side due to its historical neighborhood architecture and close physical relationship to Bates College. The city has become favorable to students over the years because the area has gone through a re-investment stage with the old mill buildings being converted into new restaurant and retail spaces. The downtown area has also become popular with local residents because it offers a local pedestrian walkway on Main Street (Rt. 100), which links students, and local residents to a several restaurants and local shops within the western edge of town.

The community has a small town feel to it when you are walking or driving to neighborhood eateries on Sabattus Street (Route # 126) on the southern edge, and Main Street (202/100) on the western side of town. Residents and students enjoy several social destinations when walking, or driving to downtown from campus along these streets including the Northwood Shopping Center featuring several national food, and consumer chains. The drive from Bates to the above-mentioned meeting places is approximately 10 minutes. The city itself is located within the southwestern area of the state, which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and local highway networks including Routes 202 & 100, as well as 126 & 4. Lewiston also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including the Maine Turnpike (Interstate 95), and Interstate 295. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus.

The following demographics for the City of Lewiston describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 35,734 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Bates College has strong relationships with the town because they share community services including public safety, and cultural resources. An example of this commitment can be observed through the college’s community services handbook that describes educational programs, health care programs and services, legal programs and services to local residents who may require community help.

A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 48% residents are male, 52% are female. 88% of residents are white, 7% are African American, 3% is Hispanic or Latino, and 1% are Asian. The median age of population is 36 years old. 79% of residents are 18 years old or over, and 16% of city residents is over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Lewiston is also interesting. 92% of all housing units within the township are occupied. 49% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 51% of units are owner-occupied. 8% of total available housing was vacant.

Bates College Quick Links

Lewiston/ Auburn Area Hotel Quick Links

Ramada Conference Center
490 Pleasant Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
Residence Inn Auburn
670 Turner Street
Auburn ME 04330
Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch
14 Great Falls Plaza
Auburn ME 04210
Fireside Inn & Suites Auburn
1777 Washington Street
Auburn ME 04210

Freeport/ Portland Maine Area Hotels approximately 45 minutes away from Bates

Hilton Garden Inn Freeport
5 Park Street
Freeport, ME 04032
Hampton Inn Freeport
194 Lower Main Street
Freeport, ME 04032
The Harraseeket Inn
162 Main Street
Freeport, ME 04032
Comfort Inn & Suites
500 US Route #1
Freeport, ME 04032
Portland Harbor Hotel
468 Fore Street
Portland, ME 04101
Eastland Park Hotel
157 High Street
Portland, ME 04101
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Portland
65 Commerical Street
Portland, ME 04101
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel
363 Mall Road
South Portland, ME 04106

Below is a sample list of local restaurants in Lewiston/Auburn Maine. National restaurant chains & shopping resources can be found off Interstate 95 & 295 in Portland, and Interstate 295 in Freeport Maine.

Lewiston Restaurants

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