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.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Winter Semester 2027
- Short Term 2027
- Fall Semester 2027
- Winter Semester 2028
- Short Term 2028
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 20 of 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.
- 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.