Preparing students for lives of meaningful work lies at the heart of the liberal arts mission. The Bates Center for Purposeful Work helps students discover the joy and power that arise from aligning who they are with what they do, by helping students identify and cultivate their interests and strengths and providing opportunities for them to acquire the knowledge, experiences, and relationships necessary to pursue their aspirations with imagination and integrity. Purposeful Work has curricular and co-curricular aspects and takes a four-year, developmental approach to working with students.

Informed by this philosophy, students emerge from Bates equipped to make intentional decisions about their work, their identities, and how the two relate to each other.

The staff of the Center for Purposeful Work provide many resources to students to prepare them for life after Bates including: career advising; job shadows; internships; access to Bates alumni worldwide; career interest assessments; centralized employment listings; and graduate and professional school advising.

Students are encouraged to engage with staff at the Center for Purposeful Work beginning in their first year in order to integrate their academic, career, and personal goals into rewarding and purposeful career exploration over the course of their time at Bates.

Through Purposeful Work Infusion courses, many faculty members infuse their teaching with content that links the concepts of work and purpose with their specific course material, across every academic department and course level. This pedagogy helps students see the connection between academic fields, fundamental skills, and possible career paths. Practitioner-Taught Courses offer opportunities for students to explore more practical and applied areas of study than are available within the core liberal arts curriculum. Practitioners, often Bates alumni, teach applied knowledge and skills in their field of expertise. Students explore worlds of work, enhance their practical skills, and expand their professional network, contributing to their career exploration and preparation for future work. More information can be found at the Bates Center for Purposeful Work website.