Catalog Agreement

This Catalog constitutes the basic agreement between the College and its students and prospective students with regard to the Bates College academic experience. In case of conflict between this Catalog and its supplements and any other written or oral statements, this Catalog and its supplements shall be deemed to be the official statement. Every effort is made to provide the most accurate information possible on the College's academic and financial policies, curriculum, and courses. Following the initial publication of this Catalog at the start of the academic year, additions throughout the academic year, such as new courses and updated deadlines and fees, are also published in the online version of the Catalog. The College reserves the right to change any of the statements herein by reasonable notice in any supplemental Catalog or other publication specifically setting forth any such changes, including the Schedule of Courses.

Evolving public health conditions or other unforeseen effects may impact the residential experience generally, requiring modifications to and limitations on students' participation in extracurricular and other activities of residence life, and it may be necessary for the College to suspend all residential operations, including in-person instruction.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Bates values the diversity of persons, perspectives, and convictions. Critical thinking, rigorous analysis, and open discussion of a full range of ideas lie at the heart of the College's mission as an institution of higher learning. The College seeks to encourage inquiry and reasoned dialogue in a climate of mutual respect and is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The College prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations.

Accreditation

Bates College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by NECHE should be directed to the Office of the President of Bates College. Individuals may also contact NECHE at 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514; (781) 425-7785.

Confidentiality of Education Records (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include the following:

1. FERPA affords students the right to inspect and review their education records within forty-five (45) days of the day the College receives a request for access. A form to request access to records is available from the Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems. The Registrar’s Office makes arrangements for access and notifies the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. FERPA affords students the right to request amendments to elements in their education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA. The student should submit the request in writing to the Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems, clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants changed, and specifying why it should be changed. The Registrar’s Office consults with the appropriate College official(s) and if the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College notifies the student of the decision and advises the student of the student's right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures is provided when the student is notified of the right of hearing.
3. FERPA affords students the right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information (PII) contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to College officials, or officials of institutions with which the College has consortia agreements, with legitimate educational interests. A College official is a person employed by Bates in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support-staff position (including Campus Safety and Health Services staff); a volunteer, company, or contractor outside of the College who performs an institutional service or function for which the College would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the College with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from education records (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as the Student Conduct Committee, or assisting another College official in performing administrative tasks. A College official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill the official's professional responsibility.
4. FERPA affords the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-5901.

As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education's FERPA regulations expand the circumstances under which education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records including Social Security number, grades, or other private information may be accessed without student consent. First, the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local education authorities may allow access to records and PII without student consent to any third party designated by a federal or state authority to evaluate a federal- or state-supported education program. The evaluation may relate to any program that is "principally engaged in the provision of education," such as early childhood education and job training, as well as any program that is administered by an education agency or institution. Second, federal and state authorities may allow access to education records and PII without student consent to researchers performing certain types of studies. Federal and state authorities must obtain certain use-restriction and data security promises from the entities that they authorize to receive PII, but the authorities need not maintain direct control over such entities. In addition, in connection with Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, state authorities may collect, compile, permanently retain, and share without student consent PII from education records, and they may track student participation in education and other programs by linking such PII to other personal information that they obtain from other federal or state data sources, including workforce development and migrant student record systems.

The Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems makes available copies of the federal regulations and the institutional policy on education records as well as additional information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

Directory Information

At its discretion, Bates may disclose "directory information" in accordance with the provisions of FERPA. Directory information is defined as information that is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Bates identifies the following as directory information: name; Bates identification (ID) number; class; address (campus, home, and e-mail); username; telephone listings; major and minor fields of study and General Education concentrations; participation in officially recognized sports, extracurricular activities, and global education programs; dates of attendance; degrees, honors, and awards received from the College; and individually identifiable photographs and electronic images of the student solicited or maintained directly by Bates as part of the educational record. Students wishing to block the disclosure of directory information should contact the Office of the Registrar and Academic Systems for additional information.

As a matter of general policy, Bates College will not release directory information to third parties for marketing or commercial purposes unless required to do so by law. Please note that Bates College is a private institution and is not obligated to release student data under the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA).

---

Catalog Editor: Allison Kisel, Associate Registrar for Catalog and Curriculum Management.