A selection of �ֲ���ý faculty, staff, and friends congratulate the members of the graduating Class of 2021.

“Holy Moly! Your senior year was like a Greek myth with epic challenges, and you pushed through it with grace and creativity,” said Lecturer in English and Director of National Fellowships Robert Strong.

Watch them all:

�ֲ���ý will broadcast live both Commencement ceremonies on the Historic Quad on May 27. The morning session (for senior last names A–K) begins at 9 a.m. The afternoon session (for senior last names L–Z) begins at 3 p.m.

The big day is almost here! We put together this checklist for families and loved ones to help make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Celebrating Virtually?

• Make to tune in to the livestream, and share the link with family members, friends, and loved ones. The ceremonies will also be available for download after the conclusion of the event.
• Let your Bobcat pride shine on social media! Use our �ֲ���ý 2021 profile frames and stickers, and use #�ֲ���ý2021 and #�ֲ���ýGrad to share celebratory posts and good wishes.

Coming to Campus?

• Make sure you are familiar with our campus visitor guidelines and our Guest Testing and Vaccination Policy. 
• Remember that due to logistical complications of offering two ceremonies, we can host ticketed guests only on campus on Thursday, May 27. We request that you limit your time on campus to your student’s ceremony and their move-out  

Ticketed Guests

• Take another look at the Commencement map. Access to many parts of campus is a little different than in past years. Plus, you’ll want to make sure you know how to find the entrances to the guest seating area.
• Check your seating times carefully.  We do not want you to be disappointed if you arrive at a time when we cannot seat you.
• Have your guest ticket handy. You can print your ticket or show it on your phone. There are no extra tickets.
• Once your ticket has been taken, you will receive a lanyard that signals to Commencement staff that your ticket has been confirmed. This lanyard also contains your meal ticket and lets you move out of the seating area if you need to use the restroom, so do not take your lanyard off.
• The temperature on Commencement Day is forecast to range from mid-60s to mid-70s, low humidity, with plenty of sun and a breeze.
• Because of this year’s logistics, you may have longer periods of waiting before and after the ceremony. We encourage you to pack snacks or non-alcoholic drinks to have with you in the seating area. There will be water available nearby.
• We are only able to accommodate service animals at Commencement this year.
• Guest bathrooms are marked on the Commencement map and located near guest seating. Commencement staff will check your lanyard on the way out of the seating enclosure and on the way back in.
• Please turn off your phone and stay seated during the ceremony. Plan to take any photos from your seat, as guests will not be able to move around the Historic Quad to take photos of their students this year. There will be a professional photographer who will take pictures of each senior as they cross the Coram Terrace.
• Commencement staff will release guests by row once the students have processed out of the ceremony. After your row is released, please meet your student at the food station closest to their residence.

Non-Ticketed Guests

• We hope you’ll watch the livestream from your hotel, local B&B, or wherever you have wifi.
• Visiting campus on another day or helping with move-out? Make sure you’re up to date on our campus guest policies.

Moving Out

• �ֲ���ý has shared many helpful details about the move out process — along with guidance for any helpers coming to campus to help move seniors out of college housing.
• Does your senior have items they’d prefer to donate? Do you wish to lessen the amount of stuff needing to travel back home? From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 25, a box truck from the Share Center accept donations prior to student move-out. The truck will be located between Pettengill and Commons and will accept everything except mattresses and items that are obviously trash. Students can also donate items at the Auburn Goodwill, about a five-minute drive from campus.

By coincidence, the two Senior Speakers at Commencement 2021 (one for each of two ceremonies) are both STEM majors from Zimbabwe. And both will tell compelling stories that are personal and universal.

The �ֲ���ý College Store, your source for �ֲ���ý swag ‘n’ more, including, will offer the following hours and services during Commencement Week.

Curbside

While the store is closed to non-�ֲ���ý shoppers, for the convenience of visiting �ֲ���ý parents and other Commencement guests, curbside pickup of online orders will be fulfilled continuously Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm.

Customers who place online orders for curbside pickup will receive an email providing them with pickup information.

Walk-In Schedule (members of the �ֲ���ý community with �ֲ���ý ID only)

• Monday: 8am–11am and noon–4pm
• Tuesday: 8am–11am and noon–4pm
• Wednesday: 8am–11am and noon–4pm
• Thursday: Closed to all walk-in traffic
• Friday: 8am–11am and noon–4pm

On May 11, the �ֲ���ý Parent Team hosted a briefing for Class of 2021 families. The recording below includes comments from:

• President Clayton Spencer, who welcomed families and shared perspective on the Class of 2021;
•  Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students Josh McIntosh, who discussed ongoing health protocols for seniors, returning remote seniors, and Commencement guests;
• Assistant Vice President for Dining, Conferences, and Campus Events Christine Schwartz, who shared numerous details on Commencement itself as well as how guests can navigate campus this year; 
• Associate Dean of Students for Residence Life and Health Education Molly Newton ’11, who updated us on the move-out process for seniors.

Numerous questions were answered, covering everything from whether family photo ops are possible on campus (Wednesday is your best bet, as Thursday is seniors and guests only on campus), the menu for post-Commencement box lunches for seniors and guests (lobster rolls or portobello mushroom sandwiches!), and what ticket holders can expect from the Commencement Day schedule. We encourage you to watch the session in its entirety.

In addition to the questions answered live during the session, a number of questions were answered in writing. Those appear below the video.

What is the proper attire for guests attending Commencement?

Be prepared for the ever-changing Maine weather, particularly this year as we will be outside rain or shine!

When do �ֲ���ý email addresses “expire?”

Seniors lose access to their student email accounts about a year after graduation. The Help Desk sends detailed information about this directly to their accounts, including the formal last day of access.

What do you want to see as proof of vaccination or a negative test?

We do ask that every guest be tested or fully vaccinated prior to arrival on campus , but neither children nor adults will be asked to show proof of a negative test or vaccination. We ask guests to take the health of the �ֲ���ý and Lewiston communities – and of one another – seriously and observe these guidelines in good faith on the honor system.

For students who will not be at graduation due to rowing championships, when and how do they need to move out?

Rowers will receive detailed information around the move-put process when their schedule/travel details are finalized. The Housing Team works with the coaches/team to make sure they have enough time. If your rower wants to check in, have them email reslife@bates.edu.

Will Baccalaureate be recorded for viewing later?

Yes, there will be a recording, and the Parent Team will share it out via email with all senior families. Full details can be found here.

Will the graduation be “live-cast” via the internet?  And, will the graduation be recorded and available for viewing at other times?

Yes. All details about the livestream and about downloading or viewing the event after the fact can be found here. 

You mentioned that guests should meet their students after their Commencement ceremony and get boxed food at one of the four locations near senior residences.  What about students living off-campus or students who are remote or who finished in December and are coming back for Commencement? 

Students and ticketed guests can get boxed food from any of the distribution areas marked on the campus map. Your student can go to whatever location works best for them. The Frye Street location will be a great option for many students living off-campus.

Thank you – this all sounds great! What are you as staff most looking forward to about this graduation ceremony?

We are so excited to see so many seniors together in one place at one time. It hasn’t happened in 15 months!