What's going on with Bates College?

[Anonymous]

Not a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a good school.

Not a good post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - it's definitely the same troll, bringing up the same old incidents (econ departures, firing the football coach) that barely deserved notice when they occurred and are completely irrelevant today.

It is true that the endowment is low compared to peer schools; presumably the newish president who has some background in finance is positioned to address that.

https://www.bates.edu/president/welcoming-garry-w-jenkins/garry-w-jenkins/

You’re rushing to complain about two different people. I’m OP, I don’t even know about whatever stupid sports incident happened and don’t really care since it has nothing to do with my question.

OP, you didn't ask a genuine question, you made a vague and unsupported allegation. In other words, troll.

So dramatic
Endowment issues: https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/03/07/academic-standing-not-sustainable-without-larger-endowment-bates-college-warns/
Faculty retention issues:
https://thebatesstudent.com/27138/news/faculty-satisfaction-dips-27-in-six-years-according-to-coache-survey/#:~:text=Faculty%20satisfaction%20dips%2027%25%20in,COACHE%20survey%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Bates%20Student
https://thebatesstudent.com/22116/news/__trashed-3/#:~:text=Economics%20Department%20Cancels%20Senior%20Thesis%20Amid%20Faculty%20Turnover%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Bates%20Student
It gets tiring hearing people here essentially admit that they don’t know what they’re talking about and haven’t researched a topic, so therefore it automatically means someone is lying or has no source. It’s not our jobs to spoon feed you the minimum research needed to talk on the topic.

You just linked a bunch of “nothing burgers”

The endowment article just says that the incoming president says they they need to increase their endowment to hold their position. Completely normal and something that new Presidents consistently do.

The economics commentary is over 5 years old. The department is completely staffed.

Faculty whining about administrators is an age old thing…more nothing.

Do better.

You sound intentionally dishonest. Their endowment is 1/2-1/5 peers, that means they offer less for their students.

Agree about the economics department, strange moment.

Faculty are often much more trustworthy than people’s whose jobs are to make the institution look good. It’s important faculty actually want to stay at their institution.

Intellectually dishonest? I paraphrased a reporters comment on the new president’s remarks.

[Anonymous]

S&P recently rated Bates A+. This is not spectacular but it is still very good and shows no concerns. I trust their analysis of Bates' finances, endowment, etc. more than the brainiacs of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

So OP/PPs, here's the nonsense you're slinging -- a few econ professors left five years ago; the school has a full econ department today. The football coach got fired, also five years ago, and sued the school. What's the big deal here? Faculty come and go; so do football coaches.

The only legitimate criticism is that the Bates endowment is lower than other peer schools. But that's no secret; the current president is focused on fixing this.

My Bates student is very happy - works hard and has a great, diverse group of friends. I hear similar things from others, including random strangers who see the sticker on our car. I always thought of Bates as a very New England school, but it has a DC constituency for sure. So in answer to the title of your post - what's going on with Bates? - the only answer is, a lot of good things!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So OP/PPs, here's the nonsense you're slinging -- a few econ professors left five years ago; the school has a full econ department today. The football coach got fired, also five years ago, and sued the school. What's the big deal here? Faculty come and go; so do football coaches.

The only legitimate criticism is that the Bates endowment is lower than other peer schools. But that's no secret; the current president is focused on fixing this.

My Bates student is very happy - works hard and has a great, diverse group of friends. I hear similar things from others, including random strangers who see the sticker on our car. I always thought of Bates as a very New England school, but it has a DC constituency for sure. So in answer to the title of your post - what's going on with Bates? - the only answer is, a lot of good things!

You focused on all the things that didn’t matter and then glossed over the one actual issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So OP/PPs, here's the nonsense you're slinging -- a few econ professors left five years ago; the school has a full econ department today. The football coach got fired, also five years ago, and sued the school. What's the big deal here? Faculty come and go; so do football coaches.

The only legitimate criticism is that the Bates endowment is lower than other peer schools. But that's no secret; the current president is focused on fixing this.

My Bates student is very happy - works hard and has a great, diverse group of friends. I hear similar things from others, including random strangers who see the sticker on our car. I always thought of Bates as a very New England school, but it has a DC constituency for sure. So in answer to the title of your post - what's going on with Bates? - the only answer is, a lot of good things!

You focused on all the things that didn’t matter and then glossed over the one actual issue.

What on earth are you blithering about?

[Anonymous]

Bates seems to be a solid choice for kids considering premed— hospital next door, lots of community engagement opportunities in a more urban environment, senior thesis means everyone does real research, strong stem program without weed out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates seems to be a solid choice for kids considering premed— hospital next door, lots of community engagement opportunities in a more urban environment, senior thesis means everyone does real research, strong stem program without weed out.

This analysis placed Bates 33rd among LACs for medical school placement:

From Pre-Med to MD: Understanding the Pathways to Medical School - College Transitions https://share.google/3FrFj29EBFHKCgEBh

[Anonymous]

Poor endowment with little school spirit. How does a Maine school not have men’s varsity hockey. Distant 3rd to Bowdoin and Colby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at medicore. People who post here to hate on schools, especially very good schools, are the worst form of pathetic. Get a life. I know countless kids who would do anything to be full pay at Bates. It is fine. Close the thread.

Is your name Jeff? No? Then take a seat. “Close the thread.” 🙄

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So OP/PPs, here's the nonsense you're slinging -- a few econ professors left five years ago; the school has a full econ department today. The football coach got fired, also five years ago, and sued the school. What's the big deal here? Faculty come and go; so do football coaches.

The only legitimate criticism is that the Bates endowment is lower than other peer schools. But that's no secret; the current president is focused on fixing this.

My Bates student is very happy - works hard and has a great, diverse group of friends. I hear similar things from others, including random strangers who see the sticker on our car. I always thought of Bates as a very New England school, but it has a DC constituency for sure. So in answer to the title of your post - what's going on with Bates? - the only answer is, a lot of good things![/quote]
You focused on all the things that didn’t matter and then glossed over the one actual issue. [/quote]

NP. I've been around long enough to recognize the wisdom in the late queen's now famous "recollections may vary" statement. That a New England college with a long history of liberalism and an overwhelmingly liberal student body and faculty would be secret cackling racists behind closed doors is a bit of a lulz moment. Recollections may vary! Which also goes for the other incident, it seems that every college security has been accused of racism. Every few years. Over what is effectively a he said she said situation. Been like that since I was in college in the 1990s. And, of course, the Oberlin incident has told us to be wary of such accusations these days.

So do I care? No more than I care about all the human misunderstandings we deal with every day. Notwithstanding all these claims, Bates is a perfectly good college.

[Anonymous]

Simply does not have the wealthy alumni base of a Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin etc. Traditionally has a liberal vibe similar to Wesleyan without Wesleyan prestige.

[Anonymous]

Fall weather is nice, but the 10 day weather forecast for Lewiston, Maine is very cold & damp. Too depressing for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simply does not have the wealthy alumni base of a Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin etc. Traditionally has a liberal vibe similar to Wesleyan without Wesleyan prestige.

This is all true but it in no way makes Bates anything other than what it is which is an excellent SLAC for the right student.