Ladd Library
Ladd Library is the academic heart of Bates; it’s located in the heart of campus, too, a short walk from most residence halls and classrooms. Like any library, Ladd has a dizzying collection of printed and electronic resources. But what really makes the library tick are great people, and Bates’ librarians and staff are eager to help maximize your valuable study time. An innovative shared catalog with Bowdoin and Colby colleges lets students virtually browse the stacks at all three colleges and have requested books arrive within hours. The library is also home of the inclusive and welcoming Academic Resource Commons, offering friendly, student-to-student tutoring and academic support services.
Academic Resource Commons
⭐ Academic Resource Commons
The Academic Resource Commons (ARC) is a community of learners, designed to empower Bates students to succeed and excel in their studies. ARC offers high-quality, student-focused peer tutoring and other support services in a welcoming, inclusive, environment. The ARC is a vital part of the academic experience at Bates College, complementing the classroom experience with a deeply social, collaborative, interactive learning environment that engages learners of every background in a conversation over shared challenges and student success.
Science & Content Support
Peer support at ARC is all about mastering not only the information and skills covered in your courses, but also the ways that people solve problems within academic disciplines. ARC Peer Educators who support content learning are students who have been through the course that you’re taking now, worked to do well within them, and have strategies to share on how you can do the same. They can work with you on course material, discipline-specific problem-solving strategies, and critical thinking for most courses taught at Bates.
Content tutors can help students in drop in hours during the evening or one on one appointments during the day. There are content tutors available for Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Economics, Geology, Neuroscience, and Environmental Studies. They can help with labs, homeworks, test preparation and overall review of notes. Drop in hours often result in a collection of students working together, being guided by the content tutor on staff. We can help you tackle individual concepts or navigate your courses as a whole.
Individual tutoring appointments run throughout the day, and can be made by visiting the ARC front desk, chatting online with a Resource Representative, or by using WC Online.
Writing & Language Center
The Writing & Language Center empowers Bates students in becoming more effective writers, communicators, thinkers, and learners by providing a supported environment for students to generate ideas, collaborate, draft, write, revise, edit, and present.
Writing Tutors are peer tutors who specialize in assisting students with any and all writing assignments. They are trained and willing to help you with papers, essays, speeches, presentations, and group projects in any discipline. You can seek help from a writing tutor at any time during your writing process.
Many of our writing tutors have been certified as Writing Fellows through the short term course, The Theory and Practice of Writing and Tutoring. This means that they have completed intensive training on the pedagogy of tutoring writers.