Bates' New Academic Building: The Faculty Perspective

"A college like Bates can be very good at giving students access to faculty and providing opportunities for student faculty interaction. But with departments in recycled frame houses on the outskirts of campus, that just doesn't happen as much as it should. In a new building, I would see colleagues in other departments with whom I share professional interests, but whom I virtually never see now."

John R. Cole
Thomas Hedley Reynolds Professor of History
and faculty member in the Classical and Medieval Studies Program

"The psychology department is particularly eager to get more consolidated space to do our research and teaching. We simply do not have room in Coram Library [the department's home] to do what we need to do. The opportunity to interact with other members of the social sciences will be a plus, but the main need for most of us is more teaching and research space, largely for student research. I look forward, also, to having an office that more than two people can fit at one time."

John E. Kelsey
Whitehouse Professor of Psychology

"A new building will recognize that teaching takes place outside the classroom as well as inside: teaching and learning takes place in the social interaction in offices and anywhere people informally talk and discuss. A new building, bringing together the social-science departments, will increase the growing democratization in academe, the growing interdisciplinary nature of our work."

Margaret S. Creighton
associate professor of history, faculty member in
the African American Studies Program, and
chair of the American Cultural Studies Program

"More computer lab space would enable me to help students with course-related projects and theses. Currently, we have two public terminals at 45 Campus Avenue [home of the political science department], but they are located in a passageway in very cramped conditions. Space to spread out materials beside the terminals is practically nonexistent. We often sign on to the terminal in my office, which interrupts my work and tends to make me a little more directive in the consultation. If students could work outside (but very near) my office, they could ask for my help, but they also might work more independently. On-site labs also would encourage students to congregate and even help one another."

Douglas I. Hodgkin
professor of political science

For more information about the academic building project and its progress, please contact:

S. Richard Kilbourne
Director of Capital Giving
Bates College
2 Andrews Road
Lewiston, ME 04240
Phone: (207)786-6238
Fax: (207)786-8242
email address: rkilbour@bates.edu