Registered Faculty and Staff Groups

Bowdoin College knows that robust faculty and staff engagement is important to foster an enriching educational environment.

As part of this engagement, faculty and staff may form registered groups, outside of their department or administrative unit, focused on a particular topic or experience. Students are not permitted to be members of registered faculty and staff groups. Leaders and members of such groups are required to uphold all aspects of the Faculty and Employee Handbooks when they are acting in their capacity as a leader or member of a faculty or staff group.

College registration of faculty and staff groups is a privilege that confers benefits, including the ability to hang posters in designated spaces, use College facilities to sponsor events or host meetings, and use the College’s name in social media handles. Without College registration, groups may not engage in these activities.

To obtain College registration, faculty and staff groups must identify, at minimum, two members of the faculty and/or staff who will serve as points of contact for the College. Each prospective group will submit a form to Human Resources that designates these individuals and confirms the group will abide by college policies. Group registration does not provide College funding or access to other resources such as use of college vehicles, set-ups, College email accounts, College websites, or use of Bowdoin marks (e.g. seal (sun), wordmark, and the Polar Bear logo(s)). Faculty and staff groups may not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, and membership or leadership positions may not consider legally protected characteristics.

In reviewing registration, and any college action related to a group, the College will not consider the viewpoint expressed by the group. However, conduct by a group and/or those acting on behalf of a group that violates College policies, including, without limitation, the Postering Policy, Building Use Policy, Demonstrations Policy, Student Freedom from Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Employee Freedom from Discrimination and Harassment Policy, is not permitted. Reports that a registered faculty and staff group has violated College policies will be reviewed by Human Resources in collaboration with appropriate College personnel and may result in the suspension or limitation of activities and additional corrective action.

Last Updated: January 20, 2026