Auditors

Courses are intended for Bowdoin students, but the College is normally happy to extend, as a privilege, the opportunity for community members to attend courses. Auditors must obtain permission from the course instructor before attending the first class and follow their guidelines regarding in-class participation. Auditors are generally not permitted in full courses and are not allowed to attend First-Year Writing Seminars (courses numbered 1000-1049). The College reserves the right to restrict the number of courses audited by any one person and to limit the total number of auditors on campus at a particular time. The College also reserves the right to change or amend this policy.

People wishing to audit a class should be aware of the following:

• Requests to audit are not accepted until the first day of classes.
  • Reference the registrar calendar for those dates. 
  • Course Audit Request Form
  • Guide to Submitting a Course Audit Request Form (PDF)

• There is no official record kept and no grade given for an audited class.
  
  • Auditors are not officially registered for a class.
    
    
• Auditors may elect to receive electronic services from the College. These services include things such as access to e-reserves, electronic course materials, and inclusion on the class email list.
  • Electronic services will cease after a term ends.
  • A fee of $50 per course is normally charged for this service.
  • Friends of Bowdoin pay a reduced fee of $30.
    
    
• There is no fee to audit for the following constituents:
  • Bowdoin alumni, students, employees or employee spouses
  • Bates, Colby, MECA, USM, or local High School students
    • A high school student may audit a Bowdoin class when permission is granted by the course instructor in consultation with the student's high school guidance department.