Hampshire College facts for kids
 |
|
| Motto | "Non satis scire" |
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
|
"To Know Is Not Enough" |
| Type | private liberal arts college |
| Established | 1965 |
| Accreditation | NECHE |
| Endowment | $54.5 million (2022) |
| Budget | $35.7 million |
| President | Edward Wingenbach |
|
Academic staff
|
145 (Fall 2018) |
|
Administrative staff
|
115 |
| Undergraduates | 508 (2022–2023) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
42°19′30″N 72°31′51″W / 42.3249°N 72.5308°W |
| Campus | Rural, 800 acres (3.2 km2) |
| Colors | Teal, black, forest green, gold |
| Affiliations | Five College Consortium CLAC Project Pericles NAICU AICUM |
 |
|
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It opened in 1970. The college was started as a new way to learn, working with four other colleges nearby. These are Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Together, they are known as the Five College Consortium.
Hampshire College uses a unique way of teaching. It focuses on students choosing their own study paths. Instead of traditional grades, students get detailed written reports about their progress. They also build portfolios of their work. The campus is home to the National Yiddish Book Center and the Eric Carle Museum. It also hosts the yearly Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics.
In 2019, the college faced some challenges and thought about joining another school. Students and teachers spoke up, and the college decided to stay independent. This led to new plans to make the college stronger for the future.
Contents
How Hampshire College Started
The idea for Hampshire College began in 1958. Leaders from Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass Amherst wanted to explore new ways of teaching. Their plan suggested that students should design their own studies. It also focused on students learning how to keep educating themselves throughout their lives. The plan emphasized curiosity, learning across different subjects, and close relationships with teachers.
In 1965, Harold F. Johnson, an alumnus of Amherst College, donated $6 million to start Hampshire College. With more money from the Ford Foundation, the college bought 800 acres (3.2 km2) of land. Construction began soon after.
The first students came to Hampshire in 1970. In its early years, many students wanted to attend, making it one of the most selective colleges. The college has faced financial challenges because it didn't start with a large fund of money. It has mostly relied on tuition fees.
In the mid-1990s, Hampshire College started a "cultural village" on its campus. This allowed independent non-profit groups to have a home there. These include the National Yiddish Book Center, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and The Hitchcock Center for the Environment.
In 2012, the college created a scholarship fund. This fund helps students who are undocumented pay for their education.
Recent Challenges and Rebuilding
In January 2019, the college announced it was looking for a partner due to financial issues. It also considered not accepting a new group of first-year students for Fall 2019. This news led to protests from students and alumni. They wanted more openness from the college leaders. Students held sit-ins in campus offices for many days.
After these events, the college's president, Miriam Nelson, and several board members resigned. The college then decided to focus on staying independent. They launched a fundraising campaign to help secure its future. Alumnus Ken Burns, a famous filmmaker, helped lead this effort.
In September 2019, the first-year class was small, with only 13 students. The total number of students was also lower than usual.
How Hampshire is Rebuilding
The college launched a fundraising campaign called Change in the Making: A Campaign for Hampshire. The goal was to raise $60 million by 2024. By March 2023, nearly $40 million had been raised. Many alumni have given large donations to support the college.
In 2021, the college improved its admissions process. This led to a big increase in new student enrollment. In Fall 2022, Hampshire welcomed its largest group of new students since 2018.
In 2020, Hampshire changed its academic structure. Instead of traditional departments, it organized around important global challenges. These include climate change and social justice.
In 2021, Hampshire celebrated its 50th anniversary. Many alumni, families, and former staff came back to campus for the celebration.
In March 2023, Hampshire College invited students from New College of Florida to apply. They offered to match their tuition costs. This was in response to changes happening at New College of Florida.
Presidents of Hampshire College
- Franklin Patterson (1966–1971)
- Charles R. Longsworth (1971–1977)
- Adele S. Simmons (1977–1989)
- Gregory S. Prince, Jr. (1989–2005)
- Ralph J. Hexter (2005–2010)
- Marlene Gerber Fried (2010–2011) (interim)
- Jonathan Lash (2011–2018)
- Miriam E. Nelson (2018–2019)
- Kenneth Rosenthal (2019) (interim)
- Edward Wingenbach (2019–present)
Sports at Hampshire
Hampshire College sports teams are called the Black Sheep. The college is part of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). They mainly compete in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC).
Hampshire offers eight intercollegiate sports. These include basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field.
Academics and Learning
How Students Learn
Hampshire College is known for its unique way of teaching. It focuses on:
- Project work: Students often work on projects instead of just taking courses.
- Written evaluations: Instead of letter grades, students receive detailed written reports about their work.
- Student-led learning: Students play a big role in designing their own studies and projects.
- Independent motivation: The college encourages students to be self-motivated and organized.
The college's academic program is divided into three "divisions" instead of traditional years:
- Division I: Exploring different subjects.
- Division II: Focusing on a specific area of study.
- Division III: Creating new knowledge through advanced projects.
In 2021, the most popular areas of study for graduates were:
- Creative Writing
- Art/Art Studies
- Film/Video & Photographic Arts
- Sociology
Academic Schools and Programs
Hampshire College organizes its teachers into different Schools of thought:
- Cognitive Science (CS): This includes subjects like linguistics, psychology, and computer science.
- Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies (HACU): This covers film, art, literature, and philosophy.
- Critical Social Inquiry (CSI): This includes sociology, anthropology, economics, and history.
- Natural Science (NS): This covers traditional sciences, math, and biology.
- Interdisciplinary Arts (IA): This includes theater, creative writing, and social entrepreneurship.
Hampshire is also home to the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies (PAWSS). The national organization Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) also operates on campus.
The Five College Consortium
Hampshire College is the newest member of the Five-College Consortium. The other schools are Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Students at any of these schools can take classes and borrow books from the other colleges. They can also use resources like dining halls. This gives students access to over 5,300 courses and more than eight million books. Buses connect the schools, making it easy for students to travel between them.
Admissions
In 2014, Hampshire College stopped requiring SAT and ACT scores from applicants. They wanted to reduce unfairness related to income and background in standardized tests. Instead, they focus on other information that shows how well students will do in college. Because of this, the college was no longer included in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The college found that this change led to fewer but better and more diverse applicants.
Caring for the Environment
The R.W. Kern Center
The R.W. Kern Center opened in 2017. It is a special building that meets very high environmental standards. It produces all its own energy using solar panels. It also collects rainwater for drinking and manages its own wastewater. The building was made with local, non-toxic materials.
The Kern Center houses admissions offices, classrooms, and student lounges. It shows Hampshire's commitment to sustainability.
Climate Action Plan
Hampshire College has a plan to reduce its energy use by 50% in the next 20 years. They also plan to renovate several buildings to make them more energy-efficient.
Solar Power
Hampshire College aimed to be the first college in the U.S. to be 100% solar powered. This is part of their goal to be climate-neutral by 2020. The college has a large field of solar panels. These panels cover 19 acres and have 15,000 panels. They produce 4.7 megawatts of power.
This solar project helps the college save money on electricity. It also prevents a lot of greenhouse gases from entering the air. This is like taking 650 cars off the road each year. The college also has other solar sources on campus, like panels on the Kern Center roof.
In February 2023, the college announced that it had reached its goal of being carbon neutral. This means they balance the carbon they release with the carbon they remove.
Timeline of Sustainability Efforts
Since 2011, Hampshire College has worked on many projects to become more sustainable.
- 2011: It was the first college in the world to stop investing in fossil fuels.
- 2012: They created a Climate Action Plan to become climate neutral by 2022.
- 2014: The college stopped mowing many acres of lawns. This helps reduce greenhouse gases and creates homes for wildlife. They also installed an electric car-charging station.
- 2015: They protected 46 acres of their land to keep it natural.
- 2016: The Kern Center became their first 100% emission-free building.
- 2017: Hampshire College promised to keep supporting climate action. They joined the "We Are Still In" campaign, which supports the Paris Climate Agreement.
Student Activism
In 2004, a student group called Re-Radicalization of Hampshire College (Re-Rad) formed. They felt the college was moving away from its original ideas of alternative education. They wanted to bring back the focus on student-centered learning. The group held protests and suggested new ideas for the college's programs.
Re-Rad was not the first group to push for these changes. Students at Hampshire often challenge the college to stay true to its founding mission. These efforts show how students at Hampshire are always thinking about new ways to learn.
Campus Discussions
Investments
In 1977, Hampshire was the first college to stop investing in companies that supported apartheid in South Africa. This was a stand against racial segregation.
In 2009, there was a discussion about Hampshire's investments related to Israel. Some thought the college had stopped investing in companies connected to Israel. However, the college president clarified that investment changes were not for political reasons.
American Flag Incident
After the 2016 U.S. presidential election, students at Hampshire College lowered the American flag to half-staff. They said it was a protest against hate and harassment. College officials allowed it to stay at half-staff. The college president explained that some students felt the flag was a symbol of fear for them.
Later, the flag was burned. It was replaced, and the college continued to fly it at half-staff to mourn violence. This led to protests from veterans and others who wanted the flag raised to full staff. The college temporarily stopped flying the flag. After more discussion, the college decided to raise the flag to full staff.
Hampshire in the Media
In 2001, Hampshire College gained national attention. Students voted against the War on Terrorism after 9/11. This was a first for a college and led to strong reactions in the media.
The TV show Saturday Night Live had a sketch called "Jarret's Room" that was supposedly set at Hampshire College. However, it showed things that Hampshire does not have, like fraternities or a football team. It also incorrectly said the college was in New Hampshire.
Many people have praised Hampshire College. Filmmaker Ken Burns, an alumnus, called it "a perfect American place." He said Hampshire asked important questions about education. Loren Pope, in his college guide Colleges That Change Lives, wrote that Hampshire students are very active thinkers.
A 2022 film called The Unmaking of a College tells the story of the student protests that stopped the college from closing.
Notable People
Famous Alumni
Hampshire College alumni have achieved great things. They have won many awards, including the Pulitzer, Emmy, Academy, and Grammy Awards. They have also received important fellowships and literary prizes.
- Notable Hampshire College alumni include:
-
Seventh Generation Inc. CEO Jeffrey Hollender
-
Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg
-
Economist Heather Boushey
-
Writer Jon Krakauer
-
Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times photographer James Estrin
-
Documentarian Ken Burns
-
Director Barry Sonnenfeld
-
Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o
-
Actor Liev Schreiber
-
Comedian Eugene Mirman
-
Composer and former Nine Inch Nails member Charlie Clouser
-
Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith
-
Composer and producer Oneohtrix Point Never
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Notable Past and Present Faculty
Many talented teachers have worked at Hampshire College. You can find a full list of notable faculty members on the List of Hampshire College people page.
See also
- Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics
- Tofu Curtain
