For New Students and Families

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FAQ: For New Students and Families

For more information on arriving in the Fall, consult the Arrival Guide for New Students

What should my student bring to campus?

It is tempting to want to bring everything to Hampshire, but the kitchen sink, but please know that we have kitchen sinks available in our residence halls!! If your student will be living with a roommate and you are able to get his/her information in advance, it is important that they communicate about what they will be bringing. You certainly don’t want three televisions for one room as there won’t be space for anything else!

Depending on when your student plans to visit home, it is wise to prepare for early cold weather as Amherst weather can be unpredictable! Frost can visit us as early as September so pack those woolies!

For the safety of the students living in the residence halls, some items are not allowed. Please do not pack these items as you will have to bring them back home if you do. These include:

Halogen lamps

Air Conditioners

Flammable Liquids

Candles

Cooking appliances (Toaster ovens may be used in common spaces)

Pets

Cinder blocks

It should further be noted that only UL approved extension cords with surge protectors are allowed to be used.

Where will my student do laundry?
Laundry machines are available in each residential living area. They are not coin operated so you don’t need to be saving those quarters! This cost is already figured into the students bill so laundry machines do not require money.

Do students have to be on a meal plan?

Students residing in Merrill or Dakin Houses are required to enroll in the “carte blanche” meal plan that offers unlimited access to the dining commons. Entering first year students residing in Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott Houses must enroll in a partial meal plan for their first term. After their first term, first year students living in the apartments may choose whether or not to remain on a meal plan.

The dining commons is open for continuous service Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM, except it is closed between lunch and dinner from 4:00PM - 5:00PM. Brunch and dinner are served on Saturday and Sunday. The dining commons close during Thanksgiving and Spring breaks, and after the final day of Hampshire’s divisional exam period at the end of the fall and spring terms.

The dining services are also able to provide special “dietary restrictive” menus. If you have any special dietary requirements, please call the director of food services at (413) 549-2840 or (413) 559-5750.

What phone service is available?

Each student room has free local phone service and may receive direct-dialed incoming calls. If you wish to have telephone service in your room, bring a touch-tone telephone with you, or you can purchase one locally. Simply plug in your phone to have access to local telephone service, dialing a 9 prior to any local off-campus number. Call the Switchboard at x5456 to activate free voice mail or to report any problems with your service. Students are required to set up their Hampshire College voice mail to allow for college officials to contact them at a local phone number. There is also a college-provided telephone in each common living area. For Merrill and Dakin, this phone is located in each hallway.

You will be receiving a separate mailing during the summer from PaeTec Communications regarding long distance calling. Domestic long distance will be available at six cents per minute. You may order service after receiving your college mailing address. Call PaeTec at (800) 962-4772. for additional information. PaeTec representatives will be on-campus at check-in on Thursday, August 31, to allow students to sign up for service. If you do not sign up with PaeTec on August 31 or prior to arrival, you may still select service from PaeTec at any time after August 31.

Many students elect to use cell phones instead of signing up for long distance service on a land-based line. Several cell phone companies operate in the Hampshire College area. It is advisable to wait until after you have arrived before signing up with a new cell phone company. Keep in mind that students must establish their Hampshire College voice mail account, regardless of whether or not they choose to use the phone service assigned to their room.

Will my student receive a Hampshire email address?

All Hampshire students are given official Hampshire College email accounts, which are used for important notifications and college business. You have either recently received or will soon be receiving information in a separate mailing about your HampNet user name and password, which should be used for access to the Hampshire College Intranet, TheHub and your email account. It is important for you to start using your email account, as it will allow to access important information. Students communicating via email with College offices must use their Hampshire account.