Hampshire College

Employees who demonstrate the Hampshire values are there for others above and beyond the normal call of duty and show that they have made a personal commitment to the mission of the college.

Creative and Innovative Thinking
The value of experimentation is deeply rooted in Hampshire culture. This means creative and innovative thinking along new lines, trying out an unproven idea, developing new programs that enhance college services, having the courage to re-think a process or solution where few have gone before, and then following the idea through to the point of a truly usable innovation.

A Caring Spirit
Hampshire must be a special place for its main constituency, i.e., our students. A caring spirit is particularly important in the effort to improve our student retention rate and to strengthen our multicultural fabric.

Teamwork
A positive and constructive mindset regarding all of our people and the institution is a strong foundation for our future. A key feature of the Hampshire experience is interdisciplinary learning. This idea translates into thinking and cooperating across boundaries. Staff members supporting each other, reaching out to help beyond their own area of responsibility, teaming up across departments to get a job done, and forging cooperation with internal or external groups in the pursuit of excellence are desirable teamworking behaviors.

Continuous Improvement
As a young, independently funded institution, we constantly look for ways to improve our efficiency. This orientation toward continuous improvement in everything we do will help reduce operating costs and alleviate pressure on our limited budget, and on the continually rising cost of the education that we provide.

Community Service
Hampshire has a tradition of encouraging active service to the community. Naturally, this begins with service to the Hampshire Community through active participation in committees, and by helping to advance important causes such as diversity on campus. The idea of service also transcends the physical boundaries of the campus. Outside engagement carries Hampshire’s philosophy of “to know is not enough” beyond the campus and helps build Hampshire’s reputation as a socially responsible contributor to society.