Frequently Asked Questions

A Flower in the Hampshire College Greenhouse

This page will be updated as we have new information.

Hampshire College’s COVID-19 campus announcements are archived here for reference.

Please direct additional questions to president@hampshire.edu.

updated April 29, 2020

Health and Counseling Services

Health and Counseling Services will remain fully staffed and open during business hours. Students should make contact via the secure patient portal or by phone at 413.559.5458. Students who have left campus may call Health Services if you need prescription refills or help with transition to another primary care provider. After hours and weekends, Hampshire students may also contact a UMass Triage Advice Nurse at 413.577.5229.

The Counseling Service Office is offering phone support and consultation at 413.559.5458. For students outside the Pioneer Valley, counselors can help you establish care where you are located. For students who have Hampshire College health insurance, your insurance covers you out of Massachusetts for both medical and behavioral care. 

CARE Team

The Concern, Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) team is a student-focused resource group comprised of staff from the Dean of Students Office, Residence Life and Student Engagement, CASA, Campus Safety and Wellbeing, and Health and Counseling Services whose goal is to support all students through challenges that may experience during their time at Hampshire. Many supports are available, and the CARE team coordinates response and outreach to empower each student to navigate resources and assist in a plan for their success. If you have a student needing support or not in communication, please email earlyalert@hampshire.edu.

College-Sponsored Travel Policy

Effective March 16, 2020, no college-sponsored domestic or international travel is permitted, unless explicitly authorized by the President.

Impact on Staff Employment

Employees with questions may contact Jake Toomey in Human Resources at jthr@hampshire.edu.

Answers to FAQs

  • Academics

    Remote Teaching and Learning

    At the end of an extended spring break, Hampshire College has moved to remote teaching and learning starting on Monday, March 30, in order to mitigate infections from the coronavirus.

    Students learning at a distance should receive as much attention from faculty advisors and committee members as before. We believe Hampshire’s core value of close mentorship by faculty advisors and expert co-learners can be fulfilled remotely.

    Students should contact their faculty with any questions or concerns.

    They may also contact the Center for Academic Support and Advising or the Dean of Faculty Office.

    Our goal is to keep students on track to complete their semester on schedule. Hampshire has worked to keep our academic calendar consistent with changes made by our Five Colleges partners where many of our students are enrolled. All four colleges and the University of Massachusetts are teaching remotely for the remainder of the semester. Students taking classes in the Five Colleges should contact their instructors.

    Division III Completion 

    Hampshire will support Div III students in fulfilling the requirements of Div II and graduating on schedule. Students and faculty are encouraged to work creatively together to adapt projects to be completed remotely under new conditions and at a level that meets the expectations of the student and committee. The college encourages committees and students to make flexible, innovative decisions in the face of the challenges presented by this pandemic.

    Faculty advisors are asked to recognize the impact of these challenging circumstances on Div III projects and to fairly evaluate projects based on the circumstances.

    Div III students may be able to stage their performances, screenings, exhibits, and the like in the fall. The college will not require that for graduation, but if a student wants to stage a presentation in the fall, the college will explore ways to support those projects.

    Restrictions on Campus Academic Spaces

    The college cannot guarantee access to campus academic spaces due to the impacts of Covid-19, including the State of Massachusetts’s stay-at-home order, order now in effect through Monday, May 18. Div III students should be able to adapt their processes in coordination with faculty to complete projects without access to campus academic spaces. Students whose projects may require access to an academic space should communicate with their advisors and committee, and develop plans for how to proceed. It is unlikely academic spaces will be open for students for the remainder of the semester. For students who left materials in an academic building, please contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@hampshire.edu.

    Changes to Academic Calendar

    The College has made changes to some of the dates on the academic calendar. Please check the academic calendar on the intranet for the full picture and the dates that have not changed.

    May 1: Last day of classes; Division III student progress reports for Fall 2020 completion
    May 8: Division III faculty progress reports for Fall 2020 completion
    May 8: Division III pass for Spring completion (all work presented and completed)

    Keeping a Schedule for Remote Learning and Remote Work

    For progress in remote learning, students are encouraged to establish a clear work schedule every day to mimic their previous schedule on campus.

    Students seeking guidance on establishing a schedule may reach out to:

    Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA)
    413.559.5498 or advising@hampshire.edu

    Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS)
    413.559.5498 or OARS@hampshire.edu

    Holistic Learning Program
    413.559.5498 or HLP@hampshire.edu

    Contacts for Remote Learning Concerns and Questions

    Commencement 2020

    Commencement is Hampshire’s largest event of the year, attracting thousands of attendees and requiring months of planning. Hampshire will reschedule Commencement to take place on campus to coincide with our 50th anniversary festivities the weekend of October 16-18. The college is also planning to recognize all our 2020 graduates with a virtual commencement on Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. We’re making plans to mail diplomas over the summer. We are also discussing the logistics of hosting one or more Div III showcases, either virtually this spring or on campus in the fall. We will consult with Div III students as we develop these alternative celebrations so that we design events that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.

    Study Abroad

    We are working directly with the few students who remain in study abroad programs or on field study. Please direct questions to the Global Education Office.

  • Student Affairs, Student Life, and Housing

    Restriction on Non-Residents in Campus Housing

    Beginning March 24 and until further notice, non-residents are not permitted in campus housing without prior permission from Student Affairs. Hampshire College students who are not living in campus housing are considered non-residents.

    Outreach and Support

    Student life staff are offering remote drop-in office hours and creative programming opportunities to encourage social connections. Staff are actively reaching out to support students remaining in campus housing.

    Moving Out of Residences

    For students currently living on campus:
    You are encouraged to make plans for leaving campus no later than Sunday, May 17. This date follows our standard practice of having students leave campus the day after commencement. (Though Division III showcases and commencement will be conducted remotely, campus facilities will need access to residence halls and mods shortly after May 17 to begin routine maintenance.) Exceptions, of course, will be made for students who need more time or additional accommodations.

    For students returning to campus to retrieve belongings:
    We ask that you return to campus between Monday, May 18 and Monday, June 1. You should contact the housing office to make an appointment once the current stay-at-home order in Massachusetts is lifted (on May 4), and remember to observe safe social distancing when retrieving your belongings. This will help decrease health risks to staff as well as other students.

    Please direct questions to the Housing Office at housing@hampshire.edu.

    Summer Housing

    When the semester ends, if a student has no alternative housing, the college will work with the student to secure appropriate housing.

    Credit for Room and Board

    Students who permanently left their campus residence before the end of March will receive a credit of $2,130, even if they left belongings in their room. This credit will be posted to the student account as long as the student has notified us they have departed campus; to receive the full credit, students must notify the college they have departed no later than April 1. It is important for students to confirm they have departed campus by completing this brief form if they have NOT already returned their keys.

    After April 1, the credit will be prorated to the date of notification.

    A returning student may apply the credit to their housing charges for next year. If the student’s bill is fully paid with no more obligations, the student will be able to apply for a cash refund or can opt to donate the balance to the college.

    Balances on café cards will be carried over to the next semester, and students who graduate will receive credit to their account. Students on recently purchased block meal plans will receive prorated credit on a case-by-case basis for students with remaining blocks.

    Donating Credit to Emergency Fund Benefiting Students in Need

    Students and their families have the option of donating any remaining credit to Hampshire’s Emergency Fund to benefit students in need.

    Work Study

    Policy on Payment of Federal Work Study Wages During Spring 2020 Remote Instruction

    1. Students that have been awarded Federal Work Study (FWS) that are living on campus, can continue working on campus, if their position is approved to continue following the shift to remote learning. Students will be paid biweekly through the payroll office after submitting their time on the HUB.
    2. Students that have been awarded FWS that are living off campus and have received approval to work remotely by their supervisor, may do so. These students will be paid biweekly through the payroll office after submitting their time on the HUB. Supervisors must be able to verify the number of hours worked and ensure the job duties agreed upon are being performed.
    3. Students that have been awarded Hampshire Funded Work Study, or Institutional Work Study (IWS) that are on campus can continue working on campus, if their position is approved to continue following the shift to remote learning. Students will be paid biweekly through our payroll office, after submitting their time on the HUB.
    4. Students that have been awarded IWS that are living off campus will not be allowed to work remotely moving forward.
    5. FWS students that have worked this Spring 2020, but are no longer working due to the implications of COVID-19 will receive 25% of their 19-20 wages or remainder of the Work Study allotment, whichever is lower.
    6. FWS students who were not enrolled or were studying off-campus in the fall 2019 semester and have worked in Spring 2020, but are no longer working due to the implications of COVID-19 will receive 50% of their 2020 wages or remainder of the Work Study allotment, whichever is lower.
    7. Students that have earned all of their FWS allotment for the school year will not receive any money.
    8. If a student loses a FWS job after April 17, they may request a stipend under this policy.
    9. International student workers that are living on campus and have lost their work study position due to implications of COVID-19 are able to apply for emergency grant funding.
    10. ely so that we can exclude this group from the spring earners that will receive the 25% stipend. If a student receives a stipend while continuing to work because the supervisor did not submit their name on time, their continuing hours will be counted against the stipend.

    Student Activities Fund

    The funding of the student activities fund is not year-by-year; funds roll over from previous years. Funds remaining this year will roll over into next year.

    Housing Lottery For 2020-21

    The Mod Lottery runs from May 6–May 13 and students can sign up for traditional residential housing in Merrill starting May 14. See our Room Choosing Calendar for more details. All registration forms, the online Modmate Contract, and Individual Room Sign forms can be found on the Mod Lottery Basics webpage. See intranet announcement.

    Orientation for Fall 2020

    The college is hiring current students to be orientation leaders and planning our annual orientation event to welcome our 50th anniversary class in the fall. 

    Extending Tuition Payments

    The college allows students to extend tuition payments, email questions to studentaccounts@hampshire.edu and see our Payment Policies.

    Access to Career Options Resource Center

    During the State of Massachusetts’s stay-at-home order, the Career Options Resource Center (CORC) office cannot work in office, but CORC staff members are working remotely and are able to answer student questions by emailing corc@hampshire.edu. If you need help with application materials such as resumes, cover letters, personal statements, etc., email a brief description and any links to what you are applying for, and attach your documents in an editable format such as a Word doc or Google doc. We will either respond with feedback as we are able, or suggest a Zoom appointment.

  • Other Campus Services and Hours

    Dining Services

    The Dining Commons is operating as a take-out restaurant and mini-market for groceries and is open daily 11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Students may call ahead to 413.559.6967 and place orders. If a student in residence doesn’t have a meal plan or the ability to pay for food, the student should call the dining hall and explain their circumstances; the College will make food available to students on campus and will not turn our students away. 

    Dining Services is also offering an online grocery ordering system for residents. Students log in to an online grocery order form, and choose from a variety of groceries, as well as special requests to meet dietary restrictions and needs. Most orders are ready for pick up within three hours. Students can use café card, meal swipes, guest tokens, credit card, or cash to purchase the groceries.

    The Bridge and the Kern Café will remain closed.

    The Hampstore is open noon–2 p.m. weekdays

    Campus Safety and Security is always open, 24/7.

    Robert Crown Center and the Multi-Sport Track and Weight Room are closed until further notice.

    Campus Post Office

    Mail service is considered an essential service under the Governor’s stay-at-home order, so the campus post office will remain open on weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

    Schedules for PVTA and UMass Transit

    Schedules for PVTA and UMass Transit are changing to address reduced demand, see the Five Colleges PVTA bus schedule update page and the main PVTA website.

  • Planning for Fall 2020

    Admitting a 50th Anniversary Class in Fall 2020

    As a show of support for accepted students and their families and the challenges presented this spring by the global pandemic, Hampshire College moved its deadline for admissions deposits for fall enrollment to June 1. The extension applies to approximately 650 students accepted to join Hampshire’s 50th anniversary class in the fall.

    Responding to the pandemic, Hampshire has also moved all its admissions tours and accepted student events online, offering virtual events and tours and connecting with prospective students via personal communications.

    Hampshire’s Financial Planning for Pandemic Impacts

    Hampshire’s goal remains to secure a long, sustainable future as an independent college. Hampshire is adapting its financial plans to address the problems presented by Covid-19. The College was already undertaking intensive financial planning, and the pandemic accelerates our decision-making.

    Hampshire is in year one of a five-year plan to achieve a balanced budget and long-term sustainability. Fortunately, the College based its plan on conservative projections across several key elements:

    • Launching a reinvented academic program and student experience next fall to increase value for students while, just as importantly, controlling our expenses
    • Reducing our operating budget
    • Leading a five-year, $60 million fundraising campaign
    •  Rebuilding enrollment year by year to full enrollment by 2023-2024

    Long term, Hampshire has a clear path to financial viability. We’re currently scenario-planning, considering the consequences of the pandemic on student decisions, the economy, and higher education as a whole. A group of trustees and senior leaders are actively working to develop a range of possible scenarios and to create sustainable financial models.

 

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