Div I Portfolio

Before the end of your second semester, you will be expected to present a portfolio of the work you did during the first year. This portfolio will include your Division I retrospective essay, representative samples of your work that illustrate your intellectual and artistic development, and examples of the progress you've made in your first year. The portfolio must also include documentation of your CEL-1.

To prepare to pass Division I, log onto TheHub, click "Division I" and then "choose courses." You will be able to see your CEL-1 reflection as well as faculty comments on your progress, which you can refer to as you compose your retrospective essay. Don't forget to post your retrospective essay.

Check with your advisor for specific guidelines on what to include in your portfolio. 

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Division I retrospective essay (consult with your advisor about recommended length, but these tend to be short, 2-3 pp.). More about the retrospective below.
  3. Copies of all evaluations and grades you have received so far.
  4. A list of courses you have completed.
  5. Documentation of your CEL-1, including 10 hours fulfilling the Race and Power requirement.

The Division I retrospective essay provides you with an opportunity to reflect on your experiences and accomplishments during the first semesters of college. This is your chance to tell the story of your first year at Hampshire.

The essay should be a discussion of how you began the year: what you expected your academic interests would be; how you imagined participating in the campus community; and what you learned along the way. You should discuss the challenges you faced and the steps you have taken to meet them, as well as the "high points" of the year: what interested you, what new ideas or topics surprised you, and what you enjoyed the most.
 

The essay should also contain a discussion of your CEL-1 activity/activities including fulfillment of the Race and Power requirement. The essay's main goal is to provide a clear picture of your progress as a student and member of the community during your first year at Hampshire.

Meeting with your advisor

The final step in Division I completion is a meeting with your advisor, during which you discuss your Division I portfolio and your plans for Division II. Progress Review Week is a period that has been set aside for such meetings. Your advisor will be able to pass you officially on TheHUB, after spring course evaluations are posted.