Evaluations

Narrative evaluations are at the heart of Hampshire's educational philosophy. Our assessments of student work and progress are detailed, personalized, and qualitative, and paint a far richer picture of the student than a grade-point average. They provide invaluable information about advisees' strengths and weaknesses. Ask to see them, or have a look at your advisee's files on TheHub.

Evaluation Deadlines

Criteria for evaluation are established at the beginning of any learning activity, including courses, independent studies, field studies, teaching assistantships, and other educational activities between instructor and student. Evaluations of internships, field studies, and community service activities written by non-Hampshire supervisors must be submitted to the student's file in central records. Such activities must be approved in advance by the student's Division II or III chair to be included in the student's divisional work. Throughout the semester, there needs to be continuous contact between the student and the instructor or supervisor of these activities. The instructor or supervisor prepares a written final evaluation of the student's work if student requests it and has completed the course requirement.

Courses

Course Summary Evaluations: Faculty indicate whether students will be receiving evaluations, no evaluations, or incompletes by the end of each semester.

  • Fall Term: Summaries are due 10 days after the end of classes.
  • Spring Term: Summaries are due 10 days after the end of classes.

Course evaluations are due according to the following schedule:

  • Fall Term: Course evaluations are due for all students by January 15.
  • Spring Term: Course evaluations are due for all students by June 15.

Incomplete courses:

Faculty are not obligated to negotiate an incomplete. In those cases where a student has requested and the faculty member agrees that an incomplete is appropriate, that information must be recorded no later than the course completion summary deadline for that semester.

To record an incomplete, both student and faculty member will fill out the appropriate form to record the new negotiated deadline by which the student will complete all remaining work for the course. That date will not exceed January 15 for a fall incomplete and June 30 for a spring incomplete.

If the negotiated deadline passes without the faculty member receiving and recording the completed work from the student, the incomplete will be converted to a "No Evaluation." Faculty have one month from the negotiated date to evaluate the work.

Students experiencing exceptional circumstances that could make it difficult to adhere to any part of this policy should immediately be referred to CASA for assistance with accommodating circumstances.

Divisional Evaluations

Division I and II: Evaluations for Division I and II work passed during a fall term are due January 30. Evaluations for Division I and II work passed during a spring term are due June 30.

Division III: Evaluations for Division III work passed at the end of a fall semester are due by the published deadline in mid-January. Evaluations for Division III work passed at the end of a spring term are due by the Monday prior to commencement. No student can formally be awarded the degree unless all Division III evaluations have been posted.