Identity-Based Housing
Residence life facilitates the continuation of identity-based housing communities started by students. These residential spaces support members of our community with social identities that have been historically marginalized, and strive to counter systemic oppression. This arises from our commitment to fostering diverse, socially just, and inclusive communities. These are for continuing students, as our new first-year students have a shared living experience their first fall and spring semesters.
Our identity-based housing is available to all Hampshire students through an opt-in process. Students self-select their housing designations for any of the spaces available. In accordance with federal and state law, housing at Hampshire College does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Residence Life is committed to offering identity-based housing.
We recognize that society — through its laws, institutional structures, and customs — has privileged some social groups while systematically disadvantaging and disenfranchising others. Even as we struggle to end these practices, we recognize that day-to-day life for members of these disadvantaged groups can be hurtful and exhausting.
Creating these safer spaces, in collaboration with identity centers on campus, benefits the entire community. We must have the full engagement of all our community members, especially those whose experiences, ideas, and perspectives are different from those of the College's mainstream population. It is through these means that we as a full community are most likely to challenge assumptions, craft new solutions to problems, and perform to our highest ability.
Identity-based mods
Jewish Mod
This mod is designed to support Jewish students wanting to live in an affinity space based around the Jewish faith. This mod is equipped with a prayer room for students to do daily prayer.
Neurodiverse Mod
This is a deeply visionary and futurity-minded mod with the hopes of bringing neurodiverse, neurodivergent, and neuroqueer folks together with intentionality to challenge actively traditional concepts of normal, sane, and acceptable; and to serve as education for the wider Hampshire community in the process.
Students of Color Mod
The Students of Color Mod is in support of students who identify as people of color. This mod values communication, respect, community, self-awareness, and cleanliness, and an overall love for people of color, their bodies, and their experiences. Students here have created a communal identity, with shared food, shared apartment items, and an overall sense of each other and their needs.
Women of Color Mod
The Women of Color Mod is one of the oldest identity-based housing communities on campus. Residents have remarked: “We believe in fostering a supportive body built on foundations of sisterhood and cultural values. As young women of color in a predominately white institution, we find value in our relationship within our ecosystem and our different cultural perspectives. It is one of our objectives to create a safe home for young women to speak, be heard, and have a meaningful presence on this campus. As sisters, we lean on each other throughout the tough times, and we take pride in taking care of each other.”
International Women Mod
This mod is an intentional mod designed to support international women in their college journey. All international women, but particularly international women of color, are encouraged to learn more about this living option.
Trans + Non-Binary Mod
This mod is designed to support transgender and non-binary students.
Queer Mod
The Queer Mod is for people who identify as Queer, however individually defined (usually under the umbrella of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Allies, Asexual, Pansexual - LGBTQQIAAP). It is a comfortable space that can serve as a break from the outside world, and has historically been a place for making art. Its colorful walls full of paintings and artwork attest to its history.
Students of Color Halls
In Merrill and Dakin, there are Students of Color communities for first-year students and continuing students. These living environments exist to counter oppression by means of intentional dialogue, community events, and support services while supporting students in developing healthy and liberatory ways of living on campus. There will be structured opportunities to connect to and learn from continuing students living in our identity-based mods. The resident advisors working with the residents of identity-based hall communities support students with programming and resource referral.
Programming Requirements
Students who accept spaces in identity-based housing communities (mods and the Students of Color Halls) will be required to attend a retreat in the fall and the spring. Additionally, residents of identity-based housing will be encouraged to plan and/or attend approximately one program per month during the academic year.