Housing Designations

Residential Communities at Hampshire

All residential communities at Hampshire have designations regarding the quietness of their space and the gender identity of the residents; apartments (known as "mods") also have a designation for cleanliness. Additionally, many students choose to live in residential communities based on social identities or common living and learning goals. For the residence halls, these designations are set institutionally and are unlikely to vary from year to year. Designations for the mods are set by the inhabitants and tend to change yearly.

Gender designations

Hampshire College housing has the following options in terms of gender designation.

• Women: For students who identify as women regardless of legal sex.
• All-gender: For any student, no matter how they identify with regard to gender.
• Non-binary: For students who identify outside a gender binary.

The bathrooms on all-gender halls and in all-gender mods are open to students of all genders. The residents of non-binary and women's halls and mods will decide among themselves if their bathrooms will be available for use by guests of other genders. 

Substance-Free Housing

Substance-free environments exist in all the housing areas, including several halls in Merrill and Dakin. A substance-free environment is a hall or mod where all residents and their guests agree to keep their hall or mod free from substances at all times. Substances are defined to include alcohol, cigarettes, and other smoking materials as well as illicit drugs.

While there is an expectation for the entire community to comply with all state, federal, and local regulations regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs, the substance-free housing option offers an additional measure of support for people who choose not to smoke, drink, or use other drugs. Students interested in this option must complete the Substance-Free Housing contract.

Medical Accommodations

Students who are in need of special housing due to medical needs will be accommodated. There are many residences that are wheelchair-accessible, as well as an allergen-reduced mod, and several residential spaces with designations regarding dietary restrictions. Please see the housing accommodations page for more information, and contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) if you have specific questions.

Identity-Based Housing

Identity-based housing is an institutional structure designed to assist members of historically oppressed groups in supporting each other. It helps to create an added level of psychological comfort and safety for those who choose to live in those spaces, often providing the foundation for those students to be able to engage fully in the greater community. Learn more about the unique identity-based housing at Hampshire here.

Intentional Housing Communities

Intentional housing communities are living spaces in which the residents have chosen to come together around a particular area of interest that will contribute to and cultivate the campus's culture of learning. They work together with a faculty or staff advisor to educate themselves and the larger community about their areas of interest. Learn more about Hampshire's special interest housing communities here.