Information will be added here as we have it, and is subject to change. Last update: April 13, 2021
Many members of the Hampshire College community have had questions about the COVID-19 vaccine: how to schedule appointments, where to get the vaccine doses, traveling to get the vaccine, and more. Employees will be given flexibility in their work schedule to either report later or leave work early so that they can get the vaccine. Employees needing to leave work early or report later should communicate in advance with their supervisor and reach out to HR if they have any questions.
COVID-19 vaccines are available in Massachusetts in a phased distribution plan designed to protect the most vulnerable, maintain health care system capacity, and address inequities in health care access and COVID-19 burden. Every week more groups are eligible based upon age, medical conditions, or type of job. By April 19, all individuals will be eligible for COVID vaccines in Massachusetts.
We encourage all members of our community to receive any of the vaccines which have been approved and are available in the area in which you reside. For those who are living outside the United States, we encourage you to receive the vaccine available to you. Here’s more information about the COVID-19 vaccines.
There are two types of vaccines: the mRNA (messenger RNA; currently, Pfizer and Moderna), and viral vector vaccines (currently Johnson & Johnson or Jansen). Please visit the links to learn more about the vaccines.
All COVID vaccines met rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality for FDA approval and Emergency Use Authorization after going through the usual phases of testing. The vaccines are also being followed closely for safety and effectiveness as millions of people receive the vaccines. We advise anyone with concerns about their personal health history to consult with a health care provider before receiving a COVID vaccine.
Note: On April 13, 2021 the FDA and CDC put a pause on Johnson and Johnson viral vector vaccine administration in the USA because of 6 cases in 6 million vaccine doses of thrombosis (blood clot) in the brain associated with low platelet count, found in female-assigned people ages 18 to 48 in the two weeks after vaccination.
We advise anyone with concerns about their personal health history to consult with a health care provider before receiving a COVID vaccine.
On April 19, 2021, the state of Massachusetts is expanding eligibility to anyone who is over the age of 16. Using your Hampshire mailing address, all of our students will be eligible for the vaccine on that date. This link provides a wide range of information regarding eligibility, locations and pre-registration for mass vaccine clinics. Students under the age of 18 will need to have parent/guardian consent to receive a COVID vaccine.
In Massachusetts, COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed by the Department of Public Health through large vaccine centers, regional centers run by boards of health, hospital systems, and regional pharmacies. Each state has developed its own plan, so distribution and eligibility varies across the U.S. The following links are helpful to register and find a vaccine appointment for eligible people in Massachusetts:
Yes! While there are a number of clinics and pharmacies within Hampshire County, students may travel outside the area as a same-day trip for needed medical care, including a COVID vaccine. There is no need for special approval.
There are vaccine locations on the PVTA bus route, including local pharmacies and the UMass Amherst Campus Center site. Uber, Lyft, and other cab companies are making trips in the area, though at a lower volume or frequency. Students may apply for HEERF II Emergency funding to cover the cost of this transportation. Please email deanofstudents@hampshire.edu for application to cover the cost of this transportation.
Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a one-dose vaccine.You should try to receive any of the vaccines available to you. (As of April 13, there is a pause of all Johnson and Johnson vaccines as the FDA and CDC examine rare possible side effects of blood clots.) The first dose of these vaccines provides a high level of protection. This will be important to your health and the public health as you prepare to travel away for the summer. As supply expands throughout the country, it should be easier to complete the second doses of each of these vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine second dose will be scheduled three weeks and the Moderna vaccine second dose will be scheduled four weeks after the first dose, but a six weeks gap between doses is acceptable, according to the CDC. It is recommended that the second dose of the same vaccine is received.
No, this will not be a reason to delay departure from campus. Students will need to leave campus by Sunday, May 16, at noon. Students currently living on campus are welcome to apply for transitional and summer housing.
The application for Summer and Temporary Housing is due by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5. Once you complete the application, more information about final placements and movement time frames will be communicated to you from the Housing Office. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact housing@hampshire.edu.
The Department of Public Health has prioritized vaccine distribution to the larger hospital systems, mass vaccination sites, and local boards of health. All indications at this time are that vaccine supply will not be allocated specifically to institutions of higher education. There is a vaccine clinic at UMass Amherst Campus Center which is open to all community members, including Hampshire students, faculty, and staff. Health Services continues to work with the state and regional public health departments to be prepared to provide on-campus vaccines if that becomes possible.
As the supply of vaccines expands throughout the country, there is an increasing likelihood that vaccines will be required for residential students at U.S. colleges. The College will communicate with the community when we finalize our policy for fall. Right now, everyone is strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can. Students should submit documentation to healthservices@hampshire.edu or fax it to 413-559-5583. Health Services will update your immunization record.
This must feel very complicated. You’re not alone in that. If you need help, Health Services is available to answer questions. Each student, however, must make their own appointment and provide their own registration information. Health Services is not able to arrange for blocks or individual appointments for any members of our community.
No, all individuals in the Asymptomatic Testing Program for the semester are required to test weekly, regardless of their vaccine status. Students are additionally required by the state of MA to test in the 72-hour period before they leave campus housing. Hampshire College has scheduled additional testing dates for the last two weeks of the semester to help students comply with this requirement.
All students, staff, faculty, and visitors must wear a face covering at all times while on campus, including outside. Face coverings do not need to be worn in a private room or office when alone with the door closed. Face coverings must cover the mouth and nose. If you cannot wear a face covering due to a health condition, contact the Dean of Students Office to discuss possible accommodations. In no circumstances will anyone be permitted to attend classes or other indoor gatherings in person without some form of face covering. While there is no guarantee of a campus free of COVID-19, we will engage in regular asymptomatic testing this spring. Universal masking, physical distancing, regular cleaning of surfaces, limiting close contacts and gatherings, hand hygiene, symptomatic testing, contact tracing, and isolation/quarantine of exposed individuals are other pieces of the prevention of COVID-19.
The safety of everyone on campus, staff, faculty, and students alike, depends upon a shared commitment to follow the prevention measures the College has put in place. While Hampshire emphasizes personal responsibility and community education and hopes that students will observe these guidelines because they value the safety of our community, behavior or actions that place others at risk are accountable to policies in the Hampshire College Student Handbook and the “Norms for Community Living.”
All community members will sign the Community Care Agreement, committing to abiding by its contents.
We are fortunate to have entered into an agreement with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to provide asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 throughout the semester. All students will be tested for COVID-19 with a RT-PCR test on the first day of arrival on campus.
Due to the pervasiveness of the COVID-19 virus, particularly in the coming winter months, we will expand our testing program in the spring semester. All residential students, commuter students, and student-serving employees will be tested on a weekly basis. To minimize the likelihood of community spread on campus as students return from around the country, all students will be tested upon arrival, and are expected to avoid close contacts until receiving a second negative test result.
January 24: Arrival of early and new international students
January 28: Arrival of new students
January 30 & 31: Arrival of continuing students
February 1: Semester begins
February 8: In-person instruction and activities begin
> Students must remain in phase 1 until they receive two negative test results. As least one of the negative tests should be at least five days after return to campus, or, for off-campus students, after returning to their off-campus housing. This return to phase 1 and testing schedule will also apply to students who travel from Hampshire County and return during the semester.
For all community members who test “positive,” “inconclusive,” or “inadequate sample,” a Hampshire College nurse practitioner, Sara Aierstuck or Dawn Beckman, will call you personally to discuss results and next steps. This call will also come within 24-36 hours after testing. Employees will be instructed to follow up medically with their own personal health care providers and students will follow up with Hampshire Health Services. All who test positive will be given preliminary advice about isolation to protect others from infection. Hampshire nurse practitioners will notify Residential Life on-call professional staff, who will manage the move of any COVID-positive students to isolation housing. Residential Life professional staff will arrange for Dining Services meal delivery and follow-up support.
Hampshire community members who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by a contact tracer. Contact tracers are trained confidential public health investigators, working under specific guidelines of the State of Massachusetts. Hampshire employees and students who test positive will be contacted by the UMass Amherst Contact Tracing Team (UMCTT) to determine any on-campus close contacts in the workplace or residences. Employees and off-campus students may also be contacted by their own local board of health to determine other household or home community close contacts. The UMCTT will notify Hampshire College HR of any employee who tests positive, as well as the length of time they need to be out of work, and they will investigate any other employees who may need to quarantine.
If you test positive for COVID-19, it’s important that you answer the contact tracing calls and fully cooperate with contact tracers to identify others who may be at risk for COVID-19 infection. Contact tracers will interview you to ask questions about where you live, recent travel, your current symptoms, and all close contacts in the two days before the testing date. You’ll be asked for the names of close contacts in places such as your home, workplace, work, dorm, classes, social events, travel, family, gyms or health clubs, salons, or restaurants. Close contact means being within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more, with or without a face covering. Close contacts will then be contacted and interviewed by the UMCTT or MA Contact Tracing Collaborative, but contact tracers will not disclose the name of the person who tests positive.
Students who miss an asymptomatic COVID test may be asked to revert back to Phase 1. The return to Phase 1 and testing schedule also applies to students who travel from Hampshire County and return during the semester.
During Phase 1, students must:
> Students must remain in Phase 1 until they receive two negative test results. If returning from travel outside of Hampshire County, then one of the negative tests should be at least five days after return to campus; or, for off-campus students, after returning to their off-campus housing.
Students who missed Testing Tuesday or who are returning from travel may schedule an asymptomatic test at the UMass Community COVID-19 Testing Site (open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, by appointment), or at another asymptomatic testing location.
Upon the receipt of their second negative test, students may resume Phase 3 activities. This includes attending in-person classes, work study and activities, as well as the regular rules for students in residence halls and mods.
Yes. Every student will be registered in our database. Through our testing app, the college will be able to see that each student has registered and is up-to-date with testing requirements.
Hampshire has contracted with CoVerified, a scheduling and results notification app. Participating in the testing program includes registering with CoVerified. It allows for scheduling of tests and reporting of results. The app can be installed on a smartphone or accessed using a web browser; if installed on a smartphone, the app does not track the location of students.
No. Regular testing of all students is part of reducing the risk of COVID-19 for our entire campus population. The testing will be self-administered and is as easy as showing up once every week and putting a soft swab inside your nose for three seconds on each side.
Hampshire College has spent many months planning a campus environment with testing processes, community care standards, de-populated residential areas, take-out dining, and frequent cleaning to have a residential campus that is as safe as possible at this time.
In the fall, Hampshire created one of the safest campuses in the country, with a positivity rate far below that of the local community. Between August 10 and December 1, we administered 5,571 tests, garnering four positive results, a 0.11% rate of infection. Symptomatic tests performed by Health and Counseling Services totaled 112, with 2 positive results, a rate of 1.8%. Contract tracing showed that none of the positive cases were related; each person contracted COVID-19 separately. Contact tracing and isolation protocols quickly prevented community spread. At the end of the semester, all students were offered a test before leaving campus for winter break.
Everyone needs to make their own decision about what amount of risk is acceptable to them.
From the Broad Institute, our testing service: “When there are large numbers of positive individuals in a tested population, the main mode of test failure that we are concerned with is False Negatives (a negative test result for a person who does in fact have the virus). When the tested population has a low viral prevalence then we become more concerned with False Positives (a positive result in a person who does not have the virus). Since our validation cohorts did not show evidence of any false positives we have a high degree of confidence that false positives are not a significant source of error in our assay. Based on data from recent weeks in large cohorts where the prevalence is expected to be very low, we validate this observance. In one institution with >5000 tests run between mid-May and mid-June, we find only 3 positives. In each of the individuals who tested positive we have reason to believe that they were in fact exposed to the viral material being tested for (therefore in testing terms, we consider them True Positives). This empirical data would suggest that the assay False Positive Rate can be no higher than 1/5000 (or 0.02%) and may in fact be lower. Given the significant implications of False Positives, especially within a campus setting, we plan to routinely repeat testing of some proportion of positive results to further ensure the very high specificity of our test.”
High-touch surfaces and bathrooms in high-traffic areas will be cleaned multiple times daily. This includes the bathrooms and door handles in Merrill and Dakin. Mods remain the responsibility of student residents; spaces will be shared by many fewer students. Classrooms and other common spaces will be outfitted with cleaning kits; users are expected to clean high-touch surfaces before leaving.
Isolation is the separation of someone who is ill with or has tested positive for COVID-19 from people who are not sick. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 typically isolate for at least 10 days from the time they are tested or symptoms first appear, but could be isolated for longer periods of time if symptoms persist.
Quarantine is the separation of someone who has been exposed to a COVID-positive individual from those that are not sick or exposed in case the exposed person becomes sick or tests positive for COVID-19. A typical quarantine period lasts 14 days, and, in most cases, the student remains in their own room.
We recommend students review the Isolation and Quarantine Planning Guide for Students to prepare needed items for isolation or quarantine.
Health and Counseling Services staff will be on campus Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, and 1-4:30 p.m. Professional mental health support and medical/nursing advice will be available 24/7 through on-call services.
Stay out of work, class, and all public spaces, and if you are a student, call Hampshire Health Services at 413.559.5458 Monday–Friday or UMass Triage on weekends at 413.559.5458, option #2. Symptomatic testing is done on campus at Health Services.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms may appear as soon as within two days of exposure and vary in severity from person to person. Students are expected to complete a daily health status check before leaving their room each day.
According to the Broad Institute on Jan 11, 2021: "We've been hearing questions about whether our PCR tests can detect the new COVID variant that has begun to circulate worldwide. The answer is yes.
The genomic characterization of these lineages tells us that none of the defining variants in these strains overlap with the CDC primer/probe targets that the Broad test uses. This means two things: 1. Our test will still return a positive result if someone is infected with one of these strains (that is, our analytical sensitivity is not impacted), and 2. Our test will not indicate which strain an infected person is carrying. Although Broad has an active SARS-CoV2 genomic surveillance program that works with some hospitals and others around the world, to date this has not been connected to our diagnostic testing program."
Students who are required to quarantine because of close contact to a positive Covid case or to isolate because of a positive case may leave campus housing to move to an off campus location as long as they:
Any student who needs hospital-level care while at Hampshire will be sent to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, an affiliate of Mass General Hospital.
Hampshire Health Services staff includes two nurse practitioners with back-up medical coverage through UMass University Health Services (UHS). In the case of staff illness or medical surge, UHS will provide replacement staffing.
People with COVID-19 will need to be isolated for at least 10 days and possibly longer if symptoms linger. Once the infectious period is over, they can resume normal activities as tolerated.
Each student will be provided a digital thermometer this semester to help monitor their daily temperature. Students are expected to provide their own cloth face coverings or masks (they will be available for purchase at the Hampstore for $4). Gloves will be provided for any employee or student worker who has a job that requires disposable gloves as personal protective equipment for their work, but gloves are task-specific protection and should not be used in lieu of hand washing for typical daily activities.
Yes. When a student tests positive for COVID-19, the student, Health Services, and the UMass Contact Tracing Team (who will be working under the MA Dept. of Public Health) will be notified. The UMass Contact Tracing team will provide seven days a week, 12-hour daily coverage, to reach out to anyone who tests positive, learn about close contacts during their infectious period, and then reach out to all close contacts.
Mental health staff will provide support to students in quarantine or isolation and all students through telehealth counseling and phone support. There is also after-hours professional mental health support available to extend mental health support beyond the office hours of Counseling Services.
As we welcome students back to Hampshire’s campus for the spring 2021 semester, we continue to determine ways to keep the campus community as safe as possible. While we are hoping that students minimize their travel, we recognize there may be circumstances that take students away from our campus. We support students' ability to maintain local off-campus employment, shop for essential items not available on campus, access health-related referrals, tend to urgent family matters, and other needs that may arise. While off campus, students must maintain the same safety precautions expected on campus.
Our goal in outlining Hampshire’s travel policy is to be proactive in helping students be successful in their academic pursuits while also doing everything possible to keep themselves and others safe.
As we return to campus, our community will take significant steps to minimize the presence of the coronavirus on campus. To maintain that level of safety, the College is limiting travel by students living on campus to within Hampshire County. If a residential student leaves the County for any reason, they are welcome to return to campus, but must do so while adhering to expectations outlined in the College’s phased reopening plan, beginning with phase 1. Students will continue to progress through the phases until the receipt of their second negative COVID test result; students returning from outside of Hampshire County do not need to take a COVID test before returning to campus, but are expected to follow all restrictions outlined in phase 1.
Students who have returned to phase 1 may participate in campus testing every Tuesday at the Robert Crown Center, but may also wish to take advantage of the UMass Community COVID testing site in order to move through the phases more swiftly. It is important to note that there must be at least five days between the first and second COVID tests.
Students anticipating leaving the County should complete the Campus Travel Form here. This form will be used to alert staff in several support offices (Dean of Students Office, CASA, etc.) in order to facilitate a seamless transition back to campus life.
Students whose academic program requires them to regularly leave Hampshire County (e.g, internships, field work, etc.) should contact the Dean of Students to discuss special arrangements. Students who leave Hampshire County for medical or mental health care and return immediately are exempt from this policy and do not need to complete the Travel Form, but should contact Health and Counseling Services at 413-559-5458 to discuss the possible need for increased testing upon their return to campus.
Any questions regarding travel throughout the semester can be directed to deanofstudents@hampshire.edu.
Effective as of March 16, 2020, and until further notice, no college-sponsored domestic or international travel is permitted, unless specifically authorized by the President.
Due to the pandemic, the popular Valley Transporter is not in service. Other options include:
The Pioneer Valley Transport Authority (PVTA) has reduced the frequency of buses on most Five College routes. Those changes are outlined here. Details can also be found at pvta.com.
While we discourage students living in residence from traveling, we recognize that there are legitimate reasons why students need to leave campus. We support students' ability to maintain off-campus employment, shop for essential items not available on campus, access health-related referrals, tend to urgent family matters, and other needs that may arise. While off campus, students must maintain the same safety precautions expected on campus.
Note: Students must remain in phase 1 until they receive two negative test results. As least one of the negative tests should be at least five days after return to campus, or, for off-campus students, after returning to their off-campus housing. This return to phase 1 and testing schedule will also apply to students who travel from Hampshire County and return during the semester.
Instructional trips within walking distance are enthusiastically encouraged.
Instructional trips requiring driving are generally discouraged and require approval. Personal vehicles cannot be used, and Hampshire College pool vehicles must be operated by a driver fully credentialed by Five College Risk Management.
Trips should be local. Trips should not be taken to locations or facilities that don't require the same or more strict physical distancing and other control measures as Hampshire. Capacity of Hampshire College vehicles is one person per row. Masks must be worn, and windows should be open if weather permits. Participants need to understand that occupants of a shared vehicle, under most circumstances, are considered close contacts in our contact tracing protocol.
Please contact Christoph Cox at ccox@hampshire.edu at least two weeks prior to the requested travel.
New International Students will be permitted to come to campus for spring 2021 or enroll remotely from home. The answers to the following questions below are based on the current Hampshire College and U.S. state and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policies and guidance. Please direct all questions to missintl@hampshire.edu.
For your visa appointment, please refer to the visa letter and related documents that you received with your I-20 for necessary documentation. Students who deferred admission from fall 2020 were all issued new electronic I-20s for the spring semester. Students should bring new a I-20 along with the original they received in the mail, just in case officials ask for it.
Students who deferred their acceptance from fall 2020 to spring 2021 should use the financial guarantee that they completed for fall 2020. The tuition and fees for spring 2021 are the same as they were for fall 2020. Financial aid amounts will also remain the same. Students should print a new financial aid award letter for the spring semester and make sure they produce a recent bank statement that (at a minimum) matches the financial guarantee. The Global Education Office will also send students a letter certifying these amounts as needed.
We encourage you to see if you are able to reschedule your appointment for December or early January. You should not need to pay a new SEVIS or visa fee, but you may need to submit your documents again. Please be in touch with the international student advisors at missintl@hampshire.edu to inform them of the issue. If you are unable to reschedule your appointment, you may need to consider other options.
As of November 12, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced a phased resumption of routine visa services that will occur on a post-by-post basis. Please visit Travel.State.gov for more information. Students should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate for details as to when they may resume visa services.
Note: You should apply for a visa only through the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Do not apply through third party visa services.
Students should try their best to arrive in time for International Student Orientation on January 25, 2021. However, if you are unable to arrive in time because your visa appointment is not until January, you can still arrive late to campus. Students may arrive to campus as late as February 12, the last day to add courses. Please be in touch with the International Student Advisors.
Students should try their best to arrive in time for International Student Orientation on January 25, 2021. However, if you are unable to arrive in time because your visa appointment is not until January, you can still arrive late to campus. Students may arrive to campus as late as February 12th, the last day to add courses. Please be in touch with the International Student Advisors.
Nonimmigrant F-1 students who attend schools adopting a hybrid model (such as Hampshire College) of a mixture of online and in-person classes will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online. It is up to the student to ensure that they are enrolled in at least one in-person course.
Students who have decided to enroll in Hampshire courses fully remotely from home may do so, but they will not be in F-1 visa status. We will defer the start date of the F-1 program until fall 2021 and will issue a new I-20 with the fall 2021 semester start dates later in the spring semester. The new program dates should NOT impact the SEVIS number. Simply use the newest I-20 with the correct dates when you have your visa interview.
We understand that there may be some unforeseeable circumstances that arise between now and the start of classes on February 2 that may necessitate changing your plans and deferring to fall 2021. If this is the case we ask that you let your international student advisors know no later than January 29 so we can change your enrollment status in time before the start of classes.
Yes, if you are participating fully remotely or coming later in the semester, then you participate in International Student Orientation (January 25) remotely. Details about orientation will follow in December.
Please contact the Center for Academic Support and Advising at advising@hampshire.edu for questions about course selection and academics. For questions about new student forms, please contact the Office of New Student Experience at newtohamp@hampshire.edu. If you’re not sure who to contact for other questions, please visit this webpage.
New incoming international students should arrive on Sunday, January 24 to allow for the required COVID-19 testing prior to the start of International Student Orientation on Monday, January 25. Students will NOT be allowed to come to campus prior to January 24 without prior permission and approval by the Housing Operations Office. Students should complete the online international student arrival form by January 15.
International students should refer to the Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of State Travel.State.Gov websites for information on current travel restrictions to the U.S. Some travelers may be prohibited from entering the U.S. or require additional quarantining prior to or upon arrival. Students traveling from the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland may qualify for the National Interest Exception for Certain Travelers.
All students are required to have a Covid-19 RT-PCR test on-campus upon arrival. Most students will need to quarantine in their private rooms until the result of the test is back in 24-36 hours. All students will also be required to have a weekly Covid-19 RT-PCR on-campus throughout the semester. Please visit the HampForward page for up-to-date information about COVID guidelines and regulations as they are subject to change.
Students whose visas have been approved to come to the U.S. may start booking their travel to the U.S. However, before booking any air travel, all students should research the travel restrictions to the U.S. (above) AND confirm sure that the air tickets they purchase are cancellable and/or refundable in the event that students have to change or cancel their plans entirely due to changing circumstances both globally and within the U.S. due to COVID-19.
While international students should try to get their vaccinations in their home country, if students are unable to get some or all of their vaccines they can arrange to get them at Hampshire College Health Services upon arrival. Most international students will need at least a TB test and often other vaccines that are not available in their countries. When completing the Hampshire College Health Forms, students should attach a note about any missing vaccines and Health Services will follow up with them upon arrival.
Spring 2021 billing statements will be available on TheHub by the end of the first week of December. Spring 2021 bills are due January 2.
New international students enrolling remotely from home will be billed Hampshire tuition, transcript, new student orientation, and student activities fees.
For international students who are fully remote, financial aid may need to be adjusted. First year international students can expect to have their Hampshire Grant reduced by about approximately $7,600 to account for room, board, and other fees that they are not being billed for as a remote student. Merit scholarships will not be adjusted. Remote international students are also not eligible for work study. Students who have additional questions about their individual aid packages should email the Financial Aid Office at finaid@hampshire.edu.
International students who are remote for spring 2021 and reside outside the US will not have to pay the Spring 2021 health insurance coverage. For more information about Hampshire College health insurance, please visit the Student Accounts Health insurance webpage.
Yes, if you already deferred once to spring 2021 you still may defer again to fall 2021. The deadline to defer to fall 2021 is Friday, January 29. To defer your admission to fall 2021, please notify Dalton at dlewis@hampshire.edu.
Students who have deferred to the fall 2021 semester will be issued new electronic I-20’s later in Spring 2021. Dates will reflect the start of international student orientation and the start of the fall semester. The new program dates will NOT impact the SEVIS number. Simply use the newest I-20 with the correct dates when you have your visa interview.
If you’ve already deferred from fall 2020 to spring 2021 and now choose to defer to fall 2021, you will be given the same financial aid package that you originally received for fall 2020.
Students may enroll in courses on a part-time, non-degree-seeking basis at regionally-accredited U.S colleges and universities during their deferral period and transfer the credit towards their degree at Hampshire College with certain limitations. Students may transfer a maximum of three regular academic courses graded C or better, so long as each carry at least three college credits or the equivalent for institutions on a quarter-credit system. Courses taken outside of the U.S. may also be considered towards the degree contingent upon Hampshire's evaluation of the courses for transfer upon receipt of the final transcript. Because of financial aid implications, students should not enroll full-time at any other institution during their deferral period.
We will welcome new students to campus on Thursday, January 28, and continuing students on Saturday and Sunday, January 30 and 31. All students moving onto campus will be assigned staggered arrival times, to be communicated in early January. All students and guests will be required to provide and wear their own mask or facial covering for the duration of the move-in process.
Continuing students can apply to arrive 24-48 hours in advance of their scheduled arrival time. New students can arrive up to 24 hours of their scheduled arrival day. Our general guidelines for approval are for students traveling from the west coast or farther, and students with family or circumstantial hardship that will prevent them from arriving on opening day. You can read more and find the application link on our Early Arrival webpage. If you have any questions, please contact the Housing Operations Office at housing@hampshire.edu.
The answer is based on where you are traveling from. Please see the Massachusetts Travel Order for complete details. If your move support is allowed on campus, you are limited to two guests who are allowed on campus for the sole purpose of helping you into your residence. Guests must depart as soon as you have been moved in and must wear masks at all times. There are no exceptions.
The residence halls are open only to Hampshire College students in residence. No off-campus visitors are allowed. Hampshire College students living on campus are allowed to visit other students’ rooms so long as they follow physical distancing guidelines. A maximum of one guest is allowed at a time in a student's room. Given the one guest policy, for example, a mod housing four people, would be able to have four total guests in the mod at one time. Guests need to wear a mask in common areas of a mod or hallway.
Students approved to live off campus may participate in in-person classes and access academic and public spaces on campus. Off-campus students will not be allowed in the residence halls as guests.
The Hampshire College experience is a uniquely residential one. All students are required to live on campus, unless approved by CASA for remote instruction, or granted a residency exemption. Learn more about that process. If you’re looking for an exemption to the residency requirement, you must complete our application. The deadline for this application was in April, however, we are still granting exemptions for students who meet our automatic exemption criteria or for medical accommodations, which can be filed through the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. If you are looking to move off campus, please do not sign a lease until you have been granted a residency exemption by the Residence Life and Housing department.
Isolation is the separation of someone who is ill with or has tested positive for COVID-19 from people who are not sick. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 typically isolate for at least 10 days from the time they are tested or symptoms first appear, but could be isolated for longer periods of time if symptoms persist.
Quarantine is the separation of someone who has been exposed to a COVID-positive individual from those that are not sick or exposed in case the exposed person becomes sick or tests positive for COVID-19. A typical quarantine period lasts 14 days, and, in most cases, the student remains in their own room.
Students with service animals who test positive for COVID-19 will be immediately relocated along with their service animal to designated isolation housing in a different building, typically for 10 days.
Due to COVID-19, residential students who need to quarantine remain in their assigned room with their support animals, typically up to 14 days. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are immediately relocated to designated isolation housing in a different building, typically for 10 days.
Students with ESAs must have an emergency contact on file with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) in order to ensure the safety of the animal should the owner test positive. Students with active COVID-19 may be too sick to care for the animal, and if hospitalization were necessary, there would be nobody to care for the animal. Staff cannot take on that responsibility, nor can staff enter the room of an infected person for three days. If a student cannot identify a hallmate, modmate, friend, or family member as the emergency care-taker for an ESA, the student would need to locate a local boarding facility and have prior arrangements in place for someone to transport the animal to that location.
Spring classes at Hampshire end on Thursday, April 29. Students are allowed to remain in residences until they close at noon on Sunday, May 16. There will be no spring break for the spring 2021 semester. Dining Services on campus will continue to operate as normal until the end of the semester on May 15.
You may request Five College courses on TheHub starting February 1.We will only process requests that are submitted on TheHub (go to the Five College Request Page). In addition, the instructor must email permission to centralrecords@hampshire.edu. Keep in mind that all Five College courses must be taken remotely. Students may not visit the other campuses.
New first year entrants should register for three in addition to their seminar numbered 0101 - 0149. New transfer students should register for four courses primarily at the 200-level unless they are still in your first year of college, in which case 100-level course are appropriate. Transfers do not take a seminar.
A full-time course-load is four academic courses, including Five College courses.
Check “approvals and holds” on TheHub for the time you may begin to register.
This information will be available on TheHub prior to January 11.
The week of January 18.
February 1.
Students should register for courses that interest them, striving for breadth and variety. After discussion with their advisors, students will have the opportunity to add courses from February 2-February 12 and to drop courses from February 2-February 19. In the meantime, if you have questions feel free to email CASA or Central Records; advising@hampshire.edu, centralrecords@hampshire.edu.
February 2.
The last day to add Hampshire and Five College courses is February 12. The last day to drop Hampshire and Five College courses is February 19.
Yes.
Within the first year at Hampshire, students must complete seven academic courses, including two Division I seminars. The other five elective courses may be a combination of faculty-evaluated Hampshire courses and Five-College courses carrying three or more credits and graded C or better. No more than three Five-College courses may be used toward Division I course requirements. Two dance technique courses designated as half courses may fulfill one of the five electives. OPRA, EPEC and other courses labeled co-curricular on TheHub may not be used to fulfill Division I course requirements. Concurrently, students also must complete 40 hours of Campus-Engaged Learning (CEL-1).
Check the “Search for Courses” on your student menu on TheHub. The method of instruction is listed in the course descriptions.
Students living on campus may choose courses that allow entirely remote options. Students who have health concerns about being on campus may opt not to live on campus while taking courses that support entirely remote participation. Given their health concerns, students who opt for an entirely remote semester and choose not to be in residence at Hampshire may not come to campus during the semester. Some Hampshire courses (for example, some performing arts courses, some science courses with labs, and other courses with significant in-person expectations) may not be available to remote learning students. Five College courses will continue to be available to Hampshire students in a remote format; none of the Five Colleges are permitting students from the other campuses to take courses in person. Students choosing a remote semester are not part of the College COVID-19 testing program and will not be charged the Café Card fee, EMT fee, or Health Services fee.
Students who opt for a fully remote spring semester must notify the Center for Academic Support and Advising at advising@hampshire.edu by January 6.Yes. Some Hampshire courses (for example, some performing arts courses, some science courses with labs, and other courses with significant in-person expectations) may not be available to remote learning students. Five College courses will continue to be available to Hampshire students in a remote format; none of the Five Colleges are permitting students from the other campuses to take courses in person.
Five College courses will only be available to Hampshire students in a remote mode. If Five College performing arts courses are able to accommodate remote access, Hampshire students may be able to enroll in them.
This is currently indicated on TheHub. However, this information may continue to change until the beginning of the semester.
Yes. Some faculty are planning to teach in this mode, using a teaching assistant to facilitate the in-person elements.
We expect all academic spaces and facilities to be open for student use this spring, including the Art Barn, the library, computer and media labs, music and dance spaces, and other areas that support learning. There will be some restrictions on how spaces are used and by how many people at any one time. All students will be expected to observe face-covering and social distancing rules.
Most offices are too small to safely accommodate two people. Most faculty will (1) hold office hours remotely, (2) hold office hours outdoors, or (3) hold office hours in larger spaces.
Yes.
Yes, through the online library catalog, but not in person.
January Term
In January, we are holding an intensive 14-day term (January 4–22, 2021) with a small set of courses that will be taught remotely. This will de-densify the teaching schedule and allow flexibility for faculty and students, enabling first-year students to make further progress toward completing Division I, Division II students to add to their portfolios, and Division III students to fulfill Advanced Educational Activities. Jan Term courses are included in the tuition for the academic year.
Spring classes are set to start on Tuesday, February 2, and to run through Thursday, April 29. There will be no extended Spring Break. Commencement is still scheduled for May 15, 2021.
January 28: New Student Move-In
January 29–31: New Student Orientation Programming
January 30: Continuing Students Move-In
February 1: Classes Start
April 29: Classes End
May 15: Commencement
Spring classes at Hampshire end on Thursday, April 29. Students are allowed to remain in residences until they close at noon on Sunday, May 16. There will be no spring break for the spring 2021 semester. Dining Services on campus will continue to operate as normal until the end of the semester on May 15.
OPRA will be hosting several semester long classes including Trail Running and the Outdoor Adventure Sampler as well as several seasonally appropriate weekend outings ranging from snowshoeing and cross country skiing early in the semester to climbing and biking when the weather warms up. Additionally, the climbing wall will continue to be open a few evenings a week.
You can access several recreational programs and services at the Multi-Sport Facility including open hours at the weight room and fitness center, four indoor tennis courts, and an indoor track. The martial arts program will continue hosting semester-long classes as well as a couple drop in clubs every week out of the Robert Crown Center (RCC). Access and open hours to the recreational spaces in the RCC including the playing floor, cardio equipment, pool, and sauna, will be available in the evenings and weekends. The game and lounge area on the 2nd floor of the RCC will be available daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
All athletic competitions have been postponed, in aligning with adjustments the USCAA and our conference (YSCC) have made. Whether conference play is able to happen in spring 2021 or not, we are dedicated to supporting and engaging with our student athletes through fitness and strength classes, socially distant drills and activities, potential group workouts, and general support during their academic year.
A variety of wellness promotion resources and programming will continue this year while being adapted to meet the campus-wide health guidelines due to COVID.
For returning students APPROVED for early arrival, the plan will be in effect beginning January 24, 2021. For all other students, meal plans will be active upon arrival.
The Dining Commons is open starting January 4 with the exception of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on January 18. The intersession hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The other dining venues, Kern Café and Prescott Tavern, will be open on February 8th.
The Café Card has $250 per semester. Any unused café card balances from the fall semester are available as well.
The required 75 block meal plan for all students living in mods ensures all students will have the opportunity to have a full meal nearly every day. This supports community building around shared meals and helps alleviate food insecurity.
Students can use a meal plan or Café Card in the Dining Commons for all meal periods, in the Kern Kafé for breakfast and lunch, and in the Prescott Tavern for dinner and late night food.
Please note: due to safety regulations during COVID-19, all dining operations will offer only take-out food service until further notice.
Kern Kafé
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Dining Commons
Monday–Friday, Breakfast: 7:30–9 a.m.; Lunch: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; Dinner: 5–9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Brunch: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Dinner: 5–8 p.m.
Prescott Tavern
Monday–Friday, 4–10:30 p.m.
No, the college student rule is if a meal plan provides two out of three daily meals, a student would not be ineligible for SNAP. The 75 meals per semester plan provides 25% of a student’s meals, which does not impact eligibility.
Dining Services will continue to offer groceries at the Prescott Tavern between 4 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during pandemic restrictions. Multiple meal swipes can be used to purchase groceries.
The groceries can be paid with Café Card, cash, credit card, or meal swipes.
Absolutely! Dining Services will continue to offer accommodations for all dietary needs. We are happy to discuss your dietary needs. To schedule a meeting, please contact Franny Krushinsky, director of dining services, at fkDC@hampshire.edu.
For 2020–21, all student groups are encouraged to meet and host events virtually through Zoom, Facebook, Google Meet, Discord, or other free online platforms. If you require assistance in setting up virtual accounts for your student group please contact leadership@hampshire.edu.
All student group meetings, virtual or in person, must be registered and approved through HampEngage.
If your student group wishes to meet in person:
All student group rosters on HampEngage need to be updated to ensure proper group member numbers.
All student group HampEngage pages should be as up to date as possible to ensure a virtual presence to campus.
Events are encouraged to happen virtually, in person events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Some student groups, based on the nature of their activities, may not be able to function this semester or may have restrictions based on public health and safety recommendations. Campus Leadership & Activities will be in touch with your group about ways in which you may still be able to meet and work in a different way so you can still connect and create community.
Hampfest will be a virtual event this year hosted through a combination of digital platforms.
We are waiving the once a semester event requirement for student groups this year, however we encourage student groups to reach out to different campus centers and offices to try and collaborate with them on programming and events.
Consistent with our commitment to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of our staff, faculty and students, Hampshire College is continuing to strictly limit visitor access to campus.
All campus facilities are solely for the use of faculty, staff, and currently enrolled residential and commuter students who have completed the most current COVID-19 training, and are in compliance with all requirements (including, but not limited to, complying with face covering, occupancy limit requirements, and participation in the asymptomatic testing program). Remote students are not permitted to use campus facilities.
The campus grounds remain open to the public, unless otherwise announced. Public access is limited to passive recreation in compliance with all state and local regulations and our posted rules. No access to buildings and amenities, or participation in activities, is permitted.
The College recognizes that some visitor access to campus is required to support the academic program and campus business operations. All activities that involve bringing visitors into campus facilities must be approved by the Division Head prior to the visitor coming to campus. Division head decisions should follow the “Other Campus Guests” criteria outlined below. Visits will only be approved if the activity is both time-sensitive and cannot be completed remotely.
Remote students are not eligible for visitor permissions. Students, faculty, and staff may not request that visitors be given access to buildings or amenities for reasons that are not business or academic. No visitors are permitted in student housing.
With the exception of deliveries that do not involve entering any buildings (Instacart, pizza delivery, etc.), all vendors and contractors (existing or new) must register with our environmental health and safety manager before their next visit to campus for a review of their health and safety protocols (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 safety policies). Please connect these vendors with Steve Fratoni (rfratoni@hampshire.edu), and copy Sarah Steely (slsNS@hampshire.edu) for vendors specific to Cole Science operations.
Contractors and vendors who demonstrate non-compliance with COVID-19 safety policies will not be allowed to continue to access our campus.
Services such as Instacart and restaurant deliveries should be done as contactless drop-offs whenever possible, and physically distanced when not possible. Under no circumstances may employees of these services enter our buildings; if you require assistance to bring in these deliveries, please contact OARS to discuss accommodations. The College continues to encourage contactless deliveries as an alternative to in-person shopping whenever possible.
The College recognizes that departments may need to, on a limited basis, welcome individuals onto campus for time-sensitive work that requires an on-campus presence. These visits must meet the following criteria:
All activities not meeting these criteria should be conducted remotely or postponed. If an in-person visit is necessary, guests must:
These requests should be directed to division heads for consideration on a case-by-case basis. Division heads have full and sole discretion to approve or decline visitors, though they may contact the CRT or other stakeholders to discuss visitor logistics (including, but not limited to, participation in the asymptomatic testing program).
Requests for campus access by visitors or groups not falling clearly into the above categories should be directed to the Covid Response Team (CRT) via Elizabeth Craun (ecPP@hampshire.edu). Some examples of approved activities include CSA pick-your-own field opening, rental of the RCC pool, and several outdoor only service projects by alumni groups. Please provide at least 2 weeks lead time on requests. The CRT may approve activities as proposed, deny activities altogether, or approve activities with additional restrictions.