Hampshire College, facing financial challenges, weighs whether to enroll a new first-year class

By Nick Anderson January 15 at 4:30 PM

Hampshire College disclosed Tuesday it is considering not enrolling a new first-year class in the fall because the school faces significant financial challenges -- a potentially major disruption to the admission cycle that raises questions about the school’s future.

The liberal arts college in Amherst, Mass., said it "will not close.” With 1,175 students, Hampshire offers interdisciplinary education without majors or course grades. Students work with faculty to develop a thesis project before they graduate.

The college, which will turn 50 years old in 2020, belongs to a well-regarded consortium that allows cross-registration at nearby Amherst, Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. One of Hampshire’s best-known graduates is documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

But Hampshire President Miriam E. Nelson, who took office in July, acknowledged that the college must explore far-reaching changes to stay viable. She said the college is searching for "a long-term partner that can help us achieve a thriving and sustainable future for Hampshire.” That could mean a merger, Nelson said, or some other structure. But she ruled out closure.

The potential hiatus in new enrollment comes about two weeks before admissions decisions are released.

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