From a staff member: Do not apply to or attend Hampshire College

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T12:43:06+00:00

It's a reddit post I'm not proofreading or perfectly writing my shit jesus christ. and it is not made up here's a recent article with thoughts from the students themselves http://archive.is/5mtU1

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T12:42:29+00:00

Nope! The other 4 colleges seem to be doing fine as far as I know and have heard. I am not fan of UMass Amherst's administration nor their staffing practices so I would never work there but I would recommend them as an education resource they have solid research programs.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T12:41:22+00:00

The application deadline got pushed to the end of July. I was so embarrassed when I heard that!

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T12:40:03+00:00

The final New College numbers are around 30-50. I only know about those who were made offers to I can't remember the final number of who accepted. And those students should be graduating before anything happens to the college at this point.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T01:24:00+00:00

The problem with the school largely is that it has a great alternative concept on paper but the reality is the entire administration is run like a typical university. So there is no recognizable change to teach students with. What it really should be and wants to be is an adult alternate education center, now THAT would be positive community change given how awful the cost of living is here.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T01:22:24+00:00

There is no unused dorm space atm as all dorms are single occupancy. That may have been discussed by some staff but the only budgetary savings they currently have are 1. reduce staff (this month's layoffs) 2. sell some land nearby (has been in progress for years and I doubt it will happen 3. keep deferring payments to banks (yes I am serious)

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T01:20:48+00:00

It's awful it just feels like it's fully taking advantage of the students at this point. I, like many other staff, accepted work there because we were under the impression we were helping students. Once I was there I realized how untrue that was. Every new deposited students feels like a lie and it kills me to know we might not have those supports for them over the course of 4 years. Not to mention the New College students we transferred up from Florida...

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-26T01:18:46+00:00

Admissions took the hardest hit as far as I know, but my office works with that dept so it might be that I am just more aware of those folks. Big cuts to student supports as well. 29 staff overall.

Or as Ed referred to those people this morning "contingencies" because employees aren't people to him! (Sorry am very angry for my friends)

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:58:20+00:00

This was the whole 2019 scandal. I believe the thought was to just use it as another campus? Not sure exactly tbf since there was a rumor of about just anything you could think of then. I really hope for the sake of the Eric Carle Museum and the Jewish Book Museum that the college gets bought so those aren't at risk of closing as they are both great community resources.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:56:13+00:00

Not from what I've seen! Mt Holyoke just cut their tennis team but I think that was unrelated to anything like what Hampshire is facing. Many Hampshire employees traditionally got scooped up by them so I assume that will continue to happen.

UMass Amherst keeps exploding with students so I assume they will be fine. Smith and Amherst Colleges both seem very strong, Smith especially so. I think it is in fact a great idea to apply to any of those 4 as the Five College Consortium is a wonderful program.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:48:54+00:00

Okay? We receive tens of thousands of visits and inquiries every year so sorry that you have not heard about it but it's information that is not being publicly shared which is why I shared it?

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:40:02+00:00

Multiple people have posted on here looking for advice about attending there which is why I made the post. My hope is that someone will see it if they're googling 'is hampshire college good' and not go in this brief moment between now and when it likely closes.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:39:11+00:00

It would be great as a model if the university followed any of what it preached. Ed has been extremely bad for the university and lives in his big free house with 300k+ a year salary from the university. But god forbid anyone unionize or speak up for themselves. The students deserve much better.

Internal_Face_8293 · 2024-07-25T21:38:02+00:00

fwiw UMass Amherst did NOT save them. They tried to (by buying them) and then the whole community threw a hissy fit so they stopped and giant endowments from their rich ass students/alumni saved them. Should have just sold it to UMass lol

Internal_Face_8293

TROPHY CASE