Published: 9/23/2019 9:55:45 PM
AMHERST — Hampshire College’s board of trustees voted Friday to admit a spring 2020 class of new and transfer students.
In a letter to campus, college officials said that the move was a return to “business as usual in admissions.” The college’s previous administration gutted the admissions office earlier this year in the midst of a search for a strategic partner. However, the board reversed course in early April, deciding instead that Hampshire should seek to remain independent. Former president Miriam “Mim” Nelson and top board members resigned at that time.
Hampshire’s new president, Ed Wingenbach, announced the board’s Friday vote in a letter to campus on Monday written together with board Chairman Luis Hernandez and Kevin Kelly, the school’s new dean of admissions and financial aid.
“We’re projecting student enrollment will likely remain 700-800 for the next three years, a sustainable size compared with many small colleges nationwide,” the three wrote. “In four years, our goal is to have four full classes again and enrollment of over 1,000.”
This fall, Hampshire welcomed a class of 12 students who had been accepted prior to the announcement of the school’s financial troubles.
Recently, the college has filled positions in its admissions office left vacant after layoffs there this spring. Last month, Hampshire launched its applications for a fall 2020 class.
Prospective students interested in applying for either spring or fall admission can do so using the “Common App” that many other undergraduate institutions of higher education use.
The deadline for spring admissions is Nov. 1 for international first-year and transfer students, and for domestic first-year and transfer students it is Nov. 15. For those looking to apply for admission in the fall, those deadlines are Jan. 15 and Feb. 1, respectively.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.