Important Update About Hampshire College

Dear Friends,

Today, Hampshire College announced that it will close at the end of the fall 2026 semester. For more than half a century, Hampshire has forged an innovative path in academia, and it is leaving a significant and meaningful legacy.

Like many institutions, Hampshire has been facing considerable financial headwinds for several years. This news is, nonetheless, very painful. In recent weeks, members of the president’s team and I have been working with teams from Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the Five College Consortium to understand the implications of Hampshire’s closure and to offer help where we can. My priority is to provide guidance and support to the Smith community members most affected and to do what we can for our Hampshire neighbors. I will provide updates as we learn more about Hampshire’s planning process going forward and how Smith is assisting those in our community who are impacted.

I invite you to join me in holding members of the Hampshire College community in our thoughts as they work through the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Warmly and with sadness,
Sarah Willie-LeBreton

President