Loss of Hampshire College Resonates Deeply Within Amherst Community

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst issued the following statement on April 15, 2026, in response to the announced closing of Hampshire College.

The closure of Hampshire College at the end of 2026 is a loss that resonates deeply within our community. This loss will be felt across the Town of Amherst, the Pioneer Valley, and higher education at large. 

First, our thoughts are with the students, faculty, staff, and all those connected with the College who must navigate this difficult news and the transitions that lie ahead. Our hearts go out to the students who will lose their community of friends and their academic home; to the hundreds of employees who will lose their livelihoods after serving the College faithfully for so many years; and to the higher education community which is losing a visionary leader, a trailblazer, and an important voice that challenged higher education norms. 

We understand the heartache of this loss and share concerns about what the future holds for Hampshire College. The town has been directly engaged in ongoing conversations with the college to understand how the eventual closure will impact our community, from the well-being of students and employees to the future of the college’s land and facilities. Our commitment is to work collaboratively to support those affected and to ensure we navigate this transition with compassion and foresight for the future of Amherst and the Pioneer Valley. 

Hampshire College’s Impact
Over the past 60 years, Hampshire College has become a vital contributor and valuable partner in our community. It is the third largest employer in the Town of Amherst with a significant number of employees living in Amherst and many others in the surrounding communities of Northampton, Belchertown, Chicopee, Greenfield, South Hadley, Hadley, Easthampton, Holyoke, and Springfield. 

Hampshire College owns nearly 700 acres of land in Amherst and serves as the home to three major cultural institutions – The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and Yiddish Book Center. We are grateful that these independent organizations will remain open and will continue to serve our community. The campus also features two “living buildings,” which are among the first in the world to be built, showcasing the college’s commitment to sustainability and innovative design. Additionally, the Red Barn at Hampshire College is an iconic venue for weddings, meetings, and other events that bring visitors to our town.  

Innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs were drawn to Hampshire College, and many chose to stay in the area to build their lives here. They’ve contributed to the region’s cultural and economic vitality by helping to create many of the beloved businesses, restaurants, and institutions that define and enrich our community today.  

Hampshire College is also a significant user of the town’s infrastructure, being the third-largest consumer of water and sewer services. Its extensive land holdings and campus facilities highlight its integral role in both the social and environmental fabric of our community. The campus is a valuable resource for community members for childcare, tennis, and swimming, as well as the host of numerous programs by the Town’s Recreation Department.  

What Happens Next?
Town staff have been in ongoing conversations with Hampshire College to understand how this decision will impact all aspects of the town and its residents. In the coming weeks, we will gather more information and gain a clearer understanding of the path forward.  

This process will include exploring potential options for the future stewardship of the college’s land and facilities in alignment with the town’s overall needs, goals, and long-term vision. Our hope is that this area can continue to serve and adapt to the evolving needs of our community in meaningful and innovative ways.  

We will share more information with the community throughout this process. 

A Personal Note from Town Manager Paul Bockelman
I attended Hampshire College in its early years. I am devastated about this news, both professionally as the Town Manager in Amherst and personally as an alumnus of this iconic institution. During my time there, I met my life partner and made deep friendships. I came to Hampshire – and to New England – from Cincinnati, Ohio. It changed my life. It changed the way I viewed and engaged with the world and led me to build my life here. 

“Losing Hampshire isn’t just losing another small, liberal arts college. No other college does what Hampshire does.”
– Paul Bockelman, Amherst Town Manager and Hampshire Alum

Losing Hampshire isn’t just losing another small, liberal arts college. No other college does what Hampshire does. It explicitly teaches people to think way outside the box, to ask the questions behind the questions, to study questions in an interdisciplinary way that encourages students to express themselves academically, artistically, and through social action.   

Hampshire has never been for every student. It was for the unusual student who wanted to build their own educational program, who looked to faculty – not to “grade” them (Hampshire has no grades, but detailed written reviews by faculty) – but to engage with them as co-learners. I worry about where those students will go now. The students who aren’t conventional learners, who aren’t seeking approval from authority figures, but who are pursuing an interest or project because they care and are inspired. 

Alums of Hampshire College are easy to spot. They stand out as problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and people who don’t accept the status quo as a given but can both imagine and bring about new ways to do things. Hampshire will be missed… but we can celebrate the bold courage it took to create a new kind of college – a new way of thinking about higher education – and the people – students, faculty, staff, community members – who benefited from the institution and each other and continue to shape and guide our communities. 

Hampshire was forged by the vision of four colleges that, in the 1960s, recognized the need to fundamentally change the way higher education worked. It was willed into existence by donors and leaders from Amherst College who assumed leadership roles doing away with grades and academic departments, centering learning with the student, and encouraging thinking beyond traditional lines. What was once revolutionary at Hampshire has, in many instances, become the norm throughout higher education. Yet, like many other small colleges, Hampshire now faces strong economic headwinds due to declining college-age students and a broader move away from small liberal arts institutions, even those with strong academic missions. 

As we look to the future, we are guided by Hampshire College’s motto, Non Satis Scire (“to know is not enough”), inspiring us to keep pushing boundaries and seeking new ways to serve and strengthen our community. 

For more information about Hampshire College’s closure, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the public are encouraged to visit www.hampshire.edu/closure-information