Hampshire College sought partnership with UMass Amherst before announcement of financial struggles
Updated Feb 24, 2019 ; Posted Feb 23, 2019
Hampshire College alumni, students and parents gather to protest pending layoffs
Gallery: Hampshire College alumni, students and parents gather to protest pending layoffs
By Dan Glaun | dglaun@masslive.com
Five days before Hampshire College President Miriam Nelson announced that financial difficulties had placed the future of her institution in question, she believed that the school was nearing a partnership agreement with the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
"Once Hampshire College is public about our intent, this will allow public engagement with multiple stakeholders," Nelson wrote in a January 10 email to UMass and Hampshire public relations officials obtained by New England Public Radio. "We (Hampshire and UMass) would then move to signing a non-binding [letter of intent] in the not too distant future."
But UMass balked at the proposal and talks between the school have stalled, reported NEPR in a story based on emails between school officials obtained in a public records request. The discussions date back to November, according to NEPR.
Both UMass Amherst and Hampshire College confirmed to MassLive that a partnership was discussed and that Hampshire is now searching for other partners.
UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski confirmed that UMass declined to sign an agreement because of the preliminary and uncertain terms of the deal. But he also said that UMass had not ruled out working with Hampshire in the future.
"If the time and the place comes where they want to engage with us again with some ideas, we're happy to do that," he told NEPR. "But it's not the time and the place right now."
In a letter to campus, Nelson wrote that Hampshire's efforts to identify new possible partners has been "fruitful." The college is also exploring whether Hampshire could remain independent through "transformative financial support" from alumni and donors, Nelson wrote.
"UMass is one of the four institutions that founded Hampshire, we've had a strong partnership for a half-century, including a mutual interest in the wellbeing of our community and region," Nelson wrote. "We're grateful to UMass for their genuine interest in supporting Hampshire through this difficult time, and we very much value the long-term collaboration we've had together since Hampshire's founding."
On Jan. 15, Nelson announced that Hampshire would be seeking a "long-term partner" to stave off coming financial challenges that could threaten the school's future. The announcement came following years of revenue and enrollment declines among small liberal arts colleges that have forced some to close, including Newbury College and Mount Ida college in Massachusetts.
"There are bruising financial and demographic realities in play, and we're not immune to them," Nelson wrote in a letter to the campus community.
Since then, Hampshire has announced staff layoffs and cut the size of its incoming freshman class to 77 students who had applied early decision or previously been accepted and deferred admission.
The school's approach, which Nelson said was designed to give advance warning to the community and promote transparency, has been criticized by an alumni group seeking to preserve Hampshire's independence. William Goldman, an alumnus, described the situation as a "manufactured crisis" and that the cutbacks would make a merger inevitable.
Hampshire College says remaining independent still an option, but affirms need for cutbacks on eve of first layoffs
An update from college president Miriam Nelson Monday followed a weekend meeting with the Board of Trustees that included discussion of several "strategic approaches" for the school's future.
Nelson told NEPR that Hampshire is facing an "existential threat" and hopes to announce possible partner within the next two months.
During the January announcement, Nelson said that while another academic institution would be a natural fit, Hampshire is open to partnering with other types of organizations as well. And she said that the form of the partnership had not been decided, and could range from a full merger to other arrangements.