Faculty and staff at Hampshire College expressed frustration and a sense of betrayal following the institution’s announcement in mid-April that it would close by the end of 2026. The decision came unexpectedly to many employees, who had been reassured in recent months that the college was on a path toward financial recovery.

Hampshire, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, had been struggling financially for several years. After narrowly avoiding closure in 2019, the school failed to recruit enough students to stabilize its budget and also missed opportunities to refinance debt and complete a critical land sale. Despite these challenges, administrators continued to convey optimism, holding alumni brainstorming sessions as late as March to discuss the college’s future.

Several faculty members hired in the past few years said they were told by the administration under former president Ed Wingenbach that a teach-out plan would provide 18 months’ notice in case of closure. Assistant professor RL Goldberg, who joined in 2024, said she was assured the college was on an upward trajectory and that shutdown was not a risk. “If I’d had a sense that things were so close to closure, that certainly would have given me pause before uprooting my life,” Goldberg said.

Other faculty, including assistant professor Sarah E. Jenkins, who started in 2023, criticized the college's budgeting approach, suggesting administrators focused too heavily on a best-case scenario rather than preparing for potential financial worst cases.

Hampshire’s financial difficulties extend back further than 2019. In the years leading up to Wingenbach’s tenure, the college’s board and then-president Miriam “Mim” Nelson considered a merger amid declining enrollment and briefly halted admissions, leading to controversy and staff departures. Wingenbach aimed to reverse the trend with a $60 million fundraising campaign and asset leveraging, but the school’s enrollment consistently fell short of targets. As of April 15, 2026, the college had only 667 students enrolled, far below its goal of 1,173, contributing to a $6 million shortfall in tuition and board revenue during the 2024-25 academic year.

Wingenbach left last year to lead the American College of Greece and declined to comment on the closure.

The timing of the closure announcement also drew criticism. Faculty noted that the decision was made after the academic hiring cycle had ended, leaving many without job prospects on campus. Assistant professor Goldberg described the announcement as “pulling the rug out” during the spring term. External spokesperson Terence Burke said the school aimed to make a timely decision before the May 1 enrollment deadline common among institutions and acknowledged the hardship caused by the lack of severance pay. However, Hampshire lacks funds for severance, a situation typical in college closures, according to Larry Ladd, a college finance expert. Employment attorney Michael Aleo called the absence of severance “fundamentally wrong” given the college’s policies but recognized the financial constraints.

Financial records reviewed by faculty show that Hampshire had drawn more than $20 million from its endowment between 2021 and 2024 to cover operating expenses, underscoring the severity of its fiscal problems.

Some faculty members said the true gravity of Hampshire’s financial state only became apparent days before the closure announcement. President Jennifer Chrisler had offered cautiously optimistic updates as recently as last fall, though she acknowledged the difficulties. A January webpage emphatically denied that the college was closing, but by early April, the administration conveyed that multiple rescue strategies had failed and closure was unavoidable.

The college plans to wind down operations by the end of 2026, with a limited number of faculty to be rehired for the fall semester. Students wishing to continue studies may take courses at other institutions within the five-college consortium, which includes Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In response to the announcement, Hampshire faculty and staff have established an emergency relief fund to support affected employees, raising around $90,000 toward a $500,000 goal. Advocates, including the American Association of University Professors and Hampshire Workers for a Just Closure, petitioned consortium schools to provide employment opportunities and automatic student transfers, but have yet to receive a response.

For many in the Hampshire community, the closure brings deep personal loss and uncertainty. Longtime faculty like history professor James Wald are preparing for retirement, while newer hires face a challenging job market amid an unstable higher education landscape. Goldberg described the situation as “crushing” for those unable to secure employment elsewhere.

As the college moves toward closure, faculty and staff continue to call for greater transparency and honesty from higher education institutions confronting similar struggles.