FAQ's

What is the role of the Hampshire College AAUP Chapter?

The mandate of the Hampshire College chapter of the AAUP is to protect the interests of faculty employees in solidarity with our staff colleagues.

The purposes of this chapter are to:

1. Support the policies and goals of the Association as set forth in Article 1 of the AAUP constitution, and in all matters act in harmony with the principles and procedures of national Association and its constitution;
2. Facilitate the cooperation of teachers and research scholars in universities and colleges, and in professional schools of similar grade, for the promotion of the interests of higher education and research, and in general to increase the usefulness and advance the standards, ideals, and welfare of the profession.
3. Defend academic freedom at Hampshire College and throughout academe;
4. Encourage faculty participation in governance at Hampshire College;
5. Protect and advance the professional status and interests of all faculty;
6. Facilitate the dissemination of information on higher education principles and practices;
7. Inform the academic community about AAUP standards and policy statements; and
8. Develop necessary and proper chapter programs for the accomplishment of the aforementioned purposes.

How will the absence of the Fall 2019 class affect the numbers of faculty and staff?

The administration has declared its commitment to supporting current students until they graduate and to retaining those faculty necessary for this. Yet, without a Fall 2019 class and given that some (perhaps many) students will choose to leave due to the college’s uncertain future, the size of the Hampshire student body will decrease and with it the size of the faculty. Indeed, as each cohort of students graduates, the size of Hampshire’s student body will continue to dwindle, as, presumably, will the staff and faculty. The administration has not provided any projections for the number of employees that will be laid off or a schedule for such layoffs, stating that the exact number will depend on the needs of the remaining students. The estimate is that anywhere between 30% and 50% of faculty members will be laid off in the short term and likely more in subsequent years.We are unclear about the estimate for staff layoffs.

Why are faculty concerned with finding a job if their jobs are secure until July 1, 2019?

In most cases, the hiring cycle for tenure-track faculty positions begins 6-7 months prior to the start date of the position. For example, an opening for a faculty position that begins on July 1 2019 is usually announced in October of the prior year, the top candidates are interviewed on campus in November-January, and positions are offered in February or March. Current faculty will not be able to apply for equivalent positions at other institutions until Fall 2019, and those positions would not begin until Fall 2020. The college staff are in even more precarious situation, having no contractual protection.

How will the cuts in faculty and staff affect the “Hampshire Model” of education?

Hampshire’s highly personalized approach to teaching, in which there are as many programs as there are students, is successful because our faculty and staff draw on fifty years of institutional memory and wisdom to advise students through their four years here. Sudden and substantial employee cuts threaten to disrupt the oral tradition on which the Hampshire model depends.

the current demands of the Hampshire College chapter of the AAUP

• We demand that the administration produce a detailed financial plan of the budget for AY 19/20 starting fiscal year July 1, 2019, for both scenarios (having partner by June 1 and not) with:
  • projections for revenues; layoffs; salary, wage and benefit reductions
  • the relevant, raw detailed data from which these plans are derived.
• We demand financial projections for FY19-20 that were in place prior to the January 15 announcement.
• We demand that the Feb. 1 decision by the Board of Trustees be reversed and that a full Fall 2019 class be invited to Hampshire College to join our community as we remake the College for its next 50 years.
• We demand that the Hampshire College faculty be fully and actively included, along with other stakeholders (alumni, staff, and students), in any conversations with a prospective strategic partner and that all stakeholders be fully and actively included in the final decision on a strategic partner. The lack of transparency that has characterized the College's search for a strategic partner to date is completely inconsistent with Hampshire's mission, it is inconsistent with the mission of any institution of higher education, and it is inappropriate to the stewardship of a non-profit institution in any sector.
• We demand that the vital role Hampshire College plays in Five College educational processes, collaborations, and programs be preserved in any strategic partnership.
• We demand that significant effort be made to retain current students, and support and encourage them to remain at Hampshire through graduation.
• We demand that students accepted for the Fall be encouraged (rather than discouraged) to join the college, with full knowledge that the College is in transition.
• In light of the financial status of Hampshire College, we demand a rethinking of salary equity “at the top” and call for all administrators’ salaries moving forward to have a ceiling of $120,000 effective immediately.
• We demand the continuation of the 10-year reappointment and promotion process, and the continuation of all renewal processes, as outlined in the Faculty Handbook. We demand that all threats and intimidation strategies aimed at coercing faculty to consent to breach of this procedure cease.
• We demand that all existing contracts be honored.

Demands made to date by the Executive Committee of the Faculty, the Crisis Committee, and the Hampshire College chapter of the AAUP

• January 27, ECF to President Nelson: the faculty vote to convene a crisis committee and call for them to have seat at the table, access to relevant data in advance, and voting power at the board meeting. They are charged to protect the most vulnerable; protect all jobs; and repair the process of shared governance.
• January 30, Crisis Committee letter to the Board of Trustees: direct requests for:
  • full access to the materials used in decisions regarding the F19 class and search for future partner
  • assurance that we will be full participants in the deliberation process
  • a delay of the vote on the acceptance of a Fall 2019 first year class until February 15th, 2019 to allow for full review of material and involvement of campus community.
• February 2, Crisis Committee asks that the Board of Trustees publicly articulate their commitment to a participatory decision making process and commitment to core principles
• February 6, AAUP and Crisis Committee independently demand immediate reinstatement of Budget & Priorities Committee.
• February 7, AAUP letter to President Nelson: requests a detailed financial plan by February 15th of the budget for AY 19/20, for two scenarios, having a strategic partner by June 1st, 2019 and not having a strategic partner by June 1st, 2019.
• February 8, ECF letter to President Nelson: asked that by Feb. 15 the administration produce a detailed financial plan of the budget for AY 19/20 starting fiscal year July 1, 2019, for both scenarios (having partner by June 1 and not) with:
  • projections for revenues; layoffs; salary, wage and benefit reductions
  • the relevant, raw detailed data from which these plans are derived.
• February 11, Crisis Committee to President Nelson:
  • Crisis Committee representatives must be involved in all aspects of the consideration and selection of potential partners, effective immediately.
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements should be re-evaluated and dissolved asap.
  • Budgets and Priorities committee needs oversight in how financial information is used moving forward in decision making.
  • and verbal demand to sign the faculty contracts that were approved by College Committee on Faculty Reappointments and Promotions.
• Feb. 14, ECF letter to President Nelson: Cease and desist of staff and faculty layoffs: “the faculty of Hampshire College call for an immediate suspension of all firings and layoffs until detailed financial information (including all raw data) is made available.”