Community-Engaged Learning (CEL-1)

The Community Engaged Learning (CEL-1) requirement in Division I enables first-year students to participate in campus life in meaningful ways that foster the development of skills that allow for healthy communication and collaboration. It includes building an understanding of issues of race and power in order to prepare students to take part in active community-building. Not only are these skills important for becoming part of the Hampshire community, they also prepare students to pursue other out-of-classroom learning activities, which can affect their educational path and enrich their experience at Hampshire.

Community Engaged Learning (CEL-1) must total a minimum of 40 hours. Of these, 10 must focus on race and power and the other 30 can be a combination of community education and activities (e.g. clubs, Learning Collaborative projects and programs, OPRA courses, assisting on Div II and III projects, etc.). The student will document the fulfillment of CEL-1 and reflect on both community education and campus activities.

CEL-1 activities should help with any or all of the following goals:

• Learn about and engage with the campus community
• Further develop skills for working with others, including collaborative and communication skills
• Reflect on their own racial identity and positionality within local and global contexts and its impact on others

Race and Power Requirement

Race and Power is one of five through lines of Hampshire College’s academic program.  It reflects the College’s commitment to anti-racism and is incorporated throughout each divisional level.  At each divisional level, there are multiple ways to satisfy the requirement, including coursework, project-based work, service and field study.  To utilize independent, service and project-based work to satisfy the Race and Power Requirement, students must submit a proposal to the Race and Power Committee for review and approval.  The Race and Power requirement provides students with tools for developing a sustained engagement with historical and contemporary conceptions of race and opportunities to deepen their understanding of processes of racialization in both local and global contexts.

Procedures for Completion of Division I

Portfolio

At the end of the second semester of enrollment, first-year students are responsible for preparing a Division I portfolio that contains representative samples of work, a retrospective essay that reflects on their studies in Division I and their CEL-1. Students meet with their advisor to review and discuss their academic progress and Division I portfolio.

Passing Division I

After completing all the necessary courses as well as fulfilling CEL-1/Race and Power, students prepare to pass Division I at the end of their second semester by: 1) writing a retrospective essay that describes their intellectual development during Division I, and 2) developing a portfolio of selected Division I work. In the retrospective essay, students must reflect on their own racial identity and positionality within local and global contexts.  This reflective writing should be drawn from their coursework, independent and project work and CEL-1, particularly the two Engage Conferences and community education events. This final work is coordinated with and approved by the students’ academic advisor. Students who do not satisfy all Division I requirements on the basis of their first two semesters' work should consult with their advisor to address the need for further study to ensure the satisfactory completion of Division I. Students must complete Division I before filing Division II.

For Transfer Students

When transfer students complete all the Division I course requirements, they should notify Central Records in order to record a Division I pass. Transfer students do not need to write a Division I self-evaluation or submit a Division I portfolio, and they will not receive a Division I evaluation. Transfer students should refer to the transfer policy [2] section.

First-Year Students with AP, IB, or Prior College Work

Students who have completed fewer than 15 semester or 23 quarter credits of college work will be considered first-year entrants and must fulfill all Division I requirements, including CEL-1/Race and Power requirements, within their first two semesters of enrollment to be eligible to use AP, IB or prior college work towards degree requirements.

First-year students who present Advanced Placement program (AP) scores of 4 or 5 or International Baccalaureate (IB) scores of 5, 6, or 7 on Higher Level exams may use these exams in place of up to three electives in Division I, and use those elective courses toward Division II.

College course work recorded for credit on students' high school transcripts may not be used at Hampshire College. College courses not recorded for credit on the high school transcript may be considered for use in Division II with the approval of the committee chairperson. Courses must be full academic courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university, evidenced by a college transcript, and graded C or better.

To complete Division I, students must satisfactorily complete seven academic courses and the Community-Engaged Learning requirement. Of the seven, three may be Five College courses carrying three or more credits graded C or better; one may be a combination of two dance technique courses; and one may be a Special Project. Students also write a retro-spective essay to reflect on the trajectory of their learning experience in Division I.

Note that courses labeled Co-curricular on TheHub such as OPRA courses may not be used to fulfill Division I course requirements, although OPRA courses may be used to fulfill CEL-1 hours.

Students are required to enroll in a Division I seminar. Each of these seminars is linked with an urgent challenge as defined by one of our Learning Collaboratives and contains a substantial exploration of how processes of racialization inform specific disciplines, fields and methodologies.  Exposure to curricular areas including the sciences, culture and human experience, the arts and design, and race and power are built into the transdisciplinary approaches of Division I seminars. Because of this, there are no additional course requirements in the first year other than completing at least six additional elective courses based on student interests.

In addition to the seven courses, students must complete the Community-Engaged Learning requirement (CEL-1). Community Engaged Learning (CEL-1) must total a minimum of 40 hours. Of these, 10 must focus on race and power and the other 30 can be a combination of community education and activities (e.g. clubs, Learning Collaborative projects and programs, OPRA courses, assisting on Div II and III projects, etc.). Students will document fulfillment of the CEL-1 and reflect on their CEL-1 experience in the Division I retrospective essay.

Note for first-year entrants with advanced standing:  college courses and exams taken prior to matriculation may be used towards Division I requirements with certain limitations. Students who think they may be eligible, should carefully read the advanced standing policy [1]and contact CASA with questions.

Note for transfer entrants: the rules for completing Division I are significantly different than those for first year entrants. Students should refer to the Transfer Policy [2] for information and contact CASA with questions.

First-Year Entrants with Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing as described below may be awarded by The Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA) to students who are in good academic standing. This policy applies to students who have completed fewer than 15 semester or 23 quarter credits of college work post high school graduation, and students who have completed college work during high school. The guidelines for academic progress [3] should be carefully reviewed to determine eligibility to use advanced standing. It is important to note that advanced standing may not be used to make up for academic deficiencies. Students’ academic records are reviewed at the end of the first year of enrollment to determine eligibility to apply advanced standing to Division I electives, and are reviewed again in Division II to determine the eligibility to apply advanced standing to Division II.

Students may use a total of eight advanced standing courses and exams combined towards their Hampshire degree with the following restrictions:

Courses must be full academic courses[1] taken at a regionally accredited college or university, evidenced by a college transcript, and graded C or better. Eligible exams include Advanced Placement (AP) exams with scores of 4 or 5 and International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher-Level exams with scores of 5 or higher. The courses described above may be used either for Division I electives, in Division II or a combination of both. The exams described above may only be used for up to three Division I electives in Division I.

Students must fulfill all Division I requirements in their first two semesters, including fulfillment of CEL-1/Race and Power requirements, to be eligible to apply outside college courses and/or AP/IB exams towards Division I requirements. They should consult with their advisor and contact the Division I dean in CASA for approval to use advanced standing in Division I at the end of their first year of enrollment after the evaluations and any Five College grades for all seven courses have been recorded. Final approval from the Division I Dean is required to make advanced standing available for selection in Division I forms on TheHub [4]. Hampshire and Five College courses that are not used to complete Division I requirements may be included in Division II with committee approval.

Students should discuss the possibility of using advanced standing courses with their committees early in Division II. The committee will determine if the courses are appropriate for the student to include. Final approval from a Division II Dean in CASA is required to make advanced standing available for selection in Division II contracts on TheHub [4].

Request for Timeline Adjustment
Students with advanced standing are encouraged to complete the full program of eight semesters along with their entering cohort to benefit fully from Hampshire’s rich academic program. However, students with a semester or more of advanced standing may, with CASA approval and the support of their Division II committee, request a timeline adjustment at the beginning of the anticipated final full semester of Division II.  (For a student on an eight-semester timeline, the final semester of Division II is the 6^th semester of enrollment.)

The request for a timeline adjustment will be considered if the student has maintained good academic standing in addition to fulfilling all Division I requirements in their first two semesters and are on track to fulfill the requirements of Division II early. The student should initiate a conversation with the committee, who must write a letter of support directed to the appropriate dean in CASA. If approved, the student’s timeline will be adjusted by one or, in some cases, two semesters.

[1] Full academic courses carry at least 3 semester credits at a community college; 4 semester credits at a four-year college or university; or 4.0 quarter credits for institutions operating on a quarter- system. Courses must be comparable in academic demands and disciplines to those offered at Hampshire and be graded C or better. Courses carrying less than the above-mentioned number of credits may be taken into consideration for advanced standing in combination with similar courses.

Published Deadlines
Please refer to the academic calendar [6] published by Central Records [7] for the following deadlines in a semester: committee request; Division II filing; and Division II passing.

Establishing a Division II Committee
Division II is a four-semester undertaking, with at least three full semesters completed after filing the Division II contract. The Division II committee consists of at least two Hampshire faculty: a chairperson and a member. A staff member or five college faculty may serve as a third member.  The Division II committee consists of at least two Hampshire faculty: a chairperson and a member. A staff member or five college faculty may serve as a third member. Students complete a Division II committee request form on TheHub by the published deadline. Faculty will then review committee requests during a two-week period, and students will be assigned prospective Division II committee members, one chair and one member. The Division II committee chairperson, who also serves as the student’s academic advisor, has the primary responsibility for monitoring the progress of the concentration, overseeing the final meeting, and writing the student’s final Division II evaluation. During the third semester of enrollment, students participate in a committee request process to identify their committee. After meeting with and getting feedback from potential faculty members, they complete a form on TheHub [8], which includes a statement about the students’ goals and objectives for Division II, and a list of faculty they are interested in working with. The completed form is reviewed by faculty and deans to assign the appropriate committee.

Note: The deadline for most transfer students to submit the committee request is in their first semester of enrollment. Students who enter as first-year submit the request in their third semester of enrollment.

Drafting the Division II Contract
Students draft their Division II contracts on TheHub [9] under the guidance of their newly-formed Division II committees, incorporating suggestions and responding to feedback through communications and meetings. Plans for fulfilling the Community Engagement and Learning (CEL-2) [5],  the Race and Power [5] requirement and the projects requirement [5] should be included in the discussions and documented in the contract.

Filing the Division II Contract
When the contract has been written to the satisfaction of the committee, the student changes the “state” of the document on TheHub to “ready for faculty signatures,” making it available for committee members to electronically sign. After the committee has signed, the student has officially “filed” Division II. The deadline for students to file is at the beginning of their fourth semester of enrollment, though students may file Division II any time after receiving notification of their assigned committee.

Note: The deadline for most transfer students to file Division II is in their second semester of enrollment. The deadline for students who enter as first years is in the beginning of their fourth semester of enrollment.

Contract Revisions
The initial contract may be revised on TheHub [4] at any time during Division II to reflect changes in educational goals or a change in the committee. The contract must be revised before passing to include courses taken in the final semester of Division II and any other relevant changes. For completion at the end of a fall semester the final revision must be dated after October 15; for completion at the end of a spring semester the final revision must be dated after March 1. Any time a student revises, the new draft must be signed by the committee to be “filed” with Central Records. The final revision of the contract should be signed before the final meeting.

Fulfilling the Division II Contract
Prior to passing, students are responsible for fulfilling the commitments detailed in the Division II contract. Evidence of completion will typically include Hampshire course evaluations; evaluations for Hampshire independent study, Special Projects, and teaching assistantships; Five College grades; field study and exchange program transcripts and/or evaluations; fulfillment of the Race and Power and Community Engagement and Learning requirements; research papers and lab work; evaluations for Special Projects such as internships; and performances and artistic work. During Division II, faculty committees provide guidance in the form of critical comments, advice, and ongoing evaluation. Students should meet and communicate regularly with their committees to assess progress. The culmination of a student’s work is compiled in a portfolio that is presented to the committee in advance of the final meeting to review, provide feedback and give instruction for additional work or revision if needed.  The portfolio must include a brief (500-1000 words) reflection on how they engaged with the questions they posted when they entered Division II.  A time for the final meeting is scheduled with the student's Division II committee. Before that date arrives, students should confirm with their committees that all of the materials specified have been received including  CEL-2 documentation on TheHub. The final meeting may occur at the end of the 6^th semester and must occur by the published deadline in the beginning of the 7^th semester of enrollment.

Note: Transfer students pass Division II when their committee determines that the student has satisfied the Division II requirements.

The Final Meeting
When determining whether a student's Division II is ready to be passed, the faculty committee takes into consideration: whether the student has met the goals set out in the contract; the number and type of courses and other educational activities in the portfolio and whether they form a comprehensive body of work; the student’s proficiency with writing and other modes of expression and presentation; and the student’s readiness, in terms of requisite knowledge and skills, to embark on their proposed Division III project.  A discussion of the initial Race and Power questions posed at the beginning of their Division II and the reflective writing at the end of their concentration will be a required part of the Division II pass meeting with their faculty committees.

Although the format and style of the final meeting varies, it is normally an oral examination of the student’s Division II work, which involves a discussion of the central questions addressed in the concentration and the material presented in the portfolio. The committee will determine the student’s readiness to pass Division II.

Passing Division II on TheHub and Faculty Evaluation
Committee members sign the online pass form at or shortly after the final meeting. The pass date recorded in the student’s record will be the date the last committee member signs the pass. The committee chairperson will write a formal evaluation of Division II for the student’s transcript in accordance with evaluation deadlines.

Preparing for Division III
Students are encouraged to include a statement about prospective Division III work as a part of their Division II portfolio. Typically, Division III projects explore in depth a specific aspect of the student's Division II work. Division III work should only be undertaken in a different area of study in cases in which the student has the appropriate background that constitutes suitable preparation for advanced work. Students use the skills, methodologies and techniques necessary for independent study acquired in Division II to pursue their work in Division III.

Accelerated Division II
Division II is considered to be a four-semester undertaking. Under exceptional circumstances, students who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishment in their Division II studies may, with the support of their Division II committee, petition for an accelerated Division II. They must do this in the anticipated final semester of their Division II. Students must be able to demonstrate not only that they will have completed the equivalent of four semesters worth of work in their Division II, but also that their work rises to an exceptional level. They must also demonstrate readiness for Division III [10], including commitments from a Division III [10] committee. Students must complete the application form available at the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA) [11] and secure written support from both Division II committee members. The full application must be submitted to CASA [12] no later than October 1 or March 1 of a student’s anticipated final semester of Division II.

Degrees are voted by faculty and the board of trustees in February and May. Students who complete Division III by the fall completion deadline will be awarded their degrees on the first Friday in February. Students who complete by the spring completion deadline will be awarded their degree on the day of commencement. Please refer to the academic calendar for deadlines. No degree will be awarded until evidence of completion of degree requirements has been received, library books returned, student conduct sanctions fulfilled, and outstanding bills paid. All holds must be cleared by the individual offices responsible before a degree is awarded.Degrees are voted by faculty and the board of trustees in February and May. Students who complete Division III by the fall completion deadline will be awarded their degrees on the first Friday in February. Students who complete by the spring completion deadline will be awarded their degree on the day of commencement. Please refer to the academic calendar for deadlines. No degree will be awarded until evidence of completion of degree requirements has been received, library books returned, student conduct sanctions fulfilled, and outstanding bills paid. All holds must be cleared by the individual offices responsible before a degree is awarded.  

Students Who Do Not Finish Division III by the Completion Deadline

Students who do not complete the Division III project by the spring or fall completion deadline, and both advanced educational activities by the end of the second semester in Division III, are typically expected to take another semester of full enrollment.

In extenuating circumstances, a student may request an extension for completing the Division III project. If a student is granted an extension, the date for submission of all completed work would be the first advising day in the following semester. Students on extension are not considered enrolled at the College and should participate in student loan exit counseling at the Financial Aid Office before going on extension.

In order to be considered eligible for the extension date instead of the typical extra semester of enrollment, the Division III committee would need to certify, no later than the final day of classes, that they had received and reviewed Division III work that constitutes at least 90% of the total expected for that student's independent project. The student must have completed both advanced educational activities. (See policy on Advanced Educational Activities the Division III Guide.)

Students who meet the above requirements to qualify for an extension date will be given the opportunity to be on leave of absence for the next semester, for only one semester, before taking advantage of finishing Division III on extension during the term following the leave. If a student decides to take a leave of absence for the following term, that student will have until January 15 after fall semester or June 15 after spring semester to indicate a change of plans. The status as of January 15 or June 15 is final. If the student has chosen to finish Division III with the extension date, that student is expected to turn in all work by the first advising day of the following semester. If the student has chosen leave of absence, the student will be placed on leave status for the following semester, and expected to turn in all work for completion of the Division III by the first advising day of the term following the one-semester leave. Students who choose to be on leave of absence may not continue on leave for more than one term.

A student who successfully completes all necessary work by the advising day deadline and passes Division III may then request a letter from the Office of Central Records stating that degree requirements have been met. The degree would be voted by faculty and trustees during the following February or May, and the diploma would be made available to the student following the voting of degrees.

If a student is granted an extension and remains in contact with the Division III committee, but does not turn in all necessary work by that date, the student would be placed on leave for the remainder of the semester. The extension fee is not refundable, even if the student does not complete the work by the extension deadline. The student is expected to be fully enrolled and pay full tuition for the following term, in order to complete the Division III. The student would not be permitted to complete degree requirements with a second extension deadline. If such a student fails to complete e-checkin for the next term the student will be withdrawn from the College and need to apply for readmission in a future term.

If a student is granted an extension for completion of Division III, and fails to remain in communication with the Division III faculty, the student would be withdrawn from the College as of the advising day deadline. The extension fee is not refundable, even if the student does not complete the work by the extension deadline. In order to complete degree requirements, the student would need to apply for readmission for a future full semester of enrollment. The student would not be permitted to complete degree requirements with a second extension deadline.

Division III Leave of Absence

All Division III leaves require special approval. Division III students must meet the college requirement of two terms of enrollment in Division III and must plan their personal leave accordingly. Occasionally, a Division III student may plan a personal leave in the middle of two enrolled semesters. Consultation with the Division III counselor in CASA must take place well in advance of College deadlines in order to plan appropriately. Students planning to go on personal leave during Division III must file a leave application.

Contract Filing Process

Students complete a Division III committee request form on TheHub by the published deadline. Faculty will then review committee requests during a two-week period, and students will be assigned prospective Division III committee members with whom they will work to refine their project ideas and draft their contracts. The Division III committee consists of at least two Hampshire faculty: a chairperson and a member. A staff member or five college faculty may serve as a third member. The Division III committee chairperson will serve as the student’s academic advisor.

Because Division III is a two-semester undertaking, the contract must be filed early in the first semester of Division III. Refer to the academic calendar for deadlines. Division III contracts may not be negotiated or filed while a student is on a leave of absence.

A student may file a request for an exception to the Division III filing deadline based on the demonstration of extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control as well as the academic soundness and viability of the student’s plan of study. The appeal is heard by the academic deans. Materials to request an exception are available in the Center for Academic Support and Advising. The Division III dean in CASA can provide further information about the Division III exceptions procedure.

Division III Funding

Students who receive financial aid and have already expended the funds included in their aid package may apply to the financial aid office for additional funds. Students should not expect the College to meet the expenses of costly Division III projects. Several College programs also offer partial funding for Division III. Information about applying for these funds is available on the SPARC webpage. 

Division III Field Study or Exchange

Students may be granted field study or exchange status for the first semester of Division III work. Students must apply for an exchange program through the Global Education Office. Refer to the Exchange, Field Study, Leave, or Withdrawal section. In all cases, the final semester of Division III must be one of full enrollment on campus, not on field study or exchange.

Division III students who pursue field study or participate in an exchange relevant to the independent project should plan to complete all Division II work and file the Division III contract (or, at minimum, participate in the Division III committee request process) by the end of the semester prior to the term of field study or exchange. All plans for field study or exchange must be written into the Division III contract and approved by the student’s Division III committee and the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA). In order to plan appropriately, students need to consult with the Division III dean in CASA well in advance of the enrollment notification deadline, which is in April or November of the semester prior to the term in which the student plans to be away. Two meetings with the Division III dean are required. The first meeting is used for reviewing necessary materials and answering questions about Division III field study or exchange. After the student has secured all necessary signatures, the process is completed during a second meeting with the Division III dean in CASA.

Progress Report

Each student must submit a progress report on TheHub by the published deadline near the end of the first semester of Division III. At this time, the student’s Division III committee assesses in writing whether the student is progressing satisfactorily toward the completion of the contract. The chairperson is responsible for submitting the committee’s assessment of progress on TheHub by the published deadline.

Contract Revisions

Students must complete a contract revision online, approved by the committee, by the published deadline early in the student’s final semester of Division III. This revision is required even if nothing has changed. Central Records prepares student records for graduation from the contract revision.

Passing Division III

The committee  will establish a due date for all completed work to be submitted to them so they can review it prior to the final meeting. All committee members should be present for the final meeting which should be set in advance of the Division III pass deadline. All final presentations, including film screenings, gallery shows, and theater productions, must take place before the Division III pass deadline. If a final meeting does not take place by the pass deadline, students are typically expected to take another semester of full enrollment. The final faculty evaluation is due by the published deadline, typically ten days after the Division III pass deadline. It must address each part of the contract.

In extenuating circumstances, a student may request an extension for completing the Division III project. See the section about students who do not finish Division III by the completion deadline for information on deadlines and fees for extension.

The College
The College will provide adequate faculty supervision for students admitted to Division III in a given year. Students should be aware that the College cannot guarantee that supervision will be available for a student’s first choice of project.

The Faculty
Supervision of a student’s Division III project, and/or acting as chairperson of a student’s Division III committee, is a serious teaching responsibility. Committee members should thoroughly discuss the duties of respective members and the amount of assistance the student can expect from each. Faculty should be sure that deans are informed about their Division III supervisory loads and about the number of Division III committees on which they are serving or acting as evaluators.