Chancellor Javier Reyes sent the campus community the email message below regarding Hampshire College on April 14.
 

To the UMass community,

We are saddened to learn of Hampshire College’s closure following the Fall 2026 semester.

Hampshire College has served as a trailblazer in redefining and reinventing a modern liberal arts education. Its reputation and influence have spread far and wide since its founding more than sixty years ago. Today’s news comes at a time when, with demographic and economic changes, the higher education landscape is shifting considerably.

Inspired by the innovations of Hampshire, UMass Amherst remains committed to navigating these challenges with the same spirit of creativity and collaboration that brought the Five College Consortium together.

The university is in the process of launching a website with timelines and next steps for Hampshire students who wish to explore transfer opportunities to UMass Amherst. The university will waive application fees. Additionally, the university has agreed to serve as the custodian of Hampshire’s student records.

I want to acknowledge those most affected by this news: the students, staff, and faculty of Hampshire. They have been an integral part of our extended community; the academic, social, and cultural connections among our campuses have helped define the Five Colleges.

Since welcoming its first class in 1970, Hampshire has played a distinctive role in challenging and expanding traditional models of education. While this closure is a significant loss for our community and for higher education more broadly, Hampshire leaves a legacy of innovation — one that I know our community will continue to draw upon for years to come.

Sincerely,
Javier A. Reyes
Chancellor