Hampshire Struggles to Stay Afloat - Greg Toppo, Inside Higher Ed

Hampshire College, founded as a 1970s-era experiment in self-directed education, is looking for a partner to help keep it afloat. As part of its process, it is mulling whether to enroll a freshman class this fall. In a letter posted online Tuesday, college president Miriam E. Nelson said she plans to find a “long-term partner that can help us achieve a thriving and sustainable future for Hampshire.” The college, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2020, is supported by a modest $52 million endowment that “has performed well,” Nelson said. But the college has been an “under-endowed institution, really from our very first days.” And while Hampshire can still boast a balanced budget, she said the college, like others of its size, faces “bruising financial and demographic realities” that challenge its continued existence. Seeking a strategic partnership “is the right and responsible thing to do,” Nelson said. “And now is the time to do it.” https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/16/hampshire-college-looks-partner-may-not-enroll-freshmen-fall