In the series “Student Voices,” current students write about the reasons they chose Hampshire and how our educational model works from their perspective.
One unique aspect of the Hampshire College experience is that students get to work closely with a faculty committee of their choosing. A student’s four years at Hampshire are separated into three Divisions, and the committee is an essential part of Divisions II and III. During Division II, students design a concentration based on their areas of interest. In Division III, students complete a major independent project. In both of these Divisions, the student’s committee acts as advisors and providers of regular feedback.
A committee consists of two faculty members. Students either ask professors to be on their committee, or they apply to a program (i.e., theatre, film, creative writing, or studio arts) and are assigned professors who specialize in those fields. Your committee is there to advise you throughout the processes of Divisions II and III, helping you stay on track and select classes that are applicable to your work.
During Division III, your committee is also there to give you periodic feedback on your yearlong independent project. I am a current Division III student, and my project is an illustrated novel. My committee members are Deb Gorlin, a creative writing professor, and Bill Brayton, a studio arts professor. My project—like many other Division III projects—involves multiple areas of study, so it is important to get perspectives from both sides.
Having a student-chosen committee has significant benefits over having an assigned advisor. You have more of a say in who you get to work with, and your committee has a lot of knowledge about your area of study, which means they can effectively give you feedback and point you to helpful resources. I am very grateful for the experience of working with my own committee. Throughout this past year, they have been immensely helpful in keeping me on track, giving me thorough feedback, and encouraging me to take risks and be open to change.
If you are looking for a personalized education where you can work closely with faculty, Hampshire College may be the perfect school for you. Having a faculty committee is a very helpful experience, and something I think any student could benefit from.
