Welcome to the Knowledge Commons
Beginning this coming week, and unfolding over the course of the month, alumni fellows and peer mentors representing an array of academic services will be offering drop-in hours in the Knowledge Commons! The team will be available on Sundays through Thursdays to support your work at Hampshire College in these areas:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Quantitative Skills
- Media
- Research
- Instructional Technology
- Holistic Learning
- Art Gallery Installations
- Transformative Speaking
The Library, Knowledge Commons, Facilities and Grounds, Information Technology, and Communications staffs have been very busy throughout the summer, renovating the first floor of the library for this new hub of student services. The renovation is nearly complete, and with the addition of some more signage, storage furniture and lounge furniture in the next couple of weeks, the space will be fully furnished in time for a grand opening, planned for early October.
Prior to the planned opening in October, academic services will begin next week and will gradually expand over the course of September. The Writing Center will begin its drop-in evening hours on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, . The Writing Center Fellows Andrew, Emma and Cassie will be meeting with students to provide support at any stage of the writing process. Their hours in the Knowledge Commons are Sundays 1:00 – 9:00, Monday – Thursday 6:00 – 10:00 pm. To make an appointment with the fellows, you can email Emma ekb11@hampshire.edu, Andrew AndrewByler00@gmail.com, Cassie cffLO@hampshire.edu or just drop by!
On Monday September 18, the Transformative Speaking Program, Library Research, Quantitative Resource Center, Instructional Technology, Art Gallery, Media, and the Center for Teaching and Learning will begin offering drop-in hours in the Knowledge Commons.Students seeking resources through the Holistic Learning Program will be able to seek coaching by writing to HLP@hampshire.edu.
In the meantime, we hope you will visit our newly renovated space on the first floor of the library that includes:
- a classroom that seats 20 people for Knowledge Commons partner workshops and classes
- 3 private consultation rooms
- 1 group consultation room
- flexible, movable furniture
- lounge seating
- white boards
- computer monitors and a QRC computer station
This new space will support Knowledge Commons (KC) services during KC program hours, and will become available for general, wider student use later in the semester. Our vision is that when our staff is providing services through the Knowledge Commons, the commons will be a hub of resources and help. When the staff are not offering services, we intend to make the space available for students to use for group, collaborative, or independent study.
Questions? Email knowledgecommons@hampshire.edu, visit our website and blog, https://www.hampshire.edu/library/knowledge-commons and come by to see the space. To arrange a tour of the renovated space, please email Library and Knowledge Commons Director Jennifer King at jking@hampshire.edu. You can also see what is scheduled so far on the Knowledge Commons classroom schedule – the programs will be expanding dramatically throughout the semester, and we wanted you to know where can go to begin to get information about what is planned..