FAQ about the 2011 Division I

What is it?
The Division I curriculum is the first step of education at Hampshire. For the past two years, the Educational Policy Committee has worked to improve how Division I functions. This past spring a new Division I system was officially voted in by the faculty and the Board of Trustees.

Why do we need a new Div I?
Over the past six years, since the instatement of the current Division I, problems and issues have become apparent. Student and faculty feedback, as well as documents such as the Wabash Study, point to difficulties in areas such as faculty workload, student engagement and ownership over their work, continuity between Divisions I and II, breadth and depth of distribution, and communication of curriculum requirements between advisors and their advisees.

Will this affect my education?
Not directly. This proposal goes into effect Fall 2011, and will thus only apply to Division I students beginning in F11. Students beginning Div I before F11 will not have their program changed.

What changes does it make, and why?
The new program contains four major changes: a change to the timing for passing Division I, a change in the number of required courses, a change to the distribution requirements, and a revision of the layout and contents of the Div. I portfolio. It should also make the transition between Div. I and Div. II smoother. As a whole, these changes are intended to make Division I more flexible, simpler to understand, and more engaging.

More detail, please?
Part I creates two possible dates to pass Division I, one at the beginning of the fall semester and one at the end. This should eliminate “Div Limbo” and allow more flexibility in the choice of when to pass Div I and file for Div II.

Part II drops the minimum number of required courses from 8 to 7 in Division I, and introduces the Campus-Engaged Learning Activity as a Div I requirement. This will give students greater flexibility in crafting their academic program, and gives other learning activities an official place in your Division I learning experience. This means community service, governance, signing for a group, and more can play a meaningful role in your first year at Hampshire.

Part IIIa instates 4 required distribution areas instead of 5 and separates distribution requirements from the Schools of Thought. This should increase the flexibility of the curriculum for both students and faculty, and create a more cohesive program.

Part IIIb requires that the passing of Division I depend on the approval of the portfolio, which contains evidence of completion of Parts II and IIIa. The portfolio will also need to show a student’s progress/proficiency in four skills: analytical writing and informed research practice, independent work, quantitative reasoning, and multiple cultural perspectives. This should enhance Hampshire’s dedication to the portfolio and emphasize key skills needed in Division II, as well as life after Hampshire. This also gets rid of the Learning Goals as checkboxes on TheHub; students will no longer have to fulfill Learning Goals.

Where can I find the entire document?
Right here: download & hampedia file page