Experimental Program in Education and Community

Thanks for stopping by! We have moved to hampshire.collegiatelink.net. Log in and find us under the organizations tab to get all the up-to-date information about EPEC and submit a form! - CLA

While the rest of Hampshire's academic structure is still considered quite radical by the rest of the world, the folks at EPEC are still determined to push the envelope. Through small, flexible courses designed by students, staff, faculty, and alumni we aim to foster a supportive, inquisitive, and collaborative community of learners. A single individual that seeks to teach others a specific skill can facilitate EPEC courses, or an individual simply seeking to explore a topic with other individuals can serve as facilitator. Topics range from belly dancing to computer programming to philosophical explorations and navigating Hampshire’s divisional process. They can be a semester long or only one workshop. The possibilities are only limited by the creativity and determination of the individuals involved. "'EPEC serves as a forum for encouraging and incorporating means that everyone believes are important to Hampshire but not always present: interactions between new and veteran students, student projects engaged in examining and improving the Hampshire community, student-initiated group work, non-scholarly professional skill development, student projects reaching into the greater community. " EPEC has proven that individualized education does not have to be isolating." '-EPEC Coordinator Manual, September 2001 In addition to providing a platform for community-designed classes, EPEC also provides support for all student facilitators on campus: TA's, Signers, EPEC facilitators, etc. To aid student facilitators, we will be offering bi-weekly EPEC meetings where facilitators can come together and learn strategies, tips, and tricks for sticky facilitating situations. Facilitators can also skim through the online resources provided in the 'Resource' section of this page.

Contact Information

Email: epec@hampshire.edu

= EPEC Announcements = '''Thinking of starting an EPEC this upcoming Jan Term or Spring semester & looking for suggestions for planning it? If you would like to facilitate a course based EPEC, here’s a quick timeline:'''

For Spring Semester

Over winter break: Fill out the form below to submit your EPEC. Think of topics you would like your course to cover and how they would fit in over the course of Spring Semester. This is also a good time to advertise your course. If you are interested in having a course to learn skills you don’t personally know, this is a good time to reach out to others who you could learn from. If you would like more detailed, planned course meetings, this would also be a good time to fill out the list of topics you made earlier and thinking about how to organize class time to cover them.

January 21- May 1: Have your course!

February 3: If you as a facilitator would like credit for teaching a course (as CEL 1, 2, or an Advanced Learning activity), you need to let the coordinator know by this date by emailing epec@hampshire.edu. Your committee must be on board for you to get CEL 2 or Advanced Learning Activity credit.

May 8: This is a good deadline to give CEL 1 credit to participants if you offered it.

Want to facilitate an EPEC? READ THIS!
A step-by-step guide for applying to EPEC:

1.) Think of a topic you're interested in. You don't have to be an expert. You don't even have to know anything about it. (Have you always wanted to learn about gardening by just haven't found the time? What about mediation?) Or you might have a certain skill that everyone keeps on bugging you about. ('Hey! So, I hear you're really good with computers...do you think you could fix this for me?' or 'Wait, you know how to bellydance/snowboard/skateboard/photograph things! That's so cool! Can you teach me?') Just think of something. Dream big. Then make sure that your ideas fall in line with the EPEC risk guidelines: hampedia.org/wiki/EPEC_Risk_Guidelines Also think about any possible funding you might need. (It will come from the Student Activities Fund, so make sure you follow all FundCom guidelines.) 2.) Come to this page. Congrats on reaching this step!

3.) Fill out this application:  This form has been deactivated and can be found on the EPEC page at hampshire.collegiatelink.net. - CLA

4.)Until the EPEC coordinator approves your class, it will be listed as 'Pending'. Usually it will be approved within 1-2 days. If it takes longer than that (it usually will over Jan Term and Summer Break), feel free to e-mail the coordinator at epec@hampshire.edu. We get sidetracked sometimes. If there are any problems with your application (i.e. there are safety concerns that need to be addressed) the coordinator will send you an e-mail identifying the problem, and either telling you what has to be completed in order to have your EPEC approved, or kindly asking you to stop by CLA and chat with us and the Risk Management staff person for a few minutes. '''An Important note on evaluations.... Facilitators, please let the EPEC Coordinator know BY THE END OF ADD/DROP if you would like to receive an evaluation for facilitating your EPEC. The coordinators must schedule at least one visit to your class in order to give you an eval, and they need time to figure all of that out. If you do not notify that EPEC coordinator BY THE END OF ADD/DROP if you would like an eval, they will assume you do not want one. '''

5.) Go forth and facilitate! If you can, take pictures, record what you're doing. We might feature you on the EPEC facebook page! Also, keep an eye out for EPEC events (they will be publicized on the Daily Digest, here, and the EPEC Facebook) where you can meet other facilitators, share what your classes have been working on, ask for advice, and eat delicious food.

6.) EPECs can be proposed at any point during the semester, but any EPEC course must have at least 15 hours of content through the semester.

Want to take an EPEC?
A step-by-step guide for taking an EPEC:

1.) Look at the EPEC course listings. (See: EPEC COURSE LISTINGS)

2.) Find one that looks interesting and fits in your schedule.

3.) Email the facilitator and ask to join the class.

4.) Go to class. Learn stuff.

5.) If you want CEL credit for the class, please let your facilitator know and they will contact the EPEC coordinator, who will arrange CEL credit.

= EPEC Listings =

EPEC Activities from previous Semesters
= EPEC Help =


 * Frequently Asked Questions
 * Facilitating an Activity

= Resources &amp; Documents =


 * EPEC and its goals (in the words of its founder)
 * Facilitation tips and activity ideas
 * file:Things Facilitators Should Know.pdf
 * How to organize meetings effectively
 * Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for the Revolution