Hampshire Needs Your Help

Dear Friends of Hampshire College,

A handful of concerned students, past and present, are addressing this letter to the greater Hampshire community to acknowledge what is clearly a demanding time for our college, and to request your help as Hampshire undergoes major transitions. This is a fresh opportunity to engage each other in creating and supporting the Hampshire College we believe in: a community where unique and innovative higher education is our top priority.

Here are a few ways you can help Hampshire:

1. Volunteer with Admissions. The Hampshire Admissions Associate Program (HAAP) is always inviting alumni volunteers to support the admissions office. You can host an information session at your local high school, visit a college fair, interview prospective students, or attend admissions receptions. Any amount of time you can give would be extremely beneficial. Get involved: http://www.hampshire.edu/admissions/8577.htm

'''2. Mentor a student. '''If you are interested in getting back in touch with current students, you can sign up with the Social Venture Fund &amp; Advisory Network. This is a new program, based out of the Lemelson Center, that supports student projects with potential to create significant and positive social or environmental change. You can contribute by mentoring those working in your areas of expertise, providing connections or resources you have access to, and more. Sign up at http://hcsocialventurefund.wufoo.com/forms/hampshire-social-venture-fund-advisory-network/

3. Connect with the campus. The Experimental Program in Education and Community (EPEC) is a student-run program that allows any community member to offer their own courses, workshops, and other learning activities that would not otherwise be offered at Hampshire. Have your own ideas for EPEC? Find more information at EPEC or contact the student coordinator by emailing epec@hampshire.edu.

4. Provide career opportunities. Even though you’re out in the “real world,” you can stay connected through your work. Do you have a job opening or internship available? Something perhaps for a recent graduate or current student? Help build our network, post on http://www.hampshire.edu/corc/

'''5. Put Hampshire on the cutting edge. '''Want to see Hampshire host an innovative conference on progressive higher education in the 21st century in Spring 2011? This student-initiated prospect is in the early stages and looking for interest and support. We’d like to hear from you, whether you are interested in presenting, planning, or simply attending. Get in touch with the coordinators here: http://hampedconference.wufoo.com/forms/hampshire-college-education-conference/

6. Donate. Don’t have time? Hampshire benefits tremendously from all donations - $5, $10, or even $25,000,000! Any gifts can help provide financial aid for deserving students. Contribute at donate.hampshire.edu

Programs and initiatives like the ones listed above are created and sustained by groups of students, alumni, staff, and faculty working together to support the college we believe in. If you have an idea of how you might be able to help an office, faculty member, staff function, student group, or even an individual student, let us know and we’ll try to help get you connected with the right person.

Please help us by spreading the word to fellow alumni, families, and friends of the college who believe “to know is not enough.”

Dillon Compton, F06 Isaac Bruss, F06 Ananda Valenzuela, F07 Claire Oberholtzer, F07 Sarah Gordon, F09 Deborah Bruss, F74

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Send us all an email at hampshireneedsyourhelp@gmail.com. One of us will get back to you soon.

And join us on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=151006701579948&amp;v=info

P.S. Wondering why we wrote this letter? Visit: http://www.hampshire.edu/news/18727.htm