Page 23 - BusinessWest February 6, 2023

Change in the Making
Hampshire College Capital Campaign Aims to Build a Stable Future
BY KAILEY HOULE
[email protected]
“We’re getting more and more creative ways
of connecting students with urgent challenges in ways that I think are really transformative for them.”
Afew years after it almost merged with another institution, President Ed Wingenbach understands that Hampshire Col- lege isn’t out of the woods yet. But he believes the fight to rebuild the college’s brand and attract more students to the school is worth it, because he believes in Hampshire’s unique model.
“People care deeply about Hampshire and didn’t want to see it become sold off to somebody else that surely wouldn’t let Hamp- shire do what Hampshire does,” he said. “We’re getting more and more creative ways of connecting students with urgent challenges in ways that I think are really transformative for them.”
In 2019, Hampshire’s budget was “out of alignment,” Wingen- bach explained, because enrollment was declining after a boom period from 2008 to 2013. The school had bumped up its budget to align with previous enrollment numbers, but soon was facing finan- cial struggles when that enrollment wasn’t maintained.
With a structural deficit, Wingenbach’s predecessor, Miriam Nel- son, decided a merger would be the best answer. During that period of time, she decided not to accept an entering class for the fall of 2019; only 13 new students enrolled that fall. Students staged a 75-day sit-in in her office when the merger plans were announced.
“That created a significant enrollment problem, because that goes for several years,” Wingenbach said. “So we’ve been rebuild- ing the enrollment and have adjusted all of our operating expenses to the point where, as we recover
enrollment, we will eventually
reach financial sustainability.”
President Ed Wingenbach says he is hopeful for the future of Hampshire College.
Hampshire College currently
Hampshire
>>
Continued on page 24
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