In support of Hampshire College. You chose a place that saw you differently. We see you, too.

We know this week has been hard. The news about Hampshire is a loss — not just of a college, but of a community that understood you, celebrated how you learn, and gave you the freedom to become who you are.

That spirit doesn’t have to end.

At Hampshire, you were free to learn differently. At Mitchell, learning differently is what we were built for — and have been, for 75 years.

You chose Hampshire because you needed a college that truly saw you. That college still exists. You belong here.

We Understand the Hampshire Model

Your education at Hampshire was real, rigorous, and deeply yours. Narrative evaluations. Self-designed concentrations. Division work that doesn’t fit neatly into a box. Most colleges don’t know what to do with that. We do — because we’ve been educating students who learn differently since 1951:

• • Narrative evaluations instead of letter grades
  • Interdisciplinary, self-designed concentrations
  • Project-based and experiential learning
  • Coursework that does not align neatly with traditional categories or traditional institutions

Most institutions are not designed to interpret this kind of work. We are.

Our Commitment to You:
We will preserve your work, so you can continue along your path.

We have built a dedicated process to ensure that:

1. 1. Your full academic record is evaluated holistically, not reduced to a one-dimensional transcript
   2. All completed coursework is reviewed for credit equivalency or applied learning credit
   3. You do not lose progress due to differences in institutional models
   4. You can continue in your field of study without starting over

We believe every student should be able to bring their full body of work forward and complete their degree without adding time.

A Different Kind of Transfer Experience

We’re not going to make this harder than it already is. No bureaucratic runaround. No starting over. No losing the work you’ve done. Here’s what your transfer to Mitchell looks like:

• • A dedicated transfer team for Hampshire students
  • Abbreviated application designed specifically for Hampshire students
  • Credit evaluation within 72-hours of acceptance
  • One-on-one academic and financial aid guidance
  • A community that understands different ways of learning

What We Can Promise:

• • No application fee
  • Guaranteed admission for Hampshire students in good academic standing
  • You will not be asked to repeat significant coursework
  • You will not lose credit due to transcript format
  • You will not be forced to abandon your academic focus
  • You do not have to navigate this process alone

When I heard about Hampshire’s closure, my first thought was for the students — especially those who chose Hampshire specifically because of how they learn. Those students deserve a college that doesn’t just accommodate them, but was architecturally designed around them.

Mitchell has been that college since 1951. Our STAIRs program, the Bentsen Learning Center, our coaching model, our faculty — all of it exists because we believe neurodivergent and differently-wired minds aren’t problems to be managed. They’re brilliance waiting for the right environment.

If you’re a Hampshire student reading this, I want you to know: you are exactly who we were built for. Call us. Come visit. Let us show you what 75 years of doing this looks like.

Tracy Y. Espy, Ph.D., President, Mitchell College

How We Translate Your Credits

We do not rely on standard transfer approaches alone. Instead, we use an individualized review process designed specifically for the way students accumulate learning experiences.

Step 1: Holistic Academic Review

We review:

• • Narrative evaluations
  • Course descriptions and syllabi (if available)
  • Independent projects and Division work
  • Level (introductory, intermediate, advanced)
  • Academic rigor
  • Demonstrated competencies

Step 2: Credit Mapping and Validation

Your work is translated into:

• • Equivalent Mitchell courses where alignment exists
  • Major or elective credit where direct matches are not appropriate
  • Prior learning credit for applied, project-based, or independent work

Step 3: Portfolio Option (If Needed)

If your work is not fully captured in traditional documentation, we will evaluate:

• • Projects
  • Research
  • Creative work
  • Reflective summaries

Subject matter experts will review this material to ensure your learning is fully recognized and credited.

Step 4: Personalized Degree Pathway

Within days, you will receive:

• • A clear summary of accepted credits
  • A mapped pathway to degree completion
  • Estimated time to graduation

Your Area of Study

You can continue your field or design your own major. You will not be forced into a predefined box.

Option 2: Individually Designed Major (IDM)

If your studies do not align with a traditional major, you can continue your academic work through an Individually Designed Major.

• • Build on your Hampshire concentration
  • Work with faculty to define your focus
  • Integrate prior coursework directly into your major
  • Complete your degree without losing your academic identity

Log into the Portal for Guided Next Steps