Questions or comments? Contact the dean of students office at deanofstudents@hampshire.edu.
In their final two semesters, students undertake a major independent project with the guidance of a committee. Typically, Division III projects explore a specific aspect of the student’s Division II work in depth. Division III students devote the majority of their time to the independent project.
We expect scholars and artists to move beyond the boundaries of their particular fields of expertise and to participate in the collective activities that help to define and invigorate intellectual and artistic life. In a similar way, students are expected to engage in two Advanced Educational Activities concurrent with their Division III independent project that have the dual goal of broadening the scope of their intellectual endeavor and making their more mature skills and viewpoints available to the College at large.
Division III Requirements
The Advanced Independent Project
Each student designs, implements, and completes a two-semester advanced independent project that encompasses a sophisticated and complex set of questions, concepts, skills, and abilities. The completed project should clearly demonstrate the student’s ability to perform advanced work. The culmination of the Division III advanced independent project—whether a thesis, portfolio, film, exhibit, computer program, performance, or committee-approved combination of these—must be in a form that can be evaluated by the student’s faculty committee. Judgment of the quality and scope of the advanced independent project is the responsibility of a student’s committee.
Division III Advanced Educational Activities
In addition to their Division III projects, students must complete two Advanced Educational Activities approved by their Division III committees, referred to in the following as the primary AEA and the second AEA. Students should consider the following points carefully.
Note:
Students studying away from campus on field study or an exchange program in Division III should carefully plan with their committees how they are going to satisfy their AEAs in keeping with the above definition. They may not use the entirety of their field study as an AEA but may use a component, such as a special project or a course. Students should check the planning guides for study away from campus and discuss them with their faculty. Two courses may not be combined to satisfy one AEA.The work for all AEAs must be completed by the end of the Hampshire advising and progress review period in the student’s final semester. Formal awarding of the degree will be delayed if documentation of completion of one or both AEAs is not received prior to the degree award date. Students may not negotiate an incomplete in the final semester for any AEA. Failure to complete an AEA will result in the student having to complete an advanced-level course at another institution, pre-approved by the Division III chairperson in a revised contract. The student’s graduation date will be delayed until after receipt of a transcript documenting successful completion of the substituted course.
Field Study:
Students studying away from campus on field study or an exchange program in Division III should carefully plan with their committees how they are going to satisfy their AEAs in keeping with the above definitions. They may not use the entire field study as an AEA but may use a component, such a special project or a course. The component used for the Advanced Educational Activity will be registered separately and evaluated or certified as complete by the Division III chair.
If the student is using a special project, they must submit a special project form to Central Records and submit documentation of completion to their Division III chair. Although not required, a site supervisor evaluation may be submitted to Central Records for inclusion in the student’s Hampshire transcript. If the student is using a course, they must submit an official copy of their transcript to both Central Records and their chair.
Teaching Assistantship (TA) Definition:
A student is considered a TA if they are assisting in the planning of and engaging in teaching activities in a course approved by the Division III committee. This course must be a full academic course, or a course equivalent in level of activity and time commitment to a full academic course. Please note that TA responsibilities differ significantly from the duties of a work-study or office/course assistant position, which are more limited in scope. Examples of the responsibilities of a teaching assistant might include: leading discussions, holding office hours for student appointments, and providing feedback on papers or other assignments.
Special Project Definition:
“Special Projects” [1] are robust supervised or mentored learning experiences that students have at or away from Hampshire with organizations (such as schools, labs companies, or nonprofit organizations) or with community groups. They can be internships, practica, or other independent projects that are evaluated by a qualified supervisor at the organization or community group and approved by the student’s advisor. They must engage a student in learning for 180 hours or more. Students must fill out a special project form (obtained from the Central Records office). Declaration of a special project must occur by the add/drop deadline in the student’s final semester.
Students Who Do Not Finish Division III by the Completion Deadline
Students who do not complete the Division III project by the spring or fall completion deadline, and both advanced educational activities by the end of the second semester in Division III, are typically expected to take another semester of full enrollment.
In extenuating circumstances, a student may request an extension for completing the Division III project. If a student is granted an extension, the date for submission of all completed work would be the first advising day in the following semester. Students on extension are not considered enrolled at the College and should participate in student loan exit counseling at the Financial Aid Office before going on extension.
In order to be considered eligible for the extension date instead of the typical extra semester of enrollment, the Division III committee would need to certify, no later than the final day of classes, that they had received and reviewed Division III work that constitutes at least 90% of the total expected for that student's independent project. The student must have completed both advanced educational activities. (See policy on Advanced Educational Activities the Division III Guide.)
Students who meet the above requirements to qualify for an extension date will be given the opportunity to be on leave of absence for the next semester, for only one semester, before taking advantage of finishing Division III on extension during the term following the leave. If a student decides to take a leave of absence for the following term, that student will have until January 15 after fall semester or June 15 after spring semester to indicate a change of plans. The status as of January 15 or June 15 is final. If the student has chosen to finish Division III with the extension date, that student is expected to turn in all work by the first advising day of the following semester. If the student has chosen leave of absence, the student will be placed on leave status for the following semester, and expected to turn in all work for completion of the Division III by the first advising day of the term following the one-semester leave. Students who choose to be on leave of absence may not continue on leave for more than one term.
A student who successfully completes all necessary work by the advising day deadline and passes Division III may then request a letter from the Office of Central Records stating that degree requirements have been met. The degree would be voted by faculty and trustees during the following February or May, and the diploma would be made available to the student following the voting of degrees.
If a student is granted an extension and remains in contact with the Division III committee, but does not turn in all necessary work by that date, the student would be placed on leave for the remainder of the semester. The extension fee is not refundable, even if the student does not complete the work by the extension deadline. The student is expected to be fully enrolled and pay full tuition for the following term, in order to complete the Division III. The student would not be permitted to complete degree requirements with a second extension deadline. If such a student fails to complete e-checkin for the next term the student will be withdrawn from the College and need to apply for readmission in a future term.
If a student is granted an extension for completion of Division III, and fails to remain in communication with the Division III faculty, the student would be withdrawn from the College as of the advising day deadline. The extension fee is not refundable, even if the student does not complete the work by the extension deadline. In order to complete degree requirements, the student would need to apply for readmission for a future full semester of enrollment. The student would not be permitted to complete degree requirements with a second extension deadline.
Division III Leave of Absence
All Division III leaves require special approval. Division III students must meet the college requirement of two terms of enrollment in Division III and must plan their personal leave accordingly. Occasionally, a Division III student may plan a personal leave in the middle of two enrolled semesters. Consultation with the Division III counselor in CASA must take place well in advance of College deadlines in order to plan appropriately. Students planning to go on personal leave during Division III must file a leave application.
Contract Filing Process
Students complete a Division III committee request form on TheHub by the published deadline. Faculty will then review committee requests during a two-week period, and students will be assigned prospective Division III committee members with whom they will work to refine their project ideas and draft their contracts. The Division III committee consists of at least two Hampshire faculty: a chairperson and a member. A staff member or five college faculty may serve as a third member. The Division III committee chairperson will serve as the student’s academic advisor.
Because Division III is a two-semester undertaking, the contract must be filed early in the first semester of Division III. Refer to the academic calendar for deadlines. Division III contracts may not be negotiated or filed while a student is on a leave of absence.
A student may file a request for an exception to the Division III filing deadline based on the demonstration of extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control as well as the academic soundness and viability of the student’s plan of study. The appeal is heard by the academic deans. Materials to request an exception are available in the Center for Academic Support and Advising. The Division III dean in CASA can provide further information about the Division III exceptions procedure.
Division III Funding
Students who receive financial aid and have already expended the funds included in their aid package may apply to the financial aid office for additional funds. Students should not expect the College to meet the expenses of costly Division III projects. Several College programs also offer partial funding for Division III. Information about applying for these funds is available on the SPARC webpage.
Division III Field Study or Exchange
Students may be granted field study or exchange status for the first semester of Division III work. Students must apply for an exchange program through the Global Education Office. Refer to the Exchange, Field Study, Leave, or Withdrawal section. In all cases, the final semester of Division III must be one of full enrollment on campus, not on field study or exchange.
Division III students who pursue field study or participate in an exchange relevant to the independent project should plan to complete all Division II work and file the Division III contract (or, at minimum, participate in the Division III committee request process) by the end of the semester prior to the term of field study or exchange. All plans for field study or exchange must be written into the Division III contract and approved by the student’s Division III committee and the Center for Academic Support and Advising (CASA). In order to plan appropriately, students need to consult with the Division III dean in CASA well in advance of the enrollment notification deadline, which is in April or November of the semester prior to the term in which the student plans to be away. Two meetings with the Division III dean are required. The first meeting is used for reviewing necessary materials and answering questions about Division III field study or exchange. After the student has secured all necessary signatures, the process is completed during a second meeting with the Division III dean in CASA.
Progress Report
Each student must submit a progress report on TheHub by the published deadline near the end of the first semester of Division III. At this time, the student’s Division III committee assesses in writing whether the student is progressing satisfactorily toward the completion of the contract. The chairperson is responsible for submitting the committee’s assessment of progress on TheHub by the published deadline.
Contract Revisions
Students must complete a contract revision online, approved by the committee, by the published deadline early in the student’s final semester of Division III. This revision is required even if nothing has changed. Central Records prepares student records for graduation from the contract revision.
Passing Division III
The committee will establish a due date for all completed work to be submitted to them so they can review it prior to the final meeting. All committee members should be present for the final meeting which should be set in advance of the Division III pass deadline. All final presentations, including film screenings, gallery shows, and theater productions, must take place before the Division III pass deadline. If a final meeting does not take place by the pass deadline, students are typically expected to take another semester of full enrollment. The final faculty evaluation is due by the published deadline, typically ten days after the Division III pass deadline. It must address each part of the contract.
In extenuating circumstances, a student may request an extension for completing the Division III project. See the section about students who do not finish Division III by the completion deadline for information on deadlines and fees for extension.
The College
The College will provide adequate faculty supervision for students admitted to Division III in a given year. Students should be aware that the College cannot guarantee that supervision will be available for a student’s first choice of project.
The Faculty
Supervision of a student’s Division III project, and/or acting as chairperson of a student’s Division III committee, is a serious teaching responsibility. Committee members should thoroughly discuss the duties of respective members and the amount of assistance the student can expect from each. Faculty should be sure that deans are informed about their Division III supervisory loads and about the number of Division III committees on which they are serving or acting as evaluators.