Vision
A Vision for Climate Action at Hampshire
At Hampshire College, our mission is to “foster a lifelong passion for learning, inquiry, and ethical citizenship that inspires students to contribute to knowledge, justice, and positive change in the world and, by doing so, to transform higher education.” The College was founded on an interdisciplinary approach to learning based on the idea that important issues are best examined through a multiplicity of lenses and action-oriented goals. Hampshire’s Vision states, in part: “We believe that graduating learners with the ingenuity, purpose, capacity, and grit to mobilize collaborative innovation and cooperative action is the most valuable contribution a college can make to society. We envision Hampshire alumni continuing to change lives, communities, and the world for the better.”
Climate action at Hampshire directly supports this mission by centering bold, collective action and challenging all members of our community to become leaders for an equitable, sustainable future:
Climate and sustainability education is an integral part of a Hampshire education. Students’ academic and co-curricular experiences must center tangible action, active reflection, and a commitment to helping solve the challenges of climate change.
It is our responsibility as a trailblazing institute of higher education to act decisively to help limit and mitigate the effects of climate change, and to lead the way for others to do the same.
Hampshire’s campus environment should foster a culture of awareness, accountability, and support for pro-social and pro-environmental behavior. It should also align with best practices in sustainable infrastructure.
We must think globally, and act locally. This means using our influence to effect change in our own communities, while being mindful of the impact of our actions on the global stage.
In order to achieve the cultural and institutional shifts required by the CAP, everyone in the Hampshire Community must contribute; climate action must be woven through work across campus, and cannot be held by any one office or person alone. Everyone on campus is a stakeholder, and holds power to advance the CAP in their own work and areas of influence.