Amherst, Massachusetts – Hampshire College will lay off 199 employees, triggering significant workforce reductions through the end of 2026.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing, the Amherst-based liberal arts college plans to implement the layoffs in phases beginning June 16 and continuing through December 31, 2026.
The filing indicates the cuts will affect a broad portion of the college’s workforce, though specific departments and roles impacted were not immediately detailed. WARN notices are required under federal law when employers plan large-scale layoffs, giving workers advance notice and time to seek new employment or training.
Hampshire College, founded in 1965, has faced ongoing financial pressures in recent years, including enrollment challenges and budget restructuring efforts. The planned layoffs represent one of the largest workforce reductions at the institution in recent history.
The phased approach suggests employees will be separated over several months rather than all at once, potentially allowing some operational continuity during the transition period. College officials have not publicly outlined whether severance packages, job placement assistance, or internal restructuring plans will accompany the layoffs.
The cuts are expected to have ripple effects across Amherst and surrounding Hampshire County, where the college serves as a local employer and economic contributor.
For students, campus workers, and early-career professionals, the layoffs may affect available jobs and campus services in the coming academic cycles.
No additional statements from college leadership were immediately available at the time of reporting.
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