background animation video of What's New 2026 story images

What’s New at Hamilton?

3 Minute Read

A new academic year brings plenty to discover on the Hill: new faces and programs, updated spaces, and new ways to learn, connect, and collaborate. Here’s a look at what’s new at Hamilton, along with a few things still to come.

New, Renovated & Future Spaces

View of Innovation Center west entrance — A new home for innovation: Work is nearing completion on the Nye Center for Innovation & Technology, a $50-million cutting-edge facility designed to transform the academic experience on the Hill. Located between Burke Library and Taylor Science Center, the building is expected to open for classes in January. Live Webcam

2026 Convocation in Wellin Hall — The next act for Wellin Hall: The performance space in Schambach Center received a complete flooring replacement this summer, ready for the student performances, concerts, guest artists, and other events that will fill the stage in the year ahead.

Burke Library following 2026 exterior cleaning — A more sustainable Burke Library: The library got an upgrade inside, outside, and underground. A comprehensive energy project converted the building to geothermal energy and added solar power and LED lighting, while exterior cleaning and new main entrance doors refreshed the building above ground.

Athletic fields — A fresh start for Athletics: Several campus venues got upgrades this summer, including a new field turf at Goodfriend Field, resurfaced tennis courts, and new padding and branding at the Loop Road baseball and softball fields.

Glen House deck — An outdoor upgrade at Glen House: Hamilton’s Adirondack retreat received an outdoor upgrade this summer with the replacement of its deck, providing a refreshed space for students and other members of the Hamilton community to gather and enjoy the surroundings.

new walkway along the left side of College Hill. — A safer walk across the Hill: New crosswalk lighting was installed at the Bristol Center, while sidewalks along the top of the Hill on College Hill Road were realigned to create safer pedestrian access.

A Few Newer Faces

New Faculty 2026-27 Group Photo — New Faculty: Hamilton’s 43 new faculty members include six tenure-track professors in Economics, French and Francophone Studies, Government, German/Russian/Italian/ Arabic, History, and Mathematics and Statistics, as well as 30 visiting professors and lecturers, and four teaching fellows. Meet our new professors.

Orientation 2026 opening ceremonies on Steuben Field. — Our Newest Students: Members of the Class of 2030, who arrived in August from as close as Clinton, N.Y., and as far away as Eswatini in Southern Africa, represent 38 states and 23 countries. Learn more about them.

Kristine Fowler

Director of Athletics and Chair of the Physical Education Department

We caught up recently with Kristine Fowler, Hamilton’s new Director of Athletics and Chair of the Physical Education Department, who arrived on the Hill in March. She discussed her priorities as she begins her first full academic year as a Continental.

Jamie Linsin

Director of the Counseling Center

Meet Dr. Jamie Linsin, who brings a wealth of experience in higher education and private practice, and takes a warm, collaborative, and whole-person approach to mental health care and counseling.

Programs & Initiatives

views from Hamilton College, Harvard University, Vanderbilt University, and Duke University

Early Assurance Pathways

New partnerships with top graduate programs are creating clearer pathways from Hamilton to advanced study. Selected students, beginning with those entering in August 2027, will benefit from advising, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with partner institutions before completing their Hamilton education.

First-Year Health Lab

What if your first semester explored health from every angle? A new cohort of 16 first-year students will take five courses together spanning science, history, ethics, writing, and wellness — then connect what they’re learning to real-world questions through an immersive field experience. Learn about the Lab.

Lighthouse Fellows

What does a liberal arts education look like in an AI-embedded world? Seven faculty members from across the curriculum are spending this year examining how Hamilton can use AI thoughtfully and responsibly to enhance teaching and learning while understanding its capabilities, limitations, and impact.

Senior Launch Lab

The career-prep program for seniors is adding a more personalized approach to the job search. In addition to a structured series of workshops on networking, interviewing, and other skills, Career Center staff will identify and reach out to alumni and employers based on each participant’s interests and goals.

Impact Terms

Beginning in January, students will be able to embark on new two-week intensives that are designed to provide deep, experiential learning opportunities beyond what is possible during the standard semester curriculum.

Ways to Connect & Collaborate

HQ introduction video — Hamilton Quad (HQ): The HQ is Hamilton’s new alumni directory and engagement portal, launched this summer. It’s the one place to find classmates, catch up on Hamilton news, see what’s happening on and off the Hill, stay involved, and more. Available on the web and as a mobile app.

HILL Fellowship students - summer 2026 — HILL Fellowship: The Hamilton Impact Learning Lab (HILL) Fellowship is giving Hamilton students the chance to explore leadership not just in the classroom, but in workplaces and communities across the Mohawk Valley. Meet a few of this year’s fellows.

Statue at sunset — Hamilton Grief Support Network: This newer collaborative initiative offers students, faculty, and staff ways to connect and make space for grief through informal group conversations as well as activities and practices that don’t require talking about the experience. Learn about the network.

Stories Told in New Ways

This year’s Wellin Exhibition

Storytelling: Photographers Making Meaning | Works from the Wellin Museum’s Collection explores how photographers use images presented in series, at times juxtaposed with text, to create narratives and communicate a particular message.

Next Event:

Wednesday, October 21
4:30 p.m. | Artists in Conversation: Keisha Scarville

Explore the College Cemetery online

This summer, Special Collections and Archives launched an ArcGIS StoryMap of the Hamilton College Cemetery that features a searchable and filterable map with biographical information on all the residents, among other highlights. Check it out.

screenshot of Hamilton cemetery map highlighting notable figures — Notable figures are highlighted on the interactive map.

screenshot of the Hamilton College Cemetery Search Tool — The map is searchable and filterable.

Posted September 25, 2025

Hamilton College Chapel drone aerial photo

2025-26 Highlights: The Year in Review

Over the past year, Hamilton students, faculty, staff, and alumni came together to think about the future, tackle challenges, and celebrate each other. From a historic NCAA title to research, creative work, and partnerships that reached across the Mohawk Valley and around the world, these stories capture some of the moments that defined the 2025-26 academic year.