Welcome Wells Alums
Legacy Agreement with Wells College
Following the closure of Wells College in 2024, on June 11, 2025, Wells College and Hobart and William Smith Colleges announced that they had created a legacy agreement.
Announcing the Legacy Agreement
Wells Welcome Weekend
September 18–19, 2026
Wells College graduates and friends were warmly invited to join us September 18–19 at Hobart and William Smith for the dedication of Wells Green and the unveiling of the restored Minerva statue. Weekend festivities included a Friday evening dinner, a WCA update, a Wells Book Arts Studio demonstration, campus tours, a Saturday luncheon and plenty of time to reconnect and reminisce. Click here to view a photo gallery of the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legacy institution?
A legacy institution retains the student, employee and financial records of an institution that has closed. The preferred institution maintains, as agreed, the closed college’s material and cultural history. A legacy institution does not own the closed college’s charter nor does it own its physical campus. A legacy institution is not responsible for the closed institution’s financials. The legacy institution and the closed college remain two separate legal entities and the closed college is eventually legally dissolved. A legacy agreement is not a merger.
Why does Wells have to create a legacy agreement with another college?
Wells College is required by New York State educational guidelines to responsibly wind down its operations and steward its assets in a manner that honors its mission, ensuring that any remaining funds are appropriately allocated to higher education.
What constitutes the legacy agreement between Wells and HWS?
The legacy agreement includes the transfer of historical records, some artwork/artifacts and the endowment from Wells College, which has closed, to Hobart and William Smith. HWS will name the Wells Green at Houghton House, create a library installation honoring Wells’ legacy, adapt the Wells Books Arts Center to the HWS campus, facilitate alumni engagement for graduates of Wells, and intends to welcome Wells-affiliated candidates for service on the HWS Board of Trustees.
What happens to the Wells College endowment?
The Wells College endowment was transferred to Hobart and William Smith. Future fundraising and donor stewardship will reside at HWS.
Will Hobart and William Smith take ownership of the Wells campus in Aurora?
No. The legacy agreement only pertains to the Wells College records, endowment and some historical materials. The campus will be sold by Wells to fulfill Wells’ financial and regulatory obligations related to the closure of the college. The international firm CBRE has been retained by Wells to manage the sale of the campus. For more information, please refer to their website.
Who from the Wells community will be appointed to the HWS Board of Trustees?
Two members of the Wells community were appointed to the Hobart and William Smith Board of Trustees for a four-year term on the Board: Mary Kathryn Pastore Cryan ’84 (parent of two William Smith graduates) and Melanie Jones Parker ’06. Appointed Wells trustees will be eligible for election for subsequent term(s) pursuant to the HWS Board’s policies and Practices.
What is Wells Green?
The north lawn of Houghton House on the HWS arts campus has been named Wells Green. A sycamore tree was also planted on the Green in honor of Wells.
What happened to Manhattanville University as a legacy partner?
Leaders at Wells College determined that deeper connections with Manhattanville University would not be in the best interest of the college’s future. Manhattanville remains a trusted teach-out partner serving numerous former Wells students as well as operating the Wells study abroad program in Florence, Italy.
How can I update my contact information?
Please complete this form.
What is the status of the sale of the Wells campus?
HWS is not involved with the Wells campus sale, please refer to their website for information.
How is the campus at Wells being maintained?
For information on the care of the Wells campus, please refer to their website.
Who do former employees of Wells contact for employment verification?
Effective February 4, 2026, former Wells employees can contact HR@hws.edu. HWS will fulfill such requests.
Who do I contact for copies of my Wells transcripts?
As of February 2, 2026, HWS will be processing transcript requests and verifications of enrollment as the Legacy school for Wells. Transcripts will still be requested through the National Student Clearinghouse. You may request your transcript by clicking here below or by going to studentclearinghouse.org. If you have questions, please contact Clearinghouse Customer Service at (703) 742-4200 or transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org.The Registrar’s Office of Hobart and William Smith can be reached at registrar@hws.edu; 315-781-3651.
I lost my diploma - where can I get a new copy?
As of February 2, 2026 HWS will handle Wells diploma replacements. Contact registrar@hws.edu
Minerva was fully restored at the West Lake Art Conservation Center and is now housed at the Davis Gallery at Houghton House on the arts campus of Hobart and William Smith. For more information, please call (315) 781-3487 or email davisgallery@hws.edu.
What happened to Wells artifacts?
Most Wells-specific archival materials were moved to HWS. They are still in the process of being accessioned.
Where are the archival materials related to Aurora?
For information on the Wells campus and related materials, please refer to their website. You can also reach out to them at communications@wells.edu.
I was a volunteer for my class and would like to continue to do so – who can I talk to about that?
Please take a few moments to fill out our contact update form and then someone will be in touch.
We haven’t had alumnae/i news in years – will we have a newsletter or other communication about our classmates?
HWS’s Alumni and Alumnae Relations team is currently reviewing software that would allow Wells alumnae/i to capture and disseminate news. More to come!
Where can I get contact information for a classmate?
The HWS Alumni Relations team will field requests for contact info about Wells alums by first checking with the person whose info is being sought. Please reach out to alumrelations@hws.edu with such requests.
Where can I get contact information for a former professor?
Former employee records are being managed by the HWS Human Resources department. You can reach out to them at: hr@hws.edu. We typically will not provide contact info but if we have contact information will forward a message on your behalf.
Where can I get information on alums who have passed away?
We are working on a process for posting the names of those who we learn have passed away. This will be an “In Memoriam” link from the Wells alumni homepage.
As part of the Legacy Agreement, Hobart and William Smith has brought the Book Arts program to the HWS campus. In addition, Mary Tasillo has been named the Director of the program.
What will happen to the Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni (WCA)?
The WCA will hold an annual gathering at a time and in a format determined by the Volunteer Committee in coordination with HWS. For more information regarding the new WCA structure please view the recording of the Wells WCA Update from the Wells Welcome Weekend held September 19, 2026.
Operating Guidelines
Will the WCA hold an Annual Meeting or elections for officers?
Over the coming months, WCA alum leaders will be collaborating with HWS to define a new way of operating as part of the HWS community. We have identified, as a priority, a desire to preserve and continue Wells’ legacy. During this period of transition, it is too soon to set plans for an Annual Meeting or elections. Alums will hear more about the WCA and new opportunities for input and connection soon.
Will the WCA become an independent nonprofit?
No. The legacy agreement with HWS enables the WCA to partner with the HWS Office of Advancement to create programming and events that bring Wells alumnae/i together.