On February 19 and 20, following an announcement of the first round of a series of layoffs affecting 30-50% of faculty and staff, Hampshire College faculty attempted to hold a vote of no confidence in President Nelson and the board of trustees. Due to a technicality, this vote was declared invalid; a planned rescheduled vote never happened. "Save Hampshire" reported from an anonymous source that a vote of no confidence "would result in trustees pulling their planned gifts and that Hampshire’s bonds might then be pulled for immediate payment, causing the school to close in May and leaving faculty and staff without severance pay". Members of the Board of Trustees have categorically denied such allegations. On March 31 the Chair of the Board of Trustees resigned. On April 5 Miriam Nelson, the Vice Chair of the Board. and six other trustees resigned. Shortly thereafter the Board of Trustees announced the decision to prioritize remaining independent through a capital campaign led by alumnus Ken Burns. Ken Rosenthal was named interim president. The first round of layoffs primarily affected the admissions and fundraising offices, effective April 19, 2019.