FAQ

We have answers to some Frequently Asked Questions:

Who Are you?

We started as a core group of current and former faculty of Northland College who mobilized within a few hours of the Trustees’ announcement of closure of the college. We have been consulting with a wide range of concerned people and have been working to bring diverse groups into the conversation. Our Articles of Incorporation, filed February 19th, lists three directors: Emily Macgillivray, Tom Fitz, and Elizabeth Andre.

Why did you form an official organization?

We want to have an independent entity that can serve as a hub for conversations and planning.

What type of Corporation are you?

We are a non-stock corporation. This is the first step to becoming a 501c3 non-profit. We are doing business as “The Northland Collaborative” for Environment and Community. We have completed the paperwork to file with the IRS as a 501c3 and are awaiting confirmation. In the meantime, we are being fiscally sponsored by Cheq Bay Community Radio, 97.7 FM, The Voice of Chequamegon Bay.

What do you hope to accomplish?

We hope to help guide the transformation of the Northland College in a way that will carry on the important work of addressing complex environmental and social issues. We believe the Northland Spirit is not tied to particular buildings, therefore our planning for the educational legacy of the college will not be dependent on securing the use of any campus buildings or assets. For example, we think it would likely make sense for the next iteration of Northland to be housed in Wheeler Hall, but if we end up not being able to secure that space, the Northland Spirit will continue in a different physical location.

Are you trying to save Northland College?

We recognize that the college, as we knew it, closed at the end of the 2024- 2025 academic year. While there may be some aspects of Northland College that remain, it is too early to know what they might be. Higher Education, as a business model, is struggling, and this is an opportunity to think creatively about what our region, and the world, needs and how to best deliver it.

How are you going to work with the Tribes?

We are in the process of communicating with the tribes about how to move forward. If they have desires and plans for the campus and want to take the lead on discussions, we will play whatever support role they would like. If they would like us to take the lead on certain aspects, we want to involve them to whatever degree they prefer. We recognize that the campus is in their ancestral homeland and on Ceded Territory.

What could happen to the campus now that Northland College is closed?

The campus is large and expensive to maintain. It is probable that no single group will be able to manage the entire campus. It likely makes sense to create an “ecosystem” of synergistic groups, all centered around the mission of addressing complex environmental and social challenges, that each use parts of the campus. The Northland College Trustees would not engage in any discussions around this while the College was still operating. We are hopeful they will be more open now that the College has closed.

How much do college campuses sell for?

Rural college campuses often sell for well below their assessed value, or do not sell at all. For example, the 155-acre Green Mountain College in Pultney, Vermont, was listed for sale at $20M and sold at auction for $4.5M. The 60-acre MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, sold in 18 separate parcels for a sum total of only $1.35M. Benedictine University in Springfield, Illinois closed in 2018 and didn’t secure a buyer for almost 5 years, during which time it sat vacant and was vandalized and looted.

Could the Northland College Board of Trustees give the college to a mission-aligned group?

We are in the process of engaging legal help to understand Wisconsin law relating to the closure of a non-profit and to understand the options at the disposal of the Northland College Trustees. Our initial understanding is that, after settling its debts, any remaining assets or proceeds from sales must be given to a non-profit entity. This would not preclude the Trustees from selling the campus to a for-profit group or individual.

What is your relationship to the Northland College Board of Trustees?

We are not affiliated with the Northland College Board of Trustees. We hope they will engage with us and with other community-led groups that are working to make sure the campus continues to be an asset for our region and continues to serve the mission and values of Northland College.

Is there precedent for colleges considering the will of the community in deciding how to dispense of campus assets?

Marlboro College in Guilford, Vermont formed a group that created criteria for deciding on a buyer. The criteria did not include sale price, but focused instead on continuing Marlboro traditions and bringing valuable new jobs and opportunities to the Marlboro community. The Marlboro board sold the campus for well below its assessed value because they believed in the mission of the buyer.

How can I help?

For now, you can sign up for updates, follow our Facebook page, and consider signing up to volunteer. You can spread the word to people who care about northern Wisconsin, Lake Superior, and the communities that call this region home.

Can I contribute financially?

If you’d like to contribute financially, please contact us directly.