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. Our Articles of Incorporation, filed February 19th, lists three directors: Emily Macgillivray, Tom Fitz, and Elizabeth Andre. We are in the process of expanding our board.
What type of Organization are you?
We affiliated in Wisconsin as a non-stock corporation named the Northland Corporation for Environmental Liberal Arts. The term “corporation” is required by Wisconsin law to be in our name. Our “Doing Business As” name is “The Northland Collaborative” for Environment and Community. We are a federally-recognized 501c3 with the EIN 33-3588690.
What do you hope to accomplish?
We hope to help bring about the next iteration of Northland as an asset for our community 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.
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. 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.
What is happening to the Northland College campus?
We are not directly involved with any discussions about the campus. The campus is still controlled by the Board of Trustees of the former Northland College. We are hopeful that the campus may eventually be home to a an “ecosystem” of synergistic groups, much as the campus of the former Goddard College is now the Creative Campus at Goddard. If that were to happen, the Northland Collaborative would be interested in renting space there. We know of many other groups that would also be interested in renting space on the campus. If there were an investor willing to purchase the campus, our community could create the structures to manage the campus.
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.
What is your relationship to the Northland College Board of Trustees?
We are not affiliated with the Northland College Board of Trustees.
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?
We will be launching a major fund-raising campaign in the future. If you are interested in discussing details of this campaign, please contact us directly. In the meantime, we can accept donations to help cover ongoing costs.