[Ashland, WI, March 11, 2024] – The Northland College Board of Trustees has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to raise $12 million by April 3, 2024 to save the nation’s first environmentally-focused liberal arts institution and support its evolution. If the funding goals are not met, the College will be forced to begin the closure process at the end of this academic year.
A recent, comprehensive review by the Board confirmed the College does not have sufficient resources or the financial stability to continue current programs and operations beyond this academic year. Ted Bristol, Chair of the Northland College Board of Trustees, emphasized the gravity of the situation and the need for collaborative action. “Northland College has reached a critical crossroad. We believe we can reinvent Northland, carrying forward our legacy and advancing our mission in a meaningful way. But that will only be possible with the funding in place,” said Bristol.
To survive, Northland must adapt.
The process involves close collaboration with the Northland community to explore various options, which may include refining the College’s focus.
“Our goal is to continue our focus and mission, but doing so will require us to evolve,” said Chad Dayton, Northland College President. “Northland will not be able to continue as it is today.”
Funds raised will be used to support a transition year (the 2024–2025 academic year) and the exploration and creation of a new Northland model. The current academic year will continue as planned. The College is committed to providing regular updates and having the resources available to take care of its campus community.
The announcement comes at a time when many small liberal arts colleges across the country face similar financial challenges due to declining enrollment, growing costs of higher education, and decreased financial support. Many colleges have been forced to make very difficult decisions that range from dramatic cuts in staffing and programs to outright closure.
“Northland College has evolved many times in the last 132 years,” said Dayton. “Every decision we’ve made to date has been made with the goal of ensuring the Northland experience for as many students as possible for as long as possible— and that continues today.”
Northland College acknowledges the unwavering support of its community and remains optimistic about the future. The College will continue to prioritize transparency, engagement, and collaboration as it works towards a sustainable and vibrant future.
To learn more and support Northland’s fundraising efforts, visit northland.edu.
About Northland College
Northland College is a private environmental liberal arts college located just blocks away from Lake Superior in Ashland, Wisconsin. Founded in 1892, the College adopted a bold new mission and made history in 1974 as the first college in the country to fully integrate an environmental focus with its liberal arts curriculum. Today, Northland College is a powerful and intimate learning community of about five-hundred students from across the United States and beyond.