Northland College to Lay Off 112 Employees in Permanent Closure

Northland College has filed a notice with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as it plans to lay off 112 employees in May.

In February, the school’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to shut down the school permanently. The move came following a year of budget acrobatics and fundraising in an effort to keep the college open. After declaring financial exigency in March of 2024, officials said the school needed to raise about $12 million in one month after depleting its $25 million endowment for operational expenses.

After weeks of delays on their self-imposed deadline, the needed $12 million dollars was not raised. However, officials did believe last minute donations would be enough to keep the school open with a new and reduced academic structure.

While Northland College did remain open for this school year, the Board of Trustees eventually decided that the college had no sustainable path forward financially. When the school closes on May 31st, 112 employees will be left without a job.

In addition to those layoffs, Northland College’s closing will also affect a meals for seniors program operating on the campus. Chartwells Dining Services had operated out of the school for years, providing meals for seniors in Ashland and Bayfield Counties.

Ashland and Bayfield County officials have since started scrambling to find a new vendor for the senior meal program. They are required to offer the service by state law. Some Bayfield County officials have considered just offering the service themselves, while Ashland County officials have been looking for alternative solutions and new businesses to partner with.