12/29/2025

ASHLAND - Despite Northland College’s spring 2025 closure, former faculty are forming the Northland Collaborative to save its educational mission, acknowledging the community’s desire to preserve its economic role. The Collaborative plans to launch a micro college offering a two-year, holistic, community-based program for 20-25 students. The curriculum will be discussion-based and “experiential or place-based,” utilizing the Chequamegon Bay area, drawing inspiration from models like Thoreau College which offers transferable credits. Though the closing was devastating, local staff remain and are eager to assist. The Collaborative is interested in operating on a portion of the campus, though a specific timeline requires a year of planning. For more information, go to northlandcollaborative.org