Martin College closed abruptly late final 12 months.
Martin Communications Division
Former college students and employees are suing Martin College for breach of contract and different damages after Indiana’s solely predominantly Black establishment closed abruptly on the finish of final 12 months.
College students within the lawsuit accused the defendants—Martin’s president and Board of Trustees—of undercutting their schooling, leaving some unable to earn levels regardless of finishing their applications. Plaintiffs argue that the sudden closure resulted in “diminished academic outcomes, diminished standing of academic credentials, monetary loss, lack of alternative for superior levels, lack of employment alternatives and lack of the advantage of monetary investments.” Additionally they allege Martin failed to supply “promised academic coaching and providers.”
Martin had been struggling for years when it closed its doorways in late 2025. The college’s head rely, which hovered slightly below 1,000 within the early 2010s, declined to between 200 and 300 lately, dropping to 198 college students in fall 2024, in response to the newest federal information. When the non-public establishment introduced plans to shut, trustees claimed “teach-out agreements and transition plans are being established, and individualized help has been offered in order that college students can full their levels elsewhere.”
However such plans by no means materialized.
Within the lawsuit filed final week in Marion Superior Court docket, the plaintiffs—4 former college students, a former employees member and the Martin College Alumni Affiliation—requested the court docket to halt the deliberate sale of Martin’s Indianapolis campus “pending additional investigation and listening to.” (Martin’s campus is at present in the marketplace for $3.5 million.)
Plaintiffs alleged that the closure precipitated them vital monetary hurt.
Kevin Getter, a former scholar, alleged in an affidavit that he had accomplished all required programs and credit to graduate with a grasp’s diploma however by no means acquired it because of the sudden closure. He stated he’d been accepted right into a doctorate program at Walden College, however when he utilized for monetary support he was instructed that Martin was “actively making an attempt to gather from my monetary support account for the current semester,” which means his monetary support account was nonetheless listed as energetic there. These points in the end pressured him to withdraw from Walden.
“I’m presently not enrolled in any school and unable to pursue monetary support primarily based upon my open monetary support account and the paused operations at Martin College,” Getter acknowledged in court docket filings. “I’ve suffered harm to my academic standing, monetary standing, a lack of school diploma/diploma psychological anguish and attainable lack of an accredited schooling.”
One other scholar, Linda Gude, alleged that she had accomplished all her coursework and was engaged on her thesis when Martin first introduced it was “pausing operations.” Now, following the closure, Gude acknowledged in court docket filings that she has “no concept” end her program and that she has “acquired no communications from Martin College relating to the completion of my diploma.”
Different college students made related claims, whereas a former employees member, Evelyn Blunt, alleged that she missed paychecks amid the closure and has suffered each emotional and monetary duress.
The alumni affiliation famous that “the Board of Trustees didn’t implement or talk a proper teach-out plan,” leaving many college students scrambling with out clear steering from the college as they sought to finish their applications or proceed their schooling elsewhere.
Martin didn’t reply to requests for remark from Inside Larger Ed.
Although not less than 15 nonprofit establishments introduced closures final 12 months, most gave college students an off-ramp, offering a number of months’ discover or extra. Martin, nevertheless, was one of some establishments whose sudden shutdown left college students within the lurch. Others embody Saint Andrews College in North Carolina and Limestone College in South Carolina, although each supplied switch alternatives to associate establishments to assist remaining college students end their levels; Martin didn’t.
