The Martin University Board of Trustees has announced the permanent closure of the University due to ongoing financial challenges and declining student enrollment, leading the Board to begin winding down operations and selling institutional assets. The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) expresses deep disappointment over the closure of Martin University, Indiana’s only predominantly Black institution.

HCF issued the following statement in response to the Board’s decision to permanently close Martin University:

“The HBCU Campaign Fund is deeply saddened by the permanent closure of Martin University. This moment represents a profound loss not only for its students, alumni, faculty, and staff, but also for the broader higher education community and the city of Indianapolis.

For more than a century, Martin University served as a vital access point to higher education, particularly for students who were historically underserved and underrepresented. Its legacy is reflected in the lives it transformed, the leaders it produced, and the hope it provided to generations seeking opportunity through education.

While the closing of Martin University is heartbreaking, its impact and contributions will endure through its alumni and the communities they continue to uplift. We honor the institution’s history, resilience, and mission, and we stand in solidarity with all those affect during this difficult time.

HCF remains committed to advocating for the preservation, sustainability, and strengthening of HBCUs and MSIs so that the legacy of institutions like Martin University continue to inspire and inform our collective work.”

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About the HBCU Campaign Fund
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) was founded in 2012 and is a non-profit educational organization that remains a strong advocate for students and higher education. The mission of HCF is to support the significance and raise funds for scholarships, programs, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.