Jennifer Anderson thought her job at Martin University was secure.In October, employees said they were told that the college had enrolled enough students to stay open through spring 2026.“We loved Martin,” Anderson, the university’s former financial aid director, told Mirror Indy. “Once we were told we would be there until May, we all paused our job hunts and were there to serve the students.”That relief didn’t last long.On Dec. 8, Martin’s interim president Felicia Brokaw broke the news to staff: The university would “pause operations” at the end of the week.“When we say financial difficulties, we’re struggling trying to pay your salary,” Brokaw told staff in that meeting, according to audio obtained by Mirror Indy from a former employee. “I’ll be lucky to get you out the door with what I owe you.”The sudden closure left students scrambling to transfer and questioning whether they would be able to finish their degrees. Employees were laid off without severance or their final paychecks. At the end of last year, the university’s board voluntarily gave up Martin’s accreditation status. That meant the college could no longer receive federal financial aid.
And, despite insisting that the university’s closure was not permanent, Martin’s campus — and surrounding properties — were listed for sale earlier this year. Eastern Star Church later confirmed its plans to buy the property as part of its community development project, the ROCK Initiative, and closed on the property May 8, according to WRTV.
