Martin University

Martin University

Type	Private college
Active	1977–2025
Founder	Boniface Hardin
Students	223 (as of 2023)[1]
Address	2186 N. Sherman Dr. , Indianapolis , Indiana , United States 39°47′56″N 86°06′14″W / 39.799°N 86.104°W / 39.799; -86.104
Website	www.martin.edu

Martin University (originally Martin Center College) was a private college in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It was founded by Boniface Hardin and Jane Edward Schilling in 1977 to serve low-income, minority, and adult learners and it closed at the end of 2025. It was the only predominantly Black institution (PBI) of higher education in Indiana.

History

Originally named Martin Center College, the institution was independent but grew out of the Martin Center, a nonprofit human services agency. It was named after both civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. and St Martin de Porres, patron saint of mixed-race people and all those seeking racial harmony. It was the only predominantly Black institution (PBI) of higher education in Indiana.^[2] (It is excluded from the designation Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) because it was founded after the cut-off date of 1964.)

The original campus was at 35th Street and College Avenue. It moved to its final location on Avondale Place in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood in 1987. Housed initially in a former church and school, the campus grew to include many other structures in the immediate area.

A $10-million Educational Center and adjoining Peace Garden opened in the summer of 2001. The brick-and-stone Educational Center contained nine classrooms, faculty and staff offices, an 800-seat Gathertorium, a two-story, glass-and-steel globe, a Frederick Douglass Room, student and staff lounges, and a smoking-cessation center.

On December 9, 2025, the institution's leaders announced that it was suspending operations at the end of the month due to enrollment and financial difficulties.^[3] A few days later, all college employees were laid off. On December 31, the institution's leaders announced that the college was closed and teach out plans were being established with other colleges and universities so that Martin University students could transfer to them.^[4]

Academics

Martin University offered 14 undergraduate degree programs along with 2 master's degree programs. It also had special programs in long-term care and medical coding. The college was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

List of presidents

• Boniface Hardin
• Algeania Freeman
• Charlotte Westerhaus (acting)
• Eugene G. White
• Sean L. Huddleston

References

1. "Martin University". datausa.io. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
2. Schwartz, Robert; Blair, Lyndsey (2021) [1994]. "Martin University". Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
3. Beck, Caroline (December 9, 2025). "Martin University to pause operations amid enrollment, finance problems". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
4. Spitalniak, Laura (January 6, 2026). "Martin University will close after short-lived 'pause'". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved January 6, 2026.

External links

• Official website