Martin University has announced an abrupt halt to its operations, marking the end of the semester as its final act. In the wake of this decision, the university has terminated all staff and is actively guiding its students toward transferring to other local educational institutions. This sudden closure has left many in the university community feeling blindsided and frustrated.
During a meeting with employees on Monday, Interim President Felicia Brokaw informed staff that their employment was being terminated due to the university’s inability to meet payroll obligations. She further explained that payroll had not been submitted because the institution lacked the necessary funds to compensate staff for hours already worked.
“The reason why we’re doing a termination letter is so that I’m not digging deeper in debt,” Brokaw stated, according to an audio recording of the meeting. She assured staff that once funds become available, everyone would be contacted, and payments would be processed.
In an email dispatched on Tuesday, Martin University directed students to take the initiative in contacting other colleges. The university provided a list of institutions that have expressed a willingness to assist students with their transition, including Marian University, UIndy, and Indiana Wesleyan University. The email emphasized, “This is what we can do for you: try to smooth your path once you have decided on a different school. We repeat: It is up to you to reach out to these schools and engage in dialogue.”
Interviews with three former staff members and two students revealed widespread frustration regarding the university’s handling of the closure. Kory Amyx, who served as a financial aid and veteran affairs adviser, expressed a sentiment that the university had not been transparent with its staff about its financial precariousness. “They took advantage of our kindness, that we were working to help the students,” Amyx remarked, highlighting the dedication of the staff to the student body.
Neither Brokaw nor Martin University provided comments or responded to emailed questions from Mirror Indy, including inquiries about when staff would be paid and what support mechanisms were in place for students affected by the layoffs.
Brokaw had previously acknowledged in Monday’s meeting that she could not provide a timeline for when staff would receive their wages. She also mentioned that when she approached university trustees about the urgent need for payroll funds, they began contributing from their personal finances. “We’re just waiting for money to roll in,” she was heard saying in the meeting.
The Road to Closure: A History of Financial Strain
Martin University has grappled with financial instability for an extended period. The institution garnered significant attention earlier this year when Governor Mike Braun declined to renew a one-time $5 million funding allocation.
As a private institution, Martin University does not typically receive state funding. However, in 2023, Governor Eric Holcomb championed the university’s cause, leading to the allocation of state dollars. Invoices obtained through a public records request indicate that this funding was utilized for various purposes, including facility enhancements and staff salaries.
A recording from a December 8th meeting, shared with Mirror Indy, features Brokaw informing staff that while Governor Braun’s decision regarding state funds was a contributing factor, it was not the primary driver behind the university’s closure. “Martin’s been on life support, probably for six or seven years now,” Brokaw admitted. “Reality is, we just been kicking a can down the road, and we can’t kick it anymore.”
Audits conducted in June 2023 and 2024 raised concerns about the university’s viability for the subsequent year. Despite these findings, both reports noted that the university and its board expressed optimism about its capacity to sustain operations. In February 2024, then-president Sean Huddleston conveyed a positive outlook on the university’s future to Mirror Indy, stating that Martin’s prospects “is as bright as it always has been.” Tragically, just seven months later, Huddleston announced his resignation as president.
The Human Impact: Staff and Student Disruption
While the university’s financial difficulties were a known issue, the decision to close so suddenly came as a profound shock to both staff and students. Kory Amyx joined Martin University in March 2025, driven by a desire to assist students and a hope to contribute to the turnaround of the struggling institution. “I was hoping that this would turn out to be a long-term career path,” Amyx shared. “I was hoping to retire from there. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
Amyx indicated that although he was aware of the university’s financial challenges, he had previously been assured that his position was secure until at least the following summer, with expectations of an enrollment boost. He estimates that over two dozen individuals were laid off this past week. His tenure at the university was not without its difficulties; he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in October, citing alleged harassment. Martin University did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this complaint.
Facing unemployment less than two weeks before Christmas, Amyx expressed significant concern about his ability to cover his expenses. He has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with rent, groceries, and other essential needs.
Stacey Lewis, a Martin alumna who worked part-time at the university’s child care center, was also terminated on Monday. For Lewis, this position provided supplemental income, so her immediate financial stability is not in jeopardy. However, she is deeply concerned for the families whose children she cared for. The university’s child care center was the sole facility in Indianapolis offering free care to its students, many of whom were parents. Lewis recounted how this resource was a vital support system during her own time as a student. Now, Martin students seeking to transfer will likely face the added burden of finding childcare solutions to continue their education. “It was a safe environment for those children,” Lewis stated. “I don’t know if other schools will look into opening up child care for families who need it to get an education, but it’s definitely something that’s needed.”
Charting a New Course: What Lies Ahead for Students?
Martin University students are being strongly encouraged by university administrators to seek enrollment at other institutions. Zakiya Hardley, a 48-year-old single mother raising five children, enrolled at Martin in the fall of 2023 to pursue a degree in early childhood education. Hardley was drawn to Martin University because of its flexible class scheduling, which allowed for hybrid and online learning and self-paced study. Its proximity, less than a ten-minute drive from her home, was also a significant advantage.
Despite taking a temporary break to focus on her family, Hardley had intended to resume her studies at Martin. The news of the closure left her feeling frustrated and dismayed at the prospect of having to find a new institution to complete her education. “It’s a little stressful because you get used to the professors there,” she shared, “and now you gotta go out and meet different people.” Hardley is now exploring options at Indiana Wesleyan University, which offers online classes.
According to the email obtained by Mirror Indy, the university was scheduled to host an online fair on Wednesday and Thursday. This event was intended to provide students with an opportunity to connect with representatives from other colleges, ask questions, and receive guidance on the next steps in their academic journey.
The Future of Martin University: An Uncertain Path
During Monday’s meeting, Brokaw clarified that Martin University’s accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, does not permit temporary operational pauses. Should Martin University ever decide to resume operations, it would be required to undergo the accreditation process anew, involving a comprehensive evaluation to ensure it meets current standards. The university has a history with its accreditor; it was placed on probation from 2014 to 2017 due to financial challenges and issues with student retention.
In the December 8th meeting, Brokaw informed staff that the Board of Trustees was “exploring a range of options” for the university’s future. “It may be online. You have a lot of online-only institutions,” she mused. “We don’t know right now, but nothing’s dead in the water.”
Several state and local lawmakers have voiced their concern over the college’s closure, including Representative Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. Porter was among the first lawmakers to express apprehension about Governor Braun’s omission of funding for Martin University in his state budget proposal. In a statement released on December 10th, Porter pledged to advocate for “the state to adequately support this historic institution” during the next state budget committee meeting and through legislative action. However, given that the current legislative session is not focused on budget matters, the feasibility of securing funding for Martin and the willingness of Governor Braun and other lawmakers to support such an initiative remain uncertain. The state budget committee was scheduled to convene on Thursday, but Martin University was not included on the agenda. As of Tuesday, no legislation directly pertaining to Martin University had been filed.
