When Wells College closed in 2024, roughly 260 students sought an answer to a difficult question.
kAm(92EVD ?6IEnk^Am
kAm(:E9 E96:C 4@==686 4=@D65 2?5 2 56D:C6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C DEF5:6D[ E96 DEF56?ED 925 E@ @G6C4@>6 E96:C 2?86C 2?5 D25?6DD 23@FE (6==D E@ 7:?5 2 ?6H 24256>:4 9@>6]k^Am
kAm%96 r:E:K6? :?E6CG:6H65 7@C>6C (6==D r@==686 DEF56?ED 7@C E9:D DE@CJ] %96J C642==65 H9J E96J 49@D6 (6==D[ 9@H E96J 7@F?5 @FE 23@FE E96 4=@DFC6 2?5 H96C6 E96J 564:565 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C 4@==68:2E6 42C66CD]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 H9@ C6DA@?565 E@ %96 r:E:K6?VD :?BF:CJ AC@G:565 >F49 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? E92? 4@F=5 36 FD65 :? E9:D DE@CJ] $@>6 AC@G:565 =6?8E9J C6DA@?D6D 7:==65 H:E9 6>@E:@? 23@FE E96:C 564:D:@? E@ 2EE6?5 (6==D[ 9@H E96 4=@DFC6 27764E65 E96> 2?5 E96 6IA6C:6?46D 2E E96:C ?6H D49@@=D]k^Am
kAm(92E E9@D6 2?DH6CD D9@H :D 2? 6?5FC:?8 =@G6 7@C (6==D r@==686[ @?6 J62C 27E6C :E 4=@D65]k^Am
Wells College in Aurora.
Kevin Rivoli, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV
k9am(9J (6==Dnk^9am
kAmuC@> 2 J@F?8 286 E9C@F89 9:89 D49@@=[ $6C:7 |2=2?@HD<: H2?E65 E@ AFCDF6 2 E649?@=@8J 42C66C] %96J A=2??65 E@ 2EE6?5 E96 #@496DE6C x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J[ 3FE =2E6C 7@4FD65 @? DEF5J:?8 6:E96C 2DEC@?@>J @C BF2?EF> >6492?:4D 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> 9:89 D49@@= 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ |2=2?@HD<: @AE65 7@C 2 82A J62C] |62?H9:=6[ E96:C J@F?86C D:DE6CD 3682? =@@<:?8 2E 4@==686D :? E96 u:?86C {2<6D] %96 D:DE6CD[ ;@:?65 3J E96:C >@E96C[ E@FC65 (6==D r@==686 :? pFC@C2]k^Am
kAmQp== E9C66 42>6 9@>6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E92E H66<6?5 2?5 :>>65:2E6=J 3682? E6==:?8 >6 23@FE E9:D E:?J =:36C2= 2CED D49@@= @? Wr2JF82 {2<6X[ 23@FE E96:C 2CE AC@8C2>[ 2?5 23@FE 9@H BF:6E E96 D49@@= H2D[Q |2=2?@HD<: D2:5] Q}6:E96C @7 >J D:DE6CD E9@F89E (6==D H2D 7@C E96>[ 3FE E96J 2?5 >J >@> :>>65:2E6=J E9@F89E :E H2D 7@C >6]Qk^Am
kAm|2=2?@HD<: G:D:E65 E96 42>AFD H:E9 E96:C A2C6?ED] (92E 4@?G:?465 E96> (6==D H2D 2 8C62E 7:E :D 2 E@FC @7 |@C82? w2== 2?5 E96 q@@< pCED r6?E6C — H92E 3642>6 E96:C QECF6 9@>6 @? 42>AFD]Qk^Am
kAm(96? |2=2?@HD<: 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED DE@AA65 2E E96 u2C8@ 7@C 2 >62=[ E96J 564:565 E@ 6?C@== 2E (6==D 2D 2 3@@< 2CED >2;@C]k^Am
kAmQ|J A2C6?ED DA@<6 23@FE 9@H E96J D2H >6 ;FDE =:89E FA =:<6 x ?6G6C 925 367@C6[Q E96J D2:5] Qx ECF=J 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 (6==D @? E92E 52J]Qk^Am
kAm~E96C 7@C>6C DEF56?ED :?E6CG:6H65 3J %96 r:E:K6? D2:5 E96J 49@D6 (6==D r@==686 3642FD6 :E Q76=E =:<6 9@>6]Qk^Am
kAm#6: |62<6C H2?E65 E@ 2EE6?5 2 4@==686 72C 7C@> 96C 72>:=J 2?5 D62C4965 7@C 2 D49@@= Q:? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 H@@5D[Q E96J HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:=] %92EVD H96? E96J 7@F?5 (6==D r@==686]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 762EFC6D |62<6C =:<65[ DF49 2D (6==D 36:?8 2 7@C>6C H@>6?VD 4@==686] qFE :E DE:== H2D?VE E96:C 7:CDE 49@:46 — F?E:= E96J E@FC65 E96 42>AFD]k^Am
kAmQx <?6H x 925 E@ DE2J[Q |62<6C D2:5] Qx 6?565 FA 2E E96 4=@D6DE AC:G2E6 4@==686 E@ 9@>6 D@>69@H]Qk^Am
kAms2? p56=>2? H2D 2 D6?:@C :? 9:89 D49@@= D62C49:?8 7@C 2 4@==686 H:E9 D>2== 4=2DD D:K6D] w6 92D 2EE6?E:@?\567:4:E 9JA6C24E:G:EJ 5:D@C56C[ D@ 96 H2?E65 E@ 2G@:5 =2C86C D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C =62C?:?8 E92E (6==D 925 2 =@H DEF56?E\E@\E62496C C2E:@ 2?5 D66:?8 A9@E@D @7 E96 42>AFD[ 96 <?6H :E H2D H92E 96 H2?E65]k^Am
kAmQx H2D 5C2H? E@ (6==D[Q p56=>2? D2:5]k^Am
kAmqC@E96CD y@6 2?5 y@9?2E92? q2?86= AC@G:565 D:>:=2C 2?DH6CD 7@C H9J E96J 49@D6 E@ 2EE6?5 (6==D r@==686] y@6 D2:5 :E H2D 3642FD6 @7 E96 QD>2== 4@>>F?:EJ 766=[Q H9:=6 y@9?2E92? D2:5 :E H2D E96 4@==686VD QAC@I:>:EJ E@ 9@>6]Qk^Am
kAmQ(96? x 7:CDE DE6AA65 @? 42>AFD[ :E 76=E =:<6 9@>6 E@ >6[Q y@9?E92? q2?86= D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C DEF56?E[ H9@ 2D<65 E@ C6>2:? 2?@?J>@FD[ E@=5 %96 r:E:K6? E96J 49@D6 (6==D 3642FD6 :E H2D 2 492?86 @7 A246 7C@> E96 =2C86 9:89 D49@@= E96J 2EE6?565] %96J H2?E65 E@ DEF5J 2E 2 D>2== =:36C2= 2CED 4@==686[ 3FE 5:5 ?@E <?@H H96C6] (96? (6==D 6>6C865 2D 2? @AE:@?[ E96J D2:5[ :E H2D 2 D2G:?8 8C246]k^Am
kAm{:K !FC46==[ H9@ H2D E96 7:?2= DEF56?E 3@5J AC6D:56?E 2?5 >6>36C @7 E96 =2DE 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD 2E (6==D r@==686 :? a_ac[ C642==65 96C 6IA6C:6?46 G:D:E:?8 E96 pFC@C2 42>AFD 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6]k^Am
kAmQx?DE2?E=J[ x <?6H ?@E @?=J 4@F=5 x D66 >JD6=7 @? E96 A9JD:42= 42>AFD[ 3FE x C62==J 76== :? =@G6 H:E9 E96 8C62E6C pFC@C2 2C62[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm!FC46== 8C25F2E65 7C@> 9:89 D49@@= 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ H9:49 >256 96C 6286C E@ 8@ E@ (6==D] %96 4@==686 6IA6C:6?46 AC@G:565 2 7C6D9 DE2CE 7@C 96C 27E6C E96 =@4<5@H?]k^Am
kAm~?6 >6>@CJ !FC46== D92C65 :D E96 ?@E:46 7C@> (6==D E92E :E >2J 92G6 E@ 4=@D6 :7 E96?\v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@ 5:5 ?@E 2==@H :?\A6CD@? 4@==686 4=2DD6D :? 72== a_a_] $96 A2?:4<65 3642FD6 D96 925 2=C625J 4@??64E65 H:E9 7FEFC6 4=2DD>2E6D @? D@4:2= >65:2 2?5 :? G:CEF2= >66E:?8D] %96J 3682? 56G6=@A:?8 324<FA A=2?D :? 42D6 E96 4@==686 5:5 ?@E C6@A6?]k^Am
kAmQ{F4<:=J[ H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ >@G6 @? 42>AFD 2?5 2== H2D H6==[Q !FC46== D2:5] Q$@[ H96? E96J 2??@F?465 E96 C62= 4=@DFC6 EH@ H66<D 367@C6 8C25F2E:@? W:? pAC:= a_acX[ x E9:?< E96 4=2DD @7 a_ac 925 2 >2;@C 56;2 GF >@>6?E]Qk^Am
In this April 2024 photo, Wells College students react to the news that the school is closing at the end of the spring semester.
Kevin Rivoli, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV
k9amV|J 9@>6 H2D 8@?6Vk^9am
kAm%96 ?@H\:?72>@FD f 2]>] 6>2:= @? E96 >@C?:?8 @7 pAC:= ah[ a_ac[ ?@E:7:65 (6==D r@==686 2=F>?:[ 724F=EJ[ DE277 2?5 DEF56?ED E92E E96 :?DE:EFE:@? H@F=5 4=@D6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 D6>6DE6C] %96 2??@F?46>6?E H2D >256 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 7:?2= H66< @7 4=2DD6D]k^Am
kAmy@9?2E92? q2?86= E9@F89E :E H2D 72<6] w:D 3C@E96C[ y@6[ H2D D9@4<65]k^Am
kAmQx <?6H E92E D>2== D49@@=D 925 4=@D65 :? E96 A2DE[ 3FE x ?6G6C E9@F89E :E H@F=5 92AA6? E@ (6==D[Q y@6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$6C:7 |2=2?@HD<: 76=E E96:C A9@?6 3FKK:?8 2C@F?5 f 2]>][ 3FE H2?E65 E@ D=66A :? 2?@E96C 9@FC 367@C6 4=2DD6D] (96? E96J 4964<65 E96:C A9@?6[ E96C6 H6C6 D6G6C2= 6>2:=D] %96 7:CDE E96J C625 H2D 2 ?@E:7:42E:@? E92E 2== 4=2DD6D H6C6 42?46=65]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6IE 6>2:= |2=2?@HD<: @A6?65 H2D E96 4=@DFC6 2??@F?46>6?E]k^Am
kAmQx C625 E96 7:CDE H@C5D[ 2?5 x ;FDE C6>6>36C 766=:?8 =:<6 >J H@C=5 ;FDE DE@AA65[Q E96J D2:5] Qx 42?VE 6G6? 368:? E@ 56D4C:36 9@H x A9JD:42==J 76=E[ 2D x 76=E E96 A2:? 2?5 D9@4< A9JD:42==J 2?5 >6?E2==J] x C6>6>36C E62CD :?DE2?E=J 7=@H:?8 2?5 D4C62>:?8] x C6>6>36C 9JA6CG6?E:=2E:?8 2?5 D@33:?8 9JDE6C:42==J] |J 9@>6 H2D 8@?6]Qk^Am
kAm#6: |62<6C H2D 2>@?8 E96 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6?VE DFCAC:D65 2E E96 4@==686VD 4=@DFC6] w@H6G6C[ E96J 76=E 5:DC6DA64E65 3J E96 4@==686VD =6256CD9:A]k^Am
kAmQ(6 925 >256 4@>>6?ED >2?J E:>6D 23@FE E96 D49@@= 4=@D:?8 27E6C >J 4=2DD H2D 8@?6 2?5 H6C6 E@=5 E92E E96 D49@@= H2D 5@:?8 @<2J 6?@F89 7@C FD E@ 7:?:D9[Q |62<6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm{:K !FC46==[ H9@ H2D 2 DEF56?E E62496C H9:=6 2EE6?5:?8 (6==D[ E@=5 %96 r:E:K6? D96 C646:G65 2 E6IE >6DD286 7C@> 96C 4@@A6C2E:?8 E62496C E96 52J 367@C6 E96 4=@DFC6 2??@F?46>6?E 2D<:?8 :7 D96 ?66565 96=A @? pAC:= ah]k^Am
kAmp55:?8 E@ !FC46==VD DFDA:4:@? H2D 2 42== 7C@> 2 7C:6?5 23@FE CF>@CD C682C5:?8 E96 4@==686VD 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmpE h A]>] $F?52J[ `_ 9@FCD 367@C6 (6==DV @77:4:2= 2??@F?46>6?E[ !FC46== D2:5 D96 2?5 @E96C DEF56?E E62496CD C646:G65 2? 6>2:= 7C@> $FD2? w6?<:?8[ H9@ H2D E96 4@==686VD G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 24256>:4 2?5 DEF56?E 2772:CD 2E E96 E:>6] w6?<:?8 25G:D65 E96> E@ C6>2:? @? 42>AFD 2?5 ?@E:7:65 E96:C D49@@=D E96J H@F=5 ?@E 36 :? 4=2DD]k^Am
kAmQpD x <6AE C6C625:?8 E9:D 6>2:= @G6C 2?5 @G6C 2?5 4@??64E:?8 2== E96 5@ED[ x 925 E96 >@DE A2:?7F= 8FE 766=:?8 6G6C[ E92E D@>6E9:?8 C62==J 325 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? @? |@?52J[Q !FC46== D2:5]k^Am
Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter, center, and other college officials face the student body in April 2024 to answers questions after the college announced that it will close at the end of the spring semester.
Kevin Rivoli, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV
k9am$62C49:?8 7@C 2 ?6H D49@@=k^9am
kAm$EF56?ED H9@ 6IA6C:6?46 2 4@==686 4=@DFC6 2C6 =6DD =:<6=J E@ C66?C@== 2E 2?@E96C :?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 62C? E96:C 568C66[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= $EF56?E r=62C:?89@FD6 #6D62C49 r6?E6C]k^Am
kAm(96? (6==D r@==686 2??@F?465 :ED 4=@DFC6[ :E 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2F3FC?AF3]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^2CE:4=602c4fghg_\`e_7\``67\3753\57bdhf6a4hh_]9E>=n>@56l?@H2AAQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE6249\@FE 28C66>6?EDk^2m H:E9 ?62C=J EH@ 5@K6? :?DE:EFE:@?D E92E H@F=5 2==@H DEF56?ED E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C 65F42E:@? 2?5 4@>A=6E6 E96:C 568C66 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 E:>:?8 @7 E96 4=@DFC6 >62?E DEF56?ED 925 2 D9@CE E:>6 E@ 6?C@== 2E 2 ?6H D49@@= 7@C E96 72== D6>6DE6C]k^Am
kAm{:?52 v2=32E@[ H9@ H2D 5:C64E@C @7 24256>:4 2?5 42C66C 25G:D:?8 2E (6==D r@==686[ E@=5 %96 r:E:K6? 2 E62> 7@C>65 2E E96 4@==686 E@ H@C< H:E9 DEF56?ED] p E6249\@FE 72:C H2D 96=5 2E E96 pFC@C2 42>AFD[ H96C6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 7C@> E96 G2C:@FD :?DE:EFE:@?D 82E96C65 E@ >66E H:E9 DEF56?ED 2?5 D9@H42D6 E96:C AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96 4@==686VD 677@CED >2J 92G6 62D65 E96 DEC6DD 7@C DEF56?ED[ v2=32E@ 24<?@H=6586D >2?J H6C6 DE:== 2?8CJ 23@FE E96 4=@DFC6 2??@F?46>6?E] qFE[ D96 25565[ E96 DEF56?ED 8@E Q5@H? E@ 3FD:?6DD]Qk^Am
kAmQ%96J 5:5?VE 4@>6 E@ AC@E6DE @C E@ G6?E @C E@ 5:DCFAE[ 3FE E96J 42>6 E96C6 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 E96:C 7FEFC6D[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp5G:D:?8 4@?E:?F65 2?5 (6==D[ E9C@F89 E96 4@==686VD C68:DEC2CVD @77:46[ AC@G:565 EC2?D4C:AED 7@C DEF56?ED E@ EC2?D76C E@ ?6H D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmy24<:6 $49?FCC[ 562? @7 724F=EJ 2E (6==D r@==686 2?5 2 3:@=@8J AC@76DD@C[ H@C<65 H:E9 2 8C@FA @7 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277 E@ DFAA@CE DEF56?ED] ~?6 @7 E96 AC:@C:E:6D[ D96 E@=5 %96 r:E:K6?[ H2D E@ 6?DFC6 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 4=@D6 E@ 8C25F2E:?8 4@F=5 62C? 2 (6==D 568C66]k^Am
kAmu@C @E96C DEF56?ED H9@ H@F=5 ?665 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C 65F42E:@? 6=D6H96C6[ $49?FCC D2:5 E9:D 8C@FA 2DD:DE65 E96> H:E9 7:?5:?8 QH96C6 E96J H@F=5 36 92AA:6DE 2?5 H92E D49@@=D H@F=5 2==@H E96> E@ 5@ H92E E96J H2?E65 E@ 5@]Qk^Am
kAm%96 H@C< 4@?E:?F65 E9C@F89 |2J 2?5 yF?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $49?FCC]k^Am
kAmQ(6==D H2D G6CJ >F49 :?E@ :?5:G:5F2= 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 H6 5:5?VE DE@A @?46 H6 >256 E96 2??@F?46>6?E[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(6==D r@==686 !C6D:56?E $FD2? w6?<:?8 E@=5 %96 r:E:K6? :? y2?F2CJ E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2F3FC?AF3]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^H6==D\4@==686\DEF56?ED\EC2?D76C\D49@@=D^2CE:4=60665a477g\52eb\``67\3fe6\436e2f6ab5ff]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmgaT @7 7@C>6C DEF56?EDk^2m EC2?D76CC65 E@ @E96C :?DE:EFE:@?D] |@DE H6?E E@ D49@@=D E92E 925 E6249\@FE 28C66>6?ED H:E9 (6==D r@==686[ 3FE ef H6?E E@ ?@?\E6249\@FE :?DE:EFE:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF56?ED :?E6CG:6H65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ 82G6 >@DE=J A@D:E:G6 C6G:6HD @7 (6==D r@==686VD 677@CED]Â k^Am
kAms2? p56=>2? H2D @?6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2F3FC?AF3]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^H6==D\4@==686\DEF56?ED\EC2?D76C\9@32CE\H:==:2>\D>:E9\4@==686D^2CE:4=60ag34_77c\de_a\``67\25a5\abgh2edhd3h3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmef (6==D r@==686 DEF56?EDk^2m H9@ EC2?D76CC65 E@ w@32CE 2?5 (:==:2> $>:E9 r@==686D :? v6?6G2] w6 D2:5 E96 (6==D DE277 H2D 96=A7F= 2?5 6?DFC65[ E9C@F89 E96 E6249\@FE 28C66>6?ED[ E92E 4C65:ED H@F=5 EC2?D76C 2?5 DEF56?ED H@F=5 86E E96 D2>6 D49@=2CD9:AD]k^Am
kAmQxE H2D AC6EEJ D62>=6DD[Q 96 D2:5] Qx H2D DE:== 86EE:?8 @G6C W(6==DX 4=@D:?8 3J E96 E:>6 x H2D 6?C@==65 :? Ww@32CE 2?5 (:==:2> $>:E9 r@==686DX] xE H2D G6CJ BF:4<]Qk^Am
kAmy@6 2?5 y@9?2E92? q2?86= A=2J65 32D<6E32== 2?5 8@=7 2E (6==D[ D@ E96J ?@E @?=J H2?E65 E@ 7:?5 2 ?6H D49@@= 3FE @?6 H96C6 E96J 4@F=5 4@?E:?F6 E96:C 2E9=6E:4 42C66CD]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@46DD H2D 5:77:4F=E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ y@6 q2?86=] (:E9 (6==D 2??@F?4:?8 E96 4=@DFC6 2E E96 6?5 @7 pAC:=[ E96 3C@E96CD H6C6 =2E6 6?EC2?ED E@ E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2=] %96J DA6?E >@DE @7 E96 DF>>6C D62C49:?8 7@C E96 QA6C764E 7:E[Q y@6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 q2?86=D EC2?D76CC65 E@ w2CEH:4< r@==686[ H96C6 E96J 2C6 >6>36CD @7 E96 >6?VD 32D<6E32== E62>]k^Am
kAm$6C:7 |2=2?@HD<: 925 2 5:776C6?E 6IA6C:6?46 3642FD6 E96J @AE65 E@ EC2?D76C E@ 2 ?@?\E6249\@FE :?DE:EFE:@?[ E96 #@496DE6C x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J]k^Am
kAmQx 5:5?VE =:<6 2?J @7 E96 E6249\@FE D49@@=D @C E96:C AC@8C2>D[ @C 925 962C5 =6DD E92? DE6==2C E9:?8D 7C@> 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=J >6>36CD 2?5 DEF56?ED[ @C H2D?VE H:==:?8 E@ EC2G6= 72C 7C@> #@496DE6C 7@C >2?J C62D@?D[Q |2=2?@HD<: D2:5] Qx @?=J 2AA=:65 E@ #x%]Qk^Am
kAmpD 2 3@@< 2CED >2;@C 2E (6==D[ |2=2?@HD<: 564:565 E@ 2AA=J E@ ;@:? #x%VD AC:?E>2<:?8 AC@8C2>] w@H6G6C[ E96:C 2AA=:42E:@? H2D :?:E:2==J C6;64E65 367@C6 E96 D49@@= C64@?D:56C65 2?5 2446AE65 E96> 7@C E96 72== a_ac D6>6DE6C]k^Am
kAm|2=2?@HD<: =:<6D A2CED @7 #x%[ 6DA64:2==J 36:?8 4=@D6 E@ 96C 72>:=J] qFE E96J 2C6 @G6CH96=>65 3J E96 42>AFD 2?5 D:K6 @7 4=2DD6D]k^Am
kAmQx? E96 72==[ E96C6 H6C6 2D >2?J DEF56?ED :? @?6 @7 >J 4=2DD6D 2D E96C6 H6C6 DEF56?ED :? >J 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD 2E (6==D[Q E96J D2:5] Qx 42?VE H@C< :? E96 DEF5:@ H:E9 2D >F49 ECFDE 2?5 7C665@> 2D x 5:5 2E (6==D[ 3642FD6 :EVD 92C56C E@ 86E E@ <?@H E96 724F=EJ 2?5 E96C6VD >@C6 4=2DD6D H:E9 =6DD 7C66 DEF5:@ E:>6]Qk^Am
All is quiet on the Wells College campus in Aurora after its closure last year.
Kevin Rivoli, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV
k9am%96 >6>@C:6Dk^9am
kAm%96 7@C>6C (6==D r@==686 DEF56?ED :?E6CG:6H65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ 9@=5 @?E@ >2?J >6>@C:6D 7C@> E96:C E:>6 2E E96 pFC@C2 42>AFD]k^Am
kAmy@6 q2?86= C6>6>36CD E96 2E>@DA96C6 :?D:56 E96 E62> C@@> 27E6C E96:C 7:CDE 4@?76C6?46 H:?] y@9?2E92? q2?86= C642==D E96 7F? 9:D E62>D 925 @? C@25 EC:AD]k^Am
kAms2? p56=>2? 2AAC64:2E65 E96 42>2C256C:6 2E E96 4@==686] #6: |62<6C 56D4C:365 2 4@>>F?:EJ QE92E x 92G6 ?6G6C D66? 6=D6H96C6]Qk^Am
kAm}62C=J 6G6CJ DEF56?E >6?E:@?65 E96 42>AFD :? D@>6 7@C>[ H96E96C :EVD 2 3F:=5:?8 @C E96 =2?5D42A6] |62<6C D2:5 H9:=6 E96J 2C6 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 7C:6?5D9:AD 2?5 >6>@C:6D[ E96 36DE >@>6?ED 4@>6 7C@> E2<:?8 :? QE96 BF:6E 362FEJ @7 E96 42>AFD]Qk^Am
kAmQx 4@F=5 AC@323=J E6== J@F 5@K6?D @7 DA@ED E@ D:E @? 42>AFD 2?5 H2E49 E96 DF?D6E[Q E96J D2:5]k^Am
kAm~?6 7@C>6C DEF56?E[ H9@ 28C665 E@ 2? :?E6CG:6H @? E96 4@?5:E:@? @7 2?@?J>:EJ[ E@=5 %96 r:E:K6? :E :D Q:>A@DD:3=6 E@ 3C:67=J D2J H92E >6>@C:6D @7 (6==D x H:== 42CCJ H:E9 >6]Q %96:C >6>@C:6D :?4=F56 E96 4@==686VD EC25:E:@?D[ DF49 2D E96 @55\6G6? 4@>A6E:E:@?[ 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAmQ|@DE @7 2==[ xV== C6>6>36C E96 D6?D6 @7 36=@?8:?8 x 6IA6C:6?465 2E (6==D[Q E96J D2:5] QxE H2D F?=:<6 2?JE9:?8 6=D6] x 925 ?6G6C 76=E E92E H2J 367@C6[ 2?5 x 5@?VE E9:?< x 6G6C H:== 282:?]Qk^Am
A purchase offer has been approved, moving the village closer to acquiring the water plant.
Aurora's leadership is warning the village could dissolve if New York state does not provide financial assistance.
An alumni group that formed after Wells College's closure announcement has launched a fundraising campaign to support its bid to buy the Aurora campus.
A Wells College alumna wants to transform the Aurora campus into an insitute that she says would focus on "learning for life."
A group behind a $10.7 million offer to buy the Wells College campus will present its plan for the property at a meeting next week.
A Wells College alumni group that is seeking to buy the 127-acre campus visited Aurora last week.
An interview with the developer behind a $10.7 million offer to buy the Wells College campus in Aurora.
A partnership is proposing the creation of an Indigenous college and senior housing on the former Wells College campus.
Wells College has received "multiple offers" to buy its 127-acre campus, the board of trustees announced Friday.
The entities behind two offers to buy the Wells College campus detail their plans.Â
A call for offers has been issued to parties interested in buying the Wells College campus.Â
The village of Aurora is open to zoning changes that would help Wells College sell its 127-acre campus.Â
Pleasant Rowland holds a right of first refusal on several Wells College-owned properties, including the campus.Â
Wells College provided more information about where former students transferred to continue their students after the college's closure announcement in April.Â
A public meeting was held on the sale of the Wells College campus in Aurora.Â
Wells College, through its attorney, is accusing the village of Aurora of interfering with its process to wind down operations.Â
Wells College has scheduled a presentation on the sale of the Aurora campus.Â
The village of Aurora and Wells College are engaging in conversations about issues of mutual interest.Â
The Wells College campus in Aurora has been listed for sale.Â
A group of Wells College alumni says the Aurora campus is "at risk of irreparable harm" due to actions by the college's leadership.Â
Wells College is moving forward with plans to sell its 300-acre campus and most of its non-real estate assets.Â
A nonprofit is proposing the creation of an Indigenous college on the former Wells College campus in Aurora.Â
The village of Aurora is preparing to take over the water plant, but Wells College has not signed an agreement to transfer ownership of the facility.Â
An Ithaca investment banker has pitched his idea to transform Wells College into a boarding school.Â
The village of Aurora altered one of its proposed Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects after Wells College decided to sell the property at 165 Main St.Â
An audit found Wells College lost more than $6 million over two years before it closed in June.Â
Four months since its closure announcement, here is where Wells College stands in its wind-down process.Â
AURORA — The theme of this year's AuroraFest was an obvious choice.
Wells College is accusing two unaffiliated alumni groups of diverting funds away from the institution and delaying its closure process.Â
A union representing former faculty members at Wells College is accusing the Aurora institution of unfair labor practices.Â
Peachtown Elementary School is taking the next steps to ensure it stays on the former Wells College campus in Aurora.Â
For more than 60 former Wells College students, they did not have to look far for a new school.Â
A former Wells College professor has stepped down from her seat on the Moravia Central School District Board of Education in order to take a t…
A Wells College alumni group is hoping to get answers to questions about the school's closure in a meeting with the institution's leadership this week.Â
Wells College is selling a house that's part of the village of Aurora's Downtown Revitalization Initiative plan.Â
Wells College failed to provide information about the closure after repeated requests, the institution's former accreditor says.Â
Aurora Mayor Jim Orman and Dr. Heather MacAdam have visions for how to reuse certain Wells College properties.Â
A year before Wells College announced it would close, the Aurora institution had a net loss of $3.2 million as declining enrollment continued to take a toll.Â
Ever since Wells College announced that it will close this year, leaders and residents in Aurora have been pondering the future of the village…
The village of Aurora is urging Cayuga County's federal and state representatives to support a "one-campus" sale or transfer of Wells College.Â
Wells College has named a new president who will oversee the process of shuttering the 156-year-old Aurora institution.Â
Wells College closed Sunday after 156 years.Â
As of Sunday, Wells College is closed. The closure ends a 156-year tradition in southern Cayuga County.Â
The co-managers of Wells College's historic golf course are in the process of buying the facility to keep it open in Aurora.Â
A Wells College alumni group may file a lawsuit if the school does not cooperate with its request for more information about the institution's closure.Â
For eight of its nine years, the Aurora Farmers Market has occupied space at the Wells College Boathouse. That won't change, at least for this year.Â
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education said Thursday that Wells College has not complied with requests for information about where its institutional and student records will be stored.Â
Wells College has "parted ways" with Jonathan Gibralter, who served as the institution's president since 2015.Â
Wells College alumnae have formed a group to preserve the institution's legacy in Aurora and the Finger Lakes region.Â
Minerva, a statue that is pivotal part of Wells College's 156-year history, has been damaged after the college attempted to move it indoors Wednesday.Â
In public announcements and social media postings, Wells College showed no signs of trouble before its closure announcement.Â
As the New York State Attorney General's Office begins to determine what will happen to Wells College's properties, an online petition is sugg…
An accreditor has taken action in response to Wells College's plan to close at the end of the academic year.Â
The village of Aurora and Wells College are in the early stages of planning how to keep the on-campus water treatment plant operational after the college closes this year.Â
The story behind the decision to have faculty, not Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter, present degrees to graduates at the school's final commencement.Â
At the final commencement in Wells College's 156-year history, the school's president relinquished nearly all of his speaking roles and sat behind faculty and staff.Â
Wells College has reached agreements that would allow students to choose from two dozen schools to continue their education.Â
Wells College capped off its 156-year history with its final commencement Saturday.
Amid anger and sadness over Wells College's decision to close after this spring semester, 73 graduates were celebrated at the school's 156th a…
In the aftermath of Wells College's announcement, state Sen. Rachel May has proposed a bill to establish rules for college closures.Â
A nonprofit organization has contacted Wells College to gauge the leadership's interest in helping the 156-year-old institution remain open.Â
From internship opportunities to a great return on investment, Manhattanville University President Frank Sanchez highlights what his institution offers to Wells College students seeking to continue their education.
Ë®¹ûÅÉAV interviewed or received messages from more than 20 Wells College alumnae who shared memories and their thoughts about the college's sudden closure announcement.Â
After Wells College announced that it will close at the end of this semester, Dr. Heather MacAdam's patients at the campus medical center had higher blood pressure than normal.
In January, Wells College told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the school had "no plans to close at the end of the semester."Â
Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter was paid more than his counterparts at similarly sized institutions and received over $300,000 in bonuses, tax filings show.Â
Wells College has notified the state Department of Labor of the job cuts due to the Aurora institution's closure after the spring semester.Â
One question about Wells College's closure is how it will affect Peachtown Elementary School, which has been on the Aurora institution's campus since 1992.Â
On its website, Wells College has responded to frequently asked questions about its closure.Â
Wells College is being criticized for not timely notifying its accreditor that it will close and not properly planning for its closure.Â
Three organizations are collaborating to inform Wells College students about their legal rights after the school announced it will close at the end of the semester.Â
Wells College notified the state Education Department of its plan to close before a public announcement Monday, but the timing highlights how quickly the decision was made.Â
An Aurora church opened its doors to give Wells College employees and students a forum to express their feelings about the school's closure.Â
The United Ministry of Aurora hosted a Wells College Lament on Tuesday.
Wells College will close at the end of the spring semester due to declining enrollment and financial struggles.Â
After 156 years, Wells College in Aurora will close at the end of the spring semester.Â
The lakeside campus of Wells College in Aurora was serene as ever Monday afternoon, with birds chirping among the spring blooms.
Cayuga County leaders react to Wells College's announcement that it will close at the end of the spring semester.Â
Tax records show the losses Wells College incurred over the years and how it was boosted, temporarily, by donations and other aid.Â
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 664-4631 or robert.harding@lee.net . Follow him on X @RobertHarding.
In this Series
Updated
Oct 4, 2025
Updated
Nov 11, 2025
Updated
Dec 1, 2025
32 updates
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.