Former faculty from the shuttered Northland College are exploring a microcollege model focused on small cohorts, work-integrated learning and community governance. The Northland Collaborative is studying options that preserve the college’s environmental and community-centered mission while operating at much smaller scale—typical microcollege enrollments range from roughly 28 to 137 students. Microcolleges emphasize hands-on learning, self-governance and close faculty-student work ties and are being pitched as flexible, lower-overhead alternatives for communities where maintaining a full-scale campus is no longer viable. Observers say success hinges on accreditation pathways, sustainable tuition models, and strong local employer partnerships.