Press Covers Recent Developments
June 2024 photo © Ken Larson
Three recent articles, in order of appearance, explain where things stand with Wells College’s proposed sales, before and after the March 11, 2026, preliminary court hearing.
THE CITIZEN - Robert Harding, Feb 23, 2026
Cayuga Nation, losing bidder seek to intervene in Wells College campus sale
https://auburnpub.com/news/local/education/article_e2e9f2c9-3514-4b92-ae86-67086d7e369c.html
Ahead of a Cayuga County Court hearing on Tuesday, two parties — the Cayuga Nation and a losing bidder — are seeking to intervene in the proposed sale of the Wells College campus in Aurora.
The Cayuga Nation wants the court to reject the $12.5 million offer submitted by the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge. In its court filings, the Nation raises concerns that the Hiawatha Institute intends to use 20% of the campus as an Indigenous college, while the rest would be for commercial development.
Among other questions from the Nation is whether the Hiawatha Institute has the financing to buy the campus.
The Hiawatha Institute has said it received a loan from the Native American Bank to fund its purchase of the Wells College campus.
The Cayuga Nation notes the campus is located on its ancestral lands, but has "no involvement in, consultation regarding or endorsement of the proposed educational program" submitted by the Hiawatha Institute.
Wells College announced the Hiawatha Institute as the winning bidder in January. The college began accepting bids in early 2025, and it received multiple offers for the 127-acre campus.
One of the losing bidders is also seeking to intervene in the matter
Harriet Higgins, who offered to buy the campus and transform it into the Minerva Institute of Aurora, is protesting the sale to the Hiawatha Institute because she believes the process was flawed.
In her filing, Higgins contends that the proposed sale "does not adequately reflect the highest and best use of the property, nor does it align with the fiduciary duties of the Wells College Board of Trustees to maximize the value of the institution's assets for the benefit of its creditors and stakeholders."
Higgins also argues that she was not given an "equal opportunity" to present her proposal or negotiate terms.
The motion states that when Higgins submitted her bid, she included an elevation clause to match the highest bid and add $500,000 to the offer. She said her bid was "supported by pledged funds exceeding $15 million."
However, a copy of an offer submitted by the Minerva Institute that was entered as an exhibit by Wells College's attorneys shows Higgins offered $5 million to buy the campus. There was an escalation clause for the highest bid up to $7.5 million.
Wells College submitted separate petitions seeking authorization to sell the campus and other assets, including artwork and rare books. The college has also lined up buyers for seven off-campus properties that would generate $2.8 million in proceeds.
The court must approve the college's request to sell any property. The college is seeking that authority as part of the asset disposition process following its 2024 closure.
A virtual preliminary conference will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. State Supreme Court Judge Darius Lind is presiding over the matter.
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THE CITIZEN - Robert Harding, March 4, 2026
Wells College asks court to reject Cayuga Nation’s attempt to block $12.5M campus sale
https://auburnpub.com/news/local/education/article_f8d91ad8-658c-4c5c-b690-baf202791b25.html
Attorneys for Wells College are asking a state Supreme Court judge to reject the Cayuga Nation's attempt to block the $12.5 million sale of the shuttered Aurora campus.
The filing is in response to the Nation's motion to intervene in the court proceedings. Wells College filed a petition seeking approval for the campus sale to the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge.
The Nation asserted the 127-acre campus is on its ancestral lands, while raising questions about the potential sale — including whether the Hiawatha Institute has sufficient financing to acquire the property.
But the college's attorneys believe the Nation lacks standing in the case. They referred to a separate filing in 2025 when the college sought the court's approval for its legacy agreement with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In that matter, the village of Aurora attempted to intervene to ensure that items relevant to its history would remain there.
Cayuga County Court Judge Thomas Leone denied the motion before approving the legacy agreement in November.
In its response to the Nation's motion, Wells College calls its claim that the Hiawatha Institute lacks the funds for the purchase "speculative at best, and outright false and defamatory at worst."
"The buyer has committed to the purchase terms set forth in the petition in this matter," the college's attorneys wrote. "Further, Native American Bank has provided a letter to the buyer commiting to support financing of the purchase up to $25,000,000."
A copy of the letter was filed as an exhibit in the case. It confirms that the Native American Bank would provide up to $25 million to the Hiawatha Institute for "the purchase, professional fees and other soft costs associated with acquiring the property and preparing for development."
Wells College's attorneys also addressed a separate motion to intervene filed by the Minerva Institute of Aurora, one of the competing bidders that attempted to buy the campus.
Harriet Higgins, a Wells College alumna, spearheaded the Minerva Institute's bid. She contends that she was willing to pay up to $15 million for the campus. However, the college's attorneys say the formal offer that was submitted was only for up to $7.5 million — $5 million less than the Hiawatha Institute's bid.
Like the Cayuga Nation's motion, Wells College is asking the court to reject the Minerva Institute's attempt to intervene in the matter.
The college has submitted two other petitions that are being considered by the court. It is seeking approval to sell seven off-campus properties for $2.8 million, as well as clearance to auction artwork, rare books and other assets.
A preliminary conference will be held on March 11. State Supreme Court Judge Darius Lind is presiding over the cases.
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THE CITIZEN - Robert Harding, March 12, 2026
NYS Education Dept. objects to Wells College’s proposed artwork, book auctions
https://auburnpub.com/news/local/education/article_39ec99cf-8196-4b16-8d0f-ca72ca96488e.html
The New York State Education Department and the Board of Regents are objecting to Wells College's proposal to auction artwork, books and other possessions.
In a letter to the college's attorneys, the department and Regents cite a provision in state education law regarding artwork, books and objects of historical significance. These items "as far as possible ... should not be sold but shall be transferred to libraries, museums or educational institutions willing to accept them.”
Wells College filed a petition in Cayuga County Court seeking approval to auction valuable artwork, rare books and other assets. The college has contracted with three auction houses, including Christie's, to sell the property.
The collection includes "A Book of Hours," an original copy of Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" and Isaac Newton's "Opticks." The college's rare books were appraised at $460,050.
Among the college's artwork is "Misty July Morning," a painting by American artist Charles Burchfield, that is valued at $150,000. The college is also planning to sell a lithograph by Pablo Picasso and pieces by Rembrandt.
In its petition, Wells College said the proceeds would be used to cover its closing expenses. Leftover funds would be donated to charities approved by the court.
The state Education Department's letter is an apparent response to the college's request for a "no objection letter" that would allow for the sale of the items. The letter was discussed at a preliminary court conference on Wednesday.
"The proposed disposition contains historically significant items and objects of art," the department wrote. "The loss of these items to the people of the state of New York and to researchers, through private auction(s), is of great concern to the Regents.
"It does not appear that Wells College has pursued options to keep the items within the public sector. Instead, it has considered using this collection primarily as a means to pay expenses and debts during the wind down of the corporation. It is also not clear whether or not Wells College has consulted with donors of these items regarding using them for these purposes or has adequately considered other options to pay expenses and debts.”
Wells College has submitted other petitions requesting the court's approval to sell its 127-acre campus in the village of Aurora, as well as seven off-campus properties. The property sales would total more than $15 million, with the campus ($12.5 million) making up a bulk of that figure.
The next court appearance is scheduled for April 8. State Supreme Court Judge Darius Lind is presiding over the matter.
The sales would be a significant step in Wells College's wind-down process, which began after it closed in 2024. In November, the court approved the college's legacy agreement with Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
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