Finlandia University was founded as
Suomi College on September 8, 1896, by J. K. Nikander. During the 1880s, large numbers of
Finns immigrated to
Hancock, Michigan to labor in the
copper and
lumber industries. As a mission pastor of the
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America headquartered in Hancock, Nikander observed that Swedish and Finnish immigrants along the
Delaware River did not train new ministers, and he feared a loss of Finnish identity. The college's role was to preserve Finnish culture, train Lutheran ministers and teach English. During the 1920s, Suomi College became a
liberal arts college and in 1958, the seminary separated from the college. On July 1, 2000, Suomi College changed its name to
Finlandia University. The cornerstone of
Old Main, the first building erected at Suomi College, was laid on May 30, 1898.
Jacobsville sandstone, quarried at the Portage Entry of the
Keweenaw waterway, was brought by barge, cut, and used to construct the Old Main. Dedicated on January 21, 1900, it contained a dormitory, kitchen, laundry, classrooms, offices, library, chapel, and lounge. A marker designating the college and its Old Main building as
Michigan Historic Sites was erected by the
Michigan Historical Commission in 1991. The burgeoning college quickly outgrew this building. In 1901 a frame structure, housing a gym, meeting hall, and music center, was erected on an adjacent lot. The frame building was demolished when Nikander Hall, named for Suomi's founder, was constructed in 1939. The hall was designed by the architectural firm of
Eliel Saarinen and J. Robert F. Swanson. In addition to Old Main, the present day main campus consists of Nikander Hall, Mannerheim Hall, Wargelin Hall, Finlandia Hall, the Paavo Nurmi Center for Physical Education, the Kivi House, Hoover Center, the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Chapel of St. Matthew, and the Jutila Center. Finlandia University was affiliated with the Lutheran church since its inception and in 1988, became affiliated with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The curriculum, campus events, and the community explored the value of faith, vocation, and service. Finlandia University was accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for Colleges and Schools. In 1996, the university transitioned from a two-year college to a four-year university. In 2022, Philip R. Johnson was succeeded by Timothy Pinnow as the institution's president. On March 2, 2023, Timothy Pinnow announced that Finlandia University would close after the spring 2023 semester. Pinnow cited a lack of interest in enrollment and the debt load of the university as factors in shutting down operations. The university's board of trustees voted on March 14, 2023, to officially dissolve the university. Finlandia also announced that some staff had been laid off to free up funding for operations related to student transfers. They also announced that all other staff would be laid off following commencement. The university set up agreements for students to finish their education at
Michigan Technological University,
Bay de Noc Community College,
Adrian College,
Wartburg College,
Northern Michigan University and a few other colleges. Michigan Tech was also granted custodianship over Finlandia’s academic records and transcripts. ==Campus==