Institutions in North Dakota and Minnesota have worked with Tri-College University since 1970. In an effort to save thousands and reduce redundancies, the partnership ends next year. In 1970, three colleges in the upper Midwest came together arguably ahead of their time to share academic programs. Fifty years later, now a union of five colleges, they’re killing off the central organization created to manage that work, citing budgetary constraints and advances in technology, among other factors.