COLOMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s 180-year-old private Christian university is closed at the end of the semester after leaving its doors open and not raising $6 million.
Limestone University officials said they had no choice but to collect just $2 million after two weeks of fierce fundraising and other actions and shut down the Gaffney campus and online programs.
The school has lost half of its registration in the past decade.
“Our limestone spirit endures it through the lives of students and graduates that advance it into the world,” said Randall Richardson, chairman of the Limestone University Board of Trustees. “Our doors may be closed, but the influence of Limestone University will live on.”
The university surprised students, alumni and the community without warning that it was in such bad financial position that it would have to close without the immediate $6 million infusion.
Over 200 people gave a total of about $2.1 million, but that wasn’t enough. The university said the donations will be returned.
South Carolina lawmakers have decided not to intervene as Limestone University is a private institution.
Many private universities and universities, such as limestone Closed In recent years. They have been changing demographics and Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Limestone University’s online and in-person registration fell to about 1,600 from around 3,200 students in 2014, according to state higher education data. Limestone University has committed to helping students move to other schools.
The closure also leaves hundreds of non-job-free professors and support staff in Gaffney, a city of about 12,500 people with 85 interstates between Charlotte 85, North Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina.
About 50 students gathered outside and hugged me on Tuesday night when the trustees met and received an email announcing the university.
Daniel DeNine Jr. of Myrtle Beach was jarred for playing football for the limestone and had to change his education plans.
“When we found out we had $30 million in debt in school, we all wondered how they were going to get out of it. The last two weeks have been extremely stressful about this week’s final,” DeNine said. Post and Courier.
Founded in 1845, Limestone University will hold its final start on Saturday.
Local universities aren’t the only local universities that announced they were closing this month.
St Andrews University, about 150 miles away in Laurinburg, North Carolina, will close on Sunday after the spring semester. The school is a branch of Weber International University.
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