Limestone University in South Carolina Closing Campus After 179 Years

Limestone University in South Carolina Closing Campus After 179 Years

They’re talking about maybe trying to take the school online but they’re $30 million in debt. The writing is on the wall.

The Daily Mail reports:

Beloved southern college Limestone University abruptly closes campus after 179 years

South Carolina’s Limestone University is set to close its doors after 179 years due to ‘financial uncertainty.’

The institution, which costs about $27,000 per semester, announced the devastating news Wednesday to staff and students in a letter on its website.

Because of the setback, the school might switch to strictly online instruction or shut down completely, according to the Christian university.

The liberal arts school, located in Gaffney – about two hours outside of Columbia – said the only way the school will be able to stay afloat is if it receives ‘immediate financial support in the amount of $6 million.’

The board is expected to convene on April 22 to discuss the school’s future and all in-person classes are set to end at the end of the spring semester – April 29.

In addition to shutting down in-person instruction on campus, which would affect about 1,000 students, athletics would also end.

‘The Board’s priority is to preserve the Limestone mission of education and service on our campus in addition to online. But without this financial lifeline, we will have no choice but to move all operations online, which means closing our physical campus,’ Randall Richardson, Chair of the Limestone University Board of Trustees, said.

Because of the drastic decision, the campus will be sold and approximately 300 employees will be laid off, Nathan Copeland, the school president, told The Post and Courier.

Copeland, who became president last year, said the school is $30 million in debt and won’t be able to get the funds it needs from tuition payments until September.

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