GAFFNEY — With the closure of Limestone University in the coming days, several colleges have offered scholarships and other assistance to displaced students searching for a new place to continue their studies.
Among colleges in South Carolina, Erskine College in Due West, Newberry College, Coker University in Hartsville, Southern Wesleyan University in Central, Charleston Southern University and Converse University in Spartanburg have announced they will help Limestone students during their transitional period in finding a new school.
"I would say this is an unusual situation," Erskine College Director of Marketing and Communications Brianne Holmes told The Post and Courier.
"It's not every day a historic institution in your state closes," Holmes said. "The whole situation is unusual. Our overall goal is first to let Limestone students know we are here for them and sympathize with them during this difficult time. We think Erskine College is a good match with Limestone students. We are a private institution, as they are, and want to let them know we welcome them and hope they feel at home on our campus."
On April 29, the Limestone University Board of Trustees announced the end of on-campus and online programs by the end of the current academic semester. Despite the school receiving pledges of $2 million to help keep the school open, it wasn't enough to bridge the gap. Limestone had needed about $6 million to continue operating. Some students had already notified the school of their intent to transfer to another institution.
Limestone, founded in 1845, was an economic engine for the greater community in Gaffney and Cherokee County, contributing about $150 million annually to the local economy. It's still too soon to understand the full impact of the loss, but many expect it to be far-reaching. Limestone's nearly 500 employees are also scrambling to find where they will work next.
While uncertainty had persisted since the initial announcement April 16 that Limestone could close without $6 million, some had hoped Limestone would find a way to stay open after trustees said April 22 that the board was pursuing a new financial opportunity.
Despite launching a public fundraising campaign, "Together for Limestone," the board decided there was not a plausible path forward. The school had about 1,600 students.
Students at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., are also searching for somewhere else to study. The college, long known for its equestrian program, announced April 25 that it would close after graduation. Like Limestone, St. Andrews University was no longer financially sustainable.
Coker University is offering a one-time $1,000 housing grant for transfer students enrolling in on-campus programs, full credit transfer to keep students on track for graduation, and guaranteed acceptance for students in good academic standing. It's extending the same offer to St. Andrews students.
"We know these students didn't choose their disruption," Coker University President Natalie Harder said in a statement. "But they can still choose their future and we're ready to help them keep moving forward.
Erskine College is offering a $25,000 scholarship to Limestone students for each year students attend. Newberry College will match all general institutional aid for students transferring from Limestone University.
At Charleston Southern University, Limestone and St. Andrews students can transfer up to 89 hours with registrar approval and waived application fees. Southern Wesleyan University announced it will meet or beat Limestone's current cost of attendance.
Converse is offering accelerated admissions for Limestone and St. Andrews students.
Outside of South Carolina, other colleges have made offers to ease the transition, including Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., Shorter University in Rome, Ga., and Young Harris College in northern Georgia.