I’M JANE ROBELOT WITH RASHAD WILLIAMS, AND WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS AT 4:00. A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AT LIMESTONE UNIVERSITY IN GAFFNEY. WE WANT TO GET RIGHT OUT TO OUR NATE STANLEY JOINING US LIVE FROM GAFFNEY WITH THE DETAILS THIS AFTERNOON. NATE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US WHAT’S GOING ON THERE? WELL, RASHAD JANE, WE’RE TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF $6 MILLION OF FINANCIAL NEED, LIMESTONE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING AN ONLINE ONLY OPTION OR CONSIDERING CLOSING THE UNIVERSITY AS A WHOLE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. JUST BEING HERE IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES OR SO, WE’VE TALKED WITH STUDENTS AS THEY WERE LEARNING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. STUDENTS VERY EMOTIONAL, TELLING US THAT THEY WERE BLINDSIDED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. LOOKING AT THE HISTORY OF THIS UNIVERSITY. IT WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 1845 AS LIMESTONE COLLEGE. IT WAS THEN THE FIRST WOMEN’S COLLEGE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN 2020, IT WENT FROM LIMESTONE COLLEGE TO LIMESTONE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THEY CAMPAIGN A CAMPAIGN JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO TO TRY AND RAISE MONEY MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO REDO OR EXPAND SEVERAL ATHLETIC VENUES. HERE’S WHAT THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY ABOUT THEIR. DECISION. I JOINED LIMESTONE ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO RAISE MONEY, LOOK AT PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX IN WAYS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL MEET ON APRIL 22ND TO DISCUSS NEXT STEPS FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE’LL BE BACK AT 6:00 WITH MORE FROM THE PRESIDENT, AND HEAR FROM SOME OF THE STUDENTS LATER TONIGHT.
Limestone University makes major announcement about school’s future
Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, made a major announcement Wednesday: The school announced the following: “After 179 years educating students in person, Limestone University is facing a critical turning point which may require transitioning to online only classes or at worst ceasing operations completely.”Limestone currently offers both in-person and online classes. Limestone University’s Board of Trustees has announced that, absent the University obtaining immediate financial support in the amount of $6 million, the institution will need to move to a fully online model, or, possibly, to begin the process of ceasing operations. In light of the serious financial outlook, the Board will convene on April 22, 2025, to discuss the next steps for the historic institution.’Limestone remains committed to our students and we will work directly with current students to help them identify the best path to successfully complete their educational journey,’ said Randall Richardson, Chair of the Limestone University Board of Trustees. ‘We are reaching out separately to students with information regarding options to continue their education.'”While full closure remains a risk, the institution is considering a scenario that would discontinue all in-person academic operations and all other activities, including athletics, in Gaffney. The fully online model would effectively end the traditional college campus experience.””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,’ said Richardson. The 179-year-old institution aims to maintain online degree programs. The online portion of the institution has seen strong growth and could support long-term stability.”Limestone University has long been a vital institution in South Carolina and the greater region, blending academic excellence with personal attention and a rich campus life. The institution has a $150 million annual economic impact on Cherokee County and this potential shift to online-only instruction threatens not only the campus experience, but local jobs and the cultural presence Limestone has provided for nearly two centuries.”The university’s financial challenges stem from a combination of nationwide enrollment declines, rising costs, and long-standing structural pressures facing small, private institutions. The proposed $6 million emergency fund will stabilize operations and give the university the opportunity to pursue long-term solutions that preserve its on-campus identity.”For the reaction of Cherokee County officials, click here.About Limestone University: Limestone is an accredited, independent, non-denominational Christian university. The school’s website said it was founded on liberal arts principles in 1845 and offers associate, undergraduate, and master’s degree programs on-campus and through its innovative online program that reaches across the globe.Dr. Nathan B. Copeland began serving as the 24th President of Limestone University in May of 2024. Here is some more information about the university, according to its website: FirstsLimestone College, founded in 1845, was the first woman’s college in South Carolina.The Block Program, established in 1976, was the first step in offering college opportunities to students in the evening program.The Virtual Campus was established in 1996. Limestone became a leader in offering college classes via the Internet.The MBA program was the first master’s degree program at Limestone College. The first graduate students were admitted in Summer, 2012; the first graduates completed their degrees in May 2014.Faculty79% of Day classes are taught by full-time faculty and staff (2022-23).90% percent of full-time faculty have earned a terminal degree in their field (2022-23).Limestone’s Day Student: Faculty Ratio is 11:1 (2022-23).Students45% Male, 55% Female (2022-23).The Fall 2022 Honor Roll included 141 students on the Honor Roll and 165 on the Dean’s List.Limestone has students from 29 countries, and 36 states from across the United States (2022-23).AthleticsLimestone University competes in 23 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women.
Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, made a major announcement Wednesday:
The school announced the following:
“After 179 years educating students in person, Limestone University is facing a critical turning point which may require transitioning to online only classes or at worst ceasing operations completely.
“Limestone currently offers both in-person and online classes. Limestone University’s Board of Trustees has announced that, absent the University obtaining immediate financial support in the amount of $6 million, the institution will need to move to a fully online model, or, possibly, to begin the process of ceasing operations. In light of the serious financial outlook, the Board will convene on April 22, 2025, to discuss the next steps for the historic institution.
‘Limestone remains committed to our students and we will work directly with current students to help them identify the best path to successfully complete their educational journey,’ said Randall Richardson, Chair of the Limestone University Board of Trustees. ‘We are reaching out separately to students with information regarding options to continue their education.’
“While full closure remains a risk, the institution is considering a scenario that would discontinue all in-person academic operations and all other activities, including athletics, in Gaffney. The fully online model would effectively end the traditional college campus experience.”
“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,’ said Richardson. The 179-year-old institution aims to maintain online degree programs. The online portion of the institution has seen strong growth and could support long-term stability.
“Limestone University has long been a vital institution in South Carolina and the greater region, blending academic excellence with personal attention and a rich campus life. The institution has a $150 million annual economic impact on Cherokee County and this potential shift to online-only instruction threatens not only the campus experience, but local jobs and the cultural presence Limestone has provided for nearly two centuries.
“The university’s financial challenges stem from a combination of nationwide enrollment declines, rising costs, and long-standing structural pressures facing small, private institutions. The proposed $6 million emergency fund will stabilize operations and give the university the opportunity to pursue long-term solutions that preserve its on-campus identity.”
For the reaction of Cherokee County officials, click here.
About Limestone University:
Limestone is an accredited, independent, non-denominational Christian university. The school’s website said it was founded on liberal arts principles in 1845 and offers associate, undergraduate, and master’s degree programs on-campus and through its innovative online program that reaches across the globe.
Dr. Nathan B. Copeland began serving as the 24th President of Limestone University in May of 2024.
Here is some more information about the university, according to its website:
Firsts
- Limestone College, founded in 1845, was the first woman’s college in South Carolina.
- The Block Program, established in 1976, was the first step in offering college opportunities to students in the evening program.
- The Virtual Campus was established in 1996. Limestone became a leader in offering college classes via the Internet.
- The MBA program was the first master’s degree program at Limestone College. The first graduate students were admitted in Summer, 2012; the first graduates completed their degrees in May 2014.
Faculty
- 79% of Day classes are taught by full-time faculty and staff (2022-23).
- 90% percent of full-time faculty have earned a terminal degree in their field (2022-23).
- Limestone’s Day Student: Faculty Ratio is 11:1 (2022-23).
Students
- 45% Male, 55% Female (2022-23).
- The Fall 2022 Honor Roll included 141 students on the Honor Roll and 165 on the Dean’s List.
- Limestone has students from 29 countries, and 36 states from across the United States (2022-23).
Athletics
- Limestone University competes in 23 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women.
