Limestone University to close after 179 years of service

Limestone University leadership has decided to shut down the university, both its physical campus and online learning.

Limestone’s board of trustees voted Tuesday to discontinue both its on-campus and online programs, leading to the closure of the institution at the end of the current academic semester.

The move comes as the school recently announced it needed $6 million in emergency funding to stay open.

The school released the following statement:

“Despite exhaustive efforts to secure the funding necessary to continue our operations, we have come to the difficult conclusion that Limestone University has not been able to secure the necessary funding to sustain its operations,” said Randall Richardson, chair of Limestone’s board of trustees. “We want to thank the almost 200 recent supporters in the last two weeks who committed a collective $2.143 million.  We had hoped that would be enough to sustain our institution.  But in the final analysis, we could not continue operations on-campus or online without a greater amount of funding.”

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Founded in 1845, Limestone has served generations of students, offering transformative educational experiences both on its Gaffney campus and through its online degree programs, according to the statement. However, long-standing financial pressures, declining enrollment trends and rising operational costs made it impossible for the institution to remain sustainable without the immediate influx of substantial funding, the statement read.

“Words cannot fully express the sorrow we feel in having to share this news,” said Nathan Copeland, president of Limestone University. “Our students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters fought tirelessly to save this historic institution. While the outcome is not what we hoped for, we are forever grateful for the passion, loyalty, and prayers of our Saints family.”

The university will proceed with an orderly wind-down process, the statement read. It will continue to assist current students with transferring to other institutions and to support faculty and staff during the transition. More detailed information about the closure timeline, academic records, transfer assistance, employment impact and other support services will be provided in the coming days.

“Our Limestone spirit will endure through the lives of our students and alumni who carry it forward into the world,” Richardson added. “Though our doors may close, the impact of Limestone University will live on.”

Despite the announcement, Limestone will hold its final commencement ceremonies at Fullerton Auditorium on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.