Sweet Briar closing - Page 2

angels&angles · #1 03-04-2015, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

All-girls doesn't necessarily mean no GLOs, or at least it hasn't historically. Currently, there's still Brenau, Stephens, Bennett and Spellman that are all-female and have sororities. And I know that Queens in Charlotte had sororities for years before going co-ed. I'm pretty sure there were other all-female schools that are now co-ed that did as well.

Interesting. I hadn't realized that. Sweet Briar definitely doesn't have sororities though.

LXA SE285 · #2 03-04-2015, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

All-girls doesn't necessarily mean no GLOs, or at least it hasn't historically. Currently, there's still Brenau, Stephens, Bennett and Spellman that are all-female and have sororities. And I know that Queens in Charlotte had sororities for years before going co-ed. I'm pretty sure there were other all-female schools that are now co-ed that did as well.

Don't forget FSU, formerly Florida State College for Women ...

KSUViolet06 · #3 03-04-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angels&angles

Going off the "If they build it..." thread, it was announced today that Sweet Briar College in VA is closing due to "financial challenges." It is (was) an all-girls school, so no GLOs.

Washington Post Article

Judging from social media, it looks like this is the first students, parents, and alums (possibly also staff?) have heard of this, which seems a little sketchy. It's pretty late in the year for transfers, although SBC worked out a reciprocal admissions deal with a few other colleges in the area (including two women's colleges) for transfers and accepted students who had made a deposit. But if a student doesn't want to go to those schools... sounds like she may be SOL.

Late pass but I was just looking at some of the FB comments on the college's official announcement.

Examples:

"My daughter turned down near full-ride scholarships from Washington & Lee, Washington University in STL, and MIT to come to Sweet Briar, her first choice. She is now without a school and has student loan debt. I want answers and there had better be some when I arrive."

"I certainly hope you have a plan to refund my daughter's application fee and housing deposit that we recently paid as you will not need it. I'll be in town tomorrow and trust that this issue will be resolved."

YIKES.

I would SO not want to be the person who had to facilitate the conference call, answer the phones, or deal with any of these parents in person re: this issue (although I think most are simply reacting out of concern for their kid's education and the fact that you just heard that her school is closing and you weren't anticipating that.)

2015ma · #4 03-06-2015, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Late pass but I was just looking at some of the FB comments on the college's official announcement.

Examples:

"My daughter turned down near full-ride scholarships from Washington & Lee, Washington University in STL, and MIT to come to Sweet Briar, her first choice. She is now without a school and has student loan debt. I want answers and there had better be some when I arrive."

I am sorry to learn of Sweet Briar's closing, but I cannot imagine a student choosing to attend Sweet Briar instead of going on a near full-ride scholarship to any of the other schools referenced!

Many of the Virginia women's colleges had GLO's in the past. My husband's late grandmother was a Theta at Randolph-Macon.

33girl · #5 03-06-2015, 12:36 PM

Just because something is free doesn't mean it is best for you or will make you happy.

KDCat · #6 03-04-2015, 06:09 PM

University of Minnesota - Morris allows students to bring horses to school with them. I had one friend who did that. She worked in high school and spent around $3000 to buy her horse. She paid all of the costs out of her money. She didn't have a car. She was just horse crazy. Her family was solidly middle/middle class, but not wealthy.

1964Alum · #7 03-05-2015, 02:17 AM

Sweet Briar has an excellent and highly regarded equestrian program with wonderful facilities. I imagine the quality of equestrian programs at other schools will be a major determining factor for many of the young women when looking at where to go from Sweet Briar, especially those on the equestrian team and/or those seeking certification in training or barn management. Hollins will likely be a choice for many of them as some of the trainers also work there.

We in Virginia are still stunned by this completely unexpected closing!

shirley1929 · #8 03-05-2015, 08:03 AM

What happens to their $95 million endowment? So, so sad for all my SBC friends!!!

Sen's Revenge · #9 03-05-2015, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirley1929

What happens to their $95 million endowment? So, so sad for all my SBC friends!!!

That was the same thought I had. I need to delve further.

shirley1929 · #10 03-05-2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

That was the same thought I had. I need to delve further.

Report back when you find out.

One thing I heard/read was that one of the detractors from being able to recruit students was the remoteness of the school. They were having a hard time getting internships for the students nearby. And many people wanted more of a town around the school. I don't know much anything about the area around SBC but it sounds like there was nothing there?

But I kept thinking, that school isn't alone, right? Aren't there are 100's of remote colleges and Univs in this country? What's the difference here?

1964Alum · #11 03-05-2015, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Report back when you find out.

One thing I heard/read was that one of the detractors from being able to recruit students was the remoteness of the school. They were having a hard time getting internships for the students nearby. And many people wanted more of a town around the school. I don't know much anything about the area around SBC but it sounds like there was nothing there?

But I kept thinking, that school isn't alone, right? Aren't there are 100's of remote colleges and Univs in this country? What's the difference here?

Sweet Briar is not THAT remote! Lynchburg is very nearby. But with the more recent emphasis of the college in the sciences and engineering, there may not be many intern opportunities in Lynchburg.

A group of alumnae has started a group to raise money to save the college.

alum · #12 03-05-2015, 09:43 PM

There are many colleges in rural areas but usually they are in walking distance to a small town. Sweet Briar is not in walking distance to Lynchburg nor is Hampden-Sydney to Farmville. Randolph College (formerly SBC's main cross-applicant competitor R-MWC) is IN Lynchburg and Mary Baldwin is in Staunton.

shirley1929 · #13 03-05-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

That was the same thought I had. I need to delve further.

I found this...sounds like speculation at this point, but it will go to a little debt and then to a different charitable cause or back to the donors. And it was $85 not $95 million...my bad.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/...m-endowment-go

AGDAlum · #14 03-05-2015, 08:32 AM

Just learned about this on FB....I should have known that the GreekChat grapevine was faster. (Maybe it's a kudzu vine rather than a grapevine.) My source gave this article: http://m.richmond.com/news/virginia/....html?mode=jqm

SWTXBelle · #15 03-05-2015, 11:05 AM

http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_...osing_its.html

" According to the Sweet Briar statement, "In March 2014, the College began a strategic planning initiative to examine opportunities for Sweet Briar to attract and retain a larger number of qualified students and determine if any fundraising possibilities might exist to support these opportunities. Unfortunately, the planning initiative did not yield any viable paths forward because of financial constraints."