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Limestone University

{{Short description|Christian university in Gaffney, South Carolina, US (1845–2025)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Limestone University

| image = Limestone College seal.png

| image_size = 150

| former_names = Limestone Springs Female High School (1845–1881)
Cooper-Limestone Institute (1881–1898)
Limestone College (1898–2020){{cite web |title=History of Limestone |url=https://www.limestone.edu/history-of-limestone |website=limestone.edu |publisher=Limestone University |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126140403/https://www.limestone.edu/history-of-limestone |url-status=live }}

| motto = Toward The Light

| logo = Limestone univ textlogo.png

| logo_size = 200

| established = 1845

| closed = 2025

| type = Private university

| president = Nathan B. Copeland

| city = Gaffney

| state = South Carolina

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q6549316|region:US-SC_type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| endowment = 27.7 million (2023)

| students = 1,786

| campus = Suburban

| colors = {{color box|#224282}} {{color box|#F9E526}}
Blue and Gold{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/limestonebrand/home |title=Brand Guidelines |website=sites.google.com |access-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827001524/https://sites.google.com/site/limestonebrand/home |url-status=live }}

| nickname = Saints

| mascot = Saint Bernard (dog)

| religious_affiliation = Non-denominational Christian

| website = {{URL|https://www.limestone.edu/|limestone.edu}}

}}

Limestone University, formerly Limestone College, was a private Christian university in Gaffney, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1845 by Thomas Curtis, a scholar born and educated in England, Limestone was the first women's college in South Carolina and one of the first in the nation. It was the third-oldest private college in South Carolina. Ten buildings on the campus, as well as the Limestone Springs and limestone quarry itself, are on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to its traditional campus in Gaffney, the university provided online degrees and previously had physical locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Florence.

In 1970, Limestone became fully coeducational. In 2020, its name was changed from Limestone College to Limestone University.

In 2025, the Limestone University Board voted to permanently terminate both on-campus and online operations at the end of the spring semester, citing significant financial challenges.{{Cite web |title=Limestone University Board Votes To Close The School, Discontinuing Both On-Campus & Online Degree Programs |url=https://www.limestone.edu/news/limestone-university-board-votes-close-school-discontinuing-both-campus-online-degree-programs |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Limestone University |language=en}}

Academics

Over 80% of the faculty at Limestone held the terminal degree in their field,{{cite web |url=http://www.limestone.edu/about-limestone-facts-and-statistics |title=Facts and Statistics |publisher=Limestone College |access-date=July 31, 2010}} and the student/faculty ratio was 14:1. Limestone offered students 57 majors in four different divisions of study: Arts and Letters, Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Professional Studies. Additionally, in addition to free, reasonable accommodations through the Accessibility Office, Limestone University offered a comprehensive support program, LEAP (Learning Enrichment & Achievement Program), for Day Campus students with learning and attention challenges.

File:Limestone College.png

The {{cvt|58,000|sqft}} Hines-Riggins Center was completed in 2021 and housed the campus library, campus store, student center, art gallery, meeting and study rooms, and dining options. It served as the academic and social hub of the campus.

Limestone offered an online Master of Business Administration, as well as an MBA concentration in Healthcare Administration. A Master of Social Work degree was also available online, along with an RN-to-BSN Nursing Program.

In December 2019, Limestone announced an articulation agreement with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), which is a doctoral-level osteopathic medical college with a nearby campus in Spartanburg. Limestone's partnership with VCOM provides its Pre-Medical students an opportunity to receive a Guaranteed Admissions Interview, as well as take part in an Early Admission Program.

File:Winnie Davis Hall; Limestone College; Gaffney, South Carolina; February 3, 2008.jpg]]

In April 2025, the university's board of trustees decided that the university would close at the end of the spring semester due to ongoing financial challenges. A final fundraising effort was made prior to the decision which raised $2.143 million, but that was not sufficient.{{cite web |title=Limestone University board announces closure of school |url=https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/limestone-university-board-set-to-meet-tonight-students-hope-a-decision-is-made/ |first1=Julia |last1=Keener |first2=Eriana |last2=Meadows |first3=Joanna |last3=Johnson |first4=Isabel |last4=Martin |work=WSPA-TV |date=April 29, 2025 |accessdate=April 29, 2025}}

Athletics

{{main|Limestone Saints}}

Limestone played sports in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). Limestone offered competitive opportunities at the NCAA Division II level for men in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, golf, cross country, tennis, and track and field and for women in golf, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, soccer, cross country, lacrosse, cheerleading, track and field, acrobatics/tumbling, and field hockey. Limestone had an indoor Olympic-size pool for intramural and recreational use, along with a Physical Education facility containing classrooms, offices, locker rooms, Athletic Training Education facilities for the school's fully accredited Athletic Training program, a fitness center, and a wrestling practice facility.

File:Gaffney - Limestone College.jpg

Clubs and organizations

Clubs and organizations at the university included academics, religious, leadership, musical, theatre, and special interest affiliations. Students also contributed to a yearbook and a literary magazine of poems, essays, short stories, and art.

The college had a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program for students interested in serving in the military or reserves.

Notable alumni

{{More citations needed section|date=December 2019}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{ccat}}

  • {{Official website}}
  • [https://golimestonesaints.com Official athletics website]

{{Colleges and universities in South Carolina}}

{{Conference Carolinas navbox}}

{{South Atlantic Conference navbox}}

{{NCAA Division II independents navbox}}

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Category:Private universities and colleges in South Carolina

Category:Education in Cherokee County, South Carolina

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1845

Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Category:Buildings and structures in Cherokee County, South Carolina

Category:1845 establishments in South Carolina

Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2025