St. Andrews University announces the closing of its campus in Laurinburg, North Carolina
The Presbyterian-related institution says its financial sustainability ‘is no longer attainable’
LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian-related St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina, a branch campus of Florida-based Webber International University, announced last week it will close its Laurinburg campus on Monday.
In a letter posted Friday on the St. Andrews University website, Dr. Tarun Malik, Campus President and Provost, said the university, which traces its roots back to 1896 to the Flora Macdonald College for Women in Red Springs, North Carolina, has “reached a point where financial sustainability is no longer attainable.” The closure “follows years of effort to preserve our presence in this community while delivering an affordable, high-quality education and meaningful student experience.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the support you have shown us — as neighbors, employers, health care providers, public officials, church leaders, business partners, and friends — as we have educated thousands of students over the years,” Malik said in the letter. “In doing so, St. Andrews has been proud to contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of Laurinburg and Scotland County for generations.”
St. Andrews said during the transition, it will:
- Ensure students are supported through teach-outs or transfer assistance
- Assist employees in securing new opportunities
- Preserve the university’s historical records, archives, and cultural assets
- Work collaboratively with civic and business leaders on next steps for the property and broader impact.
In a separate statement, St. Andrews said its top priority “is to protect our students’ investment in their education.”
“We are engaged with a number of universities about transfer credits and have had an overwhelming amount of support in recent days,” the university stated. “Formal teach-out agreements are currently being agreed upon.”
The university offered a list of 34 colleges and universities it’s in teach-out discussions with, including Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina; Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio; Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina; the University of Dubuque in Iowa; and Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina.
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