Mar 03, 2022 · Ellen Bowyer, the lawyer for Amherst County who brought the foremost lawsuit in the ultimately successful legal wrangle to keep Sweet Briar open, will speak on campus about that know . She will present “ The Fight for Sweet Briar College ” at 4:30 post meridiem Wednesday, March 30, in the 1948 Theater as part of the College ’ mho annual Honors Colloquia series.
Alexander Haas provided fundraising counsel and campaign management to Saving Sweet Briar and had a front-row seat as this miracle unfolded. Here are a few interesting facts: Saving Sweet Briar raised more than $13 million in cash in just over 120 days, with no development staff or a staff or any kind.Jan 12, 2016
Five years ago, on March 3, 2015, the College's administration and board at the time attempted to close the school based on their belief that it could not overcome challenges and address the trends in liberal arts colleges.Mar 3, 2020
Sweet Briar College announced Tuesday that it is shutting down at the end of this academic year. Small colleges close or merge from time to time, more frequently since the economic downturn started in 2008.Mar 4, 2015
Named after a type of rose that was grown on the founding family's estate, Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts institution for women.
75.9% (2020)Sweet Briar College / Acceptance rate
22,700 USD (2019 – 20)Sweet Briar College / Undergraduate tuition and fees
Sweet Briar College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching.
Founded in 1901, Sweet Briar College is the legacy of Indiana Fletcher Williams, who left her entire estate to found an institution in memory of her only daughter, Daisy Williams, who died at the age of 16 in 1884.
The full-time enrollment at Sweet Briar College is 353 and the part-time enrollment is 1. This means that 99.7% of students enrolled at Sweet Briar College are enrolled full-time compared with 81.1% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.
Empowering strong, well-educated women, Sweet Briar College provides a "supportive learning environment where students are free to follow their passions and try new things every day." A women's college in rural Virginia, Sweet Briar is known for "a rigorous liberal arts education" and supportive community that prizes ...
Sweet Briar students can observe policymaking in Washington, D.C. at American University or explore nursing courses at the University of Lynchburg. Studying with new faculty at another campus offers fresh insight and enriches your academic experience. Our approach to off-campus study is rooted in individual advising.
Indiana VixenSweet Briar College / Mascot
On March 3, 2015, when interim President Jeffrey Jones emailed the faculty and staff of Virginia’s Sweet Briar College to gather at noon, they had no idea what to expect. He stunned them by announcing that a unanimous board of directors had just voted to permanently – and immediately – shut down the 101-year-old educational institution.
Sweet Briar College, known for its “ elite equestrian program” and “idyllic” campus in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, had graduated generations of loyal, successful alumnae.#N#It all started with a bequest from Indiana Fletcher Williams.
Opposition to the sudden closure decision came immediately: from students, alumnae, community members, and – of course – the employees blindsided at that impromptu March 3rd meeting.
And that was that – or so the board members thought.
The Sweet Briar drama has reached an apparent, tentative conclusion.#N#Advocates for saving Sweet Briar College have reason to cheer. But this win for the “Saving Sweet Briar” faction may be a pyrrhic victory: There is no freshman class, and most of the current students have – albeit reluctantly – transferred to other colleges.
Some of these legal issues are unique under Virginia law and specific to the Sweet Briar case, but this sad and ugly story is a cautionary tale for other organizations.#N#Stay tuned for more discussion.
The Leadership Core provides a broad, multifaceted education while also showing how different disciplines interact, which is a direct reflection of how life works in professional, personal and community circles.
Sweet Briar has always been the place where young women discover their passions, pursue their interests and grow their confidence. Being a women’s liberal arts college plays an important role in enabling them to do that from the very beginning.
This failure is most obviously demonstrated by the secrecy and the complete lack of transparency with which the President and the Board conducted themselves in reaching their decision. Information from the College’s official website, including videos of the President, Board Chair, and Board Vice Chair, describe a secret process that has been used by the College’s Administration and Board to close the College. This appalling lack of transparency has led many in the community to question the President’s and Board’s willingness to explore every feasible option to preserve the College.
Our firm represents Saving Sweet Briar, Inc. (“Saving Sweet Briar”), a Virginia non-profit corporation, established by a group of Sweet Briar College alumnae, whose goal is to keep the College open so that it can continue its educational mission. We understand that you represent the College’s Board of Directors and President. Please let us know whether you represent these persons in both their official and individual capacities, or if there is some other firm with which we should be communicating, as well.
For now, Bowyer, the Amherst County attorney , has asked the court to appoint lawyer Phillip C. Stone to serve as a special fiduciary to administer Sweet Briar’s assets and operate the college while the litigation continues. Bowyer is also asking that the fiduciary “investigate” the school’s financial situation and report back to the court, not the college president or board of trustees.
Poor leadership is the reason why Sweet Briar College got into trouble. A deep dive into the decision to shut the 114-year-old college shows its wounds are self-inflicted. Sweet Briar can be saved with new management and vision, a restructuring, and a stepped-up focus on its brand.
Sweet Briar last year won an “A” grade for financial health from Forbes Magazine in its annual ranking of “America’s Top Colleges.” The Dept. of Education has also given Sweet Briar a top score for financial health, based on the school’s filings as of June 2013.
Sweet Briar’s location in Virginia’s rural Piedmont region. The alumnae immediately voiced their disapproval about this decision and encouraged college leaders to reconsider the perceived “negative” aspects as instead being incredibly positive.
The college’s efforts include 20 acres of vineyard, an apiary, and a smart farm on campus. Sweet Briar’s location is ripe for agriculture and tourism, two of the state’s main industries. Additionally, the Commonwealth is the fourth-largest producer of wine in the nation.
When Dr. Woo took over the presidency, she led a comprehensive restructuring and academic reset that reduced tuition and limited the number of majors. She tapped into her previous experience with George Soros’ Open Society Foundation to guide her decisions.
Sweet Briar’s turnaround through transformational change management was a business turnaround; however, this effort has not been so clear-cut. These efforts include faculty, students, and a community who have had to make painful changes that are messy and difficult.