Limestone University
Limestone University, formerly Limestone College, is a private Christian university in Gaffney, South Carolina. It was established in 1845 by Thomas Curtis, a distinguished 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 is the third-oldest 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 the 1960s, Limestone became fully coeducational and in 2020 its name changed from Limestone College to its current name of Limestone University.
Former name | Limestone College |
---|---|
Motto | Toward The Light |
Type | Private university |
Established | 1845 |
Religious affiliation | Non-denominational Christian |
President | Dr. Darrell Parker |
Students | 2,101 |
Location | , , United States |
Campus | Suburban |
Colors | Blue and Gold[1] |
Nickname | Saints |
Mascot | Saint Bernard (dog) |
Website | www |
In addition to its traditional Day Campus located in Gaffney, SC, the university provides an Online Program degree path, along with Student Service Centers in Charleston, Columbia, Gaffney, Greenville, and Florence.
Academics
Over 80% of the faculty at Limestone hold the terminal degree in their field,[2] and the student/faculty ratio is 14:1. Limestone offers 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 College offers a comprehensive support program, LEAP (Learning Enrichment & Achievement Program), for Day Campus students with learning and attention challenges.
Construction of a new 58,000-square-foot Library & Student Center, that will serve as the academic and social hub of the campus, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021.
Limestone offers an online Master of Business Administration, as well as an MBA concentration in Healthcare Administration. A Master of Social Work degree is 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.
Athletics
Limestone plays sports in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC). Limestone offers competitive opportunities at the NCAA Division II level for men in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, golf, cross country, tennis, track and field, and volleyball and for women in golf, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, soccer, cross country, lacrosse, cheerleading, track and field, acrobatics/tumbling, wrestling, and field hockey. Limestone has 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.
Clubs and organizations
Clubs and organizations at the university include academics, religious, leadership, musical, theatre, and special interest affiliations. Students also contribute to a yearbook and a literary magazine of poems, essays, short stories, and art.
The college has a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program for students interested in serving in the military or reserves.
Notable alumni
- Jay Byars, '09, reality TV show contestant, Survivor: One World
- Lois Collier, actress[3]
- Mark Mathabane, South African author
- Bob Peeler, '74, former Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
- Gaylord Perry, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player
- Kevin Pucetas, '06, professional baseball player, Kansas City Royals
- Eleanor P. Sheppard, first female mayor of Richmond, Virginia
- Vyncint Smith, NFL wide receiver, New York Jets
References
- "Brand Guidelines". sites.google.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- "Facts and Statistics". Limestone College. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
- "Lois Collier To Spend Wednesday In City, College". The Gaffney Ledger. April 24, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved August 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.