Hollins University President Nancy Gray and Sweet Briar College President Phillip Stone have announced an agreement to transition Sweet Briar’s Junior Year Abroad programs in France and Spain (JYF and JYS) back to their original home.
The agreement is effective immediately.
Hollins agreed to serve as the host institution for JYF and JYS after Sweet Briar’s previous Board of Directors voted in late February to close the college at the end of August 2015. Since that time, Stone said, “Hollins has invested a significant amount of financial and human resources to prevent any gaps in maintaining these highly respected programs. Indeed, these programs are strongly positioned for continued success.”
In accepting responsibility for JYF and JYS, Hollins agreed that if Sweet Briar stayed open, the programs would return to the college. At the request of Sweet Briar, Gray and her administration agreed to continue hosting both programs until Sweet Briar’s new board and administration felt the college was ready to resume their operation.
Stone recently informed Hollins that Sweet Briar is prepared to run the programs this year. He said he and Gray will work closely to ensure no disruption in service to students enrolled in the programs.
“The friendship and support of President Gray and Hollins throughout this difficult time have been extraordinary,” Stone said. “To keep JYF and JYS from being lost in the planned closing of Sweet Briar, Hollins went to great expense and trouble. I am truly grateful for this and the many other actions Hollins took to help Sweet Briar and its students and faculty when it appeared our school would be closing.
“I hope our close relationship will continue for many years.”
Gray emphasized that there was never a question about Hollins stepping in to help.
“We appreciate the special, longstanding friendship we have with Sweet Briar,” she said. “Like so many others, we were very sad at the prospect of the closing of our sister school. We wanted to help in any way we could.
“We join all of Sweet Briar’s friends in supporting the decision to remain open. Our two schools will work closely together in the coming days to smoothly transition JYF and JYS back to Sweet Briar. And, we are both committed to finding ways to work together in the future.”
For more information about Sweet Briar’s Junior Year Abroad programs, visit the JYF website at jyf.sbc.edu and JYS at jys.sbc.edu.
