By Heart of Illinois ABC

LINCOLN – Lincoln College students are largely stunned and scared after the abrupt news that the 157-year-old institution they call home is closing its doors.

Students we talked to say college president David Gerlach held a meeting to break the news to them.

Gerlach says the pandemic is the driving factor behind the school’s closing, saying total enrollment before the pandemic was around 750 students.

By Fall 2020, that dropped to 630.

He also says many of the students opted to stay home and not come to campus due to pandemic concerns.

“The pandemic just flattened our enrollment,” he said. “Athletes came, but our non-athlete students just didn’t go. The pandemic affected students – first-generation, low-income, minority students. Their college changed dramatically because of the pandemic.

He also says the school experienced a cyberattack in 2019 that interrupted web services – especially the ones needed to recruit more students and fully achieve remote learning.

Students say they are hurt to have to leave behind everything they’ve worked hard for in just five weeks and start all over.

“This was my plan A, B, and C,” said freshman Kejuan Thomas. “Where do i go now? What if there ain’t no other colleges that’s gone accept me? I’m on my knees trying to do everything I’m supposed to do, trying to get out the hood and then you just push me back into the hood.”

Students held a rally at University Hall on campus earlier to express their concerns and share their stores. Gerlach says they will hold an open forum on campus Friday to answer any more questions from the Lincoln College Community.

Gerlach says the college will have a transfer fair April 14 to help students find a new school, where they will pay the same tuition they’re paying now.

As of now, Lincoln College is set to close its doors May 13.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].