Sweet Briar Saved: Judge approves agreement to keep college open

BEDFORD - A mediated plan to keep Sweet Briar College afloat went before a judge Monday for review.

Judge Updike said he was pleased with the agreement and said, "Sweet Briar will not endure. It will prevail."

Attorney General Mark Herring announced the operating agreement late Saturday. It called for an infusion of donated dollars raised by determined alumnae, a change of leadership and the use of endowed funds to launch the 2015-16 academic year.

Herring said the agreement took hundreds of hours from both parties.

School leaders announced in May the college would be shuttered in late August amid insurmountable financial challenges. The announcement was met with skepticism by alumnae, who launched an aggressive campaign to keep Sweet Briar open.

Herring credited all parties involved in the mediation, and reserved special praise for passionate alumnae.

At this time, it's unclear how many professors and students will be returning in the fall. But officials say that information will be come clearer in the days ahead.

Students WSLS 10 spoke with said they haven't heard about next school year plans from the administration yet. They've apparently been getting their information from the media only.

"Saving Sweet Briar" says they're taking on the role of recruiting and trying to get teachers and students to come back who had plans to go elsewhere.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Â