Looking across the quad at Agnes Scott College. Photo by Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Scott_College#mediaviewer/File:Agnes_Scott_College_-_Across_the_quad.jpg

Agnes Scott College says is has begun offering refunds to students of its sister school, Sweet Briar College in Central Virginia.

Sweet Briar students were offered sisterhood scholarships worth up to $21,000 per year after officials announced the college would be closing its doors. But recently there’s been a breakthrough that will allow Sweet Briar to stay open an additional year while its supporters try to stop it from closing for good.

“We are in the process of contacting all Sweet Briar students who have enrolled as transfers at Agnes Scott and are offering to refund their deposit if they choose to stay at Sweet Briar,” Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss said in a statement. “We remain committed to providing a warm Scottie welcome to all admitted transfer students from Sweet Briar who wish to join the Agnes Scott community.”

Kiss wished the Sweet Briar College community luck finding a solution.

“We recognize that in today’s environment, all colleges must adapt and innovate in order to thrive,” Kiss said. “Here at Agnes Scott, we are launching SUMMIT, a unique curriculum that provides all students with a focus on global learning and leadership development, supported by a personal Board of Advisors. We are excited to be welcoming the largest first-year class in the college’s 126-year history this fall.

“Sweet Briar also has a long and proud history, and the past few months have been extraordinarily difficult and painful for everyone involved.  On behalf of all of us at Agnes Scott, I extend best wishes to the college’s new leadership as they navigate the challenges ahead and seek to secure a strong and sustainable future for Sweet Briar.”