GREENSBORO, N.C. ― Bennett College, a historically black college for women, is closing one of its five dorms to save money, the News & Record of Greensboro reports.
Prior to closing Pfeiffer Residence Hall, Bennett had announced last month that it was laying off nine of its approximately 200 employees to help cover a budget shortfall of nearly $3 million.
Bennett says the money problems are caused by a drop in enrollment. A college spokeswoman said Bennett had based its budget on a projected enrollment of nearly 670 students, but only 613 enrolled.
The school had 663 students last fall.
“As a result of the enrollment decline, the administration created a financial plan to address the budget shortfall,” school spokeswoman Wanda Mobley says. “Pfeiffer Residence Hall will close as one of the cost-saving measures in the plan.”
The dorm was built in 1924 and is one of the oldest on campus. It is one of five facilities on campus named for the family, one of the college’s earlier benefactors
Bennett requires first- and second-year students to live on campus. About 80 percent of its students live in the dorms.
The private school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
