By Lewis Loflin
Published: May 8, 2014
Update, May 8, 2014, Bristol, Virginia: Virginia Intermont College (VI) closed its doors, laying off its last 100 employees. The college had received approximately $1.8 million in funding from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (Tobacco Commission) to support various educational initiatives, including a proposed tourism degree program aimed at boosting regional tourism. Despite these efforts, the program was not implemented as planned, and the college faced significant challenges, resulting in a net loss of 100 jobs upon closure.
The funding was intended to support the college during a challenging period. The former president resigned in 2010 amid financial difficulties, and there had been a past incident involving embezzlement charges against a former employee in 2007. At the time of closure, VI also had $13,000 in outstanding property taxes to the City of Bristol.
Update, December 2024: On December 20, 2024, a fire occurred at the former Virginia Intermont College campus, impacting four of its oldest buildings: West Hall, Main Hall, East Hall, and the administration building. City officials believe the fire may have been started by homeless individuals seeking warmth, following a smaller fire at the site in November 2024 that affected the library. The campus has faced challenges since its purchase in 2016 by US Magis International Education Center, a Chinese company that had plans for a Virginia Business College. The property owner owes the city $436,375 in taxes for 2023 and 2024, and the city is expected to cover the $41,000 cost of demolishing the damaged structures. During demolition in January 2025, a time capsule from 1891 was discovered in the cornerstone of one of the buildings, though its contents remain unopened due to ownership disputes. [Ref web ID: 0] [Ref web ID: 6]
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) extended VI's warning status through December 2012 due to ongoing financial concerns. VI remained accredited but was not in compliance with SACS standards related to financial resources and long-term stability, issues that had previously led to its warning status. The college had also been on SACS probation from June 2007 to June 2009. A school can remain on warning for a maximum of two years.
December 12, 2012, Ref. Bristol Herald Courier:
BRISTOL, Va.—Virginia Intermont College in Bristol has been placed on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The action was announced Tuesday at the association's annual meeting in Dallas. The Bristol Herald Courier (www.tricities.com) reports that the probation is the latest challenge for the private, liberal arts college, which has faced financial difficulties for years. For the past two years, Virginia Intermont has been on warning status, a lesser sanction. The college's president, E. Clorisa Phillips, said school officials would continue working with the commission to address its concerns.
In January 2009, the Tobacco Commission provided $169,000 to VI to develop a tourism degree program. I contacted the college to request details, but the program was not listed in their 2012 catalog, nor in their online catalog as of March 2013, indicating it was not implemented as planned.
The Tobacco Commission later awarded VI an additional $1.385 million from its reserve fund, as noted on VI's website (since removed as of 2013):
The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission voted to grant the college $1.385 million from its reserve fund... The funding is to support a $2.77 million update and expansion of Science Hall, a three-story classroom facility built in 1963. Science Hall includes general classrooms for biology, chemistry, and mathematics students, a large lecture hall, computer and other laboratories, and faculty offices. The building also is the home at present for business and education classes...
The Science Hall renovation funding was intended to support educational infrastructure. VI also received a $50,000 grant in 2002 and another $150,000 in September 2011, bringing the total to $1.8 million. Despite these efforts, no new jobs were created as a result of the funding (*BHC*, December 8, 2011).
The college’s website can be visited at www.vic.edu (though it is no longer active following the closure).
