Lincoln College, an institution located in the middle of Illinois, is shutting down after being hit by ransomware attack.
Lincoln College in Illinois is set to close permanently this week. It’s believed to be the first U.S. college to shut down, in part, because of a cyberattack. That attack combined with the effects of the pandemic became too much to overcome financially. @perryrussom reports. pic.twitter.com/FCLJTkJHXz
— The News with Shepard Smith (@thenewsoncnbc) May 9, 2022
The 157-year-old college will officially close its doors May 13. This is the first instance of a U.S.-based institution shutting down due to a ransomware attack.
Lincoln College was targeted in the cyber-attack last December, and the aftermath, exacerbated by strains related to COVID-19, proved to be too much for the university to handle.
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The institution — a rural, predominately Black college — addressed the issue on its website.
“The coronavirus pandemic dramatically impacted recruitment and fundraising efforts, sporting events, and all campus life activities,” the statement read. “Furthermore, Lincoln College was a victim of a cyberattack in December 2021 that thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data, creating an unclear picture of Fall 2022 enrollment projections. All systems required for recruitment, retention, and fundraising efforts were inoperable.”
Although the systems were restored in March 2022, the data “displayed significant enrollment shortfalls,” which was the final nail in the coffin.
“The institution has worked tirelessly to strengthen its financial position through fundraising campaigns, selling assets, consolidating employee positions, and exploring alternatives,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, these efforts did not create long-term viability for Lincoln College in the face of the pandemic.”
Lincoln College, chartered in 1865 and one of only a handful of Predominantly Black Institutions in rural America, will on Friday become the first US college to shut down largely due to a ransomware attack https://t.co/keLl6KgveL
— Kevin Collier (@kevincollier) May 9, 2022
It’s worth adding that the school didn’t go down without a fight. Students helped spread the word that the institution was in danger of shutting down, with many people tagging big-name stars online to try and garner financial support for Lincoln College.
“Lincoln College has been a very important part of my life for the last 2 years, and now that’s it’s leaving, it’s making me feel kind of empty” Kareem Burnett, a sophomore at the institution, said.
“Please help our school. From an inside perspective, it has helped me a lot, and I can tell that it has helped a lot of my peers and a lot of my fellow students,” he added.
Listen to his story…our students all have similar stories. Please, please help these students! @mackenziescott @JeffBezos @DollyParton @BillGates @gatesfoundation @POTUS @FLOTUS @VP @CNN @NBCNews @ABC @CBS @FoxNews @MSNBC #savelincolncollege #savelynx #Lynx4Life https://t.co/ZEEsWey4sG
— EnglishProfS (@EnglishProfS) April 7, 2022
Dr. David Gerlach, President of Lincoln College, spoke on the institution’s legacy in the statement.
“Lincoln College has been serving students from across the globe for more than 157 years,” he said. “The loss of history, careers, and a community of students and alumni is immense.”
“Though we are experiencing undeniable grief and sadness, we find comfort in knowing Lincoln College has served generations of alumni who have undoubtedly impacted our world,” Gerlach added.
