Sweet Briar: The Crack in the Faberge Egg March 10th, 2015 The decision by the Board of Trustees of Sweet Briar College to close its doors on August 25 shocked the American higher education community. In announcing its decision, Sweet Briar officials noted the lack of interest from applicants to women’s colleges like Sweet Briar, a declining interest in liberal arts colleges, and a growing unwillingness to attend rural colleges.