Bob Jones University, the conservative Christian school in Greenville, S.C., has apologized for its racist past, the Associated Press reported.

Posted on the school’s Web site is a “Statement about Race at Bob Jones University,” which says its policies were shaped “for far too long” by “the segregationist ethos of American culture” rather than by scriptural principles.

“In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves,” the statement reads. “For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.”

The school did not admit African-American students before 1971 and did not lift its policy against interracial dating until 2000.

The Associated Press noted that the president of the South Carolina NAACP welcomed the statement, which was posted on the university’s Web site on Thursday.

“It’s unfortunate it took them this long – particularly a religious, faith-based institution – to realize that we all are human beings and the rights of all people should be respected and honored,” said Lonnie Randolph, president of the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.