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Former Methodist university in Birmingham, Alabama, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birmingham–Southern College (BSC) was a private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1856, the college was affiliated with the United Methodist Church and was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The college's student body was approximately 975 students when it closed.[2] The college closed at the end of the 2023–24 school year after years of financial trouble.
| |
Former names | Southern University (1856–1918) Birmingham College (1898–1918) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Pro Christo et Republica (Latin) |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Active | 1856 (predecessor) May 30, 1918 (current institution)–May 31, 2024 |
| President | Daniel B. Coleman |
| Undergraduates | 975[1] |
| Location | , , United States |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Nickname | Panthers |
| Affiliations | SAA (NCAA Division III) |
| Mascot | Rowdy |
| Website | www |
 | |
Birmingham–Southern College was the result of a merger of Southern University, founded in Greensboro, Alabama, in 1856, with Birmingham College, opened in 1898 in Birmingham, Alabama. These two institutions were consolidated on May 30, 1918, under the name of Birmingham–Southern College. Phi Beta Kappa recognized Birmingham–Southern in 1937, establishing the Alabama Beta chapter.[3]
In the 21st century, the school suffered from financial troubles, due to errors in accounting and dwindling enrollment. Although the school explored many avenues to keep the school open, including seeking assistance from the Alabama legislature, the school's board of trustees voted to close the college at the end of the 2023–24 school year, May 31, 2024.[4]
The college offered five bachelor's degrees in more than 50 programs of study, as well as interdisciplinary and individualized majors and dual-degree programs.
The campus was situated on 192 wooded acres three miles west of downtown Birmingham. The college had 45 academic, residential, administrative, and athletics buildings/facilities.
The Birmingham–Southern athletic teams were called the Panthers. The college was a member of the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) since the 2012–13 academic year. The Panthers previously competed in the D-III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) from 2007–08 to 2011–12; in the Big South Conference within the NCAA Division I ranks from 2001–02 to 2006–07; and in the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1996–97 to 2000–01.
Birmingham–Southern competed in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports:[5] men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports included basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.
The baseball team was 13–10 in the middle of the 2024 season prior to the announcement of closure at the end of the season. They proceeded to go 19–4 and win the super regionals of the 2024 NCAA tournament to advance as one of the final eight teams in the NCAA Division III World Series; the series started on May 31, the day of the closure of the school.[6][7]
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