College plans to close due to financial difficulties
Birmingham-Southern College will close on May 31 after a nearly 18-month fight to keep the liberal arts school open.
BSC’s Board of Trustees voted to shut the school down after legislative leaders told them that a bill to extend the private school a $30 million loan was unlikely to pass the Alabama House of Representatives.
“This is a tragic day for the College, our students, our employees, and our alumni,” said Board Chair Rev. Keith D. Thompson in a statement. “But it is also a terrible day for Birmingham, for the neighborhoods who have surrounded our campus for more than 100 years, and for Alabama.”
BSC faced declining enrollment and poor finances stemming from overbuilding, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. It had sought a bridge loan from the Legislature to continue operations.
The school said in a statement that it is making arrangements to maximize credit transfers for students.
“We are putting students first, and we will do everything we can to help them find the best place to continue their path to graduation,” said Provost Dr. Laura K. Stultz in a statement.
The school said arrangements will be made for a small group of seniors planning to graduate Summer 2024 to finish their degrees. Meetings are scheduled with employees over the next few days.
Natalie Davis, a professor emerita of the college who had been there for 45 years, said Tuesday that she had received a “slew” of texts from former students.
“It’s a sad day for the college,” she said.
Doug Turner, an alumnus of the school who had been involved in organizing alumni during the 2023 legislative session, said that he doesn’t understand how the Legislature could have passed something last year but couldn’t support it this year.
“I guess that means that you don’t really care what your constituents think or you don’t think they’re watching,” he said.
Ellen Potts, an alumna and executive director of the Tuscaloosa Habitat for Humanity, said that “it’s a sad day
COVID-19 vaccines around the world.”
“Compared to other legislators. He’s been quite active in a positive way.”
Britt’s score is mainly a result of her short amount of time in Congress.
“We’ve only had one year of data for her,” Iancu said, adding that Britt will have “lots of opportunities for her to distinguish herself” as C4IP “have to keep watching and see what she does.” Britt’s ‘C’ implies that she has neither major support nor opposition of any legislation relating to intellectual property during her time in the Senate.
“For these two senators, and frankly, any other member of Congress, if you are pro-innovation, you need to be pro-IP,” Iancu said. “Anybody who wants to increase American innovation to increase American creative output needs to be pro-IP and make their positions known.”
Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser.