Birmingham–Southern College Explained

Birmingham–Southern College
Motto:	Pro Christo et Republica (Latin)
Former Names:	Southern University (1856–1918) Birmingham College (1898–1918)
Established:	(predecessor) (current institution)
President:	Daniel B. Coleman
Undergrad:	975^[1]
Country:	United States
Colors:	Black and Gold
Sports Nickname:	Panthers
Mascot:	Rowdy
Affiliations:	SAA (NCAA Division III)

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.

History

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 on May 31, 2024.^[4]

Academics

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.

Campus

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.

Athletics

See also: Birmingham–Southern Panthers football.

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]}

Notable alumni

• William Acker – United States district judge
• Robert Aderholt – United States congressman from Alabama (1997–present)
• Laurie C. Battle – United States congressman from Alabama (1947–1955)
• Amanda Bearse – actress, best known for her role as Marcy on the television sitcom Married... with Children.^[8]
• Richmond C. Beatty (BA 1926) – academic, biographer and critic^[9]
• Harvie Branscomb – Chancellor, Vanderbilt University (1946–1963)
• Lewis C. Branscomb (1865–1930) – Methodist minister^[10]
• Charles Brooks – Editorial cartoonist
• Pat Buttram – Actor (sidekick of Gene Autry in films, and Mr. Haney in the TV series Green Acres)
• Miles Copeland III – Music and entertainment executive, former manager of The Police and cofounder of I.R.S. Records
• Howard Cruse – Cartoonist
• Charles Gaines – Author, journalist, screenwriter, editor; Cine Gold Eagle Awards, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award
• Alexander Gelman – Theatre Director, Organic Theater Company, Chicago
• Rebecca Gilman – American playwright
• Jennifer Hale – Voice actress
• Walker Hayes – Country singer/songwriter
• Donald Heflin – American diplomat
• Howell Heflin – U.S. Senator from Alabama (1978–1997)
• Perry O. Hooper, Sr. – 27th Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court
• Alexa Jones – former Miss Alabama and news reporter
• Hugh Martin – Broadway and film composer and arranger, including movie musical Meet Me In St. Louis, starring Judy Garland.
• Walter P. McConaughy - Career diplomat and US Ambassador to Burma, South Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan.
• Morgan Murphy – Food critic and author
• Joe Nasco – Professional footballer
• Sena Jeter Naslund – Author
• LaFayette L. Patterson – United States Representative
• Gin Phillips – Novelist
• Howell Raines – Executive editor, The New York Times (2001–2004); Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing, 1992
• Ray Reach – Jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, producer and educator. Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
• Glenn Shadix – American actor
• Daryl Shore – Professional soccer player and coach
• Morgan Smith Goodwin – Actress, spokesperson for Wendy's
• Larry Striplin - college basketball coach and businessman
• Luther Leonidas Terry – Surgeon General of the United States (1961–1965)
• Butch Thompson, college baseball coach^[11]
• Martin Waldron (1925–1981) – Winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
• Ray Wedgeworth – college basketball, football, and baseball coach
• Frederick Palmer Whiddon – President, University of South Alabama (1963–1998)
• Robert Lee Williams – 3rd Governor of Oklahoma (1915–1919)
• John H. Yardley – Pathologist

Further reading

• Joseph H. Parks and Oliver C. Weaver, Birmingham-Southern College, 1856–1956. Nashville, TN: Parthenon Press, 1957.

External links

• • Official athletics website

Notes and References

1. Web site: College Navigator – Birmingham-Southern College . Nces.ed.gov . 2022-05-08.
2. Web site: Birmingham-Southern Common Data Set. 2024-05-31.
3. Spring 1938 . Birmingham-Southern Chapter Installed . Ownbey . E. Sydney . . 3 . 2 . 5.
4. Web site: A Private Liberal Arts College Is Drowning In Debt. Should Alabama Rescue It? . 2024-03-26 . Emily Cochrane. .
5. Web site: Birmingham-Southern College . BSC Basics . November 26, 2013.
6. News: Li . David . May 25, 2024 . Birmingham-Southern College folds, but baseball team very much alive and headed to College World Series . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240527172409/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/birmingham-southern-college-folds-baseball-team-much-alive-headed-coll-rcna153569 . May 27, 2024 . May 28, 2024 . NBC News.
7. News: Allen . Scott . May 31, 2024 . World Series run brings joy to closing college: 'To us, they've already won' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240605004528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/31/birmingham-southern-college-world-series/ . June 5, 2024 . June 5, 2024 . The Washington Post.
8. http://www.watermarkonline.com/2013/04/10/married-with-children-star-reminisces-about-her-childhood-in-winter-park/ Married With Children star reminisces about her childhood in Winter Park
9. Web site: Richmond C. Beatty. Guggenheim Foundation. October 23, 2017.
10. News: Injuries Sustained In Accident Fatal To Dr. Branscomb. Widely Known Methodist Leader Dies In Jasper Hospital. Held Pastorate In Anniston. Was President of Alabama Anti-Saloon League. December 23, 2017. The Anniston Star. October 30, 1930.
11. Web site: Auburn hires Butch Thompson as baseball coach. Auburn Tigers. April 8, 2023. October 22, 2015.