Birmingham–Southern College was the result of a 1918 merger of Southern University, founded inGreensboro, Alabama in 1856, with Birmingham College, opened in 1898 inBirmingham, 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 theAlabama 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.
Bill Battle Coliseum, the home court of Birmingham-Southern women's volleyball team, and the women's and men's basketball teams.
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 campus has been for sale since spring 2024. In September 2024, BSC entered into an agreement to sell the campus toMiles College, but after repeated extensions, BSC ended that agreement in November 2024.[5]
Birmingham–Southern competed in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports:[6] 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 theNCAA Division III World Series; the series started on May 31, the day of the closure of the school.[7][8]
