Birmingham-Southern College ends operations after 168 years
A liberal arts college in Alabama with ties to theUnited Methodist Church will close in May after the end of the current academic year due to financial difficulties. The Birmingham-Southern College Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to close the school on May 31, following the failure of state legislation that would have secured access to a loan program.
BSC Board of Trustees Chairman Rev. Keith Thompson said in a statement after the vote that it was a tragic day for the College, our students, staff and alumni, and an outcome so many opposed many people worked tirelessly to avoid.
BSC will continue normal operations, including classes, athletics and extracurricular activities, Thompson said. As board president, proud alumnus, parent of three sons who attended BSC, and former BSC staff member, I want you to know that I share your grief, anger, and frustration over the devastating loss of this 168-year-old treasure, he added.
In a frequently asked questions page, the college said that in recent years BSC has struggled to stabilize its finances through a series of leadership changes and challenges. The college has focused on raising unrestrictive operating funds and has relied too much on its dwindling endowment without making significant progress in increasing it.
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