UPDATED — Miles College may have interest in the campus of Birmingham-Southern College, which announced this week that it will close at the end of May.

“At this time, we do not have a formal plan to pursue the BSC campus,”
Miles College President Bobbie Knight told BirminghamWatch. “As a Miles College community made up of faculty, students and families, our primary focus has been to support and address the needs of the BSC community.

“Now that a resolution has been reached regarding BSC,” Knight said, “we look forward to a dialogue regarding the future of the campus.”

Other colleges and universities expressed no interest in the BSC property after it was announced the college would close after 168 years because of financial difficulties.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham offered a one-sentence response about their interest, which read, “UAB has no plans to acquire the property.”

Corena Cottles, executive director of communications for Highlands College, said there are no current plans to pursue the BSC property.

“At this time, we’re not considering that,” she said. “We have the same concerns that their students have had. We just empathize with the situation that’s there. But at this time, we don’t.”

Auburn University also said in a statement that it would not be interested in the property.

Reaching Out to Students

Several Alabama colleges and universities are stepping forward to help BSC students find new educational homes and in some cases scholarships, including Miles, schools in the University of Alabama System, Auburn University and the Mississippi University for Women.

Miles College posted via X that it will adjust its application deadlines to accommodate affected Birmingham-Southern students. “BSC students interested in transferring to Miles College are encouraged to apply for transfer as soon as possible,” the post read.

While UAB has no plans to acquire the ‘Southern property, it and the rest of the University of Alabama System is making accommodations to accept Birmingham-Southern students as seamlessly as possible. A statement from the UA System expressed gratitude for Birmingham-Southern College’s distinguished contributions over the past 168 years and sadness for the college’s announced closure.

“The University of Alabama System is fully committed to supporting Birmingham-Southern students in this time of transition and ensuring they have the opportunity to remain in-state and receive an excellent educational experience,” a press release read. “As such, the UA System will offer an expedited transfer process to eligible students currently enrolled at Birmingham-Southern College.”

According to the release, any Birmingham-Southern student interested in transferring to a UA System institution will receive waived application fees and expedited review and credit transfer processing, if eligible. Each UA System institution will work with accepted students on an individual basis to create a competitive financial aid package to the greatest extent possible based on available funding and student eligibility.

“UA System campuses will maximize Birmingham-Southern students’ transfer credits to help work toward timely degree completion,” the release read. “Academic advisors and discipline-specific program personnel will work closely with affected students to apply their credits to the appropriate degree program and facilitate the transfer process based on each eligible student’s unique needs.”

Deadlines will be adjusted to accommodate affected students. Birmingham-Southern students interested in transferring to a UA System institution can apply for transfer as soon as possible.

Likewise, Auburn University is offering expedited assistance to Birmingham-Southern College students amid the college’s recently announced closure.

Among offerings to BSC students is an accelerated review to attend Auburn’s summer and fall 2024 semesters. The application fee for Auburn will be waived to displaced BSC students, and exclusive virtual appointments and availability to connect with members of Auburn’s admissions committee are being made available online.

“True to Auburn’s land-grant mission, we are fully committed to assisting BSC students who would like to transfer to Auburn,” Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts said. “We will demonstrate our support for these students by providing the opportunity to remain in Alabama and continue in their academic pursuits at Auburn.”

Auburn also is offering scholarships of up to $4,000 per year for eligible students at its Montgomery campus.

In addition to quick reviews and waived application fees, Auburn’s admissions office will also attend a transfer fair at BSC on April 5.“We are here to do all we can to help ease this time of transition for BSC students amid a situation that is beyond their control,” said Joffery Gaymon, Auburn’s vice president for enrollment.

MUW also is offereing scholarships of up to $2,000-$5,500 and no application fees to displaced BSC students.

“I am saddened by the closure of Birmingham Southern College, a liberal arts college with 168 years of history,” wrote President Nora Miller in a statement. “It’s a sad day for their students, faculty, staff, alumni and the city of Birmingham.”

BSC officials also are working with students to help them find new campuses and financial aid.

BSC’s board voted Tuesday to close the college campus as of May 31 after it became clear that a bill before the Legislature that could have made loans available to the house were not likely to pass the House of Representatives. The decision capped an 18-month effort to save the historic college through a fundraising campaign and private and government loans.