STATE SENATOR: Alabama A&M, Miles College + more HBCUs in talks to purchase BSC

The senator who represents Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) has told Bham Now several schools and a consortium are working to purchase the beleaguered liberal arts college.

“Miles College, Alabama State and a consortium of HBCUs are also vying to purchase the school as well,” said longtime Senator Rodger Smitherman.

BSC closing its doors

In March, BSC’s Board of Trustees announced the 168-year-old college is closing its doors on May 31, 2024.

Smitherman’s statement comes on the heels of multiple media reports and confirmation by Bham Now’s sister publication Hville Blast, that Alabama A&M University is in talks with BSC.

“The main thing is that we get back to the economic impact that Birmingham-Southern provided, and we make sure that we won’t have any abandoned buildings in that part of our city,” added Senator Smitherman.

Encouraging news for the community

Birmingham City Councilor Carol Clarke, who also represents the school, was encouraged by the news that there are schools interested in purchasing the college. 

“I don’t want the campus to go dark because then we’ll have a very difficult situation on our hands,” Clarke told Bham Now.

This is a developing story