Birmingham–Southern College
Former names
Southern University (1856–1918)
Birmingham College (1898–1918)
MottoPro Christo et Republica (Latin)
TypePrivate college
Established1856 (1856) (predecessor)
May 30, 1918 (1918-05-30) (current institution)
PresidentDaniel B. Coleman
Undergraduates975[1]
Location
Birmingham
,
Alabama
,
United States
CampusUrban
ColorsBlack and Gold
   
NicknamePanthers
AffiliationsSAA (NCAA Division III)
MascotRowdy
Websitewww.bsc.edu

Birmingham–Southern College (BSC) is a private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1856, the college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). More than 1300 students from 33 states and 16 foreign countries attend the college.[2]

History

Ginkgo Tree by Munger Hall

Birmingham–Southern College is 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. Only ten percent of the nation's institutions of higher education shelter Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and Birmingham–Southern College is one of only three sheltering institutions in the state of Alabama.

Presidents

Edwards Bell Tower and the academic quad
  • 1918–21: Cullen C. Daniel
  • 1921–37: Guy E. Snavely
  • 1938–42: Raymond R. Paty
  • 1942–55: George R. Stuart
  • 1955–57: Guy E. Snavely
  • 1957–62: Henry King Stanford
  • 1963–68: Howard M. Phillips
  • 1968–69: Robert F. Henry
  • 1969–72: Charles D. Hounshell
  • 1972–75: Ralph M. Tanner
  • 1976–2004: Neal R. Berte
  • 2004–10: G. David Pollick
  • 2011–15: Charles C. Krulak
  • 2015–2016: Edward F. Leonard III
  • 2016–2018: Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith
  • 2018–present: Daniel B. Coleman

Academics

The college currently offers 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 is situated on 192 wooded acres three miles west of downtown Birmingham. The college has 45 academic, residential, administrative, and athletics buildings/facilities. Some highlights:

Elton B. Stephens Science Center: Housing the natural sciences, the 100,000-square-foot, $24.1 million Stephens Science Center.[3]

Stephens Science Center

Norton Campus Center: The hub of campus, the Norton Campus Center houses the bookstore, cafeteria, post office, and student lounge areas as well as offices for student development, residence life, and counseling and health services.

Munger Memorial Hall: The architectural centerpiece of campus, Munger Hall, built in the 1920s, houses administrative offices and a 900-seat auditorium.

Berte Humanities Center: Named in honor of former BSC President Neal Berte, the Humanities Center opened in 2004 and houses the foreign languages lab, the academic resource center (ARC), and classrooms designed for BSC's small student-to-faculty ratio.

College Theatre: With a split-revolve-lift stage, the main theatre can host a variety of set designs.

Lakeview Residence Halls: The first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) residence halls in Alabama, Lakeview North and South opened in 2010 and offer suite-style living for upperclass students.[4]

Lakeview Dorm South

Hilltop Village Apartments: Recently renovated, the Hilltop Village apartment complex contains sixteen buildings that house approximately 350 students.

Urban Environmental Park

Urban Environmental Park: The Urban Environmental Park features the 1.5-acre pond, walking paths, and Wi-Fi internet.

N.E Miles Library: The N.E. Miles Library includes a collection of 257,000 volumes, 57,000 government documents, and more than 20,000 recordings, compact discs, and DVDs. More than 135 online databases provide access to the full text of over 40,000 periodicals and numerous e-books. The library also features an auditorium, study areas, conference rooms, and an electronic classroom.[5]

Striplin Fitness and Recreation Center: The main facility for campus recreation, Striplin features two basketball courts, an indoor jogging track, racquetball courts, a golf simulator, an indoor swimming pool, and strength training and cardiovascular workout rooms.

Athletics

Bill Battle Coliseum, the home court of Birmingham-Southern women's volleyball team, and the women's and men's basketball teams.

Birmingham–Southern athletic teams are the Panthers. The college is a member of the Division III level 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 of the Division I ranks of the NCAA 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 competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports:[6] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "College Navigator – Birmingham-Southern College". Nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  2. ↑ "About Birmingham-Southern". Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  3. ↑ Birmingham-Southern College. "The Elton B. Stephens Science Center". Archived from the original on 2014-01-30. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Birmingham-Southern College. "Birmingham-Southern's new residence halls are first on a college campus in Alabama to achieve LEED certification". Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  5. ↑ Birmingham-Southern College. "About the BSC Library". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  6. ↑ Birmingham-Southern College. "BSC Basics". Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Married With Children star reminisces about her childhood in Winter Park from The Watermark, 10 April 2013
  8. ↑ "Richmond C. Beatty". Guggenheim Foundation. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "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". The Anniston Star. October 30, 1930. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Auburn hires Butch Thompson as baseball coach". Auburn Tigers. October 22, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

Further reading

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