Some 63 students displaced by the closure of Birmingham-Southern College last year are poised to graduate this week from Samford University, which made special accommodations for granting course credits and financial assistance to crosstown transfers.
A group of those soon-to-be graduates returned to their former campus Tuesday evening (April 29) for the traditional ringing of the Birmingham-Southern senior bell.
Samford President Beck A. Taylor praised BSC transfers for their resilience and adaptability during the past year.
Subscribe to The Alabama Baptist today and start receiving it right at your doorstep!
“With respect for Birmingham-Southern enjoying a long, rich history in our community, Samford prioritized taking extraordinary efforts to help students with their transfer decisions. This particularly impacted members of a senior class who faced a compressed timetable,” Taylor said.
“We don’t always know why God redirects us, but we know He is present and guiding us,” he noted. “Samford is grateful for the lifelong connections formed with these former BSC students, and we hope graduation brings a sense of fulfillment and renewal.”
700 students facing uncertainty
When Birmingham-Southern closed in May 2024, more than 700 remaining students faced uncertainty. Ultimately, 151 undergraduates transferred to Samford, where administrators sought accreditation waivers from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to help newcomers maintain their degree paths.
As part of a teach-out agreement to assist Birmingham-Southern transfers, Samford pledged to:
- Waive admission application fees and deadlines.
- Provide matching financial aid packages so that the net tuition at Samford was the same or less as students would have paid at Birmingham-Southern.
- Waive the undergraduate degree standard that required students to complete 50% of their credits at Samford.
- Accept all earned credit awarded by Birmingham-Southern, evaluating course-by-course exceptions to keep transfers on a comparable degree path.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Samford University.
Share with others: