Despite facing financial challenges, the baseball team at Birmingham-Southern College has advanced to the DIII College World Series. The Panthers will play in the series on May 31 in Eastlake, Ohio, after defeating Denison University 7-6 on Saturday.
The private liberal arts college in Alabama was established in 1918 through a merger of Southern University and Birmingham College. It has 1,283 students and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. However, like many small private colleges in the United States, Birmingham-Southern has dealt with higher operating costs and lower revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of anticipated revenue from dormitory housing and meal plans combined with ongoing inflation worsened the situation for the college.
Efforts to secure a $30 million loan from the state were unsuccessful, with Alabama treasurer Young Boozer III citing that taxpayer money should not be used to bail out a private college. The blame for the college’s financial woes was placed on management and board of trustees, leading to their decision to vote for closure in March.
Despite its impending closure, Birmingham-Southern’s baseball team continues to excel on the field. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover their travel expenses and purchase championship rings for them after they win the series. As of mid-afternoon on Sunday, over $59,000 had been raised in donations.
Looking ahead, colleges are facing uncertain times with enrollment declining due to a decline in birth rates during the Great Recession and an increase in tuition costs. This period is known as the enrollment cliff and will impact colleges from 2025 to 2037. With a smaller pool of applicants competing for spots at universities, enrollments are likely to decrease further leading to higher discount rates on tuition prices.
The prospect of compensating athletes becoming a reality adds another challenge for schools during this time. This could lead schools to seek public assistance from their states or explore new funding sources such as corporate sponsorships or partnerships.
As Birmingham-Southern prepares for its final days as an institution, it is clear that even small private colleges face significant financial challenges during these uncertain times
