Alabama A&M Inquires About Purchasing Campus of Soon-To-Close Birmingham-Southern College

By Mike Cason | mcason@al.com Alabama A&M University is planning to extend an offer to purchase the campus of Birmingham-Southern College and operate it as the Birmingham branch of the university, which is based in Huntsville. Shannon Reaves, vice president of governmental affairs and external relations at Alabama A&M, said the university is conducting due diligence to prepare to extend an offer. BSC, a private, liberal arts college with roots reaching back 168 years, announced in March that it would close May 31 after efforts to obtain a loan from the state Legislature failed. BSC issued a brief statement Monday in response to a request for comment about Alabama A&M’s plans. “Birmingham-Southern College is having conversations with several interested parties about the sale of the campus,” said Virginia Loftin, BSC vice president for advancement and communications. Reaves said Alabama A&M began conversations with BSC President Daniel Coleman immediately after BSC announced it was closing. Reaves said that if things fall into place and an offer is accepted by the BSC Board of Trustees and approved by the A&M Board, the campus would become Alabama A&M University at Birmingham. Reaves said Alabama A&M sent a team of leaders in academics, student...