Roanoke College prepares to welcome Birmingham-Southern students

The impending closure of Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama is a heartbreaking development for students, employees, alumni and friends of the 168-year-old liberal arts institution. The Roanoke College family grieves this profound loss, and our hearts are with those who will be impacted.

Roanoke College stands ready to welcome Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) students who will be left unmoored by the closure. We know those students are eager to continue their pursuit of a high-quality, inclusive liberal arts education. Our administration is now finalizing the terms of a teach-out agreement that will facilitate a smooth transition to Roanoke for BSC students who wish to continue their education at a similar institution. 

Under the terms of the teach-out agreement, any BSC student who is in good academic standing will be automatically accepted to Roanoke so long as it offers the degree or program they seek. For BSC students, Roanoke will waive application fees and the residency requirement for credits, accept all regular term units or credits earned, and offer net tuition and fees that are comparable to those at BSC. Roanoke commits to helping those students complete their degrees on time.  

Any BSC student interested in exploring academic options may visit our Admissions page and contact our Admissions Office at transfer@roanoke.edu. More information about academic programs can be found here.  

In addition, Roanoke’s Athletic Department is prepared to welcome BSC student-athletes with remaining NCAA eligibility who wish to continue playing their sport as Roanoke College Maroons. Students with questions about Roanoke College athletics may contact Jennifer Crouch at jcrouch@roanoke.edu.

Kathy Wolfe, Roanoke’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, noted that “We were saddened to hear that Birmingham-Southern did not receive the financial support it needed to continue operating. Every small liberal arts college that goes is one more hole in the fabric of the education we so sorely need for our communities and for our democracy. Roanoke and Birmingham-Southern are similar colleges in many ways, and we warmly welcome students who may wish to complete their degrees with us, and staff and faculty members seeking new opportunities.” 

Roanoke College   

Located in Salem, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke College is an independent, four-year liberal arts college that has served students since 1842. Its campus is devoted to providing essential learning and leadership through innovative academic programs and transformative educational experiences that give students the mettle, mindset, and empathy to pursue lives of purpose, build meaningful careers, and meet society’s most pressing needs. Roanoke.edu