Amidst financial challenges, Birmingham-Southern College has managed to keep its baseball team in the DIII College World Series. Despite its closure on May 31, the Panthers will play in the series after defeating Denison University 7-6 on Saturday. The college, established in 1918 through a merger of Southern University and Birmingham College, has 1,283 students and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on small private colleges like Birmingham-Southern. With higher operating costs and lower revenues from dormitory housing and meal plans, the college has faced significant financial challenges. 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 management and board of trustees were blamed for the college’s financial woes, leading to their decision to vote for closure in March.
Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to support the baseball team’s travel expenses. A GoFundMe page has raised over $59,000 in donations as of mid-afternoon on Sunday. Additionally, funds will go towards purchasing championship rings for the team.
As colleges face uncertain times with enrollment declining from 2025 to 2037 due to a decline in the college-aged population resulting from lower birth rates during the Great Recession, schools are likely to seek public assistance from their states in order to compete for a smaller pool of applicants and attract students with higher discount rates on tuition. The prospect of compensating athletes is also expected to add further financial challenges for colleges during this period.
