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NEW: Alabama A&M offers $52 million for BSC campus
After much speculation, Alabama A&M University confirmed a $52 million offer to purchase the campus of Birmingham-Southern College for use as a satellite campus for the HBCU.
Officials with AAMU confirmed that the offer was made earlier this week.
Alabama A&M in Birmingham?
Alabama A&M is interested in the BSC campus for a number of reasons.
A considerable number of AAMU alumni live in Birmingham, and roughly 10 percent of the student body is from Birmingham, so having a Birmingham campus would make sense.
As well, the university’s enrollment has increased significantly and another campus would open the door for even more expansion.
According to a report by the Birmingham Business Journal, the assessed value of Birmingham-Southern stand at around $55 million with an assessed liquidation value of $25 million.
If AAMU’s offer is accepted, about 1,000 of their students would be at the BSC campus by the fall of 2025, according to the BBJ report. As well, AAMU would retain the faculty and staff already employed by BSC.
What’s next?
When the news broke in late April about A&M’s intention to purchase BSC, Senator Rodger Smitherman, who represents Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) told Bham Now several schools and a consortium are also working to purchase the school.
“Miles College, Alabama State and a consortium of HBCUs are also vying to purchase the school as well. The main thing is that we get back to the economic impact that Birmingham-Southern provided, and we make sure that we won’t have any abandoned buildings in that part of our city.”
Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham)
Officials with Birmingham-Southern College — which will cease operations May 31 — have not said when an offer for the 192-acre campus would be accepted or if a transaction deadline has been put in place.
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