Birmingham-Southern College

Infobox_University
name = BSC: Birmingham-Southern College


motto = Pro Christo et Republica
established = 1856
type = Private
President = G. David Pollick
undergrad = Approximately 1600
city = Birmingham
state = Alabama
country = USA
campus = 192 wooded acres three miles west of downtown Birmingham
endowment = US $284,398,700
colors = black and gold
mascot = Panther
website = [http://www.bsc.edu/ www.bsc.edu]

Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) is a 4-year, private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. As of 2005 approximately 1500 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries were enrolled at the college.

History

Birmingham-Southern College is the result of a merger of Southern University, founded in Greensboro, Alabama, in 1856, with Birmingham College, opened in 1898 in Birmingham, Alabama. These two institutions were consolidated on May 30, 1918, under the name of Birmingham-Southern College.

In 1824, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church recommended that each conference establish a seminary of learning under its regulation and patronage. Not until 1854 did the Alabama Conference undertake to carry out this recommendation of the superior body. In that year, a committee was appointed to select a site for the proposed college and to procure funds for its establishment and maintenance. The charter was granted by the State of Alabama on January 25, 1856, and the first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on March 17, 1856; January 25 is therefore known as Charter Day for the College, and March 17 has been designated as Founder’s Day.

After the State was divided into two Methodist conferences, the North Alabama Conference, in 1883, joined with the Alabama Conference in the support of Southern University.

At the session of the North Alabama Conference held at Tuscaloosa in November 1896, work was begun toward establishing a college within the bounds of this conference. In the fall of 1897, the foundation for the first building was laid in Birmingham. In April 1898, a president was elected and a faculty was chosen and organized. The Conference then surrendered its interest in Southern University and, in September 1898, the North Alabama Conference College (later named Birmingham College) opened its doors to students.

For twenty years the two colleges were maintained by the Methodists of Alabama. Finally, on May 30, 1918, through their appointed commissioners, the two conferences consolidated these institutions under the name of Birmingham-Southern College. With no loss of time from the regular work at either place, the consolidation was effected, and the new institution opened its doors in Birmingham on September 11, 1918. Since that time, Birmingham-Southern College has grown rapidly and is now a fully accredited institution in every way.

Birmingham-Southern has consistently sought academic distinction. In 1937, its standards were recognized by the nation’s leading academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, which granted the College a charter to establish Alabama Beta.

Campus

The wooded 192 acre (780,000 m²) campus is located three miles (5 km) west of downtown Birmingham, Alabama. There are 45 buildings in all, and 25 of them have been renovated since 1976. There are many new facilities since 1998 including the Striplin Fitness Center, Norton Campus Center, the Elton B. Stephens Science Center of 100,000 square feet (9,000 m²), and the new fraternity row. The new Admissions House was completed for the beginning of the 2007-08 academic year, while construction continues on a lake area, "The Falls", on the extreme western end of campus. The United Methodist Center (located behind the soccer field) was completed in 2004 and holds the offices of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Academics

Birmingham-Southern has often been ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in the United States [" [http://www.bsc.edu/communications/accolades.htm Recent Accolades] " page at BSC.edu - accessed June 22, 2008] and was profiled in Loren Pope's "Colleges That Change Lives".

Beginning in September 2001 Birmingham-Southern introduced a "Foundations" curriculum which aims to integrate academic disciplines around common methodologies and a common body of knowledge.

Courses of study

Birmingham-Southern offers disciplinary majors in Accounting, Art, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Dance, Economics, Education, Engineering, English, Environmental Studies, French, German, History, Mathematics, Music, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Spanish, and Theatre Arts.

In addition, the school offers multi-disciplinary majors in Asian Studies; Biology & Psychology; Computer Science & Mathematics; English & Theatre Arts; History & Political Science; International Studies; Musical Theatre; Philosophy, Politics & Economics; Religion & Philosophy; Sociology & Political Science; and Sociology & Psychology

Birmingham-Southern offers numerous academic minors, including Art History, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Creative Writing, Computer Science, Dance, Economics, English Literature, French, German, History, Journalism, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Sociology, Spanish, Studio Art, and Theatre Arts as well as multi-disciplinary minors in Asian Studies, Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies.

Academic calendar

There are two semesters and an interim term in January. Unique to BSC, interim is an opportunity for internships, hands-on research, leadership studies, study abroad, or any other unique experience.

National Honor Societies

Birmingham-Southern is a sheltering institution for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and is home to 20 other honorary or professional societies in various academic areas. The college established a new chapter of the business honorary Beta Gamma Sigma in 2003, joining 375 other schools, all accredited in business through AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, that honor top students by inducting them into lifetime membership in the society. Birmingham-Southern is one of only six baccalaureate-liberal arts institutions in the country to hold both AACSB International accreditation and the designation of Phi Beta Kappa and one of only six to hold Phi Beta Kappa and house a Beta Gamma Sigma chapter.

College Social Traditions

SOCO weekendis the college's traditional campus wide spring band party. BSC has seen bands such as Umphrey's McGee, and Blues Traveler, North Mississippi Allstars, O.A.R., Naughty by Nature.

E Fest weekendis the college's traditional campus wide fall band party.BSC has seen bands such as Ben Folds, Pat Green, and Drive-By Truckers, Ying Yang Twins.

Interfraternity Block Partyis an all day party on fraternity row to recognize the new members of the Greek system. All fraternity houses are open all day for the celebration, and most houses host a band party at night open to all students.

Greek Life

The majority of students entering BSC join a fraternity or sorority during their first year. While certain aspects of these groups are exclusive to members only, there are many social activities sponsored for all students, Greek or non-Greek. Initiation into a fraternity or sorority follows certain traditions closely, and involves getting acquainted with the different aspects of the sororities or fraternities. New students are then selected by the officers of the group to be initiated. First year members are know as “pledges” and go through processes of recruitment and initiation. Many students enjoy Greek life because it creates a sense of “brotherhood” or “sisterhood” within the members, while establishing a firm social network of potential friends. The main functions of fraternities and sororities are organizing social events and service projects, and members often meet in their group houses, called “Fraternity houses” and “Sorority houses”.

ororities

* Zeta Tau Alpha 1922
* Alpha Omicron Pi 1925
* Alpha Chi Omega 1926
* Pi Beta Phi 1927-1989, recolonized
* Gamma Phi Beta 1930 (closed 1957)
* Kappa Delta 1930
* Delta Zeta 1963 (closed 1974)
* Chi Omega 1989

Fraternities

* Theta Chi
* Alpha Tau Omega
* Kappa Alpha Order 1882
* Sigma Nu
* Sigma Chi
* Sigma Alpha Epsilon 1878

Athletics

The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and its member institutions are committed to maintaining high academic standards. The member institutions are committed to the principle that a quality college athletics program is beneficial to the well-being of an institution in that it benefits the entire campus community as well as the student-athletes.

Construction for Birmingham-Southern's new athletic complex began in February 2007. Land has been cleared for the complex across from the BSC Softball Complex. The stadium will feature state-of-the-art artificial turf with an eight lane regulation track surrounding the field. An athletic building will be constructed that will include a press box, coach’s offices, meeting rooms, an athletic training room, official’s dressing room and locker rooms for football, lacrosse, track and field, and cross country.Since there is construction,Birmingham-Southern won't be in the Big South like they used to be.

Noted Birmingham-Southern College alumni

* Robert Aderholt
United States Congressman from Alabama (1997- )
* Larry Striplin, Jr. C.E.O. of Nelson Brantley Glass Contractors, Inc, and C.E.O. of American Fine Wire
* C. Dowd Ritter CEO of AmSouth Bancorporation
* Howell RainesExecutive Editor, The New York Times
Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing, 1992
* Carol NewsomCharles Howard Candler Professor of Old Testament, Emory UniversityScholar, Author, Editor
* Charles GainesAuthor, journalist, screenwriter, editorCine Gold Eagle Awards, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Award
* James G. O'Quinn, D.Min., CSOTPOrdained United Methodist Minister, Forensic Counselor, Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Certified Domestic Violence Counselor
* Alexander GelmanTheatre Director
* Rebecca Gilman
American Playwright
* Richard D. deShazoProfessor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Chair of the Department of Medicine, and Director of the Division of Allergy/ Immunology, University of Mississippi School of MedicinePresident, Association of Professors of MedicinePresident, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
* Frank B. YeildingChairman, Jefferson Federal Savings & Loan Association, BirminghamPresident, U. S. Savings & Loan League
* Nancy Huddleston PackerProfessor of English, Stanford UniversityDinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education, Stanford University, 1977Author
Commonwealth Club of California Book Award, 1976
O. Henry Awards: Prize Stories, 1969, 1981
* Dr. Donald C. HarrisonSenior Vice President and Provost for Health Affairs, University of Cincinnati Medical CenterPresident, American Heart AssociationCo-Director, Falk Cardiovascular Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine
* Frank C. OsmentExecutive Vice President and Director, AmocoVice President, Standard OilDirector, Harris Bancorp and McGraw-Edison Corporation
* Dr. John H. YardleyProfessor of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
*Dr. Harvie BranscombChancellor, Vanderbilt University
* Herbert B. WestPresident, The New York Community Trust Foundation
* Dr. Thomas K. Hearn, Jr.President, Wake Forest University
* The Rt. Rev. Robert O. MillerFormer Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
* Mr. Richard I. KirklandManaging Editor, Fortune Magazine
* Dr. Richard L. RowanProfessor of Industry, Co-Director, Center For Human Resources, and Chairman, Labor Relations Council, Wharton School, University of PennsylvaniaMember, Committee on International Investment, U. S. State Department
* Dr. Frederick Palmer WhiddonPresident, University of South Alabama, 1963-1998
* Howell HeflinU.S. Senator, 1978-1997
* Brooke LaBarberaCast member of MTV's
* Dr. Rachel Mathes, distinguished operatic soprano, currently Professor of Music in the UAB Department of Music.
* Ray Reach, noted jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, producer and educator. Formerly (1998-2005) director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble and music instructor at UAB. Currently Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Noted Birmingham-Southern College staff

Professors
*Dr. Charles Norman Mason, composer and Birmingham-Southern College professor of music, was awarded the prestigious Samuel Barber Rome Prize in Musical Composition during ceremonies April 14 2005 in New York City. [http://www.aarome.org/rome_prize/2006winners.htm#mc]

=Faculty=Birmingham-Southern has a 12:1 student to faculty ratio, and of the full-time members of the faculty, more than 92 percent hold either a doctoral degree or the highest degree in their field.

College Presidents

Birmingham-Southern College

* 2004–Present: G. David Pollick
* 1976–2004: Neal R. Berte
* 1972–1975: Ralph M. Tanner
* 1969–1972: Charles D. Hounshell
* 1968–1969: Robert F. Henry
* 1963–1968: Howard M. Phillips
* 1957–1962: Henry K. Stanford
* 1955–1957: Guy E. Snavely
* 1942–1955: George R. Stuart
* 1938–1942: Raymond R. Paty
* 1921–1937: Guy E. Snavely
* 1918–1921: Cullen C. Daniel

Points of interest

The Southern Environmental Center is an environmental educational facility located on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College. Each year, hundreds of school children tour the facility's Interactive Museum and EcoScape.

External links

* [http://www.bsc.edu Birmingham-Southern College website]
* [http://www.bsc.edu/folklore/index.htm BSC Campus Folklore]