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GENERAL INFORMATION
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2016-2017
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At Birmingham-Southern College we take pride in our tradition of providing a high-
quality liberal arts education; we are proud of our continued ability to take a flexible
approach to maintaining proven educational goals and standards; and we value mutual
respect among all segments of our college population. The information in this Catalog
will help future students to understand our degree requirements, curriculum, and co-
curricular activities, and will assist current students in taking full advantage of all that
Birmingham-Southern College has to offer.
HONOR CODE
Members of the Birmingham-Southern College community operate under an Honor
Code, pledging they will not lie, cheat, or steal. One of the Student Government
Association’s most significant responsibilities is the selection of the Honor Council,
which handles any cases involving students who are accused of violating the Honor
Code. If it determines that a student has violated the Honor Code, the Council imposes
appropriate penalties. This process helps to maintain the academic integrity of the entire
college community. Through this system of self-governance, students play an integral
role in providing a campus atmosphere of profound trust in which each individual may
develop intellectually and socially with maturity and a sense of self-esteem. Since high
standards of conduct are essential for the well-being of the total community, and since
violations could result in penalties ranging from reprimand to dismissal from the College,
the Honor Code is fully explained during orientation. Students also have available to
them at all times the online
Student Handbook
, which details the provisions of the Honor
Code as well as social regulations and policies.
HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE
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.