Birmingham-Southern College’s fate hangs in the balance today after officials and lawmakers on Wednesday discussed the school’s funding.

BSC is holding a meeting at 11 a.m. and expects to have an “important announcement” about its future.

Officials at the private liberal arts school postponed a 12:30 meeting with the campus community Wednesday, presumably to announce the Board of Trustees’ decision on whether to stay open next fall or to close its doors for good. Trustees met for more than eight hours to deliberate.

“The Board is receiving encouraging information hour by hour that could have significant bearing on this pivotal decision,” the notice read.

“Please know that we are doing everything we can to ensure the best possible outcome for the College and for our campus community. The board continues to meet. We will provide an update later today.”

Read more: Birmingham-Southern students weigh options while college maintains push for state bailout

Officials at the small, private liberal arts school have spent months making their case to state and local legislators for taxpayer support. Lawmakers are currently considering the school’s one-time request of $37.5 million, which would keep doors open while school leaders work to replenish their endowment.

“It’s too early to tell,” Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), told AL.com Wednesday. “But like a lot of things, there’s always a possibility.”

A ‘pivotal decision’

Officials revealed the extent of the school’s financial woes in December, when they asked the state legislature for $30 million in pandemic recovery and education funds, and a combined $7.5 million from city and county governments.

Financial problems first emerged in 2010, when then-president David Pollick resigned after a controversy over accounting errors, overspending and increasingly dire budget deficits. The school has worked to right-size its finances, but still has struggled to pay off debts and manage changing student needs.

Enrollment, which has typically hovered above 1,000, fell to 975 this fall. Officials projected a rise in freshman applicants this year, but as decision day nears, that window is narrowing.

“Quite simply, we can’t cut expenditures further and continue to provide a quality experience to our students,” BSC President Daniel Coleman told the Jefferson County delegation this winter.

School leaders have since been working against a ticking clock to save the school.

Coleman said the college would close if they couldn’t secure funding by the end of the semester. By April, Coleman said, students would need to figure out their next steps – and many have already been meeting with advisors to help with the transfer process. Hiring cycles for staff have also begun.

“Students, as you return from spring break, please know that we understand that this is stressful for you,” Rev. Keith Thompson, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in a message to the campus community last week. “Try to focus on your classes and enjoy time with your friends, and trust that we all want what you want: for BSC to continue past the end of this term.”

‘Encouraging information’

From the onset, state support seemed unlikely.

In February, lawmakers called the outlook “doubtful.” Gov. Kay Ivey denied at least two requests from Birmingham-Southern for pandemic recovery funds, and recently told AL.com that she will not devote taxpayer dollars to “bail out a private college.”

In recent months, students, faculty and alumni have sent dozens of letters and emails to state lawmakers. Local business and tech leaders also have rallied behind the college, touting its contributions to the state’s workforce.

Alumni visited the state capitol Tuesday, urging legislators to again consider the request.

“Thanks to all of these loyal grads for taking the day to meet up in Montgomery on behalf of BSC,” an alumni group wrote on Facebook Tuesday evening. “They’ll spend today making sure the Alabama House and Senate know the value of BSC to Alabama.”

Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham), told AL.com last week he planned to file a bill asking for $15 million from the state’s supplemental education budget to go toward Birmingham-Southern. Lawmakers, he said, were working to find other ways to supplement the school’s $30 million goal.

“We’re just trying to look at different means and not just say it’s all or nothing for this one particular approach,” he said. “If we can get a collection of funds that we can come up to that point where we can save the school, it’s worth it.”

By the time of publication, no bills had been filed pertaining to the college. But traction may be building as the clock winds down, lawmakers said.

Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) said he’s received more “positive comments” on the request in the past couple of days than he has all along.

Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who said in February that he found it “difficult to see a way forward” for the request, told AL.com Wednesday that he wouldn’t rule out other possibilities for funding.

“It’s a slippery slope when you talk about taking public money to support private institutions,” he said. “That’s a difficult issue under the code. It’s just a difficult issue for a number of reasons. But I will say that we’re having discussions. They are making their case. I know that if we’re going to make private investments, then I think considering investments in education out of the education budget is better than making investments that are not education related.

“So I don’t know where that’s going to go. We’re going to have discussions about it. It’s a difficult subject. It’s a tough thing. It’s something the body would have to decide whether they want to go that direction or not. They have made a compelling case. But we’ll just have to see.”

Thirty-five colleges and universities around the country closed in 2021, according to a recent analysis of federal data.

Mike Cason contributed reporting.