This is a guest opinion column

We learned Thursday that Birmingham-Southern College’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to continue operations in spite of the uncertain fate of the college’s request for $30 million in bridge funding from the state of Alabama. The board has charged President Daniel Coleman with preparing a public fundraising campaign to restore the college’s endowment, and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin commended the college’s leadership for their efforts to remain open, saying it is particularly important for the students and staff that make up the BSC community, and for surrounding residents who view the college as their neighbor.

As deliberations around statewide budgets continue, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s office announced last month that it will not support using state tax dollars to help BSC. While this debate occurs, small private colleges across the US are struggling with a decreasing number of traditional college-aged students and competition from larger, richer institutions. Many are closing. This trend, which looks set to continue for many colleges across the country, will only further marginalize smaller regional economies and consolidate the importance, wealth, and power of major metropolitan areas. Ultimately, that hurts both Birmingham and Alabama.

Meanwhile, Governor Ivey’s proposed budget for the state’s $2Bn education fund surplus includes $331 million for projects and expenses unrelated to schools. This includes $25 million for the Montgomery County Commission for economic development, with no clear specifics on what the funds will be used for, and widespread reports that some of the funds have been earmarked for non-educational projects like a waterpark and prison construction.

As many of my fellow alumni have noted, this is not a smart allocation of resources, regardless of your stance on whether a private institution should receive public funds. An independent study by economist M. Keivan Deravi, Ph.D. found that BSC has a direct economic impact of $97.2M each year. When the economic contribution of BSC alumni is included, the impact rises to approximately $211.5M. BSC’s request for state-supported bridge funding amounted to less than 12% of its annual economic impact on the state and less than 40% of its direct annual economic impact in 2022.

But as fellow alum and AL.com reporter Kyle Whitemire noted, Birmingham-Southern College’s financial troubles are part of a larger decline in Birmingham’s corporate presence, which also means there are fewer people to turn to for funding. While the college has historically relied on donations from Birmingham’s corporate and philanthropic donor community, there are almost certainly fewer donors now than in the past. This decline may be linked to Birmingham’s shrinking number of Fortune 500 companies. As Birmingham-Southern faces potential closure, it’s not just the college that’s at stake, but also the city’s ability to attract and retain young professionals. It is not hyperbolic to say that as goes BSC, so goes Birmingham.

But we can’t put all of this at the feet of the state of Alabama. As BSC works to regain ground, it’s crucial that those of us who have benefited from a BSC education help ensure its future. By leading by example and demonstrating our commitment to the college, alums can inspire others to do the same.

If corporate support is not available or does not materialize, it will be up to BSC alumni and their families themselves to help fill the gap. This may mean making financial donations to the college, volunteering our time and expertise, or using our networks to help the college connect with potential donors or supporters, including by leveraging employer matching of our own donations. By coming together to support the college, BSC alumni can help ensure that it remains a vital part of the Birmingham community for years to come.

BSC has work to do, too. In addition to alumni support, the college itself must do a better job of being a visible and active member of the statewide community of civic actors. This means engaging with local businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to build relationships and demonstrate the college’s value to the community. By demonstrating its impact and intentions and continuing to build trust, the college can expand support from those who may be hesitant to contribute to its financial recovery. While there has been a lot of vocal and public support for BSC over the past few months, too many people – for whatever reasons, valid or not – have expressed indifference to BSC’s fate. That is dangerous for the college, and a clear warning bell if it hopes to move forward on firm footing. Put simply, BSC cannot remain part of the community if it is not seen, heard, and felt in the community.

As a BSC alum living out of state since 2015, I’m partially to blame. Out-of-state alumni can donate or show up to networking or homecoming events a few times a year, but we aren’t as known to the community or present in the state as our peers who have remained. Those of us who feel a strong connection to the college despite living far away can and must leverage our personal success and professional networks to help raise funding for, awareness of, and employer commitment to supporting BSC. By staying engaged with the college and leveraging our resources to help ensure its long-term success, out-of-state alums can play a critical role in stemming the tide of brain drain from Birmingham and ensuring that future generations have access to the same opportunities we did.

BSC’s unique position and stance among all the colleges and universities in the state of Alabama is what has allowed it to be home to a disproportionate number of high-achieving members of the local, state, national, and international community. And its reputation for outward-facing, ambitious students who want to make a positive impact on the world have, to this point, been a massive strength. But distinction and achievement can too often lead to isolation and resentment if the fruits of those successes aren’t shared and felt by all.

It is not by accident that BSC alumni have gone on to become Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, Pulitzer Prize winners, and even an astronaut. As so many have noted before me, BSC alumni have made significant contributions to society, including leading Fortune 500 companies, serving as members of Congress, making groundbreaking discoveries in science and medicine, and serving as leaders in the local community through their nonprofit work and philanthropy.

But the time has come for those same people – with those same characteristics – to turn their faces inward and support our alma mater, our college hometown, and our state-wide community in Alabama. The cavalry is not coming unless we bring it ourselves.

Kindred Motes-Caso is a ‘12 BSC alumnus and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the ACLU of Alabama. He was also named Birmingham-Southern College’s Outstanding Young Alumnus in 2019 and is the Founder and Managing Director of KM Strategies Group. A native of Somerville, Alabama, he lives in Washington, DC.