03/05/2026
The United States Coast Guard has selected the Birmingham-Southern College campus as the location of a new training center.
Upon the closing of the sale, the Coast Guard will take possession of the 192-acre campus on Birmingham’s west side and will begin work to refit it as a training center for USCG officers and enlisted personnel.
“Although we will always grieve the closing of our beloved college in 2024, we believe the sale of our campus to the Coast Guard for this purpose – supporting the training, education, and ongoing development of the people who serve in our nation’s premier maritime protection force -- is a terrific outcome for our city, our state, and the neighborhood we called home for more than 100 years,” said the Rev. Keith D. Thompson, chair of the BSC Board of Trustees.
“While getting to this point has been a long, sad, and challenging journey for everyone who loves Birmingham-Southern, the Board of Trustees is confident that this is the right decision,” Thompson added. “We welcome the Coast Guard to the Hilltop knowing they will bring significant value, vibrancy, and security to our community.”
U.S. Sen. Katie Boyd Britt, who chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, was instrumental in securing top-level approval of the project, said Daniel B. Coleman, BSC’s 16th and final president. “We are deeply grateful to Sen. Britt for her leadership and her tireless efforts – along with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, who is a graduate of the College – to ensure that this project remained a top priority in Washington.
“We also want to thank Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the Birmingham City Council, and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, in whose district the campus sits, for their steadfast support through these challenging times,” he added. “This outcome is truly a remarkable win for Birmingham and for Alabama.”
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