St. Augustine's University Coalition seek meeting with board amid financial, accreditation issues

Wednesday, September 3, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The fight to save Saint Augustine's University (SAU) marches on.

While students attend classes online, alumni continue to band together to get answers from leadership.

It comes as the school announced the resignation of Interim President Marcus Burgess. The group Save SAU Coalition demanded an end to the board's "musical chairs" and is requesting a meeting with the board on Sept. 12.

"I can't tell you how deep this runs and how deep this cuts in that the tools that I was given and what I saw is not what I'm seeing now," said Benjamin Johnson, SaveSAU.

The University announced Burgess' resignation on Sunday, yet another change in leadership that one alumna said she saw coming.



"I honestly wasn't surprised. He had a lot on his plate when he came in. He got dealt a bad set of cards," said SAU graduate Summer Dilwood.

There was also a change on the board; Chairman Brian Boulware stepped down from his role, but remained a trustee.

RELATED | St. Aug's transparency questioned after interim president resigns: 'He did not want to leave'

Save SAU Coalition said "enough is enough".

"We've asked for several times to meet with the board since July 23 to sit down with the community, with us, with alumni and faculty and staff to discuss what the vision is, what direction we are going in, and filing injunctions and court orders again is not a way to run a university," said Johnson.



Meanwhile, there is growing discussion among students and graduates about having a homecoming. Falcons are coming back to renew school spirit on the campus. However, according to the board, the weekend event is not authorized or endorsed by the school.

"For them to come back and say, oh, well, we didn't approve of this it's kind of like it's a slap in the face, especially because I know a lot of people that has dished out tons of money to this school, including alumni and other people that have been so generous to donating money to this school for the greater good," said Dilwood.

The Falcon family wants transparency from the board and wants their school to fly again.

"We will still continue to fight, but without any answer from them. It is also difficult," said Johnson.
Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.