St. Aug's loses accreditation appeal, will pursue arbitration process
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) did not approve an appeal from Saint Augustine's University (SAU) that could cause the school to lose accreditation.
SAU announced it would pursue a 90-day arbitration process that will ensure all students graduating through May 2025 will earn degrees from an accredited university.
"We have made substantial progress and are confident that our strengthened financial position and governance will ensure a positive outcome," said Board of Trustees Chairman Brian Boulware. "SAU is resilient, and we are resolute in our commitment to academic excellence."
Per SACSCOC's arbitration policy, SAU has the right to pursue binding arbitration to contest the accreditation decision. Arbitration allows SAU to demonstrate its financial stability and commitment to compliance with accreditation standards.
The university announced it's decision to appeal SACSCOC's initial decision last year. In that decision, theSACSCOC Board of Trustees voted to remove Saint Augustine's University "from membership for failure to comply with Core Requirement 4.1 (Governing board characteristics), Core Requirement 13.1 (Financial resources), Core Requirement 13.2 (Financial documents), Standard 13.3 (Financial responsibility), Standard 13.4 (Control of finances), Standard 13.5 (Control of sponsored research/external funds) and Standard 13.6 (Federal and state responsibilities) of the Principles of Accreditation."
"The one common thread among everybody is despair. It is disheartening and demoralizing that the Board of Trustees that the leadership at Saint Aug would kick the can down the road so much that it's almost impossible to course correct," said alum Karole Kimble.
Financial Issues
In a letter from the university, they laid out steps made to help improve the school's financial problems. This includes four financial audits and cutting half of its employees which saves $17 million.
SAU also took out a $7 million loan from Gothic Ventures.
"We have donors who want to donate, but they won't donate as long as that Board (of Trustees) is there," said Benjamin Johnson, an alum who is the Chair of the Save SAU Coalition, a nonprofit that has closely tracked developments at the school. Last year, it filed a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees, detailing what it believed was the cause of the school's financial challenges. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.
Alumni and other groups, though, have expressed concern about the high interest on the loan and the decision to put up much of the university's properties as collateral.
"It would be a huge mistake, and it would be very shortsighted to sell land. God only created so much land. And St Augustine's, the wisdom of our founding fathers and the Episcopal Church was to have that land. It was land that the global majority of Black people back then, we did not have," said Kimble.
Johnson acknowledged the monetary value of the land, though likewise preferred other options.
"If we could bring in donors and in setting the path forward, that we may have other opportunities that will not bring the land into play," said Johnson.
St Aug's has been on probation with the accrediting agency for two years after failing to meet several of its standards.
In December 2023, an appeal committee voted to terminate the university's accreditation. It was then reinstated following an appeal in July.
Both Johnson and Kimble fondly recalled their time on campus, a sense of pride shared by other alums.
"I loved every moment at St. Aug's from the very first day that I went there. My sister actually graduated from there. My cousin, my best friend, my father (graduated from there too), so I have a huge and long history. I loved everything about the campus. I loved the history. I actually used to have a radio show on the AM station that was called 'Campus Capsule,' because people really didn't know the incredible history that's on St. Aug's campus," said Kimble.
"Growing up, just the camaraderie that was established with older students, and then I got to be a part of that with the students and the faculty. I was always involved with the faculty (because) my parents were faculty members. It was very much a family-oriented time, and it still is. When we get together, in talking about homecoming, it's more like a family reunion," Johnson said.
Despite the ongoing challenges, they believe the school could chart a path forward.
"St. Aug has always been one of the institutions to be a phoenix, to rise from the ashes," said Johnson.
"I'm hoping that this rock bottom is actually a place from which we can kind of jump off of to move things forward. I think (we need), fresh eyes, fresh ideas, people who are in it for the sake of St Augustine's and her history," said Kimble.
