[Episcopal News Service] Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, the historically Black college with Episcopal roots that has struggled for years to maintain its long-term viability, has vowed to remain open for the next academic year despite another loss in its accreditation battle.
University officials say they will seek a court injunction in response to the decision by the school’s accrediting agency to end Saint Augustine’s membership. The latest legal maneuver, officials say, will allow Saint Augustine’s temporarily to continue operating as an accredited institution “ensuring that current and future graduates receive their degrees from an institution that is accredited,” according to a recent university news release.
The latest legal fight, however, also further complicates efforts by Saint Augustine’s University to address issues of financial sustainability that were at the heart of the decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, to remove Saint Augustine’s as a member institution. The university has estimated its fundraising campaign will need to cover $1 million in legal costs, and it has set a deadline of Aug. 12 – the start of classes – to raise a total of $2.35 million “to maintain SAU’s open and accredited status.”
“We will stop at nothing to ensure that SAU maintains its accreditation and continues serving our students,” Board of Trustees Chairman Brian Boulware said in the university news release. “Our resolve to educate and empower our students is unshakeable, and the entire SAU community stands together to support the path ahead.”
The university was responding to the decision by an arbitration panel affirming an earlier decision by the SACSCOC Appeals Committee. The SACSCOC first ruled in December 2023 that Saint Augustine’s had failed to meet six of the agency’s requirements and standards, including those related to the university’s governing board, its financial resources and financial documents.
The university dates to 1867, when it was established by Episcopalians in the Diocese of North Carolina. Though still rooted in the Episcopal tradition, it now operates as an independent institution.
Under federal guidelines, colleges and universities seek accreditation by an approved governmental or nongovernmental agency like SACSCOC to ensure they meet “acceptable levels of quality,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation, for example, is a minimum standard typically verified by managers when assessing graduates for potential employment. An academic institution that fails to retain accreditation also could be disqualified from federal grants and student aid programs, potentially jeopardizing the school’s ability to remain open.
Saint Augustine’s and Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina, are the two remaining historically Black higher education institutions with Episcopal roots. The pair of colleges have received several million dollars from The Episcopal Church in recent years while also accepting the church’s guidance on administrative and fundraising matters.
During the time Saint Augustine’s has responded to threats to its accreditation, its enrollment has plummeted, to about 200 students in the 2024-25 academic year, down from nearly 1,000 in 2017. It now is working to confirm enrollment this fall of some 150 students, who would start classes online.
“SAU is not closing – our doors remain open, and classes will continue,” interim President Marcus H. Burgess said in the university’s news release. “SAU has faced challenges before, and each time, we have risen to meet them. We have significantly strengthened our foundation, and we will continue to serve our students with excellence.
“Our priority now is to ensure every student can complete their education at SAU with an accredited degree in hand, and we have a clear plan to make that happen.”
– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.