‘Save SAU’: St. Aug’s alumni call on university board to resign as struggles continue
Alumni and supporters of St. Augustine’s University are calling for the university’s Board of Trustees to resign — among several other demands — amid ongoing financial struggles that threaten the school’s future.
Leaders of six organizations, including the university’s National Alumni Association, launched the effort to “Save SAU” Tuesday.
John Larkins, a St. Augustine’s alumnus and organizer of the new Save SAU committee, said in a news release that members of the group “believe and evidence shows the SAU Board of Trustees has breached its fiduciary duty to the University.” Larkins cited an audit from the 2021 fiscal year that showed “the Board’s overall governance and oversight of the University were severely absent.”
The university’s future has been in question since December, when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to remove the university’s accreditation, citing the college’s failure to comply with several of the agency’s financial principles. That decision came one year after SACSCOC initially placed the university on probation for many of the same financial issues.
SACSCOC last month denied the university’s appeal of the December decision. The university is now engaged in a second appeals process with the accrediting agency. Throughout both appeals processes, the university has remained on probation but still accredited.
“We love our university and are making a concerted effort to ensure that the right changes are made by individuals we trust to oversee the institution during this dark period,” Devaron Benjamin, a St. Augustine’s alumnus and member of the Save SAU effort, said in the news release.
“We will continue to support students, faculty, and staff. Those who created the issues, whether through intent or neglect, cannot be trusted to fix the problems. Our hope is that the board of trustees will care enough about this incredible institution to step down given their past and current performance. They need to give future generations a chance to love it like we do.”
Board of Trustees Chair Brian Boulware issued a statement Wednesday saying the board had received the group’s message. The board “remains focused on preserving SAU’s accreditation and stabilizing the University’s finances under its new leadership,” Boulware said.
“The University’s accreditation and financial stability are critical to its ability to continue as a premier HBCU in North Carolina,” Boulware said. “Our focus remains on fulfilling Saint Augustine’s University’s mission and supporting students, faculty, staff, and alumni.”
‘Save SAU’ demands
In a resolution outlining the issues it sees unfolding at the university, members of the Save SAU effort stated that St. Augustine’s is “experiencing critical cashflow issues due to an inability to access or restrictions on accessing federal funds because of a history of improper financial practices,” which is negatively affecting students, faculty and staff.
The issues are also contributing to a lack of confidence among alumni and donors, which is having an impact on fundraising efforts intended to support the university, the resolution stated.
St. Augustine’s interim President Marcus Burgess has pointed to a new fundraising campaign, the Falcon Pride Initiative Fund, that aims to raise $5 million for the university as a potential source of funding to support the university and legal costs it is incurring as it fights to keep its accreditation.
Citing those issues and several others, the alumni group then lists several demands it has for the university. In addition to calling for the Board of Trustees to resign and the board to be reconstituted, the group asks for:
The board to adopt new policies "to foster greater transparency, protect the institution from bad
actors, and prevent similar existential threats in the future;”
Investigations “to uncover the root causes of fiscal issues;”
A “comprehensive” search for a new president of the university;
A detailed description of the university’s plan of action, should it lose its accreditation;
The university to provide all students with their transcripts “so that students might have a bright future despite administrative and mismanagement issues;” and
Notice “of any and all contemplated real estate transactions” the university undertakes.
The group says it is committed to supporting students, faculty and staff throughout the ongoing problems. The group also states that it believes students should continue to be held responsible “for repayment of accurate, verifiable account balances.”
Reported move to online instruction
At a press conference last month, Burgess outlined several steps the university is taking to remedy its financial struggles, including hiring a consulting firm and conducting an audit “to determine how the financial issues developed and the extent of liability for the crisis.”
Though Burgess has said that any decision to close the university is years away, there were additional signs Tuesday that the university’s future could be in further jeopardy.
WRAL reported Tuesday that the university will move classes to remote, virtual formats and that students are being asked to move off campus by April. The N&O has contacted a university spokesperson to confirm that information.
Wake school board votes to end agreement
The ongoing issues could also impact the university’s partnership with Wake County public schools.
The Wake County school board voted Tuesday night to end its agreement in which students at its two leadership academies attend St. Augustine’s to earn college credit. The district is giving the university 90 days notice.
Wake will seek state approval to partner the leadership academies with another college or university. But that would be in 2025 at the earliest.
The board had said in January it would keep the agreement in place for the time being, but said it was working on long-term plans should the university lose its accreditation appeal.
T. Keung Hui contributed to this report.
