St. Aug’s confirms move to online learning. But these students can stay on campus

Students at St. Augustine’s University will complete their spring semester courses online, beginning in April, as the university continues to face financial and accreditation woes that threaten its future.

The university confirmed the shift to remote learning in a statement from interim President Marcus Burgess Wednesday night. Local media, including CBS17 and WRAL, had reported the news earlier in the week.

Burgess said the university this week hosted in-person and online forums with students, faculty and staff “to discuss the possibility of shifting to remote learning starting Easter break.”

“After receiving open dialogue, answering questions, and receiving feedback from students, parents, faculty, and staff, we decided to transition to remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester” beginning April 1, Burgess said.

Some students, including athletes on the track team, international students and those with campus internships will be allowed to remain on campus through the university’s commencement ceremony on May 4.

Burgess did not explicitly address why the university chose to move to remote learning, but appeared to tie it to the university’s ability — or lack thereof — to meet students’ needs on campus.

“While we strive to maintain the quality of education, it is also our utmost responsibility to ensure the safety, well-being, and dignity of the SAU community, especially our students,” Burgess said.

Burgess said the university would “make accommodations to provide food service for the remaining students on campus.” CBS17 reported that the university’s campus dining vendor will suspend its services on March 30.

“We will remain in communication with all students and their families during this transition and handle all special conditions related to out-of-state students and additional inquiries related to housing, student accounts, and technology on a case-by-case basis,” Burgess said.

University’s future is unclear

The announcement that the university will shift to online learning comes during a week in which the school is facing increasing pressure and questions about its future.

That 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 university’s failure to comply with several of the agency’s financial principles. The college has faced similar financial issues throughout the past several years.

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 accredited but on probation. Burgess has said that the university will pursue litigation if its second appeal to SACSCOC is denied.

In recent months, the university has failed on multiple occasions to make payroll for faculty and staff on time, while also facing major debts, including to the IRS.

On Tuesday, a group of university alumni and supporters called for the university’s Board of Trustees to resign, among several other demands they say would “Save SAU.”

Also Tuesday, the Wake County school board voted to end its agreement in which students at its two leadership academies attend St. Augustine’s to earn college credit. Wake will seek state approval to partner the leadership academies with another college or university, but that would be in 2025 at the earliest.

Burgess said in a statement Wednesday that the university was disappointed to no longer host the academies on its campus, but that it supports the school board’s decision and understands “the gravity of the moment.”

Burgess has previously described the university as being in a “crisis,” but said that any decision to close the university is years away.