Saint Augustine’s U. Has Accreditation Membership Revoked, but Leaders Hopeful of Reversal

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Jasper Smith

December 10, 2024

What’s New

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges’ board on Tuesday voted to remove Saint Augustine’s University from its membership, creating another significant setback in the university’s pursuit of restored accreditation. The historically Black institution will remain accredited as its leaders look to appeal the decision, its president said Tuesday.

The accreditor, known as SACSCOC, found that Saint Augustine’s University had failed to resolve its widespread financial issues, which has left it more than $30 million in debt. The Raleigh, N.C., university was placed on accreditation probation last year for financial instability. Since then, the student enrollment has dropped from 900 students to 200.

The university will be able to submit additional documents in an effort to prove its financial stability to an appeals committee in February 2025, according to the accreditor’s policies.

“While this may seem like a disappointing decision, we view this as an encouraging outcome that acknowledges our progress, and we are excited about the opportunity the appeal affords us,” Marcus Burgess, interim president of Saint Augustine’s, wrote in a statement.

The university must show significant gains in its financial resources and management as well as plans for repaying debt in order to satisfy an appeal.