History of Saint Augustine's University (North Carolina) in Timeline

Saint Augustine's University (North Carolina)

Saint Augustine's University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a private historically Black Christian university founded in 1867 by the Episcopal Church clergy. It was established to educate formerly enslaved Black people and has traditionally focused on providing educational opportunities to first-generation college students and those who may not otherwise have access to higher education. The university's athletic program has a notable history, especially in track and field.

December 1906: Installation of Electric Lighting

In December 1906, electric lighting began to be installed at Saint Augustine's School.

1925: Institution Leadership Title Changed to President

In 1925, Saint Augustine's changed the title of its institutional leader from "Principal" to "President".

January 19, 1928: Incorporation as Saint Augustine's College

On January 19, 1928, the institution was incorporated as the four-year Saint Augustine's College.

1974: ROTC Program Instituted

In the 1974–1975 academic year, an ROTC program was instituted at Saint Augustine's

1982: Creation of Department of Communications

In 1982, Saint Augustine's created a Department of Communications.

1983: WAUG 750-AM Radio Station Launched

In 1983, Saint Augustine's began operating a radio station, WAUG 750-AM.

1988: WAUG-LD Television Station Launched

In 1988, Saint Augustine's started a television station, TV-68 (later WAUG-LD).

October 1991: Discrimination Charges Filed by Allan Cooper

In October 1991, Allan Cooper, a professor, filed discrimination charges against Saint Augustine's with the EEOC.

1992: Peak Enrollment

In 1992, Saint Augustine's enrollment peaked at 1,918 students.

1992: Division of Allied Health Established

In 1992, the Division of Allied Health was established at Saint Augustine's.

April 1993: Federal Court Ruling Awards Damages to Cooper

In April 1993, a federal court ruling awarded Allan Cooper over $560,000 in damages.

March 1995: Robinson's Retirement and Franklin's Succession

In March 1995, Prezell Russell Robinson retired as leader of the school and was succeeded by Bernard Wayne Franklin.

January 1997: Ross Awarded Damages in Retaliation Case

In January 1997, Leslie Ross, a former student, was awarded $180,000 in damages in a retaliation case against Saint Augustine's.

1998: Fundraising to Cover Expenses

By the fall of 1998, decreased enrollments led to Saint Augustine's resorting to fundraising to cover operating expenses.

1999: Dianne Boardley Suber becomes President

In 1999, Dianne Boardley Suber became the 10th and first female leader of the college.

December 2001: Placement on Warning by SACSCOC

In December 2001, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) placed Saint Augustine's on warning due to insufficient financial resources and other inadequacies.

December 2003: Placement on Probation

In December 2003, Saint Augustine's was placed on probation due to continuing financial problems.

December 2004: Probation Removed

In December 2004, Saint Augustine's succeeded in eliminating its deficit, leading to the removal of its probation status.

April 2006: Settlement of Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

In April 2006, Saint Augustine's settled a workplace sexual harassment lawsuit.

April 2011: Student Barred from Commencement

In April 2011, Saint Augustine's barred a student, Roman Caple, from commencement exercises for a negative comment on Facebook.

2012: Saint Augustine's becomes University

In 2012, Saint Augustine's College officially became Saint Augustine's University.

September 2013: Financial Audit Uncovers Disorganized Accounting

In September 2013, a financial audit revealed disorganized accounting and improperly issued checks at Saint Augustine's.

April 2014: Dismissal of President Dianne Suber

In April 2014, President Dianne Suber was dismissed from Saint Augustine's due to financial mismanagement and decreasing enrollment.

December 2016: Reversion to Probationary Accreditation

In December 2016, Saint Augustine's University was reverted to probationary accreditation due to financial and institutional effectiveness issues.

December 2018: Probation Lifted

In December 2018, the probation status of Saint Augustine's was lifted after reforms, including the implementation of computer-based accounting.

March 2019: Dismissal of President Everett Ward

In March 2019, Saint Augustine's board of trustees dismissed President Everett Ward four months prior to his intended retirement.

March 2019: President Everett Ward Dismissed

In March 2019, the Saint Augustine's board of trustees, led by James E. C. Perry, dismissed president Everett Ward. General counsel George Francis resigned in protest, citing a potential governance violation.

December 2019: Athletics Director Requests Censure of Trustee Boulware

In December 2019, athletics director George Williams formally requested the board to censure trustee Brian Boulware for alleged verbal abuse, threats, and physical intimidation of employees.

2019: Budgets Approved Without Verification

In 2019, it was found that budgets were approved without externally audited or verified evidence of resources or operational results.

March 2020: Dismissal of Gaddis Faulcon

In March 2020, Gaddis Faulcon, the interim president of Saint Augustine's, was dismissed.

April 2020: Internal Complaint Filed Over Payment to Hughes Company

In April 2020, vice president Debra Clark Jones filed an internal complaint regarding an unapproved $375,000 payment to the Hughes Company for dormitory repairs, alleging a lack of formal bidding or a contract. Perry was also accused of suggesting the alteration of meeting minutes.

July 2020: Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Filed

In July 2020, former interim president Gaddis Faulcon, along with George Williams and other former administrators, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging age discrimination, retaliation, and potential misappropriation of government funding against Maria Lumpkin and Perry.

October 2020: Death of President Irving Pressly McPhail

In October 2020, the new president of Saint Augustine's, Irving Pressly McPhail, died from COVID-19 after three months in office.

December 2022: University Placed on Probation for Third Time

In December 2022, Saint Augustine's University was placed on probation "for good cause" for a third time by its accreditation agency.

2022: Audit for 2022 Fiscal Year completed in November 2024

In November 2024, the audit for the 2022 fiscal year was completed. The audit revealed inaccurate accounting and a lack of oversight concerning financial reporting and major transactions.

October 2023: Auditing Committee Scrutinizes Finances and Governance

In October 2023, an auditing committee scrutinized Saint Augustine's finances and governance and found no evidence trustees were managing the financials of the institution or any strategies for timely audits.

October 2023: Howard Feggins Fired, Files Wrongful Termination Lawsuit

In October 2023, head football coach Howard Feggins was fired for allegedly fielding ineligible players and subsequently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit.

November 2023: Dismissal of Christine Johnson McPhail

In November 2023, Christine Johnson McPhail was dismissed as the president of Saint Augustine's.

December 3, 2023: SACSCOC Rescinds Institution's Membership

On December 3, 2023, the SACSCOC rescinded Saint Augustine's University's membership due to continued governance and financial management issues, leading to a no-confidence motion from the Faculty Assembly.

2023: Accreditation Suspension Mentioned

In 2023, Saint Augustine's faced the suspension of its accreditation, as mentioned in the defense of the high interest rate by Gothic Ventures.

2023: Audit for 2023 Fiscal Year completed in November 2024

In November 2024, the audit for the 2023 fiscal year was completed. The audit revealed inaccurate accounting and a lack of oversight concerning financial reporting and major transactions.

January 2024: Notification of Online Classes Due to Maintenance Issues

In January 2024, students were notified just five days before the spring semester that on-campus classes would begin online due to maintenance issues.

February 2024: University Fails to Pay Employees

Beginning in February 2024, Saint Augustine's University failed to pay employees, leading to faculty canceling classes. The Department of Education placed the institution on Heightened Cash Monitoring 2.

February 27, 2024: SACSCOC Denies Saint Augustine's Appeal

On February 27, 2024, the SACSCOC denied Saint Augustine's appeal, resulting in the university submitting the matter to arbitration.

August 16, 2024: University Secures Line of Credit with Gothic Ventures

On August 16, 2024, Saint Augustine's University secured a $7 million line of credit with Gothic Ventures, using university properties as collateral, to cover operating expenses including back wages and audit costs.

November 2024: Overdue Audits Reveal Accounting Issues

In November 2024, Saint Augustine's completed overdue audits for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, revealing inaccurate accounting, lack of oversight, and significant unpaid payroll withholdings and taxes.

November 27, 2024: Return to Fully Remote Instruction

Saint Augustine's University returned to fully remote instruction from November 27, 2024.

December 2024: CIAA Suspends Saint Augustine's

In December 2024, the CIAA indefinitely suspended Saint Augustine's from conference participation due to noncompliance with NCAA and CIAA requirements.

2024: Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy Discontinued

In 2024, the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy, an early college high school program, no longer was hosted on the Saint Augustine's campus.

January 7, 2025: Burgess Cited for Workers' Compensation Insurance Failure

On January 7, 2025, interim president Burgess was cited for allegedly failing to secure Saint Augustine's workers' compensation insurance.

June 2025: CIAA Revokes Membership

In June 2025, the CIAA revoked Saint Augustine's membership due to noncompliance with NCAA and CIAA requirements.

July 14, 2025: Saint Augustine's Derecognized for Noncompliance

On July 14, 2025, Saint Augustine's University was derecognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for noncompliance, which automatically revoked the university's accreditation due to financial mismanagement and general instability.

July 2025: University Debts Exceed $47 Million

In July 2025, interim president Burgess disclosed Saint Augustine's debts exceeded $47 million, excluding over $20 million due to a wireless company. The university owed money to over 30 creditors.

2025: Loan Scheduled to Come Due

In 2025, the initial loan from Gothic Ventures was scheduled to come due, raising concerns about its sustainability.

January 2026: University Works with Advisory Firm to Manage Debt

In January 2026, Saint Augustine's began working with Self-Help Venture Fund to manage its significant debt burden, with the fund assuming at least $7 million of the debt owed to Gothic Ventures.

January 2026: Boulware and Perry Leave Board of Trustees

In January 2026, both Brian Boulware and James E. C. Perry left the university's board of trustees.

April 2026: University Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

In April 2026, Saint Augustine's accumulated debts reportedly amounted to "$50 to $100 million owed to creditors", and the university filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize its debt and remain operational.