For the past several years, Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, has experienced significant financial challenges, causing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to revoke the HBCU’s accreditation in December 2024. The university has since consistently fought against that decision through numerous appeals and arbitration processes. The university retained accreditation during the appeals process.
Now, the university’s board of trustees has voluntarily filed for Class 11 bankruptcy. According to the board, the decision will enable the HBCU to organize its financial affairs and work to advance the university’s long-term sustainability while addressing immediate financial concerns.
Additionally, the board confirmed it will not continue litigation related to its accreditation status. Effective May 15, Saint Augustine’s University will no longer be an SACSCOC-accredited institution.
“After careful evaluation, the board determined that continuing litigation would not be a prudent use of resources,” reads a statement from the board. “SAU will instead focus on supporting students through teach-out agreements, developing non-degree certificates and apprenticeship programs, and building a pathway toward reaccreditation.”
As part of this transition, SAU’s interim president Jennie Ward-Robinson has stepped down. Verjanis A. Peoples, the HBCU’s provost and former interim president, has been appointed as Dr. Ward-Robinson’s successor. Dr. Peoples previously served as an academic administrator and dean of the College of Education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University.
