In December 2024, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to revoke Saint Augustine’s University’s accreditation. Since then, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based HBCU has consistently fought against that decision, first with an initial appeal process that was denied in February 2025, followed by a 90-day arbitration process that recently concluded at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful; the arbitration panel has affirmed the SACSCOC’s decision to remove Saint Augustine’s accreditation.
Now, the HBCU is making one more attempt to maintain its status as an SACSCOC-accredited institution. The university’s attorneys plan to file an injunction in court to prevent any disruption to the institution’s accreditation status, effectively extending its status through the litigation process. The university will also explore other means of accreditation. Meanwhile, classes for the Fall 2025 semester will commence virtually as scheduled for both new and returning students.
“SAU is not closing – our doors remain open, and classes will continue,” said SAU Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. “This decision does not define us — our resilience does. SAU has faced challenges before, and each time, we have risen to meet them. We have significantly strengthened our foundation, and we will continue to serve our students with excellence. Our priority now is to ensure every student can complete their education at SAU with an accredited degree in hand, and we have a clear plan to make that happen.”
