Saint Augustine’s accreditation is reinstated

An arbitration committee restored Saint Augustine’s College’s accreditation on Monday, reversing an earlier resolution by its accreditor, the Southern Affiliation of Schools and Faculties Fee on Schools—a improvement that the college referred to as “a triumph.”

“The SACSCOC arbitration committee’s resolution serves as a pivotal second for SAU’s redemption and renewal,” Brian Boulware, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees, wrote in a assertion. “The unanimous reversal by the arbitration committee rightfully corrects the injustice inflicted upon SAU by SACSCOC’s preliminary ruling and underscores the college’s steadfast dedication to excellence and development.”

The personal, traditionally Black faculty in Raleigh, N.C., has been on a roller-coaster experience with its accreditor because it contends with a difficult monetary outlook and excessive management turnover. In December SACSCOC stripped the college’s accreditation, one week after the faculty was hit with a $7.9 million tax lien. SAU then misplaced a subsequent attraction in February, a choice that appeared to spell doom for the faculty; one month later, Saint Augustine’s requested college students to depart campus and moved all lessons on-line.  Final month the faculty shot down proposals for a merger with Shaw College, a neighboring Raleigh HBCU with monetary problems with its personal. 

SAU is now on probation with SACSCOC. The college’s assertion mentioned it might welcome college students again for lessons within the fall, although officers didn’t specify whether or not these lessons could be in particular person. In addition they mentioned that the reinstatement of accreditation was an vital step on the college’s “path towards restoration” and “mission to rejuvenate its repute and dispel doubts about its longevity.”