St. Augustine's University (Raleigh, North Carolina)


Saint Augustine's University is a private historically black college in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded by Episcopal clergy in 1867 for the education of freed slaves.

History

Founded in 1867 as Saint Augustine's Normal School, the name of the school changed to Saint Augustine's School in 1893 and Saint Augustine's Junior College in 1919, when it began offering college-level coursework. It began offering coursework leading to a four-year degree in 1927 and changed its name to Saint Augustine's College one year later with the first baccalaureate degrees awarded in 1931. In 2012, the institution again expanded its focus and changed its name to St. Augustine's University.
In April 2014, in the midst of what The Chronicle of Higher Education characterized as "significant turmoil" and described as "financial problems...stemming from a loss in enrollment and revenue", the university's board of trustees fired university president Dianne Boardley Suber one month prior to her planned retirement. At the same time, the board reinstated two senior employees that Suber had recently fired. Suber had led the university for nearly 15 years.
Dr. Everett Ward was appointed President in 2015 after serving as interim President since 2014. Gaddis Faulcon was named interim president in 2019.

Radio and television stations

Saint Augustine's University was the nation's first historically black college to have its own on-campus commercial radio and television stations. It is one of two schools in the Raleigh/Durham area to offer a degree in film production.

Honorary degree for Robert Mugabe

Of the 5 colleges in the Western world which have awarded honorary degrees to controversial Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Saint Augustine's College is one of only 2 which has not revoked the award.

2011 social media controversy

In 2011, the university barred a student from participation in the 2011 commencement exercises because of a negative comment he had made on the College's Facebook page. Shortly thereafter, the student initiated a lawsuit against the College in North Carolina State Court which was later settled out of court.

2013 summer camp employees controversy

In the summer of 2013, local news affiliates reported that two convicted murderers had been hired by the university to work for a children's summer camp. Although the university defended the employees as "exemplary employees and productive members of the community", the university reassigned them.

Campus

All-MaleAll-FemaleCo-EducationalInactive
Latham Hall, 1974
Freshman Residence		Weston Hall, 1986
Freshman Residence		FalkCrest Court, 2007
Upperclassmen Residence		Atkinson Hall, 1961
Boyer Hall, 1990
Baker Hall, 1963
Unclassified Residence		-
Lynch Hall, 1961
Athletic Upperclassmen Residence		---
The school's size is of historic land in an Urban setting and large city, just minutes away from downtown. The main area of the campus is approximately of land housing the following facilities:
Emery Gymnasium, George "Pup" Williams Track & Field Stadium, Penick Hall of Math & Sciences, Charles Mosee Building, Delany Hall, Martin Luther King, Jr. Reception Center, Joseph C. Gordan Health & Science Center, The Prezell R. Robinson Library, Cheshire Building, Tuttle Hall of Military Sciences, St. Agnes Hospital, Goold Hall Student Union, Charles H. Boyer Administration Building, Hunter Administration Bldg., Hermitage Faculty Bldg., Benson Bldg. of Technology, Seby Jones Fine Arts Center, and The Historic Chapel.
In recent years, the university's annual enrollment has approximated 800-1000 students, about half from North Carolina, the remainder from 37 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and 30 foreign countries. Its faculty consists of nearly 100 people.

Academics

Student activities

Clubs and activities

The mission of "The Gateway Lifelong Learning Program" is to offer non-traditional, continuing and alternative academic educational opportunities for adult learners. The Gateway Program is designed to give working, non-traditional and community college transfer students an option to pursue a degree and/or personal/professional development. These academic programs address the learning needs of employed adults who prefer an educational delivery system that is participatory and experientially related to the workplace. An example of an educational program consistent with the lifelong learning philosophy is the Organizational Management major, which is offered through the university's Gateway Program. This unique program offers an ideal alternative academic opportunity for the employed adult to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in an accelerated format while attending classes during the evening each week.

Athletics

Saint Augustine's competes in NCAA Division II in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Varsity sports include: