Sources: Saint Augustine’s University to go virtual on April 1
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Problems continue lining up for Saint Augustine’s University.
CBS 17 confirmed from several sources that the historically Black university is once again going virtual for the rest of the semester.
We have learned interim president Marcus Burgess met with staff, students and parents on Monday night to inform them.
According to sources, the reason behind the shutdown is because the food services vendor for the university is pulling out because they have not been paid.
HBCU president faces challenges of regaining accreditation, tiny enrollment
All of this comes on the same day a group of university-sanctioned organizations and support organizations sent the university’s Board of Trustees a four-page resolution calling for the resignation of nearly all Board of Trustee members.
“We love our university and are making a concerted effort to ensure that the right changes are made by individuals we trust to oversee the institution during this dark period,” Devaron Benjamin, a 1996 graduate of Saint Augustine’s, said in a news release from the alumni group. “We will continue to support students, faculty and staff. Those who created the issues, whether through intent or neglect, cannot be trusted to fix the problems. Our hope is that the Board of Trustees will care enough about this incredible institution to step down given their past and current performance. They need to give future generations a chance to love it like we do.”
The group also asked for changes in the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and policies and administrative internal controls, a demand for an investigation to uncover the root causes of fiscal issues that delayed the 2021 audit and they demand that a detailed plan describing the university’s approach in the event of loss of accreditation be made public.
The university lost their accreditation and subsequent appeal.
They are currently in arbitration with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
While that goes on, they will maintain accreditation.
Also, the university owes the Internal Revenue Service nearly $8 million.
And those behind this resolution say the whole point is to help the current Saint Augustine’s students who they say are “suffering academically, physically, and emotionally” from the current financial and accreditation crisis.
Click here to read the entire resolution.
CBS 17 reached out to university officials several times to get answers or comment about both issues, but no one responded.
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