St. Augustine University’s academic year ended on Saturday, not on campus, but inside Raleigh’s Wake Chapel Church. Speakers at the University’s 94th commencement ceremony wasted no time asking for prayers for the embattled HBCU.
“I would ask you to just hang in there with St. Augustin’s. Know that God is with us. And that God is doing a new work and a new thing at St. Augustine’s,” said Rev. Allen Robinson, the keynote speaker and a St. Augustine’s alumnus.
There’s plenty to pray about. The university is facing multiple lawsuits over unpaid bills. Its former President, Christine McPhail, is also suing two members of St. Augustine’s Board of Trustees, alleging sexual discrimination and wrongful firing.
On top of that, St. Augustine’s is appealing its accreditation to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Colleges (SACSCOC) yet again, after a previous appeal in March failed.
“We’ve done everything we needed to do. So right now we’re waiting on arbitration,” said Interim University President Dr. Marcus Burgess. According to Burgess, the arbitration is scheduled for June 26.
St. Augustine’s has also been working for months to secure a $70 million bridge loan, a process Burgess says still isn’t complete. “We’re still working with our partners. At the end of the day, we have to continue to vet things out,” said Burgess.
But amid the pomp and circumstance on Saturday, Burgess said the focus now should be on the class of 2025 and their dedication to the University.
“We still are graduating students, and that’s the most important thing,” said Burgess.
25 seniors received their degrees Saturday, including Tillia Leary.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Leary, who’s from the Bahamas, and plans to go on to get her Master’s degree at Ball State. “A lot of mixed emotions. But I’m grateful to be here.”
This ceremony was far smaller than just the year before, when 168 students packed St Aug’s stadium to get their degrees.
Students then worried if their alma mater would survive another year. Students on Saturday have been asking the same question.
“I had my doubts. But I’m a woman with faith, and I always had faith,” said Leary.
Burgess said the university is now looking at new ways of moving forward, including trying to appeal to a wider array of students.
“Going forward, we want to pull upon the next 54-, the 64-, the 34-year-old who had dreams of finishing school. Why can’t we be a university for degree completion? For credentialing?” said Burgess. “So those are some of the things in our master plan. We want to make sure we’re available for everyone.”
Uncertainty over the future didn’t overshadow the joy for the class of 2025. As university officials handed out degrees, the room erupted with cheers from family, friends and loved ones. Tears trickled down the faces of some of the graduates.
“It just feels like a family,” said Leary.
