Fate of St Augustine's accreditation expected today

[Eagle74]

Unfortunately, it sounds as though the SAU campus now looks like a ghost town. I have a funny feeling that the property is now being eyed closely to be scooped up by the city of Raleigh based on the millions and millions of dollars in unpaid tax liens. If that becomes the case, I hope part of the older buildings are preserved for their unique historical value, and the campus isn't converted over to 'displaced' housing as are other vacated facilities (being quietly done) popping up in NC and other states.

[LegalRam]

That may be a moot point as Saint Augustine's may have already quietly canceled spring play before this. Outdoor track & field events are still listed but the women's team wasn't at the listed Bob Hayes Invitational meet last weekend. Softball and men's golf aren't being played as already noted. It looks like the NCAA indoor track & field championships could end up as the last hurrah for Saint Augustine's athletics.

I don't know how they are still fielding a team, but this past weekend St Aug's men's and women's track teams competed at the Raleigh Relays hosted by NC State. With classes going full time remote where are these athletes staying and are they still receiving any sort of funding for the team and coaches?

[Finchwidget]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/04/04/h...-for-survival/

President made it official, St Aug's will definitely not be fielding a football program next season. Interestingly though, he seems optimistic that they'll be able to field their other fall sports next year. Not sure I buy that, but we'll see

[Inkblot]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/04/04/h...-for-survival/

President made it official, St Aug's will definitely not be fielding a football program next season. Interestingly though, he seems optimistic that they'll be able to field their other fall sports next year. Not sure I buy that, but we'll see

Even if they do field other sports, it won't be as an NCAA member unless they somehow get accreditation back.

[Eagle74]

Unfortunately, I heard that they are now over 35 million dollars in debt, and growing. This saga doesn't look like it's going to have a good ending at all.

Supporters (including Alumni) of St Augustine held a march around campus this past week, however from what I could tell, in the end, no solution or major funding was raised that would even offset the rising interest on the blooming massive debt.

[LegalRam]

St Augs is somehow still competing in track. There men's and women's teams just competed at the CIAA conference championships.

[Eagle74]

St Augs is somehow still competing in track. There men's and women's teams just competed at the CIAA conference championships.

In the news report, it stated that during the recent Alumni/ supporter march, one thing they were trying to do was specifically raise enough money to keep the track team afloat for a while.

[Finchwidget]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/06/19/r...-says-trustee/

Interesting development. According to the chairman of St. Aug's board, there are folks in Raleigh looking to merge them with Shaw, but not for the reason you might think. Apparently the city of Raleigh desperately wants the downtown real estate that Shaw sits on, and they see St. Aug's financial woes as a vehicle to get it by forcing a merger between the two and moving the combined operations to the SAU campus

[Tech Boys]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/06/19/r...-says-trustee/

Interesting development. According to the chairman of St. Aug's board, there are folks in Raleigh looking to merge them with Shaw, but not for the reason you might think. Apparently the city of Raleigh desperately wants the downtown real estate that Shaw sits on, and they see St. Aug's financial woes as a vehicle to get it by forcing a merger between the two and moving the combined operations to the SAU campus

If that were to happen, merging the schools to the SAU campus is the better plan in part because Shaw plays their football games there.

[ctrabs74]

https://hbcugameday.com/2024/06/19/r...-says-trustee/

Interesting development. According to the chairman of St. Aug's board, there are folks in Raleigh looking to merge them with Shaw, but not for the reason you might think. Apparently the city of Raleigh desperately wants the downtown real estate that Shaw sits on, and they see St. Aug's financial woes as a vehicle to get it by forcing a merger between the two and moving the combined operations to the SAU campus

That kinda seems a little underhanded by the city of Raleigh to push an HBCU out of from Downtown.

[Bballfan]

Makes a lot of sense to combine universities and resources. Whatever the motive, contraction has to happen.

[Eagle74]

A merger would potentially save both institutions in the long run.

I have to agree that city developers would love to get their hands on the land that Shaw is sitting on.

[LegalRam]

I know Eagle and I for years have been saying a merger between the two schools would potentially be in the best interest of both schools.

However, I take this article and the allegations by Brain Boulware with a grain of salt. The BOT and School are going to say anything they can to save face right now and turn any other party (the city in this case) into the enemy. He and the rest of the BOT were just recently named as defendants in a lawsuit by a group of alums, students, parents, etc..

Also, the state nor city can force two private universities to merge. So, even if conversations were held, it's not like a local group of business leaders could actually force St Augs and Shaw to merge. I mean we've been discussing this for years, so it's not surprising if this topic came up again.

St Augs is grasping at straws and Shaw has prime real estate. It's not shocking that Raleigh business leaders would see this as a chance to promote the merger; however, I feel it's an over exaggeration saying that a merger is being forced.

[Bballfan]

Can't force them, but they need a merger for survival. Universities are doing this all over the country. It just makes sense for the long-term. Sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and do the right thing for students and employees.

[Finchwidget]

I know Eagle and I for years have been saying a merger between the two schools would potentially be in the best interest of both schools.

However, I take this article and the allegations by Brain Boulware with a grain of salt. The BOT and School are going to say anything they can to save face right now and turn any other party (the city in this case) into the enemy. He and the rest of the BOT were just recently named as defendants in a lawsuit by a group of alums, students, parents, etc..

Also, the state nor city can force two private universities to merge. So, even if conversations were held, it's not like a local group of business leaders could actually force St Augs and Shaw to merge. I mean we've been discussing this for years, so it's not surprising if this topic came up again.

St Augs is grasping at straws and Shaw has prime real estate. It's not shocking that Raleigh business leaders would see this as a chance to promote the merger; however, I feel it's an over exaggeration saying that a merger is being forced.

Force was a poor choice of words on my part; you're right in that neither Raleigh nor NC can force the two to merge. Maybe "strong-arm" is a little more appropriate, if Boulware is to be believed