Amid lawsuits & accreditation combat, embattled St. Augustine’s College graduates its newest class :: WRAL.com

St. Augustine College’s tutorial yr ended on Saturday, not on campus, however inside Raleigh’s Wake Chapel Church. Audio system on the College’s 94th graduation ceremony wasted no time asking for prayers for the embattled HBCU.

“I’d ask you to only hold in there with St. Augustin’s. Know that God is with us. And that God is doing a brand new work and a brand new factor at St. Augustine’s,” mentioned Rev. Allen Robinson, the keynote speaker and a St. Augustine’s alumnus. 

There’s lots to wish about. The college is going through a number of lawsuits over unpaid payments. Its former President, Christine McPhail, can also be suing two members of  St. Augustine’s Board of Trustees, alleging sexual discrimination and wrongful firing. 

On prime of that, St. Augustine’s is interesting its accreditation to the Southern Affiliation of Faculties and Faculties Commissions on Faculties (SACSCOC) but once more, after a earlier enchantment in March failed. 

“We’ve finished the whole lot we would have liked to do. So proper now we’re ready on arbitration,” mentioned Interim College President Dr. Marcus Burgess. In accordance with Burgess, the arbitration is scheduled for June 26. 

St. Augustine’s has additionally been working for months to safe a $70 million bridge mortgage, a course of Burgess says nonetheless isn’t full. “We’re nonetheless working with our companions. On the finish of the day, we now have to proceed to vet issues out,” mentioned Burgess. 

However amid the pomp and circumstance on Saturday, Burgess mentioned the main focus now ought to be on the category of 2025 and their dedication to the College. 

“We nonetheless are graduating college students, and that’s crucial factor,” mentioned Burgess. 

25 seniors acquired their levels Saturday, together with Tillia Leary. 

“It’s overwhelming,” mentioned Leary, who’s from the Bahamas, and plans to go on to get her Grasp’s diploma at Ball State. “Plenty of combined feelings. However I’m grateful to be right here.” 

This ceremony was far smaller than simply the yr earlier than, when 168 college students packed St Aug’s stadium to get their levels. 

College students then nervous if their alma mater would survive one other yr. College students on Saturday have been asking the identical query. 

“I had my doubts. However I’m a girl with religion, and I at all times had religion,” mentioned Leary. 

Burgess mentioned the college is now new methods of shifting ahead, together with attempting to enchantment to a wider array of scholars. 

“Going ahead, we need to pull upon the subsequent 54-, the 64-, the 34-year-old who had desires of ending faculty. Why can’t we be a college for diploma completion? For credentialing?” mentioned Burgess. “So these are a few of the issues in our grasp plan. We need to be sure that we’re out there for everybody.” 

Uncertainty over the longer term didn’t overshadow the enjoyment for the category of 2025. As college officers handed out levels, the room erupted with cheers from household, mates and family members. Tears trickled down the faces of a few of the graduates. 

“It simply seems like a household,” mentioned Leary.