Saint Augustine's University chairman Brian Boulware has responded to a lawsuit filed by a group of alumni and supporters in an effort to remove the school's board of trustees.
Chairman of the board Brian Boulware addressed the SAU student body, alumni and campus community in a four-page letter.
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He called the alumni behind this lawsuit “disgruntled.” The SAVE SAU group called for Boulware and the board to step down. The group accuses Boulware and other board members of not following bidding procedures for construction projects, violating bylaws and breaching implied duties.
In Boulware’s letter, it reads, “I assure you that this complaint is an inaccurate characterization of my service on the SAU Board of Trustees, specifically the statement that I was using SAU as a “Personal Piggy Bank.”
The university is in the process of fighting for its accreditation. Boulware said the university has faced more scrutiny from the agency that accredits it, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) due to Save SAU’s accusations.
He went on to say, “This unwarranted attention has disrupted our operations, leading to delays in meaningful projects and the need for additional resources. It has also jeopardized the trust of our community, with some stakeholders questioning our financial management.”
The university spokesperson said interim president Dr. Marcus Burgess would not be available to comment on the chairman’s letter.
In the letter, Boulware also announced a plan to address some of the university’s financial issues, including staff pay.
Saint Augustine's University chair says he has rejected effort to merge school
Boulware said he has rejected an effort to merge the financially challenged school.
Some community leaders recently urged Saint Augustine’s to save itself by combining with Shaw University.
Shaw is another historically Black school.
Boulware says he was urged in a recent meeting to combine the campuses. The idea was presented at a dinner that included local developer Smedes York, former News and Observer publisher Orage Quarles, and Capitol Broadcasting’s CEO Jim Goodmon. Leaders from Shaw University were also present for the meeting.
In a letter rejecting the merger, the Saint Augustine’s board chair said he will soon announce a short-term financial solution to stabilize St. Augustine’s while they work on a long-term plan. Sources tell WRAL News the school is working on a multi-million dollar bridge loan to hold them over while they explore selling some of their property to raise money.