Q&A: Saint Augustine's president 'hopelessly optimistic' despite accreditation, financial woes

WRAL News on Monday sat down for a one-on-one interview with Dr. Marcus Burgess, the interim president of Saint Augustine's University.

Posted 9:20 p.m. Mar 4 — Updated 10:51 p.m. Mar 4

Matt Talhelm

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — WRAL News on Monday sat down for a one-on-one interview with Dr. Marcus Burgess, the interim president of Saint Augustine's University.

Burgess is leading the fight to keep Saint Augustine's University open and accredited after financial issues caused the HBCU to lose its appeal to keep its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS.

Burgess on Monday said he is sympathetic for the Saint Augustine's community during a stressful time. Just last week, Burgess assured students, faculty and staff the university will remain accredited as the legal process plays out, that seniors will graduate with a degree from an accredited university.

"Sometimes it gets really tough when we’re having to defend ourselves, and I really feel for our faculty, staff, and students – their mental health right now – because they’re having to defend their existence and why they continue to stay," Burgess said.

On March 5, the university plans to notify its accrediting commission that it will go through arbitration to remain accredited and keep receiving federal funding and financial aid for its students for at least another 90 days.

Q&A: St. Augustine's University President Marcus Burgess

WRAL's Matt Talhelm: Can you save this school?

Dr. Marcus Burgess: I’m hopelessly optimistic. Cash is king. Time is not on our side ... but given the chance to continue with a cash flow and buying some time for accreditation, I do believe so.

Talhelm: How confident are you that the doors are going to open here for the fall 2024 semester?

Burgess: Oh, I’m very confident. They’re going to open. It may be scaled back a little bit, but it is our plan to open and begin the resurrection process. It’s building from the ground up the model school that we want.

Burgess also on Monday addressed a 2021 audit obtained by WRAL News that showed $10 million missing from the university's books. Burgess said the money has been accounted for, blaming changes in accounting software and a turnover in staff at the time. The university is currently undergoing a forensic audit of its finances.

Talhelm: Is there any sign at this point to your knowledge that someone mishandled or misused money?

Burgess: Because I was not here, I cannot speak to that ... but there are signs that something didn’t just happen right – whether it was improper recording or, I don’t know, somebody actually took it.

(The last payroll met at Saint Augustine's University was Feb. 9)

Talhelm: Will payroll be met this week?

Burgess: Oh boy. It has to be, because four weeks of missed payroll ... we have to ensure we pay our people. Goodwill goes only a short way.

Talhelm: How did it get to that point, and who failed here?

Burgess: Oh man, if I took the time to unravel where the failures start, then I won’t be working toward a solution.

Saint Augustine's University employees without paychecks again

Burgess said Saint Augustine's University is working with Shaw University to possibly share some services like maintenance, food and police. The CEO of Goodwill Industries is providing the university with $10,000 in Food Lion gift cards, and others have donated gas cards to staff and students.

See all WRAL's coverage of Saint Augustine's University

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