- Court-stamped documents were filed on August 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to continue SAU’s active litigation in defense of the University’s mission, students, and community.
- SAU successfully secured a preliminary injunction on August 15 to maintain the university’s accreditation, ensuring that classes will begin on September 2, 2025
- SAU will remain accredited and operational as legal proceedings continue.
- Saint Augustine’s University was notified on July 14th that the arbitration committee affirmed the ruling of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), removing SAU’s membership.
- SACSCOC received the SAU’s Letter of Arbitration on March 14th.
- The arbitration proceedings shall be completed within 90 calendar days of the convening of the arbitration.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Arbitration Process.
- The University received an action letter from SACSCOC on March 5 outlining the February 2025 decision and providing an opportunity for SAU to submit their dispute to arbitration.
- Saint Augustine’s University can submit a notification of arbitration to the SACSCOC President within 10 calendar days of the Appeals Committee’s decision. If the notification is submitted within that timeframe, Saint Augustine’s University will remain an accredited institution on Probation for Good Cause until the arbitrators render a decision.
- The arbitration proceedings shall be completed within 90 calendar days of the convening of the arbitration.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Arbitration Process.
- SAU was granted an Appeal Hearing on February 27, 2025 in Atlanta, GA.
- SAU argued in its appeal that new and verifiable financial information material to the Board’s adverse decision was evidence of grounds for the adverse action to be remanded to the Board.
- SACSCOC decided to uphold its decision to remove SAU from membership.
- The University received an action letter from SACSCOC on January 14 outlining the December 2024 decision and providing an opportunity for SAU to appeal that decision.
- Saint Augustine’s University sent its Letter of Appeal to SACSCOC on January 24.
- SAU will be granted an Appeal Hearing in February. The University is awaiting a decision on that date.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Appeals Process.
- On December 7, 2024, SAU appeared before the SACSCOC Board for a decision on its membership. SACSCOC voted to remove SAU from its membership but will allow the university to submit new financial information and appeal.
- Saint Augustine’s University was notified on July 21st that the arbitration committee overturned the ruling of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), reinstating SAU’s membership with the sanction of Probation for Cause until December 2024.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC.
- Saint Augustine’s University sent its Letter of Arbitration to SACSCOC on March 8th.
- SACSCOC received the SAU’s Letter of Arbitration on March 11th.
- The arbitration proceedings shall be completed within 90 calendar days of the convening of the arbitration.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Arbitration Process.
- The University received an action letter from SACSCOC on February 27 outlining the February 2024 decision and providing an opportunity for SAU to submit their dispute to arbitration.
- Saint Augustine’s University will send its Letter of Arbitration to SACSCOC on March 8.
- The arbitration proceedings shall be completed within 90 calendar days of the convening of the arbitration.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Arbitration Process.
- SAU was granted an Appeal Hearing on February 20, 2024 in Atlanta, GA.
- SAU argued in its appeal that significant steps had been taken to correct areas of non-compliance with SACS-COC standards and that the University had the capacity to remedy areas of non-compliance within the next 12 months.
- SACSCOC decided to uphold its decision to remove SAU from membership and denied an extension of Probation for Good Cause until December 2025.
- Attorneys representing Saint Augustine’s University are planning to file an injunction requesting that courts weigh in on this case. During that injunction, SAU’s SACSCOC accreditation remains in place.
- The University received an action letter from SACSCOC on January 11 outlining the December 2023 decision and providing an opportunity for SAU to appeal that decision.
- Saint Augustine’s University sent its Letter of Appeal to SACSCOC on January 19.
- SAU will be granted an Appeal Hearing on February 19, 20, or 21. The University is awaiting a decision on that date.
- SAU remains accredited by SACSCOC through the Appeals Process.
At its meeting on December 5, 2023, the SACSCOC Board of Trustees took the following actions regarding the accreditation status of Saint Augustine’s University:
The Board voted to remove the University from SACSCOC membership for failure to comply with:
Core Requirement 4.1 (Governing board characteristics), Core Requirement 13.1 (Financial resources), Core Requirement 13.2 (Financial documents), Standard 13.3 (Financial responsibility), Standard 13.4 (Control of finances), Standard 13.6 (Federal and state responsibilities) of the Principles of Accreditation, and failure to meet the provisions of Good Cause.
Saint Augustine’s University will appeal the decision of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. Saint Augustine’s University remains an accredited institution on Probation until the Appeal process concludes.
The University’s leadership team continues to address the issues cited by the SACSCOC’s Board of Trustees and will work collaboratively with SACSCOC’s staff to restore full compliance across all Principles of Accreditation.
During the last two years, SAU has taken unprecedented action to protect and advance the fiscal health of Saint Augustine’s University. These efforts are reflected in the significant progress in areas such as increased enrollment, increased alumni and employee giving, increased grant activity, increased endowments, reduced student debt, improved upward mobility of graduates, and year-end balanced budgets. In addition, the University has increased the number of student internships, external partnerships, and strategic partnerships and alliances. While we at SAU are disappointed with the decision made by the SACSCOC Board, we are not discouraged; the entire SAU community has renewed its commitment to fulfill the University’s vision and remain focused to carry out our mission.
Our board of trustees, leadership team, faculty, staff, students and alumni look forward to collaborating with SACSCOC during the coming weeks to demonstrate that we have addressed the noncompliance issues to ensure the university’s good standing in all accreditation principles.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Issued July 14, 2025, by SACSCOC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
KEY THEMES:
Accreditation Status and Process · Financial Challenges and Student Balances · Impact on Current and Future Students · Leadership’s Commitment to Students · Campus Issues (Housing, Dining, Employee Payments etc.)