Saint Augustine’s College

Description

Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) was established in 1867 in Raleigh, N.C. SAU, which sits on 105 acres, is a four-year liberal arts university with an average enrollment of approximately 1,100. SAU offers more than 25 undergraduate degree programs and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Saint Augustine’s University’s mission is to sustain a learning community in which students can prepare academically, socially and spiritually for leadership in a complex, diverse and rapidly changing world.

History

Saint Augustine’s University was chartered as a “Normal School and Collegiate Institute” on July 19, 1867, by the Reverend J. Brinton Smith, D.D., secretary of the Freedman’s Commission of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the Right Reverend Thomas Atkinson, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. Bishop Atkinson became the first president of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Smith was the first principal. The new school opened its doors for instruction on January 13, 1868.

In 1893, the School’s name changed from Saint Augustine’s Normal School to Saint Augustine’s School. In 1919, the name changed to Saint Augustine’s Junior College, the first year in which postsecondary instruction was offered. The School became a four-year institution in 1927. In 1928, the institution was renamed Saint Augustine’s College. Baccalaureate degrees were first awarded in 1931.

On August 1, 2012 when Saint Augustine’s College transitioned in name and status to Saint Augustine’s University. Saint Augustine’s University has a strong tradition of excellence and a rich legacy that bonds thousands of Saint Augustine’s University sons and daughters from across the globe.