St. Augustine's College (Raleigh)

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Coordinates: 35°47′10″N 78°37′13″W / 35.7861°N 78.6204°W / 35.7861; -78.6204

Saint Augustine's University is a historically black college located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The college was founded in 1867 in Raleigh, North Carolina by prominent Episcopal clergy for the education of freed slaves.^[1]

History

Located 10 blocks east of the State Capital, St. Augustine's College was founded in 1867, an outgrowth of Christian missionary work by northerners in the Reconstruction-era South. With Shaw University, it established Raleigh as a center of educational opportunity for freedmen and over the years has graduated many of the region's most accomplished African Americans.

Affiliated with the Episcopal Church, St. Augustine's began as a normal school with a technical and trade-related program and subsequently adopted a liberal arts curriculum. The church further extended its mission by establishing St. Agnes Hospital and Training School for Nurses, to provide medical care for and by African Americans. Historically, the school also has served as an anchor of the predominantly black neighborhoods of Idlewild and College Park, which flank it.

The evolving nature of the school is reflected in its varied architecture. The campus' earliest buildings are clustered around a central, landscaped oval and near Oakwood Avenue, which runs east to west past the school. St. Augustine's Chapel (1895) was constructed of stone in the Gothic style; the Romanesque Benson Library building (1896), which is now part of Taylor Hall (1902), and St. Agnes Hospital (1909) were also built from stone. The Hunter, Delany and Cheshire buildings, dating from the early 20th century, were constructed of brick in the Classical Revival style. While contemporary buildings of the school's outer grounds provide a modernist contrast, the campus core remains a tangible bequest from St. Augustine's pioneering beginnings. St. Augustine's Chapel and St. Agnes Hospital are designated Raleigh Historic Landmarks.

The name changed to Saint Augustine’s School in 1893 and to Saint Augustine’s Junior College in 1919, the first year in which postsecondary instruction was offered. The school became a four-year institution in 1927 and in 1928 was renamed Saint Augustine’s College. Baccalaureate degrees were first awarded in 1931. On March 30, 2012, St Augustine's president, Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, announced that St. Augustine’s College would become St. Augustine’s University on August 1, 2012.^[2]

Saint Augustine’s College was the nation’s first historically black college to have its own on-campus commercial radio and television stations (WAUG-AM 750, WAUG-TV 68, and Time Warner cable channel 10). It is also the only school in the Raleigh/Durham area to offer a degree in film production.

Of the 5 colleges in the Western world which have awarded honorary degrees to controversial Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Saint Augustine's College is one of only 2 which has not revoked the award (in this case, a Legum Doctor).

Controversy

On June 1, 2011, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that a student of Saint Augustine's, Roman Caple, had been barred from participation in the 2011 commencement exercises because of a negative comment he had made on the College's Facebook page.^[3] This incident has generated considerable press coverage in the United States and elsewhere,^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} and has been condemned by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]} The College's Office of Campus Communications has issued a press release relating to the matter.^[19] In July 2011 Caple initiated a lawsuit against the College in North Carolina State Court.^[20][21] In January 2012 it was announced that Caple and the College had reached an out-of-court settlement.^[22][23][24]

June 27, 2013, it was reported by local news affiliates that two convicted murderers were hired to run a children’s summer camp at the college.

The woman who runs the Kiddie Kollege Summer Camp at St. Augustine's University is Doris Bullock, the former Doris Braswell. Bullock was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1981 death of her infant child.

Her assistant is Deidra Gary, formerly Deidra Lane. In 2000, Gary was convicted of killing her husband, Carolina Panthers running back Fred Lane. She pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2003 and was released from prison in 2009.^[25]

The University released a statement saying: "The safety and well being of children in our on-campus programs are our top priorities. Saint Augustine's University performs background checks on all employees. Doris Bullock and Deidra Gary serve in administrative roles and provide valuable support. They are exemplary employees and productive members of the community."^[26] On June 28th, 2013 the university said it had reassigned two employees Friday after media reports raised concerns that the women, both convicted killers, worked with young children.^[27]

Campus

Emery Gymnasium, George "Pup" Williams Track & Field Stadium, Penick Hall of Math & Sciences, Charles Mosee Building (Office of Academic Affairs), Delany Hall (Office of Financial Aid & Admissions), Martin Luther King, Jr. Reception Center, Joseph C. Gordan Health & Science Center, The Prezell R. Robinson Library, Cheshire Building (Division of Business), Tuttle Hall of Military Sciences, St. Agnes Hospital, Goold Hall Student Union, Charles H. Boyer Administration Building (Office of the President), Hunter Administration Bldg., Hermitage Faculty Bldg., Benson Bldg. of Technology, Seby Jones Fine Arts Center, and The Historic Chapel.

• Saint Agnes Hospital- Sarah Hunter founded St. Agnes Hospital in 1895. For many years St. Agnes was the only teaching hospital for blacks between Atlanta and Washington D.C. In 1905, under the direction of Bishop Henry Beard Delany it became a 75 bed center that opened in 1908. The building was severely damaged by fire in December 1926 and is currently undergoing a $13 million renovation to become an administration building, and historic site of Raleigh, North Carolina. One of its most famous patients was Boxer Jack Johnson, who was taken there following a fatal 1946 auto accident near Franklinton, NC. This building still remains but the hospital has not operated since 1961.
• Saint Augustine's College Historic Chapel- The college cornerstone was laid in 1895 under the guidance of Reverend Henry Beard Delany, the first African-American Bishop elected to the Episcopal Church and the first Bishop to graduate from the college. The chapel was made possible through the acquisition by the Freedmen's Bureau and is one of the oldest landmarks at St. Augustine's University. Current chaplain of the chapel is the Rev. Nita Johnson Byrd.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Center- Built in 1973, it was previously the schools Student Union and now holds the cafeteria, Time-Out grill, mailing room, bookstore, and ballroom.

Annual events

• Homecoming Week (Fall)
• CIAA Basketball Tournament (Spring)
• Founders Week (Spring)
• BET Black College Tour (Fall)
• Open House Spring & Fall
• Convocation Spring & Fall
• Greek Probates
• Campus Pep Rally
• Campus Plays, Band, Fashion, and Talent Shows* Sapphire Gala (Spring)
• Annual Black & White Affair (Spring)
• Commencement Ceremony (Spring)
• Miss Saint Augustine's College Pageant (Spring)
• S.G.A. Elections (Spring)
• Spring Fling
• Open House
• Community Day (Spring)

Student enrollment

In recent years, the university's annual enrollment has approximated 1,600 students, about half from North Carolina, the remainder from 37 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and 30 other foreign countries. Its faculty consists of nearly 100 persons.

Academics

Student activities

Clubs and activities

• Student Honors Association
• Student Leaders Organization
• Student Government Association
• CAB (Campus Activities Board)
• CFO (Christian Fellowship Organization)
• New Beginnings Gospel Choir
• BlueChip Cheerleading Squad
• Collegiate 100 of the 100 Black Men
• Carter G. Woodson History Club
• FAME (Federation of Artist in Media Entertainment)
• Falcon Poetry Club
• Phi Beta Lambda (National Business Association)
• Nubiance Modeling Troupe
• Belle J'Adore Modeling Troupe
• ISA International Student Organization
• Marching/Jazz/Pep Band
• Falcon Battalion/Army ROTC
• Falcons 4 Obama
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Foreign Language Club
• Falcons for the Cause
• Falcon Fanatikz Pep Squad
• Residence Halls Association
• Psychology Club
• SAC Association for Black Journalists
• Sociology Club
• Students in Free Enterprise
• Students North Carolina Association of Educators (SNCAE)

Honor societies

• Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society
• Alpha Kappa Mu national honor society
• Beta Kappa Chi national honor society
• Delta Mu business administration honor society
• Phi Eta Sigmanational honor society
• Phi Beta Lambda
• Phi Kappa Delta

Greek letter organizations

• Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity – Gamma Psi chapter
• Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority – Gamma Xi chapter
• Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity – Gamma Omicron chapter
• Omega Psi Phi fraternity – Kappa Epsilon chapter
• Delta Sigma Theta sorority – Gamma Rho chapter
• Phi Beta Sigma fraternity – Beta Xi chapter
• Zeta Phi Beta sorority – Phi Beta chapter
• Sigma Gamma Rho sorority – Nu chapter
• Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity – Upsilon Kappa chapter
• Kappa Kappa Psi national honorary band fraternity – Prospect
• Tau Beta Sigma national honorary band sorority – Prospect

Social fellowships

• Groove Phi Groove social fellowship
• Swing Phi Swing social fellowship

U.S. Army Falcon Battalion

Augmenting the university's liberal arts core curriculum are programs in business; computer science; teacher education; the natural sciences; mathematics; interdisciplinary studies; theater and film; adult education; community development; communications; and military science, a required course for all members of the university's notable Army ROTC battalion.

In 1962, officials at Saint Augustine’s University began considering the possibility of establishing a Senior ROTC Program on campus. After much deliberation, an application was submitted to the Secretary of the Army in 1967, and approved for a program to commence with the 1972–73, school year. However, the institution requested that action be delayed until 1974. In April 1974, Regular Army personnel began arriving to staff the new ROTC detachment, and the Department of Military Science was established.

Gateway Program

The mission of "The Gateway Lifelong Learning Program" is to offer non-traditional, continuing and alternative academic educational opportunities for adult learners. The Gateway Program is designed to give working, non-traditional and community college transfer students an option to pursue a degree and / or personal/professional development. These academic programs address the learning needs of employed adults who prefer an educational delivery system that is participatory and experientially related to the workplace. An example of an educational program consistent with the lifelong learning philosophy is the Organizational Management (OM) major, which is offered through the university's Gateway Program. This unique program offers an ideal alternative academic opportunity for the employed adult to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in an accelerated format while attending classes during the evening each week.

Athletics

Saint Augustine's competes in NCAA Division II in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Varsity sports include:

• Baseball (see also: USA Baseball National Training Complex)
• Cheerleading
• Football
• Softball
• Men's Golf
• Women's Bowling
• Women's Volleyball
• Men's/Women's Basketball
• Men's/Women's Cross-Country
• Men's/Women's Tennis
• Men's/Women's Outdoor Track
• Men's/Women's Indoor Track

George "Pup" Williams

Since becoming head track and field coach at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C., in 1976, the 59-year-old Williams has built a dynasty. He has won 24 NCAA Division II titles during his tenure and he has received 90 Coach of the Year honors. His scholarship athletes at St. Augustine's have achieved a 95 percent graduation rate.

Williams was men's head coach at the 1999 World Outdoor Championships in Seville, the 1993 World Indoor Championships and the 1992 IAAF World Cup. He was an assistant coach for the 1996 Olympic Games, where U.S. athletes won gold medals in all the event groups he was responsible for – 400 meters, hurdles, long jump and the 4x400m relay. World-class athletes currently being trained by Williams include 2002 U.S. women's 400 m runner-up Michelle Collins, 2000 and 2001 U.S. women's 400 m champion and Olympic 4x400m gold medalist LaTasha Colander-Richardson, and men's 4x400m relay world record holder and relay gold medalist Jerome Young,

"I'm still dizzy," said Williams, a 1965 St. Augustine's graduate and the school's athletic director since 1996. "I think this one of the greatest things that can happen to anyone in this business. I'm so grateful to the athletes and the people who helped nominate me. I'm going to be sure to make sure I'm the coach they know I am and to make sure they get what they have been training for, an Olympic medal."

Notable alumni

References

External links

• Official website
• Official athletics website
• http://www.episcopalarchives.org/Afro-Anglican_history/exhibit/leadership/delany.php