St. Augustine's Looking to Rebuild Following Enrollment Drop

St. Augustine’s University is in rebuilding mode following a significant enrollment drop this year.

As reported by ABC11, Tuesday (Sept. 3) marks the first day of classes for the local HBCU. However, after financial and accreditation issues, St. Aug’s sophomore class is the smallest this semester.

Interim President Dr. Marcus Burgess informed ABC11 that about 200 students are enrolled for the fall. That’s down from 700 students this past spring and 900 students at the start of last year.

RELATED: St. Augustine’s University Gets Accreditation Back

St. Aug’s has been dealing with many challenges since last semester, including financial issues and accreditation troubles.

Earlier this summer, the university’s accreditation was restored by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Now, Dr. Burgess says that they are working to address the school’s financial situation, including paying staff members who haven’t received a check since March. The university also delayed the start of the new semester by two weeks, during which they secured a new food vendor and worked on maintenance upgrades to dorms and classrooms.

With that in mind, Dr. Burgess is looking towards St. Aug’s future.

“We’re going to be smaller with everything that went on,” Burgess said. “However, it gives us an opportunity to build back and be better.”