Dianne Boardley Suber, president of Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, announced on Friday April 4 that she will leave her post on May 31. [Update: On April 7, the board of trustees announced that Dr. Suber was no longer president of the university and that day-to-day operations were now under the leadership of Ronald Brown, the vice president for strategic initiatives at the university.] Dr. Suber has been president of the historically Black educational institution since December 1999.
In recent weeks, Saint Augustine’s University has confronted several problems. A federal investigation has been launched on the university’s use of some grant money. Enrollments are down creating a substantial budget shortfall. One high-level administrator at the school was let go and another was placed on leave. Most importantly, the university has notified that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional accrediting body, is reviewing the school’s status due to its financial problems.
In a statement, President Suber said in part, “The last several months have been particularly challenging. . . . Sometimes we tend to ‘stay too long at the fair.’ . . . I trust that the next president of this 147-year-old institution of historical value with a strong present and promising future will bring the wisdom, experience and tenacity to enable Saint Augustine’s University to stay the course in spite of troubled waters.”
Before being named president of Saint Augustine’s University, Dr. Suber held a series of administrative posts at Hampton University in Virginia. She is a graduate of Hampton University and holds a master’s of education degree in curriculum development from the University of Illinois and an educational doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia.
When will the HBCU system wise up and start merging institutions. To survive as a system they must work together or many will perish, sooner than later.
Good observation GE. Its too many failing to look realistically look at the long-range future in the context of attendance cost, demand for their program offerings, location vs today’s prospects preferences and other factors. Survival visions are impeded by alumni and Boards preoccupied with the notion of “what use to be”. Ten years before its downward trend , Morris Brown should have been exploring merging into Albany State filling the void of non duplicating Georgia State programs better suited for location in Atlanta.
I agree – St. Augs is probably the weakest HBCU in the nation. Most of the students are ill prepared to handle the rigors of college work. The university is only interested in how well the track and field teams perform.