The Saint Augustine’s College Board of Trustees announced today that the College is moving into a new phase as it joins peer institutions in moving to the status of University to become Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) effective August 1, 2012. The change to university status aligns the College’s public identity with the structure and breadth of academic, athletic and student development programs currently being offered at Saint Augustine’s College.
“This isn’t just a name change,” states President Dianne Boardley Suber. “We’re committed to changing the way we do business. Our guiding principle will continue to be the training of leaders and change agents. All of our curricula, student organizations and student life will have leadership training as its backdrop – the common thread that runs through and drives, all of our standing programs and new initiatives.
We’ve completely retrenched the general education core of courses for the freshman class of 2012. The new general education courses, which are required of all freshmen and sophomores, ensure that the content and objectives of all courses are relevant to the goal of retaining and graduating students who are prepared to compete and succeed in today’s challenging work force or graduate and professional level programs following their graduation.”
Saint Augustine’s University will expand its programs for nontraditional students to include students seeking a four year degree that includes online courses and expanding off-site access to campus programs. The University has established Centers of Excellence that will serve as the anchor programs of a Saint Augustine’s University degree.
The Center for Forensic Discovery (forensic science, forensic accounting, and forensic psychology) and the Center for Applied Medical Sciences are two signature academic programs that are expected to enhance and expand students’ marketability for a global workforce. The third Center of Excellence will be the Center for Athletic Facilities and Sports Management. This center affords students a unique concentration in the operational and administration aspects in the world of professional, collegiate and leisure sports. Graduates from this center would have the competitive advantage to secure positions in the “front office.”
An additional center of excellence being considered is the Center for Athletic Scholarship. “The University will focus on being NCAA championship contenders while continuing to raise the four-year graduation rates of student athletes,” says President Dianne Boardley Suber.
The University will move towards offering its first master’s degree program as early as 2014. The Physician Assistant (PA) Master’s Degree Program will focus on training PAs for rural and other underserved communities.
While the complete branding package is still under development, preparations for the name change will begin next month. Full implementation will take place this summer including the launch of a new Saint Augustine’s University web site and revised materials for new student orientation and prospective student events.
“When students return in the fall, we will officially be Saint Augustine’s University not only in name, but also in look and feel. There will be a full overhaul of paraphernalia in the bookstore and our presence throughout Raleigh and the country will be seen as Saint Augustine’s University. We’re very excited and look forward to sharing our new look with the world,” says Marc Newman, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development
