#BelieveInSAU: A Falcon Is Not An Ordinary Bird
Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) is open. It will be accredited for Fall 2025, with a dedicated staff working diligently under the leadership of Dr. Marcus Burgess and the support of the board of trustees.
We are currently working to confirm the enrollment of our admitted students. Additionally, we have returning seniors who plan to graduate this year. We will begin classes online as scheduled on September 2nd, allowing students to learn safely.
Even with a small team, we deliver an exceptional virtual experience to every student. We have reduced our budgets by over 50% (saving $17 million annually) and are doing everything possible to remain strong. However, we need your help now to address our immediate needs. SAU has launched the Falcon Pride Initiative to raise funds for our legal fight; we aim to cover about $1 million in legal costs (including a $350,000 retainer). In total, we need approximately $2.35 million to maintain SAU’s open and accredited status. Here’s how the money will be used:
| Amount | What It Covers |
| $250,000 | The remaining balance of the initial legal retainer for our lawsuit against SACSCOC. This covers the remaining portion to start the case. |
| $688,401.64 | Fall Semester Operations. This covers payroll, utilities, and instructional services for August–December so classes can continue without interruption. (These are the fixed costs of running SAU.) |
| $650,000 | Student Refund Disbursements. We must send out owed refunds to qualify SAU for removal from HCM2 by the U.S. Department of Education. Once that’s done, our $8 million in federal student aid funds (Title IV) that are currently withheld can be released. |
| $650,000 | Remaining Legal Fees for the SACSCOC lawsuit and related legal expenses beyond the injunction and initial retainer. This helps cover ongoing attorney costs. |
Each of these items is urgent. The total is $2.35 million, which sounds large, but it’s attainable when our Falcon community comes together. For example, a few large donors or many small gifts can reach this goal. Classes begin this fall, so we must raise the funds now. Without this support, SAU cannot enroll students as an accredited university and may have to close its doors.
For those who want to take action right now, here’s how: Visit our Falcon Pride Initiative donation page and give what you can. Every gift – large or small – brings us closer to keeping SAU open this fall. A Falcon truly is not an ordinary bird, and together we can create a Miracle on Oakwood Avenue. SAU is counting on you – join us and #BelieveInSAU.
Donate today via the Falcon Pride Initiative. Your gift keeps SAU’s doors open and ensures our students’ futures.
Other Ways to Help
Apart from giving money, there are many hands-on ways to support SAU:
- Campus Maintenance Volunteers: Help clean up and repair our campus. Volunteer to fix fences, paint walls, mow lawns, and remove debris so the campus stays safe and welcoming.
- Building Security: Keep an eye on SAU buildings. Assist in securing doors, repairing broken locks or fence sections, and deter vandalism or squatters in unused buildings. Your time can help protect classrooms and offices.
- Instructional Support: Qualified adjunct professors to volunteer their time to instruct students at no cost to the university.
- Student Support: Tutor or mentor SAU students online, or provide needed supplies (like laptops, tablets, or textbooks) so every student can study effectively from home.
- Spread the Word: Share SAU’s story with your friends and on social media. Use #BelieveInSAU and tell others about the Falcon Pride Initiative using the Falcon Pride Initiative Toolkit. The more people who hear our story, the more help we can get.