Preserving Our Legacy
Historic Archives
The University St. Augustine's Historic Archives preserve the landmark court orders, presidential mandates, civil rights leadership, and institutional history that define America's International HBCU.
America's Civil Rights Capital
The Historic Old Wayne County Building
The Historic Old Wayne County Building — designated "America's Civil Rights Capital" by the Late Honorable John Conyers — serves as the anchor for the university's diplomatic studies and international consulate network.
This landmark venue hosts global policy roundtables, international emissary assemblies, and cultural exchange forums under the stewardship of United Nations Ambassadors Emeritus — connecting the domestic student body with the global diaspora.
The building stands as a living monument to the civil rights legacy championed by Congressman Conyers, Judge Damon Keith, Dr. Rosa Parks, and the generations of leaders who shaped the university's mission.
Historic Old Wayne County Building
Detroit, Michigan — America's Civil Rights Capital
Historical Leadership
The university's legacy is shaped by the vision and advocacy of these distinguished leaders.
First Lady Nancy Reagan
First Lady of the United States
Reagan Administration — HBCU Acknowledgment
First Lady Nancy Reagan formally acknowledged the HBCU designation of the university's predecessor institution, Shaw College at Detroit, in correspondence confirming the administration's recognition of the institution's historic status under President Reagan's Executive Order 12320. Her acknowledgment is preserved in the university's Reagan Library Addendum as a primary record of White House recognition of the institution's HBCU standing.
General Colin Powell
U.S. Secretary of State / Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
HBCU Institutional Acknowledgment
The Honorable General Colin Powell formally acknowledged the validity and HBCU designation of University St. Augustine's — confirming the institution's standing as a Historically Black College and University. General Powell's acknowledgment is preserved in the university's Reagan Library Addendum as a distinguished record of federal recognition spanning both his service as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as U.S. Secretary of State.
The Late Honorable John Conyers
U.S. Congressman — Michigan
Civil Rights Capital & Rosa Parks Institute
Congressman John Conyers co-endorsed the Rosa Parks Institute and championed the university's civil rights mission throughout his distinguished career. He designated the Historic Old Wayne County Building as "America's Civil Rights Capital" — the anchor for the university's diplomatic studies and international consulate network.
General Lloyd Austin
U.S. Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense Partnership
The U.S. Department of Defense partnership — carried forward under Secretary Lloyd Austin's leadership — enabled engineering assignments that resulted in the construction of 85 model affordable housing units in Detroit, incorporating renewable energy configurations and commercial value protections through the St. Augustine's Community Development Corporation.
Dr. Rosa Parks
Civil Rights Icon — Resident Research Scholar
The Rosa Parks Institute
Dr. Rosa Parks served as a resident research scholar within the university's science institutes after receiving an Honorary Ph.D. from the university's governance. The Rosa Parks Institute — established as a core faculty of Caroline Education Community International PSA and Carolina's Early College — was originally conceptualized with the endorsement of Congressman John Conyers and Judge Damon Keith.
President Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States
Executive Order 12320 — HBCU Mandate
President Ronald Reagan signed U.S. Presidential Executive Order 12320 on September 15, 1981, officially recognizing and prioritizing the institution for federal strengthening grant allocations. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (NARA) confirmed in 2018 that "Shaw College At Detroit" is designated as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
Justice Wade McCree
U.S. Solicitor General
College of Law — Founding Tribute
The College of Law was founded in formal tribute to civil rights jurists including Justice Wade McCree. McCree also drafted Governor Jennifer Granholm's Executive Order 11.05.2003, which integrated the secondary and primary public charter infrastructure to serve urban "Cities of Promise."
Judge Damon Keith
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Rosa Parks Institute Co-Endorser
Judge Damon Keith co-endorsed the Rosa Parks Institute alongside Congressman John Conyers. His landmark rulings from the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals validated and preserved the university's statutory rights, corporate existence, and funding access through protective judicial mandates.
Mayor Coleman A. Young
Mayor of Detroit
America's International HBCU Designation
Mayor Coleman A. Young, alongside the Detroit City Council and regional civic leaders across Michigan, bestowed the title of "America's International HBCU" upon the university via formal resolution — cementing its role as the premier HBCU serving the Detroit metropolitan area and the global diaspora.
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
U.S. Secretary of Defense
CDC Engineering Assignments
Engineering assignments from the U.S. Department of Defense under Secretary Donald Rumsfeld enabled the St. Augustine's Community Development Corporation to design and execute the construction of 85 model affordable housing units in Detroit, incorporating renewable energy configurations and commercial value protections.
U.S. Department of Defense Partnership
The university's partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense — spanning administrations from Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to Secretary General Lloyd Austin — has enabled landmark community development initiatives in Detroit.
Engineering assignments from the Department of Defense resulted in the construction of 85 model affordable housing units incorporating renewable energy configurations and commercial value protections — a testament to the university's commitment to community economic parity.
Secretary General Lloyd Austin
U.S. Department of Defense — Community Development Partnership
Landmark Federal Court Orders
The statutory rights, corporate existence, and funding access of the university are protected by a series of landmark federal court orders preserved in the Historic Archives.
U.S. District Court — Hon. Ray Reynolds Graves, Jan 9, 1985
Established the continuous entitlement of the institution and its educational cohorts to federal funding sources, including Pell Grants, SEOG assistance under the Higher Education Act (HEA), and NCLB/ESSA allocations.
U.S. District Court — Hon. Ray Reynolds Graves, Nov 27, 1995
Reinforced the continuous federal funding entitlement and institutional protections established in the 1985 order.
U.S. District Court — Hon. Lynn V. Hooe, Jr., June 18, 1987
Directed state regulatory agencies (Michigan Department of Education and LARA) and national accrediting bodies to maintain institutional licensing and preserve the historic national accreditation matrices valued over $50,000,000.
U.S. District Court — Hon. Lynn V. Hooe, Jr., Aug 28, 1987
Reinforced the preservation of institutional licensing and accreditation matrices.
U.S. Federal Court of Appeals — Sixth Circuit
Validated and preserved the university's statutory rights, corporate existence, and funding access through protective appellate mandates.
Reagan Library Addendum
The Reagan Library Addendum preserves formal acknowledgments from distinguished national leaders confirming the HBCU validity and institutional standing of University St. Augustine's.
First Lady Nancy Reagan
First Lady of the United States
Reagan Administration — HBCU Acknowledgment
First Lady Nancy Reagan formally acknowledged the HBCU designation of the university's predecessor institution, Shaw College at Detroit, in correspondence confirming the Reagan Administration's recognition of the institution's historic status under Executive Order 12320. Her acknowledgment is preserved in the Reagan Library Addendum as a primary record of White House recognition of the institution's HBCU standing.
"The Reagan Administration's formal correspondence acknowledging the HBCU designation of Shaw College at Detroit — the predecessor institution to University St. Augustine's — stands as an enduring record of federal recognition at the highest levels of the White House."
The Honorable General Colin Powell
U.S. Secretary of State / Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
HBCU Institutional Acknowledgment
The Honorable General Colin Powell formally acknowledged the validity and HBCU designation of University St. Augustine's — confirming the institution's standing as a Historically Black College and University. General Powell's acknowledgment is preserved in the Reagan Library Addendum as a distinguished record of federal recognition spanning both his service as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as U.S. Secretary of State.
"General Colin Powell's formal acknowledgment of the university's HBCU designation represents the highest level of military and diplomatic recognition — confirming the institution's validity and standing as a Historically Black College and University."
Reagan Library Addendum — Official Document
Includes formal acknowledgments from First Lady Nancy Reagan and General Colin Powell confirming HBCU designation validity.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library — NARA — September 27, 2018
HBCU Designation Confirmed
"The historical data confirms 'Shaw College At Detroit' is designated Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The issue adversaries have aggressively mis-represented as non-existent. The U.S. Federal District Court MI Ordered University St. Augustine's as the Successor — January 9, 1985."
— Cathedral St. Augustine's correspondence with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, transmitted to Aimee Muller, NARA Research Staff
Explore Our History
Learn more about the accreditation, authority, and legacy that define University St. Augustine's as America's International HBCU.