After a tornado-prompted day off, Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh will reopen for classes Tuesday.

“Although there was severe damage, we worked very hard to get the campus back to a place where it is safe for our students, faculty and staff,” said Saint Augustine’s College President Dianne Boardley Suber in a news release. “We understand the importance of upholding the integrity of our academic program and carrying out our obligation to complete the semester. Although the work will continue on campus — to include working with Progress Energy to restore power to all of the campus — we felt the need to get our students back in the classroom.”

It was a rough weekend on campus, and the college's counseling center will continue working with students, Suber said.

“The effect of the damage will be felt on campus for years to come. We look forward to establishing an organized method to provide our partners and friends an opportunity to assist in the rebuilding of Saint Augustine’s College’s campus,” Suber said.

If you're a college student - and definitely if you're the parent of a college student - you know what the FAFSA is.

And more than likely, you say it through clenched teeth, with a scowl and a furrowed brow.

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the gateway through which the nation's college students get federal and state aid for college.

And it's no picnic. It's not a particularly long application, but it's detailed and murky and you have to do it every year.

The state offers some help, in the form of FAFSA Day, which is held this Saturday across the state.

Read on.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $2.1 million to Saint Augustine's College to recruit students, improve technology and expand faculty development.

The Title III funds are intended to help historically black colleges and universities serve students better by strengthening academics, management and financial stability, according to a news release issued Friday by the university.

The money will be used to support and recruit students in a teacher education program; upgrade technology services; improve faculty development through participation in professional conferences; and provide first-year students with better support services including academic counseling and tutoring.
 

Saint Augustine’s College has purchased two Oakwood Avenue properties using state grant funds aimed at improving neighborhoods.

St. Aug's used a $2.1 million grant from the Department of Commerce's Neighborhood Stabilization Program to buy the homes at 1817 and 1805 Oakwood Avenue.

The program provides grants to buy foreclosed or abandoned homes and rehabilitate, redevelop or resell them.

St. Aug's plans to renovate the two properties and hopes to buy five more homes with the grant money. Eventually, the college plans to rent the homes to low- and moderate-income families.