RALEIGH, N.C. — The oldest commercial Historically Black College and University (HBCU) owned radio and television station in the country is right here in our state, and it’s getting some updates.

Students and staff recently finished updates to both the studio and control room at Saint Augustine’s University’s radio and television station to better serve not just the students and the school, but also the community.

Saint Augustine’s University, in Raleigh, started renovating their WAUG Network control room and studio in fall of 2021. The department said renovations cost about $1.2 million in total.

Students now have new equipment, new floors, a new ceiling, new HVAC system, a new security system and much more.

The space will provide hands-on, real-life instruction for students and will serve as a voice for the community.

“This was something that was founded in 1987, and for it to sit dormant now to where it’s like a storage room — it lit like a little bit of a fire in me,” Miles Beasley, a senior at the university, said.

Beasley said before the renovations, a lot of equipment they had didn’t match with the times, so he began advocating for updates.

“It’s a student space and because of that, this needs to be cultivated for them, and right now, I’m the only one that’s doing that,” Beasley said. “Eventually there will be 100 students in here. They’ll be working the cameras, they’ll be doing the control room, they’ll be making their own content, they’ll be talking about all the stuff they want to talk about, and I’m ready for it.”

Beasley added that to see the transformation from what it was to a place that now has all the bells and whistles is special. And seeing how it can make a difference in students’ lives makes Beasley excited about the potential.

“Students will not only be able to utilize this space, but they’ll be inspired. They’ll have a chance to kind of see themselves differently than in the way they do,” Beasley said. “To see these renovations happen, to see students get excited about being able to actually see themselves on TV, that’s been like the most profound feeling and honestly just gratitude.”

The university has plans to reopen the station next semester. Beasley said he feels like the outcome of the new control room and studio can show that although their school is small, there’s opportunities everywhere.

 “Every time I think about it, I just start smiling because it’s really, we’ve come a long way,” Beasley said.

University leaders said there are also plans to generate revenue by providing video production services, well ads, and reserve studio time for community members.

Talks are in the works to partner with other networks and stations to mentor students in the space.