Media Advisories Archives - Page 7 of 15 - News and Media

Advisory: Augsburg celebrates Class of 2021 with virtual and in-person commencement

Posted on April 26, 2021May 7, 2024

海角社区 will host a virtual commencement ceremony Monday, May 3 to celebrate the Class of 2021, the most diverse graduating class in our history.听An in-person celebration will follow on June 8.

The virtual commencement ceremony consists of a prerecorded ceremony that will be streamed online and graduates, families, and friends can watch and chat together in real time.

痴颈蝉颈迟听 to watch the commencement broadcast at 6 p.m. Central. You can follow the celebration through the hashtag #AuggieGrad on all social media platforms, where students will be sharing images of their virtual celebration.听Visit Augsburg’s commencement site for more details.

Find more details about the in-person commencement听set for 6 p.m. June 8 at U.S. Bank Stadium.听The Class of 2020 will have an in-person ceremony in May, 2022, but members of that class are able to participate in the June 8 ceremony instead if they prefer.

The 2021 day graduating class is our most diverse graduating class with 45.6% students of color. Over three years, Augsburg has seen this number increase by more than 20%.

About Augsburg
海角社区 offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. Learn more at听Augsburg.edu.

海角社区 Cancels Classes as Verdict is Expected

Posted on April 20, 2021November 9, 2021

海角社区 Logo 海角社区 classes are canceled immediately for the remainder of Tuesday afternoon and evening as a result of this afternoon鈥檚 verdict in the State versus Derek Chauvin trial,

Additionally, all campus activities and athletics, except those below, are canceled tonight and Lindell Library will be closed.听

There will be an Augsburg staff person on hand in each location to support students. Please wear face coverings and maintain social distancing. Space is limited, so we ask that faculty and staff attend only the vigil.

5 p.m. vigil in the quad – all students faculty and staff are invited to attend
Late night breakfast – 8 to 10 p.m. in the Dining Commons

In the event of a curfew, Augsburg will suspend campus operations as we have done in the past week. Resident students are still able to leave their residential unit to go to the Dining Commons for the evening meal.听

For the rest of the week (Wednesday and Friday), all scheduled courses will move to remote learning modalities.听 As a reminder, courses meeting on Thursday this week were previously canceled.听听

that have been coordinated with Residence Life, Public Safety, and Day Student Government.

Augsburg Cancels Classes, Suspends Operations Thursday

Posted on April 19, 2021November 12, 2021

Given all that is happening in the Twin Cities community this week, including closing arguments in the Chauvin murder trial Monday, the likelihood of a verdict being reached in the coming days, increased police presence, and Daunte Wright’s funeral on Thursday, Augsburg has canceled classes and suspended operations on April 22.听

鈥淲e recognize that one day is not enough, but it is clear that this pause offers space that our community needs, in particular our Black students, faculty, and staff,鈥� said Paul Pribbenow, president of 海角社区. 鈥淥n Thursday, please do what you need to do to take care of yourself in the manner that is meaningful for you,鈥� he told students, staff, and faculty.听

This time of grief and anxiety comes during a pandemic that has changed how we study, live, and work, and makes the challenges of this moment even more difficult for students, faculty, and staff to navigate. Many at Augsburg will want to take time to mourn Daunte Wright, remember George Floyd, and engage in the important work of anti-racism.听

Essential operations will continue Thursday. Normal class schedules and our COVID-19 modified operations will resume on Friday, April 23. During this time, Augsburg continues to monitor and communicate as needed based on developments in the trial and in our community.

Board of Regents Approves President Pribbenow鈥檚 Contract Through 2027

Posted on March 23, 2021

In its March 12 meeting, the executive committee of the Augsburg Board of Regents unanimously approved a six-year contract renewal for President Paul C. Pribbenow.听

鈥淚n an era when five- or six-year presidencies are common in higher education, President Pribbenow鈥檚 long-term leadership of the university has enabled Augsburg to achieve remarkable things,鈥� said Matt Entenza, chair of the Augsburg Board of Regents. 鈥淭he university has become one of the most diverse private institutions in the Midwest during his tenure and has welcomed record-breaking first-year classes in the past two years. The university is fortunate to continue to have Paul鈥檚 transformational leadership through 2027.鈥�

Pribbenow joined Augsburg in 2006 as its 10th president. During Pribbenow鈥檚 most recent six-year term, Augsburg changed its name to 海角社区, recognizing its expansive academic mission serving undergraduate and graduate students on campus and at locations around the world. Pribbenow also led the institution鈥檚 largest-ever capital campaign during that time, raising more than $55 million to construct the university鈥檚 largest academic facility, the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which opened in January 2018. As a reflection of Pribbenow鈥檚 institutional leadership, the Augsburg Board of Regents was awarded the 2017 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership for its work to initiate an inclusive, five-year strategic planning effort and for leading the institution鈥檚 successful capital campaign for the Hagfors Center.听

Pribbenow is recognized as one of the country鈥檚 most engaging teachers on ethics, philanthropy, and American public life. .

海角社区 Is a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students

Posted on February 25, 2021

海角社区 has again been named a top producer of Fulbright students among U.S. master鈥檚 institutions for 2020-21. Each year the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces the top producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. The Chronicle of Higher Education publishes of top producers of Fulbright U.S. scholars and students annually.

Five Augsburg students received 2020-21 Fulbright awards to teach English in four countries. The students are Winni Godi 鈥�17 (Rwanda), Abdulkadir Sharif 鈥�20 (Malaysia), Eh Soe Dwe 鈥�20 (Malaysia), Natalya Arevalo 鈥�20 (Honduras), and Bethany Lor 鈥�19 (South Korea).

The Fulbright competition is administered at Augsburg through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity.听

The Fulbright Program was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Students can teach English, participate in graduate study, or conduct research. Fulbright is the world鈥檚 largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program.听

About Augsburg

海角社区 offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. Learn more at Augsburg.edu.

Professor Emeritus Mark Engebretson Surpasses 300 Publications

Posted on February 23, 2021February 23, 2021

Mark Engebretson, professor emeritus of physics at 海角社区, recently surpassed his 300th publication when three articles to which he contributed were published earlier this month:听

鈥淥bservations of Particle Loss due to Injection-Associated Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves鈥� in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
鈥淢agnetic Conjugacy of Pc1 Waves and Isolated Proton Precipitation at Subauroral Latitudes: Importance of Ionosphere as Intensity Modulation Region鈥� in Geophysical Research Letters听
鈥�Nighttime magnetic perturbation events observed in Arctic Canada: 3. Occurrence and amplitude as functions of magnetic latitude, local time, and magnetic disturbance indices鈥� in Space Weather听

With the publication of these papers, he is now the author or co-author of 303 publications. In addition, another of his articles, for which he was lead author, was recently accepted for publication.

In October, Engebretson received from the National Science Foundation.

Scientific research is usually collaborative, so most of Engebretson鈥檚 publications were written in collaboration with several colleagues from around the world. Augsburg undergraduates have been co-authors of 27 of these publications, and five students have been lead authors. Engebretson鈥檚 publications have included articles in Annales Geophysicae, Nature, and Sun and Geosphere and a chapter in 鈥淭he Dynamic Loss of Earth鈥檚 Radiation Belts,鈥� among many other journals, conference proceedings, and books.

About Augsburg

海角社区 Announces Test-Free 海角社区 Policy

Posted on October 29, 2020September 19, 2025

海角社区 INSIDE OUT art wall — 海角社区 and INSIDE OUT art

(Minneapolis) – 海角社区 will shift to a Test-Free 海角社区 Policy as the pandemic has added more risks and restrictions to test taking.听

The policy takes effect immediately for the 2021 and fall 2022 application cycles, which is the remainder of a previous four-year pilot test-optional admissions policy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 expected to help prospective students complete their applications during the pandemic when navigating test taking and scheduling is more challenging,鈥� said Devon Ross, director of undergraduate admissions. 听听听听听听

For a number of student populations, standardized test scores may not reflect an accurate indication of academic ability 鈥� including, for example, people without access to test preparation courses and tutors; those who can鈥檛 afford to retake the test; people with learning and physical differences, and English language learners.

This also aligned with Augsburg鈥榮 holistic admissions process, which looks at quantitative metrics and beyond. The application-review process allows Augsburg to maintain the university鈥檚 academic standards and ensure the university admits students with the capacity to succeed here.

Augsburg introduced a faculty-approved test-optional admissions policy in April 2018. Submission of ACT or SAT test scores for admission became optional starting in fall 2019 for incoming undergraduate (first-year and transfer) student applicants.

Media Contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications. 651-353-0061-cell

Riverside Innovation Hub’s work with congregations to expand with $1 million grant

Posted on October 27, 2020July 7, 2022

(Minneapolis) – 海角社区 has received a听 $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help expand the work of the Riverside Innovation Hub within the university鈥檚 Christensen Center for Vocation (CCV).

The program is funded through the Lilly Endowment鈥檚 Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to strengthen Christian congregations so they can help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world.

Lilly Endowment is making nearly $93 million in grants through the initiative. The grants will support organizations such as the Christensen Center for Vocation as they work directly with congregations and help them gain clarity about their values and missions, explore and understand better the communities in which they serve, and draw upon their theological traditions as they adapt ministries to meet changing needs.

The Christensen Center plays an integral role in stewarding the university鈥檚 commitment to, and exploration of vocation, the unique way God calls and equips us鈥攁s individuals and as communities鈥攖o work towards a better world for and with our neighbors. The Thriving Congregations Initiative grant will enable Augsburg鈥檚 CCV to expand and solidify the future of this work with congregations. We will walk with our partners through two consecutive two-year learning communities consisting of leadership teams from twelve congregations. Our hope is to develop an ecumenical network of twenty-four congregations over five years who are becoming more deeply engaged in the proclamation of Christ鈥檚 good news in transformative ways in their neighborhoods.

鈥淭he Christensen Center for Vocation is creating an innovative model for how a university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America can be a learning partner with local congregations and ministry leaders for the sake of the world,鈥� said Paul Pribbenow, Augsburg鈥檚 president. 鈥淭hese partnerships will create exciting learning opportunities for our students, staff, and faculty, who wrestle with what it means to live faithfully in the church and in the world in the midst of the various challenges our communities are facing: COVID-19, growing economic inequality, climate change, and the prevalence of racist systems.鈥澨�

海角社区 is one of 92 organizations taking part in the initiative. They represent and serve churches in a broad spectrum of Christian traditions, including Anabaptist, Baptist, Episcopal, evangelical, Lutheran, Methodist, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed, Restoration, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox, as well as congregations that describe themselves as non-denominational. Several organizations serve congregations in Black, Hispanic and Asian-American traditions.

鈥淚n the midst of a rapidly changing world, Christian congregations are grappling with how they can best carry forward their ministries,鈥� said Christopher Coble, Lilly Endowment鈥檚 vice president for religion. 鈥淭hese grants will help congregations assess their ministries and draw on practices in their theological traditions to address new challenges and better nurture the spiritual vitality of the people they serve.鈥澨�

Lilly Endowment launched the Thriving Congregations Initiative in 2019 as part of its commitment to support efforts that enhance the vitality of Christian congregations.

Media Contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications. 651-353-0061-cell

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders鈥� wishes, the Endowment exists to support the causes of religion, education and community development. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment鈥檚 grantmaking in religion is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen their pastoral and lay leadership.听

National Science Foundation grants $5 million to assist high-achieving STEM students

Posted on October 21, 2020October 21, 2020

(Minneapolis) – A $5 million award from the National Science Foundation will support the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students who are pursuing bachelor鈥檚 degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 海角社区 will receive $3,075,000 of the total award.

The collaborative project will provide scholarships as well as internships and research experiences for nearly 200 students over a five-year period starting this academic year at Augsburg, Century College, Minneapolis College, and Normandale Community College. These institutions will work together to provide seamless pathways for transfer from two-year to four-year STEM programs.

鈥淭his award offers students a powerful combination of a scholarship coupled with experience to prepare them for the workforce or further graduate study,鈥� said Paul Pribbenow, Augsburg鈥檚 president. 鈥淎s a member of the Governor鈥檚 Workforce Development Board, I know there is strong demand for students with these majors. STEM transfer students enrich our campus and bring talent and wisdom that our country needs.鈥�

Scholarships of $7,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to students pursuing majors in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, food science, mathematics, and physics. These students will be connected to internships and research experiences through partner organizations SciTech, UpTurnships, and MnDRIVE, as well as through Augsburg鈥檚 undergraduate research programs.

This is the third phase of a program initiated by Augsburg and funded by the NSF. 鈥淕etting the NSF scholarship for my education was an amazing opportunity,鈥� said Radhika Tandon, who will graduate from Augsburg this year with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science and is currently a site reliability engineer intern at Thomson Reuters. 鈥淏ecause of the program, I was able to attend various conferences and make connections with many interesting people in my field.鈥�

The overall project will be led by Augsburg principal investigator Rebekah Dupont working in collaboration with principal investigators Jessica Bell and Joann Pfeiffer of Century College, Renu Kumar of Minneapolis College, and Angela Foudray of Normandale Community College. The Augsburg team includes co-principal investigators Alex Ajayi, Ryan Haaland, Amy Larson, and Michael Wentzel. Faculty from all four institutions will work together to create structural supports through mentoring, advising, and improved transfer pathways.

In addition to assisting students who are pursuing STEM-related majors, the project includes an education research component led by Keisha Varma, associate professor of educational psychology in the College of Education and Human Development听 and associate vice provost in the Office for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The goal of the research is to increase the academic success of students through effective mentoring.

鈥淚 see great potential to understand how mentorship can improve the outcomes of low-income, high-achieving students and create positive STEM identities,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough shared understanding across institutions, we may be able to increase capacity among all of our faculty to be effective mentors.鈥澨�

Project evaluation will be led by Xueli Wang, professor of higher education in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison, who brings expertise in longitudinal, mixed methods research that addresses inequities in access to transfer, particularly in STEM fields. The collaborating institutions will partner with the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) for professional development as well as access to a platform for mentor/mentee assessment across multiple sites.

This third phase of the program is funded by the NSF鈥檚 S-STEM program under award number 2030638. Grants in the prior phases (award numbers 1565060 and 1154096) funded scholarships for 111 STEM students, 100% of whom graduated and went on to pursue careers or are continuing their education in STEM fields.听

Media Contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications
Office: 612.330.1476 听

Media Advisory: Augsburg makes Election Day 2020 a university holiday

Posted on October 14, 2020October 21, 2020

In recognition of 海角社区鈥檚 commitment to democratic engagement, Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, will be a holiday for Augsburg employees and students.听

President Paul Pribbenow lauds the ongoing efforts on campus to encourage voter registration and participation. 鈥淎ugsburg is poised to be a leader in the national All-In Campus Democracy Challenge,鈥� he said.

Because many people are voting early this year, Pribbenow encouraged faculty, staff, and students to use the holiday as an opportunity to assist others in the electoral process through forms of community engagement such as serving as a poll worker or transporting others to voting sites.

Augsburg administrative offices will be closed and classes will be canceled. Essential staff will be provided time off with pay during their shift to vote, if necessary, and receive an alternate day off.

2020 is a pilot year for introducing Election Day as a new holiday on Augsburg鈥檚 calendar. Leaders from the Sabo Center, student government, and Human Resources will develop a recommendation for an Election Day holiday in subsequent years.