As part of a ceremony hosted by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Augustana broke ground on Foundation Heights, a new apartment building for students located on the northeast corner of 28th Street and Grange Avenue. The approximately $12 million project is part of the university’s strategic plan — Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 — to transform the physical campus to include new and enhanced facilities. Construction on Foundation Heights is expected to be complete by Fall 2026.

Augustana has raised $2.1 of the estimated $2.9 million needed to revitalize the Elmen Center, located on the southwest corner of 33rd Street and Grange Avenue on the university’s campus. The Bob ‘52 & Rita (Hale) Elmen Family Foundation and the James ‘60 & Eloise (Saugstad) ‘61 Elmen Foundation recently contributed $2 million to the project. With the funds the university has already received, Augustana will begin making updates this spring with the anticipated project completion by Summer 2026.

Augustana University is hosting Dr. David Chalmers, renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist, for a lecture entitled “Can ChatGPT Think?” on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. in the Froiland Science Complex, Room 113. This free public event will complete Chlamers’ tour of all 50 states. The lecture is the finale in a series of events intended to raise awareness about the brain throughout the month of April.

Augustana University and Dr. Lucas Hamilton, assistant professor of psychology and director of the aging studies program, are partnering with Active Generations — a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting positive aging for adults. The partnership will kick off with the 2025 Lifelong Learning Program, where Hamilton will host a series of interactive TED Talk-style sessions at both of Active Generations’ locations. The sessions, which are scheduled to start in April, will focus on well-being, the power of music and brain health. Learn more at augie.edu/LifelongLearning.