As 2023 comes to a close, we look back at the top 10 stories from Augustana University over the last year.
January | Record Number of Augustana Students Studying Abroad for 2023 January Interim
Augustana University sent a record number of its students abroad for January Interim (J-Term) 2023. More than 250 Augustana students and 27 faculty members traveled to 20 countries.
January | Augustana to Launch First Financial Technology Program of its Kind in the Region
AU announced the launch of its newest academic program, Augustana University Fintech Program by Pathward™, in the fall of 2023. With the support of Augustana’s key strategic partner, Pathward™, N.A., (formerly MetaBank, N.A.), the major is the first of its kind in the region.
May | Augustana Announces Annual Colloquium Focused on Critical Inquiry and Citizenship
Generously supported by Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock and in partnership with the Center for Western Studies (CWS), Augustana announced the establishment of the Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium with Dr. Michael Sandel, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University, as the inaugural featured speaker. The world-renowned philosopher and author gave a keynote presentation on Oct. 26, in the Elmen Center to kick off the 2-day colloquium.
June | Augustana Biology Professor Earns $1.2 Million National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Dr. Carrie Olson-Manning, Augustana associate professor of biology, received the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award. Her award — worth $1.2 million — will provide her with summer research funding for five years, sabbatical support and the funding to hire both a postdoctoral scholar and technician to assist in her research.
July | Augustana Home to South Dakota’s First Bioinformatics Major Beginning in Fall 2023
Augustana announced it would begin offering South Dakota’s first undergraduate program in bioinformatics — the application of computational tools to biology — as both a major and minor in the fall.
August | Augie Doggie Back in the Best Way: Golden Retriever Steals Hearts as Augustana Goodwill Ambassador
After a 20-year hiatus, Augustana brought back the Augie Doggie — this time as an actual dog, no longer a person behind a costume. Ace — the Augie Doggie, sponsored by Nyberg’s Ace — became part of the Augustana community as its goodwill ambassador, alongside Ole the Viking.
September | Augustana Celebrates 100 Years of Homecoming During Viking Days 2023
Augustana celebrated 100 years of homecoming during Viking Days 2023. Homecoming at AU is one of the university’s longest-standing traditions and officially became known as “Viking Days” in 1929.
October | Augustana Announces $13.8 Million Gift in Support of Scholarships for Students in ELCA Congregations
Augustana received a historic $13.8 million gift to help support students who are active and engaged in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations throughout the Midwest. Thanks to the generous gift from Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock, the university established the Buntrock Scholars Program.
October | Augustana Offering Social Work Minor this Fall, Bachelor of Social Work in Fall 2024
Augustana announced that it began offering social work as a minor this fall, followed by all Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) courses for the major that will begin in the fall of 2024 within the Harriet Emily Scott Social Work Program.
November | Putting the Quantitative in Economics: Augustana Offering New Major
Augustana announced the addition of a quantitative economics (QE) major, alongside its economics major. QE is a designated STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) major.