PHASE 1 (2019-22)
Academics
2019-20 Key Successes:
● Established the Center for Interdisciplinary Programs and approved two new programs: medical humanities & society and environmental studies
● Established the Sharon Lust School of Education with Dr. Laurie Daily as its inaugural dean
● Established the School of Music with Dr. Peter Folliard as its inaugural dean
● Approved the curriculum for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, led by Dr. Matthew Volansky
● Approved the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with Dr. Anissa Goehring as its inaugural director
2020-21 Key Successes:
● Established the School of Business with Dr. Marcia Entwistle as its inaugural dean
● Established the School of Health Professions with Dr. Matthew Volansky as its inaugural dean
● Approved the multimedia entrepreneurship major, which launched Fall 2021, and established the Midco Media Center
● Enrolled a full cohort in the MBA program for Fall 2021
● Secured a major gift for academics associated with behavioral health and wellness, and launched feasibility studies for mental health, school counseling and social work programs
● Expanded programming for instructional technology through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship to strengthen the focus of instructional technology integration
2021-22 Key Successes:
● Finalized and implemented a new governance model for the change in academic structure to a College of Arts & Sciences, Sharon Lust School of Education and Schools of Business, Health Professions and Music
● Secured Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation for the launch of the Master of Science in nursing (MSN) and post-graduate certificate programs with specialty tracks in adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AG-ACNP) and adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist (AG-CNS)
● Established a relationship with the Native American Connections Leadership Team in the Sioux Falls School District to develop a path for Native American students to engage with Augustana faculty, staff and students to introduce an institutional sense of belonging to this underserved population
● Developed a customized program to establish a physical campus in Costa Rica and explored a partnership with Harrisburg School District to expand undergraduate research opportunities for high school students in Costa Rica
● Established minors in brewing & fermentation and neuroscience
Enrollment & Strategic Scholarships
2019-20 Key Successes:
● Developed a comprehensive student recruitment plan to elevate brand awareness and increase enrollment
● Established impact scholarships to provide fully expendable annual scholarship support to students with greater financial need
● Celebrated the first graduates of Augustana’s Diversity Advocate Certification Program
2020-21 Key Successes:
● Adopted retention software to enhance effective collaboration among faculty, student success and student life
● Enhanced the Office of Human Resources support structures around diversity policies, practices and initiatives to reflect institutional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
● Implemented a predictive analytics and modeling tool to develop budget scenarios and sustainable financial plans for the university
2021-22 Key Successes:
● Implemented the inaugural AVID Media Creation Summer Camp and established a partnership with Promising Futures to fund middle and high school student participation
● Implemented Navigate retention software
Athletics
2019-20 Key Successes:
● Implemented new A-Club and season ticket structure
● Developed missed class time policy
● Launched student-athlete nutrition program
● Created athletic administration internships and other programming with an emphasis on female students and students of color
2020-21 Key Successes:
● Strategically pivoted from actively seeking Division I multi-sport conference invitation during Phases I and II
● Completed feasibility studies to add Division II women’s diving and men’s swimming & diving in Fall 2021, as well as acrobatics & tumbling in Fall 2022
● Developed financial proforma for men’s ice hockey to compete at the Division I level beginning in 2023 and secured the largest gift in Augustana’s history to launch the program
● Piloted biomechanics and performance-based programming with the Augustana Baseball Program and Sanford Sports Science Institute
2021-22 Key Successes:
● Hired inaugural head coach for Viking Men’s Hockey Program
● Secured invitation to a Division I hockey conference
● Finalized the design for Midco Arena
● Launched Viking Women’s Diving, Men’s Swimming & Diving and recruited the inaugural class of Viking Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athletes
Physical Campus & IT
2019-20 Key Successes:
● Developed and approved holistic Campus Master Plan
● Established criteria for decision making, setting priorities and resource allocation to implement the Campus Master Plan
● Established sustainability plan, landscape master plan, campus heritage plan and historic preservation management plan
● Created redundant connectivity and implemented cybersecurity initiatives
2020-21 Key Successes:
● Implemented the Canvas learning management system
● Obtained investment grade rating and secured bond financing to move forward with student housing and infrastructure project
● Completed evaluation of options for a university customized app to enhance communication and engagement with current and prospective students
2021-22 Key Successes:
● Completed construction of Wagoner Hall and renovation of Bergsaker Hall
● Introduced a new university app to campus
● In partnership with Midco, completed upgrade to fiber backbone and access points across campus
● Designed and began construction of Midco Arena
● Designed and began construction of the campus green
Enduring Commitments
2020-21 Key Successes:
● Engaged Co-Curriculum Council in strategic thinking about service-learning and hosted a workshop for faculty, staff and students to generate ideas for growing service-learning initiatives on campus
● Developed the six dimensions of the Well-Being Model (physical, emotional, spiritual, academic, social and financial) to strengthen promotion and increase mental health/wellness services and support to students
● Supported and encouraged participation in the Diversity Advocacy Certification Program, graduating a total of 191 administrators, faculty, staff and students since Fall 2019
● Focused on greater brand awareness and effectively sharing the Augustana story with targeted geographic and program-specific undergraduate and graduate markets, achieving a record high of undergraduate applications
● Launched a comprehensive communication flow program, including increased communication to high school freshman and sophomore prospects and parents, as well as graduate markets
2021-22 Key Successes:
● Developed the church-relations model to identify opportunities for partnership and mutual ministry with local and regional congregations
● Implemented the dimensions of the Well-Being Model for students
● Established best practices in service-learning workshop for faculty and staff
● Developed professional development and competitive compensation plan for faculty and staff
● Expanded awareness and engagement in Twin Cities, Minnesota, area
PHASE 2 (2023-26)
Academics
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Developed the initial infrastructure to offer credentials and micro-certificates
● Launched postgraduate certificates in adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AG-ACNP) and adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist (AG-CNS)
● Launched the first cohort for the Augustana Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program
● Received HLC approval for fintech major and established Fintech Advisory Board
● Established partnership with Seeds of Change research program in Costa Rica to offer credit to participating high school students
● Developed and approved the first bioinformatics undergraduate program in South Dakota
Enrollment & Strategic Scholarships
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Developed a comprehensive marketing plan for graduate program recruitment and retention
● Integrated diversity, equity and inclusion training into teaching and learning for all students, faculty and staff
● Launched the Augustana Esports Program
Athletics
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Completed administrative functions of launching men’s hockey related to marketing, ticket sales, ticket allocation and game experience
Physical Campus & IT
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Completed renovation of Solberg Hall
● Completed first floor renovation of Morrison Commons to modernize dining and improve HVAC systems
● Construction of Midco Arena continued on schedule
Enduring Commitments
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Established a dashboard to report key diversity, equity and inclusion measures
● Implemented the first year of the Compensation & Benefits Plan inclusive of professional development funds for support staff and administrators
● Expanded the use and integration of ePortfolios among students across departments, disciplines and co-curricular programs
● Expanded the use and integration of Navigate, as student success management platform, among faculty and staff across departments, disciplines and co-curricular programs
● Developed a stewardship plan to maintain and nurture relationships and recognize substantial gifts to the university
Campaign
2022-23 Key Successes:
● Completed 80% of the Viking Bold campaign ($140 million)
● Secured $1,738,083 for impact scholarships
● Secured $14,412,239 in planned gifts a $10,048,098 increase over previous year