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612-330-1000

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Scholastic Connections

Cindy Peterson
Director Scholastic Connections
612-330-1754
petersoc@augsburg.edu 

Scholastic Connections - History

The Scholastic Connections Program was started in 2001-02 by Syl Jones, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Augsburg alumnus. The program was developed in response to the resolution of a lawsuit filed by Elroy Stock ’49, who sued Augsburg for breach of contract for failing to name a building after him. Shortly after receiving Stock's donation, the college discovered that he had been the author of thousands of mailings sent to interracial couples and adoptive families in which Stock urged "racial purity." Augsburg opted not to honor Stock's donation request for a building name. Due to charitable donation regulations, the College could not return his donation. After the lawsuit was dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, the College repurposed the donation to create Scholastic Connections.

Original Programs Purpose

• Combat racism
• Help students of color succeed at Augsburg College
  • $5,000 renewable scholarship
  • Pair with alum of color
• Draw alumni of color back to the College

Betty Wade, director of Human Resources, was Program Manager for the first two years. Herald Johnson, Special Assistant to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, took over when Betty took a medical leave.

Scholastic Connections is now led by a committee consisting of the four Ethnic Services Directors, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (now Vice President of Student Affairs), the Associate Director of Financial Aid, a representative from Event Services, Alumni Relations and the President’s Office along with the program's Mentorship Coordinator.

Vivian Jenkins Nelson, Executive Director of INTER-RACE served as Mentorship Coordinator from August 2001 to April 2007. Since then, for the first time in the program's history, an Augsburg staff member has been assigned to direct Scholastic Connections. Thus, the mentorship coordination aspect of the program has been brought back on campus.

Program Statistics

(As of Fall 2007)

Number of past participants (Scholars) 24
 
Number who graduated in program: 18
 
Number who dropped from the program:  6
 
Number of Mentors (past and present):  29
 
Number of SC alums who are mentors:   0