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Forum on Workplace Inclusion® Conference “Facing Forward” Registration Now Open

Posted on February 4, 2020October 2, 2020

The Forum on Workplace Inclusion® (The Forum) at Augsburg University has opened registration for its 32nd annual conference “Facing Forward.” The Forum’s annual conference will take place on March 10, 11, and 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in downtown Minneapolis, MN. Discounted “early bird” rates, group rates, and team meeting packages are now available.

The 32nd annual conference focuses on equipping the workforce and workplaces with the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) skills needed to sustain businesses into a forward-facing future that is innovative on both local and global levels.

“The Forum provides learning and development opportunities from nuts and bolts tactics to straight from the headlines hot button issues,” said Steve Humerickhouse, The Forum’s executive director.

“The Forum audience is broad macrocosm of people interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion; it is equally valuable for HR and diversity practitioners as well as any professional in the workplace,” he said.

The Forum on Workplace Inclusion annual conference is the nation’s largest – and one of the world’s largest – workplace DEI conferences designed for national and global audiences.

“Augsburg University is one of the most diverse private colleges in the Midwest and proud to partner with The Forum to help expand diversity, equity, and inclusion skills, so our students can fully participate and succeed in the workforce,” said Paul Pribbenow, Augsburg’s president.

The annual conference features more than 96 sessions, three featured general sessions, more than 180 presenters and speakers from around the world, and our innovative 40,000 sq. ft. Marketplace of Ideas exhibitor space.

Also returning is the popular DEI Coaching Center where leading DEI professionals provide outcome-focused coaching attendees can apply when returning to the workplace. Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.

Media contact: Gita Sitaramiah
Director of PR and Internal Communications
Augsburg University
612-330-1476

About The Forum
For 32 years, The Forum has served as a convening hub for those seeking to grow professional leadership and effectiveness skills in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion by engaging people, advancing ideas, and igniting change.

The annual conference is HRCI and SHRM Continuing Education Credit (CEU) eligible.

For rates, registration, or more information, visit ForumWorkplaceInclusion.org

About Augsburg
Augsburg University, celebrating its 150th anniversary, 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.

Media Advisory: New Augsburg University StepUP Program Director an Expert on Collegiate Recovery

Posted on January 21, 2020October 2, 2020

Renee Most joined Augsburg University’s StepUP® Program for students in recovery from substance abuse as its new director in fall 2019, bringing her own experience as an alumna of StepUP and her 15 plus years of clinical work in the field of addiction related issues.

“I am honored to bring my previous experience in the field of recovery to the StepUP community and to continue to strengthen this program,” she said. “My personal experience as a student in the StepUP program made clear to me the power of collegiate recovery programs.”

Renee, who attended Augsburg in 2001-2002, is available for media interviews and has expertise in collegiate recovery and many related subjects, including the opioid crisis, youth binge drinking, and eating disorders. To arrange an interview, contact: Gita Sitaramiah, director of public relations and internal communications, 612-330-1476.

Renee has dedicated her career to the field of recovery, serving individuals at:

Kodiak Recovery, where she served as Executive Director
The Emily Program, as a Clinical Relations Specialist
Assistance in Recovery, as an Interventionist and Clinical Case Manager
South Washington County Schools, as a Chemical Health Prevention Specialist
Hazelden Betty Ford, as a Chemical Dependency Counselor

Renee holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Catherine’s University, is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and earned a master’s degree in addiction studies from Hazelden Graduate School.

The Augsburg University StepUP Program is one of the oldest and largest residential collegiate recovery programs in the United States. The program, unique in addressing both mental health and addiction recovery, strives to help students achieve academic success, and thrive in a community of accountability and support. StepUP students fully engage in the Augsburg experience, including study abroad, varsity athletics, student government, and research, while living on campus.

About Augsburg. Augsburg University, celebrating its 150th anniversary, 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.

Media Advisory: Human Rights Forum Features Global Change Makers and Social Justice Activists October 28-29

Posted on October 23, 2019April 2, 2025

Augsburg University’s Human Rights Forum will bring students, thought leaders, global change makers, and local activists together to explore innovative ways to take action in our ongoing pursuit of human rights issues both globally and domestically.

On Monday, the focus will be on global issues and is developed in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation. The nonprofit sponsors the Oslo Freedom Forum each year. Both are founded by Thor Halvorssen, a Venezuelan human rights activist. The Human Rights Foundation has an impressive roster of young and diverse human rights activists, and promotes and protects human rights globally within authoritarian regimes.

Tuesday’s speakers and sessions will explore domestic and national issues on racial justice, indigenous rights and environmental sustainability. Tickets are still available.

List of Speakers

Media are invited to attend.
Please contact: Gita Sitaramiah
Director of PR and Internal Communications
612-330-1476

Augsburg Offering New Doctorate in Clinical Psychology this Fall

Posted on October 9, 2019January 27, 2020

(Minneapolis) – Augsburg University is moving closer to introducing a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology degree.

The first class is expected this fall for students previously enrolled in the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology that closed along with the closure of Argosy University in March. Once accreditation is complete, Augsburg will be the only university offering a Psy.D. program in clinical psychology in Minnesota. Applications for new students to start in spring, summer, and fall 2020 are now open in PsyCas, a centralized application system.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with offering this Psy.D. program as a way to help former Argosy University students while also meeting the growing demand for mental health services statewide,” said Monica Devers, Augsburg University dean of professional studies.

Augsburg has received provisional approval from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and had filed applications with the Higher Learning Commission and the American Psychological Association. Accreditation is expected to be completed this fall.

Meanwhile, Augsburg has worked with former Minnesota School of Professional Psychology faculty, staff, and students to introduce this fall’s program that provides continuity for those students. The Minnesota School of Professional Psychology had educated a significant share of the state’s licensed psychologists, and the workforce demand is expected to be high in this field. Employment in psychology-related occupations in the U.S. is projected to grow 13.7 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to Hanover Research.

The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree would be the second doctorate offered at Augsburg. In 2010, Augsburg began offering the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications
Date: 10/9/19 Office: 612.330.1476

Augsburg University Names Inaugural Sundquist Endowed Professor of Business Administration

Posted on September 23, 2019October 2, 2020

(Minneapolis) – Business Department Chair Jeanne Boeh has been named the Sundquist Endowed Professor of Business Administration, beginning September 2019.

The Sundquist Professorship supports Business Administration, Augsburg’s largest academic department with the most undergraduate majors on campus. Boeh, a professor of economics, has been teaching at Augsburg since 1990 and often appears in media interviews and on business panels given her talent for bringing complex business concepts to life.

“Jeanne Boeh will lead Augsburg’s efforts to attract top business faculty, thanks to this generous endowment,” said Augsburg University President Paul C. Pribbenow. “She is known as a faculty leader on campus and for her strong commitment to students as they prepare for careers in business.”

This endowed professorship is named for alumnus Dean Sundquist ’81, an Augsburg Board of Regents member and chairman and CEO of Anoka, Minnesota-based Mate Precision Tooling. Sundquist and his wife, Amy, have made several major investments in Augsburg, and this most recent commitment will add to the Augsburg endowment as a leadership gift to Great Returns: Augsburg’s Sesquicentennial Campaign.

“Augsburg’s competitive edge is rooted in being a small school in a city that is good for business,” Sundquist said. “Being so close to downtown offers students access to opportunities with many employers along with a close community feeling on campus.”

Boeh holds a bachelor of arts degree, a master of arts degree, and a doctorate, all from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked as an economist for the American Hospital Association, the Illinois Hospital Association and the investment research firm of Duff and Phelps. Her research and teaching interests are applied microeconomics focusing on the fields of urban and health economics. Boeh has taught at Loyola University, the University of Illinois in Chicago, and at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

About Augsburg. Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 10 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.

Auggie Pass Provides Augsburg Undergraduate Students Unlimited Rides on Buses and Light Rail

Posted on September 4, 2019July 17, 2020

Augsburg’s student government approved paying for the pass by student fee so no undergraduates pays out of pocket to commute to campus, internships, jobs

(Minneapolis) — Augsburg University now offers the Auggie Pass, a universal transit pass that gives undergraduate students unlimited rides on buses and light rail in a first of its kind partnership between Metro Transit and a Twin Cities college.

Skye Ryge was an Augsburg student government environmental officer last year when she advocated for student government to approve a $5 green fee increase to $20 per semester to pay for the Auggie Pass. She believes it will help reduce students’ financial strain and improve their chances of accepting jobs and internships involving a commute.

“As someone who uses the bus everyday, it’s great not to have that financial burden,” said Ryge ‘20, who will be a fourth-year student this fall and used to pay more than $100 monthly to ride the bus. “It’s really economically advantageous to students who pay for school like me to not have to choose between textbooks and bus fare.”

“Efficiently connecting people to schools, work and other destinations is at the heart of what a quality system does,” said Metro Transit General Manager Wes Kooistra. “We are excited about this partnership, connecting Augsburg University students to our system and our region, and hope this develops into a model that can be duplicated with other schools.”

The Auggie Pass is valid throughout the school year and is paid for by the student Green Fee and University operating funds. All undergraduate day students who pay the semester Green Fee are eligible. Students can now pick up their Auggie Pass in the Lindell Library at the circulation desk on the ground level. Visit Augsburg transportation webpage for more details.

The push for the Auggie Pass was an effort to support Augsburg’s Transportation Plan goals:

Enhance Augsburg’s commitment to the city, its urban location, and environmental stewardship;
Maximize the use of other transportation options, including light rail, bus, biking, and ride-sharing;
Ensure students access classes, campus services, and educational opportunities;
Support employees at the Minneapolis campus in getting to work.

View the announcement at Metro Transit’s site.

For details, contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of PR and Internal Communications. sitarami@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1476.

Media Advisory: Augsburg University’s Largest, Most Diverse First-Year Class Serves Community on First Day of School

Posted on August 29, 2019January 27, 2020

(Minneapolis) — Gardening. Moving. Painting. River and neighborhood cleanup. Augsburg University’s record first-year class of more than 600 students will be working in the community for their first day of college on September 3.

During Augsburg’s annual City Engagement Day, first-year students traditionally work in the community to launch their Augsburg education. The Class of 2023 is the largest ever as Augsburg celebrates its 150-year anniversary, with more than 650 students expected.. Augsburg is one of the most diverse private colleges in the Midwest — and this first-year class is the third in a row in which students of color are expected to make up the majority. Official numbers will be finalized mid-September.

This year, the first day of school will include (times approximate):

City Engagement Day lunch outdoors in the Augsburg “Quad.” More than 650 students in Augsburg T-shirts geared up to volunteer, along with faculty and Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Working in a Cedar-Riverside community garden at Augsburg on 20th Avenue South: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
River cleanup with the National Park Service along the Mississippi River near 34th Street in Minneapolis. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Cedar-Riverside cleanup. Meet at Wienery restaurant, 414 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis, at 1 p.m. 1 to 4 p.m.

Media are invited to photograph/film students at work.

For more information, contact: Gita Sitaramiah, director of public relations and internal communications. 612-330-1476. 651-353-0061-cell.

Media Advisory: INSIDE OUT Portraits of 1,229 Augsburg University People Installed along Riverside Avenue in August

Posted on August 6, 2019September 1, 2020

(Minneapolis) — Augsburg University is installing in August Each, Together, a Group Action of the INSIDE OUT Project, started by French street artist JR, that will include over 1,200 portraits. This installation in honor of Augsbug’s upcoming sesquicentennial will cover 10 campus building facades along Riverside Avenue.

Augsburg University's portrait wall — INSIDE OUT Preview

Members of the media are invited to Augsburg on August 6 to photograph the installation as well as for interviews with the project’s lead organizer Associate Professor Christopher Houltberg.

Expected to be the largest such project in the Twin Cities area, these portraits will create a tapestry of faces that celebrate, recognize and honor the people of Augsburg University over the past 150 years. Each of the 1,229 students, faculty, alumni, and staff will ultimately be present together.

Installation will take four weeks to complete along Riverside, beginning at Foss Center on 22nd and moving toward 25th Avenue South. These buildings will include the Flower Shop, Maintenance Facilities, Ice Arena, Anderson Music Hall, and Foss Center.

Founded in 1869, Augsburg’s year-long sesquicentennial celebration launches in September 2019.

On August 6, media members are invited to interview Associate Professor Christopher Houltberg and photograph or videotape installation as it begins.

For details, contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of PR and Internal Communications. sitarami@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1476.

River Semester to be joined by leading German scholars, artists

Posted on July 31, 2019September 1, 2020

Augsburg University’s third River Semester starting in August will be part of a prestigious German initiative to explore the Mississippi River.

Mississippi. An Anthropocene River is a German research project involving many communities and initiatives along the river with a focus on climate change. Joining Augsburg students will be German travelers: Max Planck Institute and Goethe Institute scholars; field station members; journalists; authors, and artists.

This year’s River Semester voyagers will depart from Lake Itasca on Aug. 30 and, for 100 days, paddle portions of the Mississippi River ending in New Orleans. Students will earn 16-19 credits.

View the 2019 River Semester schedule.

See the Anthropocene River Journey description.

Augsburg Hosts Place-Based Justice Network Summer Institute 2019

Posted on July 8, 2019August 31, 2022

(Minneapolis) – Faculty and staff from universities nationwide will gather at The Place-Based Justice Network Summer Institute at Augsburg University from July 10 to 12 to analyze community engagement issues.

Augsburg is one of 25 higher education institutions that make up the The Place-Based Justice Network, committed to transforming higher education and our communities by deconstructing systems of oppression through place-based community engagement.

As part of the conference, participants will tour Augsburg neighbors, including Sisterhood Boutique; Health Commons; Trinity Lutheran/DaralHijrah; Cedar Cultural Center, Cedar Commons; Brian Coyle Center, and Augsburg Community Gardens. A reception with live music will be held at the McKnight Foundation.

Since the initial convening in 2014, teams from 25 universities have participated in the institute organized by Seattle University and supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

View the schedule.

About Augsburg. Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine 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.