The White House and U.S. Department of Education today will launch the American Commonwealth Project, a national grassroots effort to reclaim the civic mission of education. Augsburg is at the heart of this effort, and the project’s work will be coordinated by Harry Boyte, director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship.
The ACP is rooted in the recognition that higher education should be—must be—delivered for the common good rather than be allowed to become an individual benefit only for those who an financially afford it. In addition, the project aligns with Augsburg’s mission to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. Continue reading “Augsburg to lead nationwide American Commonwealth Project”
Minneapolis-St. Paul enjoys the highest civic health of any metropolitan area in the country, according to a report released on Monday by Augsburg’s Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC). People in the Twin Cities are the most engaged in their communities—they are more likely to volunteer, to participate in community activities, to vote, and to engage with their neighbors. This healthy civic behavior correlates with greater economic well-being and individual health and happiness. 
On Sunday, June 27, we celebrate the second of our two commencements for 2010, both highlighting this year’s theme of community and civic engagement. For this commencement, a total of 277 undergraduates and 215 master’s degree students are eligible to graduate. This includes 199 weekend and evening students, 66 Rochester students, and 12 students in the partner hospital program, plus graduate students in five programs—10 in the Master of Arts in Education program, 24 in Master of Arts in Leadership, 18 in Master of Arts in Nursing, 112 in Master of Business Administration, and 51 in Master of Social Work. This year’s student representative who will speak on behalf of the Class of 2010 is MAL student Mary Brown. 
For some of us, civic engagement means participating in the democracy by exercising our right to vote. But others might take the charge to be an active member of a community a bit farther. That’s certainly the case for Nou Chang, the 2010 Day commencement student speaker.
The Center for Democracy and Citizenship, which came to Augsburg College from the University of Minnesota this summer, provided Minnesotans with one more reason to be proud of their state. When it comes to the combination of voting, volunteering, and working for change in their own neighborhoods, no state in the country has had more engaged citizens over the past few years than Minnesota.
No, Augsburg is not opening a research facility for the Centers for Disease Control.
In a few short weeks, more than 45,000 Republican delegates, party officials, volunteers, and members of the media will be in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro for the 2008 Republican National Convention. From September 1-4, the Twin Cities will host the 39th nominating convention for the Republican Party, the second nominating convention to be held in the Twin Cities. The convention will take place in St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center and will result in the nomination of the Republican candidate for the 2008 presidential election.
In line with Augsburg College’s mission to foster civic engagement among its students and community, the campus hosted U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and more than 4,000 potential voters on Sunday, Feb. 3.