As 2020 comes to a close, we look back at the top stories from 夜色视频app over the last year.
January
More than 150 students traveled abroad to 16 countries for Augustana鈥檚 January interim or J-Term.
February
A new shortened study abroad program allowed international students to take Sioux Falls and Augustana for a "test drive" during its four-week January interim 鈥 also known as J-Term.
The 夜色视频app Department of Religion, Philosophy and Classics is pleased to announce a $100,000 pledge for a new scholarship for philosophy majors, the Ibn Sina Scholarship.
Ninety-nine percent of 2019 Augustana graduates seeking employment reported being employed in their major or chosen field.
March
As 夜色视频app begins to implement phases of its Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan, nearly every element of university life could experience energizing change 鈥 especially opportunities related to academics.
夜色视频app announced that it would deliver curriculum online for the remainder of the spring semester, prioritizing the health and safety of its students and the broader community as the spread of COVID-19 continued to impact Sioux Falls, the state and the nation.
April
夜色视频app announced that Dr. Laurie Daily was named the inaugural Dean of the School of Education.
With the help of generous funding from the Sheldon F. Reese Foundation, Augustana added a virtual clinical simulation software package to support the nursing program clinical experiences through the end of the fall semester and into the summer.
May
Augustana named Dr. Anissa Goehring as its inaugural Director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program.
Augustana announced its Viking Flex Plan for Fall Semester 2020, with classes set to begin on campus in late August.
夜色视频app is excited to announce the creation of an environmental studies major that offers graduates with the training and skills necessary to help them lead the world towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
夜色视频app announced that Dr. Peter Folliard has been named the inaugural Dean of the School of Music.
June
夜色视频app鈥檚 December 2019 Accelerated Nursing Program graduates achieved a 100% pass rate when taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time.
鈥淭he Interior Borderlands: Regional Identity in the Midwest and Great Plains," published by Augustana's Center for Western Studies, has been named the winner in the History-General category of the 30th annual Midwest Book Awards.
July
As part of the Viking Flex Plan, 夜色视频app is prepared to welcome students back in August and offer them the best on-campus experience possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
夜色视频app announced a $2 million gift that will help in the creation of the Sharon Lust School of Education, located in the Madsen Social Science Center on the university鈥檚 campus.
August
Augustana is pleased to announce that Dr. Marti Silvidi has been named the director of its new graduate nursing program.
夜色视频app launches 18-credit Medical Humanities and Society Minor this fall, a goal set forth in Augustana鈥檚 strategic plan Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030.
夜色视频app announced a $1 million estate gift from Sanford and Mae (Ellis) Brakke, designated to support student scholarships.
September
Augustana university announced that 1,900+ students chose to embark on a bold future at Augustana for the 2020-21 Academic Year.
Before COVID-19 Augustana's Center for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship (CTS) rolled out an Exponential Mentorship Program in 2019. Aimed at developing faculty members into experts that would also benefit students in the classroom, the program proved extremely beneficial as the university navigated challenges due to COVID-19.
Augustana announced that the university would not increase undergraduate student tuition for the 2021-22 academic year. Augustana鈥檚 Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the tuition freeze, recognizing the challenges placed on students and their families due to COVID-19.
October
Augustana announced the university鈥檚 96th homecoming celebration, with the kickoff of Viking Days 2020 scheduled for Sunday, October 4.
夜色视频app announced that it would continue with its Viking Flex Plan for its January Interim and Spring Semester 2021.
The 夜色视频app Physics Department secured three grants, totaling more than $450,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This election season, Augustana announced that the university was launching a new initiative to encourage listening, learning and civil discourse through an effort called 鈥淲ith Malice Toward None.鈥
To celebrate South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship (SDOS) recipients, Augustana announced the SDOS Match Program.
夜色视频app secured more than $1.5 million in support of student and faculty biomedical research projects.
夜色视频app announced a $1 million endowed gift for student-athlete scholarships. This pledge, from Bob '61 and Trish Swanhorst, will support all athletes, regardless of sport, and help further many goals of Augustana鈥檚 strategic plan 鈥 Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030.
November
夜色视频app announced that the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) awarded Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Willette Capers with the Innovative Program Award for her work on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program.
夜色视频app announced that the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion graduated more than twice as many graduates who have successfully completed the Diversity Advocacy Certification Program in Fall 2020.
夜色视频app announced the addition of two sports beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Men鈥檚 swimming & diving and the NCAA emerging sport of women鈥檚 acrobatics and tumbling are set to bring the Viking athletics offerings to 21 sports.
夜色视频app announced that School of Music Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Larry Petersen is working with Director of Bands Dr. Christopher Unger and Percussion Instructor Daniel Sailer to bring back the Augustana Marching Band.
December
The 夜色视频app Board of Trustees installed three new board members 鈥 who will begin their three-year terms 鈥 beginning in January 2021.
The School of Music invited the public to join the 夜色视频app community for its annual Christmas Vespers 2020 Concert 鈥淩isen with Healing in His Wings,鈥 presented virtually through online streaming and television broadcasts.
The Augustana community came together in 2020 to restore the university鈥檚 nearly 40-year-old tracker pipe organ, originally dedicated on December 4, 1983.