Wednesday, August 26, 2020

submitted by greena@augsburg.edu

Augsburg’s commitment to community service and engagement is long-standing and deeply held. Since 1992, day undergraduate students have participated in service projects on City Engagement Day, even before they’ve had their first class. The COVID-19 pandemic requires us to press pause on City Engagement Day this year, but our commitment to community building is unwavering. Instead of sending hundreds of incoming students out to serve Minneapolis neighborhoods and organizations, we are encouraging students, faculty, and staff to engage with their local communities in ways that are meaningful to them personally.

For those looking for local options for engagement, Sabo Center staff members have compiled this list of local opportunities for community service. We will update this document as we learn of new opportunities, and we have not vetted every one, so take care in considering COVID-19 safety practices, the organization’s capacity to host groups, and other key questions.

If you’d like to suggest an addition to this list, please email us at sabocenter@augsburg.edu.

Local Engagement Opportunities

submitted by holleric@augsburg.edu

Have you registered to vote? Do you know where your polling place is? Do you want to vote early or absentee but don’t know how to get a ballot? Then check our Lindell Library’s “Learn How to Vote” guide.

Learn How to Vote

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

1. To reflect the promise of care and concern we are making to each other at Augsburg, each student, faculty and staff is receiving the Augsburg Community Commitment. Read through the commitment and click the acknowledgement at the end, showing you have received, read and understand the commitment. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGzHmZurBmN6pmVFZ3JZfHs3uUm-XZxSqO4QAkLI-puVYcAQ/viewform?fbzx=-3270144378984911815

2. As you prepare for the start of the academic year, check out this link with helpful info on parking, Moodle tips, bookstore, and other resources. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KNhatt4biNfhYNCvIKHrEBYNOEiN8tMhNJuHXS1OLeQ/edit

submitted by maherk@augsburg.edu

In addition to the regularly updated local and online events, this page has links to suggested readings, podcasts, and webinars. There are also lists of Black-owned businesses to support and other opportunities to get involved. Continue to check back regularly.

Justice for George Floyd Initiatives

submitted by leess8@augsburg.edu

The Center for Global Education and Experience (Study Abroad & Away) is operating remotely and we have appointments available via Zoom. Our staff and peer advisors are here to support you as you plan ahead for the future!

Semester and short-term programs in the US and internationally are available for fall semester and beyond. Short-term courses for spring break and summer 2021 have destinations in the following locations: Guatemala, New York City, Minnesota Tribal Lands, Cuba, Germany, and Italy.

Our advisors are here to help every Auggie – whether you’re just getting started with Study Abroad & Away, or you already have a program chosen. Schedule an appointment here:

https://go.oncehub.com/StudyAbroadAwayAppointments

You can also send us an email: abroad@augsburg.edu, or stop by our website, below.

Learn more about Study Abroad and Away

submitted by tengwalm@augsburg.edu

Each year URGO offers $1,325 research grants for undergraduates who wish to gain research experience with an Augsburg faculty member. These grants require 100 hours of research over the course of the academic year and are a great way to ease into research or to continue work on an existing project.

Grants are awarded on a rolling basis, so student-faculty research teams are encouraged to submit proposals in the fall. The URGO Advisory Committee meets bi-monthly and will begin reviewing proposals September 14th.

If you have any questions about undergraduate research opportunities, please contact Dixie Shafer at shafer@augsburg.edu or urgo@augsburg.edu.

Find the application at URGO’s website.

URGO On-Campus Research

submitted by tengwalm@augsburg.edu

This is a pilot program supporting undergraduate research students through federal work-study funds. We are limiting the number of student researchers supported during the 20-21 academic year to 12 students and funding will be determined by a first-come, first-serve basis. Faculty from any discipline who need assistance with their research from a student are invited to participate in the pilot. An individual faculty member may propose only one student position who will work 5-20 hours per week and no more than their federal work-study allotment. During the 20-21 academic year, the research projects must follow Augsburg’s guidelines regarding Covid-19.

Please note that the student eligibility for federal work-study and the total number of hours must be confirmed by Human Resources after you complete this form. Open until all 12 positions are filled.

If the student will work 100 hours or less total, we recommend applying instead for the URGO Academic Year research grant.

Questions contact Human Resources at studentemployment@augsburg.edu

2020-2021 Federal Work-Study Student Researcher Request Form

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

Find key dates and how Augsburg is preparing for fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, with floor markings, glass dividers being installed, air quality measures, and other projects in the works.

Key Dates

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

CampusClear is a free self-screening free application for iPhones and Androids that everyone in the Augsburg community must complete daily before coming to campus or leaving their residence hall. Self-screening is an easy action to take and one that is critical in helping reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Download here

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

You already know that what you post on social media can impact your reputation, and you probably monitor what you do or say accordingly.

During the pandemic, there’s a new thing to watch out for: photos that don’t reflect physical distancing or the appropriate use of masks. Such photos can go viral, generating negative feedback.

This is especially important for social media posts that represent Augsburg. In order to support students, staff, faculty, and their families, we are following the Minnesota Department of Health’s guidelines for institutions of higher education, as well as Governor Walz’s executive order mandating face coverings in public spaces indoors as well as outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Photos posted to Augsburg social media accounts or photos that tag Augsburg should reflect these practices.

Please also keep in mind that photos from before the pandemic may be misinterpreted. For now please do not use old photos that show groups of people close together for Augsburg-related communications.

submitted by holleric@augsburg.edu

If you use the RefWorks citation management software, please be advised that Lindell Library is transitioning its support from RefWorks to free alternatives such as Mendeley or Zotero. If you use RefWorks to manage your bibliographic citations, you should download your data from your RefWorks account no later than Friday, September 11. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your library liaison or Mary Hollerich, holleric@augsburg.edu or x1603.

Migrating to RefWorks

submitted by holleric@augsburg.edu

Lindell Library’s HeinOnline database just added a collection of governmental and scholarly articles on the COVID-19 pandemic, titled “COVID-19 in America: Response, Issues, and Law”. With this resource, you can:

Find factual information about how COVID-19 has impacted public health, economics, society, and the world;

Peruse hundreds of Congressional Research Service (CRS) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on the various ways COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of life, from testing issues in the medical field to unemployment and economic impact; and

Discover a curated list of relevant scholarly articles and external links to supplement their research.

These reports provide insight into federal response to the pandemic, discussing not only those issues that are highly prevalent in the media (e.g., vaccine development), but also less publicized topics such as the pandemic’s effect on organ donation and transplantation, support for the homeless, and more.

For more information, contact your liaison librarian or Mary Hollerich, holleric@augsburg.edu or x1603.

HeinOnline database – click on COVID-19 in America