Index

Public Safety and Facilities Announcements

Christensen Center Tile Repairs

submitted by abounass@augsburg.edu

The Christensen Center lower level hallway from the tunnel doors up to double doors located just before the Auggies Nest entrance will be closed on Thursday (April 7) and Friday (April 8) due to a tile repair/replacement project. The affected area will be closed off during the project with no walk thru access. Any questions should be directed to Robert Hobot in the Facilities department.

Free COVID-19 Testing on Campus TODAY

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

Students, faculy, and staff can drop by Gundale Chapel this evening for a free COVID-19 test.

Results from the BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests will be ready in approximately 15 minutes and can be displayed via the NAVICA mobile app to show proof of recent testing. You will need to download the NAVICA app in advance in order to receive your test results. Learn more and set up your free account here: https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/product-details/navica.html

Location:
Gundale Chapel, third floor of Hagfors Center

Schedule:
– Mondays, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
– Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
through April 21.

You will need to provide:
– Your name and Augsburg ID number
– Your Augsburg email address
– Device with NAVICA app

As a reminder, Hagfors Center requires key fob access.

For more COVID-19 updates and resources, including information about other nearby testing locations, visit the Outbreak Planning website: https://sites.augsburg.edu/outbreak-planning/

Contact helpline@augsburg.edu with any questions.

Teaching and Learning

Teach, Study, Conduct Research Abroad for Free

submitted by pearsong@augsburg.edu

URGO is looking for Fulbright applicants to study, conduct research, carry out a creative project or teach English in over 140 countries.

We are looking for junior, seniors, graduate students, or recent alums who:
– Are U.S. Citizens
– Hold a 3.0 GPA or higher for English Teaching Assistantship
– Hold a 3.5 or higher for study and research
– Are active on campus or their home communities
– Will serve effectively as cultural ambassadors

Interested students should contact urgo@augsburg.edu to set up an appointment to talk about the Fulbright program.

Fulbright Website

No-Zero Grading

submitted by hansonjl@augsburg.edu

After mentioning non-zero grading in a meeting, several people have asked me about it.

First, I will say that the idea of non-zero grading is not new. Admittedly, I am not even close to a Mathematician – but even I know the difference between a 0 (F) and a passing grade of 60 (D) is greater than the difference between a 60 (D) and a 70 (C). What seems at first like a crazy idea – let’s give people points for doing nothing – is actually a way to balance the percentage scale we use for grading. A student who earns a 50 for not turning anything in still earns an F. It just means that a student who missed the first assignment, earning a zero, will not have to stare at a failing grade for several more assignments, even if those other assignments were perfect A’s.

Let’s say a student misses the first assignment and gets a 0. They earn an 85 on the next assignment. Assuming these assignments are of equal weight, their average will be a 42.5 – still failing. Two weeks later they earn another 85 – still failing with 56.6. They would have to get three 85’s to make it to 63%. All the while they feel like they are failing and losing motivation. Now, let’s apply non-zero grading. For the missed assignment, they are assigned a 50. After the second assignment, the average is up to 67.5. Still less than the 85, but showing progress more quickly and probably feeling better about the class. Remember, they still failed the first assignment. By the 3rd assignment they have an average of 73 and motivation is growing! By the forth they have a 76. So this doesn’t mean the students are given something for nothing, it just means they are not being disproportionately penalized.

Second, non-zero grading is one tool in a toolbox to achieve equity in grading. “Grading for Equity” by Joe Feldman is a fine book to read to understand more fully the importance of equitable grading and to pick up a few strategies as you reflect on your own practices. I recommend it.

Article: The Case Against Zero

Full-time Faculty: Apply for the 2022 Integrated Course Design (ICD) Grant Program

submitted by reederm@augsburg.edu

CTL’s annual ICD Grant program is offered to encourage faculty to develop their knowledge and skills in evidence-based, equitable course design. To that end, recipients of the grant will receive a $2000 stipend to participate in a 4-day workshop Monday May 23 through Thursday May 26, 2022 (9:00am – 12:30pm each day), optional coaching throughout the summer, and a wrap-up lunch in late August. To demonstrate application of the principles of the workshop, participants will also be asked to produce a final product that utilizes evidence-based, equitable course design (e.g. a syllabus).

Courses proposed for this grant may be new courses or courses undergoing substantial revision; preference will be given to courses being offered in the next academic year (2022-2023). Courses may be team-teaching collaborative efforts or individually-taught. Although open to full-time faculty at all stages in their career, preference will be given to early-career faculty.

The application form and samples of successful past applications are posted on the CTL Website under “Grants & Travel Funds; Annual Grants & Awards”. Applications are due Friday, April 8th at Noon.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact one or both of the ICD Workshop Coordinators: Drs. Tara Mader (mader@augsburg.edu) and Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright (bankers@augsburg.edu)

https://sites.augsburg.edu/ctl/grants/annual-grant-offerings/

Call for “3 Days in May” Proposals from Faculty and Staff

submitted by reederm@augsburg.edu

Augsburg’s annual “3 Days in May” (coordinated by the Center for Teaching and Learning) is back in person and will be held Tuesday, May 10th through Thursday, May 12th in the Hagfors Center!

The CTL Fellows are looking for interesting and engaging sessions for these three days, and we welcome your contributions. If you are interested in offering or coordinating a session/workshop/demonstration/etc., please complete the short form below and a CTL member will get back to you to find out more details and talk about specific presentation and scheduling needs.

If you have any questions or want more information, please contact ctl@augsburg.edu.

https://forms.gle/j2AXaAizzStSTBFd6

General Announcements

Student Worker Position: Digital Content Assistant, Marketing (Summer and Academic Year 2022-23)

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

The Marketing and Communication division is seeking to hire one student employee to serve as a digital content assistant for the summer of 2022 and the 2022-23 academic year. This position will be for a minimum of 5 hours/week and a maximum of 8 hours/week.

Ideal candidates will be available to work beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday.

Essential job functions include, but are not limited to:

Distributing A-mail on a daily basis by 9 a.m.
Designing digital display screens using the WordPress platform.
Performing content edits on the Augsburg University website: modifying text, creating pages, and uploading images.
Occasionally assist student/campus events to gather photos for Augsburg University’s official social media accounts.
Occasionally distribute mail/packages/notes to other staff members on campus.

View the full application here:

Department or Organization Facebook Pages: Important Security Update

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

Facebook has begun disabling certain types of accounts that were used in the past to create and manage pages for Augsburg academic departments and other groups on campus. These so-called “gray accounts” do not have access to the same security features as standard accounts, and are being phased out by Facebook to increase security. Pages that only list a gray account as the Admin could be disabled by this change during the month of April.

If your department has an active Facebook page that was created by your area LFC, or if you do not know who created the page, please check to ensure that at least one person with a standard Facebook profile is listed as an Admin.

1. From your page, select Settings and then Page Roles.

2. Under Existing Page Roles, if the only Admin listed is an email alias using the format “department_social@augsburg.edu” (e.g., marketing_social@augsburg.edu), this is a gray account and your page is at risk of being disabled.

3. Under Assign a New Page Role, add at least one person with a standard Facebook account tied to either an Augsburg or personal email address as an Admin.
Marketing and Communication and IT are developing a new set of procedures and best practices to ensure that the university retains access to Augsburg-related Facebook pages as individual employees change over time. We will share these with the community in the coming weeks.

In the short term, please contact your LFC with any questions or requests for support.

Staff and Faculty – Commencement Help Needed

submitted by cashdar@augsburg.edu

As you can imagine implementing an event like commencement takes the whole Augsburg community. I’m looking for Augsburg faculty and staff that would be interested in helping at the Wednesday, May 4 commencement ceremony.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
U.S. Bank Stadium

4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Graduate Doors Open

5:00 p.m. Guest Doors Open

5:40 p.m. Processional Begins

6:00 p.m. Ceremony Begins

Positions Needed:

Ushers, Greeters & Wayfinding Guides:
Wednesday, May 4; 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (end time approximate)
Team Meeting; 4:00-4:30 p.m.
Greet graduates, faculty, family members, and guests of Commencement at U.S. Bank Stadium, assist families with finding a seating location and/or other facilities, hand out programs, wayfinding assistance, and/or other needs. The position is at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Accessible Seating Ushers, Greeters & Wayfinding Guides:
Wednesday, May 4; 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (end time approximate)
Team Meeting; 4:00-4:30 p.m.
Manage the accessible seating table and seating areas, assist guests with finding a seating location and/or other facilities, hand out programs, wayfinding assistance, and/or other needs. The position is at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Graduate Name Card and Seating Process:
Wednesday, May 4; 3:30pm-6:30 p.m.
Assist graduates with lining up, getting their name cards, and answering questions. The position is at U.S. Bank Stadium. Once the ceremony begins, team members will be able to find a seat in the audience, if desired.

If you are able to assist at commencement please email Sarah Cash-Darvell, cashdar@augsburg.edu, by Friday, April 15 with a role preference. Closer to the event additional details will be provided.

Thank you!

https://www.augsburg.edu/commencement/

Bee a Smart Student Using TutorMe

submitted by trancc@augsburg.edu

Students – don’t forget about TutorMe! It is available to Augsburg students 24/7 and offers tutoring in over 300 subjects from qualified tutors. Students are able to use 3 hours a week; 3 one hour sessions or 6 thirty-minute sessions. You can access TutorMe through any of your Moodle classes. At the top left of your screen there is an orange tab to see the side panel of resources. As you scroll down, you will see the “Augsburg Tools” section and underneath is the link to TutorMe. For more information on other tutoring and academic skills options, please click “Tutoring & Academic Skills Information”.

Academic Skills & Tutoring Information

Today – Study Abroad and Away Staff in Memorial Hall 20

submitted by stoddard@augsburg.edu

This Thursday and Friday, the Oyate Commons space will be closed.

On Thursday: Study Abroad & Away staff will be available to the campus community in Memorial Hall, room 20, located just across the hall from Human Resources.

On Friday: Study Abroad & Away staff will be available remotely.

If you have questions or need to contact us, reach out to abroad@ausburg.edu, or schedule an advising appointment with the link below.

Schedule a Study Abroad & Away Advising Appointment

Applications are Now Open for the 2022-23 PRISM Scholars Program

submitted by brookinj@augsburg.edu

The PRISM program is designed to support Augsburg juniors and seniors who wish to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Funded by the National Science Foundation, PRISM Scholars receive scholarships of up to $10,000 per student per year. Scholars also become a part of the STEM community at Augsburg with opportunities for summer research, faculty mentoring, and career development.

Eligibility:
– Enrolled at least half-time in a STEM major (biology, biopsychology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, or physics)
– Within 5 semesters of graduating with a STEM degree as of Fall 2022 (graduating by December ‘24)
– Major GPA of 2.75 or higher (scholars will be expected to raise their GPA to 3.0 during program participation)
– U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
– Demonstrated financial need as determined by financial aid status (Pell or MN State grant eligible or equivalent)

Application deadline: Wednesday, May 18 at 11:59pm
Faculty reference deadline: Friday, May 27 (applicants should get permission from one faculty member to serve as their reference and name them in their application)

Students who began their college careers at community colleges are encouraged to apply as well as students who began at Augsburg.

For more information, go to: http://www.augsburg.edu/stem/augstem.
Questions? Contact: stem@augsburg.edu.

Funding is provided through the National Science Foundation(NSF) S-STEM program which provides support for high-achieving STEM students with financial need. The collaborative award NSF#2030638: Partner Relationships to Increase STEM Momentum (PRISM) provides S-STEM scholarships to students at Augsburg University, Century College, Minneapolis College, and Normandale Community College.

Expression of Interest Form: https://forms.gle/W3kwycuh2uAtHVrV6

Apply to be the Echo’s Online Publishing Coordinator (Paid Position)

submitted by sosaz@augsburg.edu

The Echo is hiring a Online Publishing Coordinator for the 22-23 school year!

Join Augsburg’s student produced newspaper for the 22-23 school year as our Online Publishing Coordinator! Here are the job responsibilities:

-Be the coordinator of online publication (digital flip book, article posts, website upkeep)
-Post all stories in a timely manner.
-Reports directly to Executive Editor any issues or noteworthy items.
-Contribute to our inclusive and supportive team!

This position is paid $70 per issue (10 issues/semester) and works approx. 7 hours a week. This role is a good fit for you if you have strong time management skills and experience with WordPress.

The Echo always strives for a more diverse and inclusive board to better reflect the Augsburg community – students of marginalized identities are especially encouraged to apply.

We are accepting applications until Wednesday, April 13th at midnight. To apply, please send a resume and writing sample to echo@augsburg.edu Questions? Email us or DM on Instagram

Staff and Faculty Share your Experiences from Studying Abroad

submitted by hildena@augsburg.edu

Are you a Staff/Faculty member who has studied abroad or away in the past? We want to hear from you!

The Study Abroad and Study Away office is looking to feature Staff and Faculty study abroad stories on our Instagram page with Throwback Thursday posts. These posts are to encourage Augsburg students to study abroad and away!

Check us out on Instagram: global_auggies

Questions? Email abroad@augsburg.edu

Fill out the Google Form here!

Summer Course: Writing for Television – Apply Now

submitted by hildena@augsburg.edu

Do you love watching television and have ever wondered how the creators wrote their pilot for that hit TV show you love to watch? Or, are you a writer in a different medium and have always wanted to try your hand at writing for television?

Grow your writing skills this summer with the course PWC 320 “Writing for Television”. This intensive course will be modeled on a professional writer’s room and as such all students will be required to actively participate. Students will be expected to participate in the development and breaking of story while learning to pitch ideas, create outlines, and reading and providing feedback on your colleagues’ work. Each of these steps will be instrumental in aiding you with creating your own pilot!

This course is taught through Augsburg University’s partnership with the nationally acclaimed Playwrights’ Center.

WRITING FOR TELEVISION: Writing the Television Pilot, PWC 320

DATES: June 4 – July 30
(Please note that the course dates do not correspond to the Summer Semester Time 1 and Time 2 schedules. For drop/withdrawal dates, see the course description details in Records and Registration.)

INSTRUCTOR: Taught by Christina Ham, a highly awarded and prolific writer for both stage and screen, including Sweet Tooth for Netflix, THEM for Amazon, and Westworld for HBO. She was named one of “The Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights of the 2018-19 Season” by American Theatre magazine.

COST: standard summer tuition rate for 4 credits: $1,704

Spots in this course are limited. Apply by May 2.

Get complete details and start an application online

Event Announcements

Upcoming Events

submitted by ortizrg@augsburg.edu

Hello Auggies!

Below are some exciting upcoming end of year events! We’ve highlighted an array of big events that will be happening on campus and encourage you to check them out and attend what appeals to you.

Come meet new people, celebrate holidays, announcements, and enjoy the end of year festivities! What a way to end the year with a bang!

Reach out to organizations directly with any questions about their specific events*

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pslemsvG4P0cFSDXxniKa2nI9jPxbkEOT8wEllaWFK0/edit?usp=sharing

TODAY: Greenhouse First Thursday

submitted by vaneck@augsburg.edu

Want to see what we’ve got growing on? The Biology Department Greenhouse on the rooftop of the Hagfors Center is open to the Augsburg community on the first Thursday of the month.

The last First Thursday of the academic year is this today, April 7, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The greenhouse is located on the 4th floor of the Hagfors Center.

Detailed event flyer

Focused Conversation on Academic Structure: Next Monday

submitted by alamilla@augsburg.edu

Join us for a Focused Conversation on Augsburg University’s academic structure. Faculty and academic leaders who have been involved in evaluating Augsburg’s current “one college” structure will review the rationale for recommending that we adopt a two-college structure. We’ll also hear about work currently in progress—or planned—to explore how each new college might be designed to best support the work of teaching and learning as well as faculty governance.

Monday, April 11 at 2 p.m. | Marshall Room and Zoom
To view the Focused Conversation schedule and access the live-stream link when available, visit the All Hands page (log in required).

All Hands page

Zyzzogeton Student Research Symposium – April 12

submitted by pearsong@augsburg.edu

Augsburg celebrates the creativity and scholarship of undergraduate students with its annual Zyzzogeton festival. The festival falls at the end of each academic year and is a culmination of achievement featuring work across departments.

This year Zyzzogeton will feature posters from about 50 undergraduate researchers in the science, social science and humanity disciplines.

Zyzzogeton will take place on Tuesday, April 12, 3 – 4:30pm in Hagfors Center. There will be a convocation schedule for that day and no classes scheduled during the event time, so we hope that all students, faculty and staff are able to attend!

Please note that due to COVID-19 protocols, attendees will be required to register in advance and follow all current University guidelines for masking and social distancing. Register to attend here: https://forms.gle/re6G2YGMow8TTtjf9

Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in this event are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Register Here to Attend

Celebrate Earth Month in April

submitted by carreraa@augsburg.edu

April 22nd is Earth Day. We are dedicating the entire month of April to celebrate our Home. Join us in attending the many events we have planned throughout the month!
Come rekindle community, self-heal, and reconnect with the Earth through celebrations during Earth Month. These Environmental Action Committee-supported events will allow you further connection to green spaces on campus, engagement with educational experiences by all forms of teachers, exploration of inclusive career paths, and the opportunity to build solidarity with social justice work bonded by intersectionality. Together in community, learn from Indigenous cultures, be rewarded with rest and find its productivity, fix your bike, have a ball with slow fashion, eat local, and then finish the month with a community bonfire into the sunset.

Mii omaa akiing endaayang – The Earth is our Home

Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in these events are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event(s) with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Learn about al the events we have planned here

Win a Free Bike Today – Go Green: Transportation Event

submitted by carreraa@augsburg.edu

Join us in our series of Earth month events! Come learn about city bike riding safety from experts at The Hub Bike Coop. You can also learn from Environmental Action Committee members about other community resources for commuting and traveling with less fossil fuel emissions. Show up to have the chance to win a free bike!!

When: Today, Thursday April 7th, 4-6PM
Where: Augsburg Room (Christensen Center 206)

For questions, contact Zoe Barany, EAC Officer & Environmental Stewardship Coordinator (baranyz@augsburg.edu)

Those who need any disability-related accommodation to fully participate in these events are encouraged to contact University Events at events@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1104. Remember to have the name, date, and time of the event(s) with you when contacting their office. Please allow for sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

To learn more about our upcoming Earth month events, click here

The Sverdrup Visiting Scientist Program – April 12

submitted by reederm@augsburg.edu

The Sverdrup Visiting Scientist Program welcomes Dr. Jennifer L. Ross, Professor and Physics Department Chair at Syracuse University, who will present The Future is Alive! Physics Lessons from Biology as part of the ongoing Sverdrup lecture series.

Tuesday, April 12, 11:00 – 12:00pm
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center

Imagine a world where potholes in roads seal themselves like cuts in your skin, your body reports directly to your doctor on pain and medication, and we can explore and inhabit other planets using pre-fabricated houses that build themselves. To reach these dreams, we must understand the physics behind biology that can already perform such exciting activities. In this talk, we will explore how the skeleton of the cell is able to arrange itself and how enzymes could move faster than expected when they perform their chemical reaction.

Please note the convocation schedule for adjusted class times on this day and in compliance with Augsburg University COVID-19 protocols, please pre-register at the Google Doc link posted below.

https://www.augsburg.edu/convo/sverdrup/, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12VsBcTCrStyfZWqwUB_b5JaKUCbPZbNeKohjQ5pu9xw/edit?ts=6245f9df

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