Month: November 2025

All Employees: Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MN PFML) Acknowledgment

submitted by vachta@augsburg.edu

All employees will soon be receiving an official email request to acknowledge information regarding the Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave (MN PFML) program.

What to Expect
From: Augsburg Online Forms <onlineforms@augsburg.edu>
Subject: Action Required: Minnesota Paid Leave (Effective Jan 1, 2026)

The email contains important compliance information about the new MN PFML program that is effective beginning January 1, 2026. Use the provided link to review benefits and payroll deductions under PFML and acknowledge receipt within 14 days.

Questions?
If you have any questions about the MN PFML program or the required acknowledgment process, please contact Human Resources hr@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1058

Learn about MN PFML

Vanessa Marr – “Listen to Your Mama (Nature): Lessons on Resilience, Resistance, and Beyond”

submitted by myers@augsburg.edu

How We Thrive: Stories of what it means to thrive – together.
Wednesday December 3rd | 12:00 p.m. | Hoversten Chapel
Vanessa Marr, Social Work

“Listen to Your Mama (Nature): Lessons on Resilience, Resistance, and Beyond”
In times of uncertainty, nature has been a gentle teacher. Let us gather and explore these lessons as a means to connect, nourish, and empower.

Happiness Gym at the Mixed Blood Theatre, through December 7, 2025

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

The Mixed Blood Theatre cordially invites you and the Augsburg Community to attend our production of The Happiness Gym – A National New Play Network Rolling Premiere, based on an original concept by Ken Weitzman! Co-directed by Alejandro Tey and Mark Valdez. This production uses the tenets of positive psychology to craft exercises that engage the Twin Cities community in uses of good news, gratitude, and connection.

Link to register: https://mixedblood.com/the-happiness-gym/

Come to the Happiness Gym if:
You believe there is revolution in meaningful connection.
Need a break from the 24 hour news cycle.
Burnout threatens to pull you from the people and causes you care about.
You want to cultivate happiness using science!

PRICING
Free. Our work is guided by deep community engagement and rooted in Radical Hospitality. We eliminate barriers that prevent people from participating due to lack of resources, racism, physical accessibility, gender discrimination, or other barriers. Tickets are available at no cost to attendees.

From Heart to Hands Benefit Arts and Crafts Market at the MPLS American Indian Center (December 6–7)

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join us for two days of art, creativity, and celebration of local Indigenous artists and makers. The From Heart to Hands Arts & Crafts Market highlights handmade work rooted in culture, tradition, and contemporary expression. Whether you are looking to support local artists, find meaningful gifts, or simply spend time in community, we hope you will join us!

December 6th and 7th, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Minneapolis American Indian Center — Two Rivers Gallery
1530 E. Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN

This event supports and uplifts Indigenous artists connected to the American Indian Cultural Corridor and the broader community. Your presence and participation directly contribute to sustaining this work.

Next Monday: EPNI Finance Talk and Screen Printing Workshop

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Daneil Colten Schmidt and Sean Lim to campus.

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100
Daniel writes grants and speaks with philanthropists and investors; while also striving to protect the neighborhood from predatory financial interests. He studied Ecological Economics at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons
Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. Learn how to screen print and bring a Campus Kitchen poster home!

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI.

Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

Faculty – Provide Your Feedback: Ethics Survey

submitted by mader@augsburg.edu

On behalf of the Batalden Fellows of Applied Ethics, I would like to invite you to participate in a survey about ethics at Augsburg. This survey will ask you about your experiences with and hopes for conversations on ethics in your courses and around the institution.

We would request that you complete the survey by Wednesday Nov. 26th.

Please note there is also an option to indicate your interest in participating in upcoming focus groups where we can delve deeper into key areas identified by the survey. If you do not wish to include your email with the survey but would like to participate in the focus groups, please send an email to any of the fellows or reply to this email.

Thanks so much for your time; we look forward to learning from you!!!

Best wishes during this busy time of the semester,
The Batalden Fellows
(Jacqui deVries, Soebin Jang, and Tara Mader)

Survey Link

Free Astrology Readings — After a Short Survey

submitted by xiongjj6@augsburg.edu

Hello! My name’s Julius and I am a student at Augsburg university! I have a research project for my English class and I am looking for people to pariticipate in my survey! It is a short and informal survey for my class, so its not asking you anything personal.

There is a completely optional choice to opt-in to receive a free astrology reading as a little “Thank You” for completeing the survey. More info in the survey!

Here is the link to the survey:

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot: Quick-Start Workshop for SoNS/HSS Faculty (December 8)

submitted by yoon@augsburg.edu

Quick info…
Who: SoNS and HSS faculty
What: AI-Informed Assignment Quick-start workshop (update one existing assignment)
When/where: Monday, December 8, 3:30–4:30 p.m., Marshall Room
Details and sign-up: http://go.augsburg.edu/aipilot
Stipend: for each completed assignment update (up to two per faculty member)

Description
Are you teaching in SoNS or HSS and wondering how to set a clear AI policy for one assignment without redesigning your whole course?

This year Augsburg is piloting an AI-Informed Assignment project in the School of Natural Sciences (SoNS) and Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). The pilot focuses on one concrete task: updating a single existing assignment so that your AI policy is transparent, students can briefly provide evidence of any AI use (if allowed), and compliance with that policy is gradable – all without the use of AI-detectors.

At the Quick-start workshop, please bring one existing assignment that could benefit from a clearer AI policy. By the end of the hour, you should have a solid draft of an “AI-informed assignment update,” plus a plan to finalize it in January or to apply the approach to another assignment.

To learn more or indicate interest, visit the pilot page at http://go.augsburg.edu/aipilot. The site links to a brief Overview and Starter Kit, and to a single Intake & Submission Form you can use to sign up for the workshop, request a consult, or request an optional pre-paid BoodleBox seat (a faculty-only AI tool). Participation in this round is limited to SoNS and HSS faculty.

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot overview and sign-up

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

Interested in Working With Young People? – Consider a Youth Studies Minor Class This Spring

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

Youth Studies 220 (YST 220) will provide students with practical perspectives and experiences in work with children and youth from interdisciplinary perspectives. We will cover both theoretical frameworks for liberatory and culturally grounded work with youth and focused examinations of different types of youth work. Throughout the course, we will consider how our own positionality and experiences affect our engagements in work with youth and children.

The course is offered in Spring 2026 from 3:40-5:10PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays and is taught by Professor Kao Nou Moua.

Why a Youth Studies Minor?

This minor prepares you to work with and advocate for youth more effectively. You will develop knowledge and skills for working with young people from a variety of professions, including:

Teacher
Social Worker
Therapist
Nurse
Religious Leader
Scientist
Youth Program Coordinator

This minor can enrich many majors! This includes:

Social Work
Education
Psychology
Nursing
Sociology
Communications
Environmental Studies
Theater
Urban Studies
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Religion

Youth Studies Minor

PSEO Community Time (Finals Edition)—Pizza

submitted by chuma@augsburg.edu

Join Madelyn Chu, Associate Director of PSEO, for a special PSEO Community Time as we head into finals week! Take a break, connect with fellow PSEO students, and refuel with pizza, and activities

This is the perfect opportunity to de-stress, ask questions, and win some prizes! We can’t wait to see you there for good food, great company, and a little fun.

Date: December 12th, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: Christensen Center (Fishbowl): Behind Einstein Bagels

Want to share your experience to earn a $5 gift-card? Submit your testimonial to us! We’d love to hear how your experience at Augsburg is going.

Submit your testimonial here!

PA Program Coffee Fundraiser: November 24–December 9

submitted by olsenkat@augsburg.edu

It’s that time of year – PA Program Holiday Coffee Fundraiser!

Support the PA Program, get yourself and your loved ones a gift, and help raise money for the St. Paul International Institute of Minnesota, which aids with job training and resources.

Sales goes now until December 9th.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/augsburg-university-physician-assistant-coffee-sale

Bags are 19.50 per 12 oz of Medium Roast regular or cold brew and available for pick up Dec 15-18 in the PA breakroom in the basement of Riverside Park Plaza.

Don’t want coffee, but want to support? We accept direct donations though the site! Share with any friends and family looking for a boost this winter.

Coffe Fundraiser Flyer

Scam Email: Research Opportunity

submitted by musto@augsburg.edu

You may have received an email over the last few days about a research opportunity that references the Strommen Center or staff member Gina Musto. This email did not come from the Strommen Center or any of its staff. If you received this email, please mark it as spam and cease any communication you have had with the person emailing. If they ask for bank account information or other details; stop immediately – our office will never ask for this information and no employer will ask for this via email.

Keep in mind that any communication from our office with either come through Handshake or an augsburg.edu address. For more information on how to spot scam job opportunities, please visit our resource below.

Identifying Fraudulent Job & Internship Posts Resource

Calling All Storytellers

submitted by starckl@augsburg.edu

Do you love hearing good stories? Do you have a poem to share? Are you looking for a creative arts break during the last week of classes?

Whether you come just to listen or to perform your work, we hope that you’ll join us for an open mic night in Sateren Auditorium on Wednesday, December 10th at 7pm. Hosted by the Narrative Arts Department of the Schwartz School of the Arts, this event will gather together creative writers, filmmakers, and performers for a cozy evening of inspiration and community.

If you’re interested in sharing your work at the event, please let us know via this Google form. If you’re still deciding–or just want to come to listen and applaud and have a snack or two–please mark your calendars for December 10th!

Sign up here!

Are you Muslim? Click Here for an Opportunity to Talk About Your Experiences

submitted by khanss@augsburg.edu

As-salamualaikum! My name is Sana Khan and I am currently a clinical psychology doctoral study student at Augsburg University. I am conducting a research study about how the mental health and religiosity of Muslim college students is impacted by Islamophobia and I would love to have you be a part of my study! The study will consist of an initial screener to make sure eligibility criteria is met and then scheduling an interview in which I ask you questions about your demographics and experience as a Muslim college student as related to Islam, religiosity, and Islamophobia. The interview should take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. To thank you for your participation, upon completion of your interview, there will be an option at the end for you to enter your information to receive a $10 Visa gift card. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at my email listed below. I appreciate you taking time to consider being a part of my project. Please contact Sana Khan at khanss@augsburg.edu to determine eligibility.

Save the Dates: Upcoming Staff Senate Sponsored Open Houses

submitted by cliftonk@augsburg.edu

Staff Senate is bringing colleagues together by creating intimate opportunities to connect, collaborate, and discover the amazing work happening across our campus!

December Connecting Opportunities:

Open House with the Strommen Center: Wednesday, 12/3 from 10-11am.
Swing through for some treats and connect with each other and Strommen Staff.

Our next monthly Brown Bag Lunch is December 9th at Noon in the Cafeteria.

Lindell Library Open House: Thursday, December 11 from 9:30 – 11:00am
Time to learn more about all the Library offers, especially before many take a break over the holidays. Be sure to leave with some reading recommendations (and books) too!

PA Program Coffee Fundraiser: November 24 – December 9

submitted by olsenkat@augsburg.edu

It’s that time of year – PA Program Holiday Coffee Fundraiser!

Support the PA Program, get yourself and your loved ones a gift, and help raise money for the St. Paul International Institute of Minnesota, which aids with job training and resources.

Sales begin TODAY November 24th and go until December 9th.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/augsburg-university-physician-assistant-coffee-sale

Bags are 19.50 per 12 oz of Medium Roast regular or cold brew and available for pick up Dec 15-18 in the PA breakroom in the basement of Riverside Park Plaza.

Don’t want coffee, but want to support? We accept direct donations though the site! Share with any friends and family looking for a boost this winter.

Coffe Fundraiser Flyer

Faculty – Provide Your Feedback: Ethics Survey

submitted by mader@augsburg.edu

On behalf of the Batalden Fellows of Applied Ethics, I would like to invite you to participate in a survey about ethics at Augsburg. This survey will ask you about your experiences with and hopes for conversations on ethics in your courses and around the institution.

We would request that you complete the survey by Wednesday Nov. 26th.

Please note there is also an option to indicate your interest in participating in upcoming focus groups where we can delve deeper into key areas identified by the survey. If you do not wish to include your email with the survey but would like to participate in the focus groups, please send an email to any of the fellows or reply to this email.

Thanks so much for your time; we look forward to learning from you!!!

Best wishes during this busy time of the semester,
The Batalden Fellows
(Jacqui deVries, Soebin Jang, and Tara Mader)

Survey Link

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot: Quick Start Workshop for SoNS and HSS faculty (December 8)

submitted by yoon@augsburg.edu

Quick info…

Who: SoNS and HSS faculty
What: AI-Informed Assignment Quick-start workshop (update one existing assignment)
When/where: Monday, December 8, 3:30–4:30 p.m., Marshall Room
Details and sign-up: http://go.augsburg.edu/aipilot
Stipend: for each completed assignment update (up to two per faculty member)

Description
Are you teaching in SoNS or HSS and wondering how to set a clear AI policy for one assignment without redesigning your whole course?

This year Augsburg is piloting an AI-Informed Assignment project in the School of Natural Sciences (SoNS) and Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). The pilot focuses on one concrete task: updating a single existing assignment so that your AI policy is transparent, students can briefly provide evidence of any AI use (if allowed), and compliance with that policy is gradable – all without the use of AI-detectors.

At the Quick-start workshop, please bring one existing assignment that could benefit from a clearer AI policy. By the end of the hour, you should have a solid draft of an “AI-informed assignment update,” plus a plan to finalize it in January or to apply the approach to another assignment.

To learn more or indicate interest, visit the pilot page at http://go.augsburg.edu/aipilot. The site links to a brief Overview and Starter Kit, and to a single Intake & Submission Form you can use to sign up for the workshop, request a consult, or request an optional pre-paid BoodleBox seat (a faculty-only AI tool). Participation in this round is limited to SoNS and HSS faculty.

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot overview and sign-up

Vanessa Marr – “Listen to Your Mama (Nature): Lessons on Resilience, Resistance, and Beyond”

submitted by myers@augsburg.edu

How We Thrive: Stories of what it means to thrive – together.
Wednesday December 3rd | 12:00 p.m. | Hoversten Chapel

Vanessa Marr, Social Work
“Listen to Your Mama (Nature): Lessons on Resilience, Resistance, and Beyond”
In times of uncertainty, nature has been a gentle teacher. Let us gather and explore these lessons as a means to connect, nourish, and empower.

Need Another Upper Division Course? Consider HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States

submitted by devries@augsburg.edu

HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States (Prerequisite: ENL 111)
Spring 2026

Tuesday / Thursday 10:10 11:40AM (on campus)
Taught by Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi

Course Description

An estimated 48 million people in the United States identify as Black. Their migrations—forced and voluntary—began in 1619 and continue to the present day. They came from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Many are descendants of enslaved people; others have emerged from places like Somalia and Ethiopia and Ghana and Jamaica. This course provides an overview of the journeys and experiences of African Americans and Black migrants and examines their unbroken ties—imagined and real—to the African continent. The course draws from a wide range of interdisciplinary sources, exposing students to major historical themes and significant Black figures. Through lectures, discussions, and thesis-driven writing assignments, students gain a substantive understanding of the African diaspora’s historical formation and develop critical reading and writing skills essential to successful careers.

Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi is completing his Ph.D. in Immigration History at the University of Minnesota, after working as a journalist for the Sahan Journal, MinnPost, and Minnesota Public Radio. In addition to English, he speaks Somali, Arabic, and Swahili.

Open Mic Night – December 10

submitted by starckl@augsburg.edu

Do you love hearing good stories? Do you have a poem to share? Are you looking for a creative arts break during the last week of classes?

Whether you come just to listen or to perform your work, we hope that you’ll join us for an open mic night in Sateren Auditorium on Wednesday, December 10th at 7pm. Hosted by the Narrative Arts Department of the Schwartz School of the Arts, this event will gather together creative writers, filmmakers, and performers for a cozy evening of inspiration and community.

If you’re interested in sharing your work at the event, please let us know via this Google form. If you’re still deciding–or just want to come to listen and applaud and have a snack or two–please mark your calendars for December 10th!

Sign up here!

From Heart to Hands Benefit Arts and Crafts Market at the MPLS American Indian Center December 6-7

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join us for two days of art, creativity, and celebration of local Indigenous artists and makers. The From Heart to Hands Arts & Crafts Market highlights handmade work rooted in culture, tradition, and contemporary expression. Whether you are looking to support local artists, find meaningful gifts, or simply spend time in community, we hope you will join us!

December 6th and 7th, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Minneapolis American Indian Center — Two Rivers Gallery
1530 E. Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN

This event supports and uplifts Indigenous artists connected to the American Indian Cultural Corridor and the broader community. Your presence and participation directly contribute to sustaining this work.

Want to Have a Say in Community Work on Campus? Apply for the Sabo Center’s Student Co-Design Teams

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Student Co-design teams is an initiative through Campus Compact, a national organization that supports college campuses across the U.S. with community and civic engagement. This initiative is intended to more fully and effectively embed student voice into the functioning of the university and campus culture more broadly. The Sabo Center is considering submitting an application for this program to more fully bring students into the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council (SCEC), which began meeting in Spring Semester of 2025.

Should an application be accepted, a team of 4-6 people (staff, faculty and students) would begin meeting in January of 2026. The project will require at least two hour-long meetings per month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The program begins in January 2026 and will end in May of 2027. Students will be compensated for their role with the project.

Applications are due Friday, December 5th, we need to confirm a team no later than Monday, December 1, 2025. Please fill out this short Google form to express your interest: https://forms.gle/DLk8e1GVQ8bohHnN9

Please reach out to Jenean Gilmer with any questions, gilmerje@augsburg.edu. Learn more about the program here: https://compact.org/news/introducing-student-co-design-teams-applications-open

Happiness Gym at the Mixed Blood Theatre Through December 7

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

The Mixed Blood Theatre cordially invites you and the Augsburg Community to attend our production of The Happiness Gym – A National New Play Network Rolling Premiere, based on an original concept by Ken Weitzman! Co-directed by Alejandro Tey and Mark Valdez. This production uses the tenets of positive psychology to craft exercises that engage the Twin Cities community in uses of good news, gratitude, and connection.

Link to register: https://mixedblood.com/the-happiness-gym/

Come to the Happiness Gym if:
You believe there is revolution in meaningful connection.
Need a break from the 24 hour news cycle.
Burnout threatens to pull you from the people and causes you care about.
You want to cultivate happiness using science!

PRICING
Free. Our work is guided by deep community engagement and rooted in Radical Hospitality. We eliminate barriers that prevent people from participating due to lack of resources, racism, physical accessibility, gender discrimination, or other barriers. Tickets are available at no cost to attendees.

Next Monday – EPNI Finance Talk and Screen Printing Workshop

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Daneil Colten Schmidt and Sean Lim to campus.

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100
Daniel writes grants and speaks with philanthropists and investors; while also striving to protect the neighborhood from predatory financial interests. He studied Ecological Economics at Hampshire College in Massachusetts.

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons
Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. Learn how to screen print and bring a Campus Kitchen poster home!

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI.

Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

Free Astrology Readings — After a Short Survey

submitted by xiongjj6@augsburg.edu

Hello! My name’s Julius and I am a student at Augsburg university! I have a research project for my English class and I am looking for people to pariticipate in my survey! It is a short and informal survey for my class, so its not asking you anything personal.

There is a completely optional choice to opt-in to receive a free astrology reading as a little “Thank You” for completeing the survey. More info in the survey!

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/6KUe8gbtLHsVt1DB8

The Writing Center Is Open

submitted by mollberg@augsburg.edu

The Augsburg University Writing Center is open and be ready to support your writing! Our hours this week will be 5–8 p.m on Tuesday 11/25 and on Wednesday 11/26 (in-person only). We are closed for the rest of the holiday week, but will open again on Monday, 12/1.

We are located across from Advising on the second floor of the library.

At the Writing Center, trained peer tutors work with writers at all levels and in all disciplines. Whether you are just beginning an assignment and need help generating ideas, in the middle of a draft and looking for feedback on structure or clarity, or polishing a final version before submitting, our tutors are here to help. They can also support you in developing stronger arguments, refining your style, citing sources, and building effective revision strategies.
You can bring in any kind of writing project—course essays, research papers, lab reports, resumes, personal statements, creative pieces, or even application materials. No matter the stage of the process or the type of writing, tutors provide constructive, supportive feedback that is focused on helping you grow as a writer.

Stop by during open hours to meet with a tutor and make the most of your writing this semester!

Interested in Working with Young People? Consider a Youth Studies Minor Class This Spring

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

Youth Studies 220 (YST 220) will provide students with practical perspectives and experiences in work with children and youth from interdisciplinary perspectives. We will cover both theoretical frameworks for liberatory and culturally grounded work with youth and focused examinations of different types of youth work. Throughout the course, we will consider how our own positionality and experiences affect our engagements in work with youth and children.

The course is offered in Spring 2026 from 3:40-5:10PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays and is taught by Professor Kao Nou Moua.

Why a Youth Studies Minor?

This minor prepares you to work with and advocate for youth more effectively. You will develop knowledge and skills for working with young people from a variety of professions, including:

Teacher
Social Worker
Therapist
Nurse
Religious Leader
Scientist
Youth Program Coordinator

This minor can enrich many majors! This includes:

Social Work
Education
Psychology
Nursing
Sociology
Communications
Environmental Studies
Theater
Urban Studies
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Religion

Youth Studies Minor

Small Ensembles Concert – Monday, November 24

submitted by urrizaly@augsburg.edu

Augsburg Music Department Presents:

The Small Ensembles Concert
Monday, November 24, 2025
7 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel

Come hear music performed by a collection of student ensembles so small you’ll barely be able to see them 😀

The Augsburg Flute Ensemble, Augsburg Jazz Combo, African Drum Ensemble, and a group humbly called THE Group will present selections from the Great American Songbook, traditional Ghanaian and Malian drumming, music that literally sounds like a steam locomotive, and your cool uncle’s favorite Led Zeppelin song (probably).

Don’t miss it!

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

PSEO Community Time (Finals Edition) – Pizza

submitted by chuma@augsburg.edu

Join Madelyn Chu, Associate Director of PSEO, for a special PSEO Community Time as we head into finals week! Take a break, connect with fellow PSEO students, and refuel with pizza, and activities

This is the perfect opportunity to de-stress, ask questions, and win some prizes! We can’t wait to see you there for good food, great company, and a little fun.

Date: December 12th, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: Christensen Center (Fishbowl): Behind Einstein Bagels

Want to share your experience to earn a $5 gift-card? Submit your testimonial to us! We’d love to hear how your experience at Augsburg is going.

Submit your testimonial here!

Open Mic Night – December 10

submitted by starckl@augsburg.edu

Do you love hearing good stories? Do you have a poem to share? Are you looking for a creative arts break during the last week of classes?

Whether you come just to listen or to perform your work, we hope that you’ll join us for an open mic night in Sateren Auditorium on Wednesday, December 10th at 7pm. Hosted by the Narrative Arts Department of the Schwartz School of the Arts, this event will gather together creative writers, filmmakers, and performers for a cozy evening of inspiration and community.

If you’re interested in sharing your work at the event, please let us know via this Google form. If you’re still deciding–or just want to come to listen and applaud and have a snack or two–please mark your calendars for December 10th!

Sign up to share your work

Small Ensembles Concert – Monday, November 24

submitted by borden@augsburg.edu

Augsburg Music Department Presents:

The Small Ensembles Concert
Monday, November 24, 2025
7 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel

The Augsburg Flute Ensemble, Augsburg Jazz Combo, African Drum Ensemble, and a contemporary ensemble called THE Group will perform a wide selection of musics for your enjoyment. Entry is free, seating is plentiful, and joy will abound. See you there.

Check out more music events.

Want to Have a Say in Community Work on Campus? Apply for the Sabo Center’s Student Co-Design Teams

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Student Co-design teams is an initiative through Campus Compact, a national organization that supports college campuses across the U.S. with community and civic engagement. This initiative is intended to more fully and effectively embed student voice into the functioning of the university and campus culture more broadly. The Sabo Center is considering submitting an application for this program to more fully bring students into the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council (SCEC), which began meeting in Spring Semester of 2025.

Should an application be accepted, a team of 4-6 people (staff, faculty and students) would begin meeting in January of 2026. The project will require at least two hour-long meetings per month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The program begins in January 2026 and will end in May of 2027. Students will be compensated for their role with the project.

Applications are due Friday, December 5th, we need to confirm a team no later than Monday, December 1, 2025. Please fill out this short Google form to express your interest: https://forms.gle/DLk8e1GVQ8bohHnN9

Please reach out to Jenean Gilmer with any questions, gilmerje@augsburg.edu. Learn more about the program here: https://compact.org/news/introducing-student-co-design-teams-applications-open

Happiness Gym at the Mixed Blood Theatre, November 6 – December 7, 2025

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

The Mixed Blood Theatre cordially invites you and the Augsburg Community to attend our production of The Happiness Gym – A National New Play Network Rolling Premiere, based on an original concept by Ken Weitzman! Co-directed by Alejandro Tey and Mark Valdez. This production uses the tenets of positive psychology to craft exercises that engage the Twin Cities community in uses of good news, gratitude, and connection.

Link to register: https://mixedblood.com/the-happiness-gym/

Come to the Happiness Gym if:
You believe there is revolution in meaningful connection.
Need a break from the 24 hour news cycle.
Burnout threatens to pull you from the people and causes you care about.
You want to cultivate happiness using science!

PRICING
Free. Our work is guided by deep community engagement and rooted in Radical Hospitality. We eliminate barriers that prevent people from participating due to lack of resources, racism, physical accessibility, gender discrimination, or other barriers. Tickets are available at no cost to attendees.

TONIGHT 6-8 p.m. – Movement Art: Banner Making Workshop

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Sean Lim to campus. Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. We’ll be painting a banner for Campus Kitchen in the East Commons–stop by and bring a friend!

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Banner Making
Monday, November 24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI. Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

New Roth Contribution Options for 403(b) Plan

submitted by vachta@augsburg.edu

Effective January 1, 2026
We are updating our 403(b) plan to offer new retirement saving options for eligible employees.

1. New Roth Contribution Option
– What it is: You can now direct your regular employee contributions to a Roth 403(b) account.

– Roth Benefit: Contributions are made after taxes, and all qualified withdrawals (contributions + earnings) are tax-free in retirement.

– Action: You will be able to choose between the existing pre-tax option or the new Roth option beginning December 29, 2025. Employees must opt in to the Roth contribution option.

2. Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions (SECURE 2.0 Act)
– Who is affected: Employees age 50 or older who had FICA wages exceeding $150,000 in 2025.

– The Change: In compliance with federal law, any catch-up contributions you elect to make in 2026 MUST be designated as Roth (after-tax). Pre-tax catch-up contributions will no longer be available to those who meet this threshold.

– Action: If this applies to you, your catch-up contributions will automatically be designated as Roth.

Want to learn more about after-tax Roth contributions?

Compare Roth & Pre-Tax Contributions: https://web.augsburg.edu/hr/2026benefits/403bRoth.pdf

TIAA Webinar
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
10:00 AM
Register at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5117171/0E39DBCE09AF9940483F628C85085771

Register for Roth Contribution Webinar

Faculty: Nominate Your Colleagues for the Strommen Faculty Fellowship

submitted by musto@augsburg.edu

The Strommen Center is launching a fellowship for faculty members! This three-day fellowship workshop will help faculty members identify the role they play in fusing career development in the Augsburg experience through curriculum development integration and, in doing so, provide equitable career development for all students. This fellowship will help develop skills in articulating how curricula aligns with the world of work and ensures that all students have access to the tools and resources necessary for post-graduation success.

Upon completion of all fellowship requirements, participating faculty will receive a $300 stipend for workshop participation and $200 for completion of career-integrated assignment or activity that the faculty members plan to implement either in the Spring 2026 semester or throughout the 2026-2027 academic year. We will celebrate their work at the end of the semester during Days in May.

The workshops run from January 13th through the 15th from 9am – 11:30am each day.

We are seeking nominations from colleagues, department chairs, and/or school directors for this opportunity. The Strommen Center will share with both the nominator and the nominee if they have been selected for the fellowship. We hope to have one faculty member for each of the five schools for this initial cohort and will be accepting nominations through November 26th.

Nominate your colleagues for the Strommen Faculty Fellowship!

Need Another Upper-Divison Course? Consider HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States

submitted by devries@augsburg.edu

HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States (Prerequisite: ENL 111)
Spring 2026

Tuesday / Thursday 10:10 11:40AM (on campus)
Taught by Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi

Course Description

An estimated 48 million people in the United States identify as Black. Their migrations—forced and voluntary—began in 1619 and continue to the present day. They came from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Many are descendants of enslaved people; others have emerged from places like Somalia and Ethiopia and Ghana and Jamaica. This course provides an overview of the journeys and experiences of African Americans and Black migrants and examines their unbroken ties—imagined and real—to the African continent. The course draws from a wide range of interdisciplinary sources, exposing students to major historical themes and significant Black figures. Through lectures, discussions, and thesis-driven writing assignments, students gain a substantive understanding of the African diaspora’s historical formation and develop critical reading and writing skills essential to successful careers.

Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi is completing his Ph.D. in Immigration History at the University of Minnesota, after working as a journalist for the Sahan Journal, MinnPost, and Minnesota Public Radio. In addition to English, he speaks Somali, Arabic, and Swahili.
Posted on November 21, 2025 Email a correction for this post: Need Another Upper-Division Course? Consider HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States

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New: Dungeons and Dragons Kit at the Library

submitted by cronink@augsburg.edu

Whether you’re a tabletop veteran or new to the hobby, the library’s newest addition to the board game collection is for you! Our new D&D kit includes the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, 6 sets of dice, a DM screen, and a dry-erase grid. Students are welcome to play in the library, or to check out and take the kit home for up to a week at a time.

Interested in Working with Young People? Consider a Youth Studies Minor Class This Spring

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

Youth Studies 220 (YST 220) will provide students with practical perspectives and experiences in work with children and youth from interdisciplinary perspectives. We will cover both theoretical frameworks for liberatory and culturally grounded work with youth and focused examinations of different types of youth work. Throughout the course, we will consider how our own positionality and experiences affect our engagements in work with youth and children.

The course is offered in Spring 2026 from 3:40-5:10PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays and is taught by Professor Kao Nou Moua.

Why a Youth Studies Minor?

This minor prepares you to work with and advocate for youth more effectively. You will develop knowledge and skills for working with young people from a variety of professions, including:

Teacher
Social Worker
Therapist
Nurse
Religious Leader
Scientist
Youth Program Coordinator

This minor can enrich many majors! This includes:

Social Work
Education
Psychology
Nursing
Sociology
Communications
Environmental Studies
Theater
Urban Studies
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Religion

Youth Studies Minor

Free Astrology Readings — After a Quick Survey (Updated)

submitted by xiongjj6@augsburg.edu

Hello! My name’s Julius and I am a student at Augsburg university! I have a research project for my English class and I am looking for people to pariticipate in my survey! It is a short and informal survey for my class, so its not asking you anything personal.

There is a completely optional choice to opt-in to receive a free astrology reading as a little “Thank You” for completeing the survey. More info in the survey!

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/6KUe8gbtLHsVt1DB8

(To those who were frustrated or bummed out that they may have missed the opportunity: This post was originally up and running early Monday morning, but got taken down due to suspected IRB violations. I had to contact and change a couple things and got everything approved by the chair of IRB, so you can now take the survey!)

Thank you!

https://forms.gle/6KUe8gbtLHsVt1DB8

Students: Want a Say in Community/Campus Work? Apply for the Sabo Center’s Student Co-Design Teams

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Student Co-design teams is an initiative through Campus Compact, a national organization that supports college campuses across the U.S. with community and civic engagement. This initiative is intended to more fully and effectively embed student voice into the functioning of the university and campus culture more broadly. The Sabo Center is considering submitting an application for this program to more fully bring students into the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council (SCEC), which began meeting in Spring Semester of 2025.

Should an application be accepted, a team of 4-6 people (staff, faculty and students) would begin meeting in January of 2026. The project will require at least two hour-long meetings per month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The program begins in January 2026 and will end in May of 2027. Students will be compensated for their role with the project.

Applications are due Friday, December 5th, we need to confirm a team no later than Monday, December 1, 2025. Please fill out this short Google form to express your interest: https://forms.gle/DLk8e1GVQ8bohHnN9

Please reach out to Jenean Gilmer with any questions, gilmerje@augsburg.edu. Learn more about the program here: https://compact.org/news/introducing-student-co-design-teams-applications-open

Movement Art: Banner Making Workshop, Monday 6-8

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Sean Lim to campus. Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. We’ll be painting a banner for Campus Kitchen in the East Commons–stop by and bring a friend!

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Banner Making
Monday, November 24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI. Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

Need Another Upper-Division Course? Consider HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States

submitted by devries@augsburg.edu

HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States (Prerequisite: ENL 111)
Spring 2026

Tuesday / Thursday 10:10 11:40AM (on campus)
Taught by Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi

Course Description

An estimated 48 million people in the United States identify as Black. Their migrations—forced and voluntary—began in 1619 and continue to the present day. They came from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Many are descendants of enslaved people; others have emerged from places like Somalia and Ethiopia and Ghana and Jamaica. This course provides an overview of the journeys and experiences of African Americans and Black migrants and examines their unbroken ties—imagined and real—to the African continent. The course draws from a wide range of interdisciplinary sources, exposing students to major historical themes and significant Black figures. Through lectures, discussions, and thesis-driven writing assignments, students gain a substantive understanding of the African diaspora’s historical formation and develop critical reading and writing skills essential to successful careers.

Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi is completing his Ph.D. in Immigration History at the University of Minnesota, after working as a journalist for the Sahan Journal, MinnPost, and Minnesota Public Radio. In addition to English, he speaks Somali, Arabic, and Swahili.

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party – December 18

submitted by bergc2@augsburg.edu

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party
Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 3–5 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel | Foss Center

You are invited to attend the annual faculty and staff holiday party! Celebrate the completion of a successful semester and the holiday season with colleagues on campus. Light food and beverages will be provided.

If you need accommodations, please call the University Events department at 612.330.1104 or email events@augsburg.edu.

To support our community, please consider bringing nonperishable food or hygiene product donations for Campus Cupboard. A list of preferred/needed items is linked below.

Suggested items for Campus Cupboard

Are you Muslim? Click Here for an Opportunity to Talk About Your Experiences

submitted by khanss@augsburg.edu

As-salamualaikum! My name is Sana Khan and I am currently a clinical psychology doctoral study student at Augsburg University. I am conducting a research study about how the mental health and religiosity of Muslim college students is impacted by Islamophobia and I would love to have you be a part of my study! The study will consist of an initial screener to make sure eligibility criteria is met and then scheduling an interview in which I ask you questions about your demographics and experience as a Muslim college student as related to Islam, religiosity, and Islamophobia. The interview should take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. To thank you for your participation, upon completion of your interview, there will be an option at the end for you to enter your information to receive a $10 Visa gift card. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at my email listed below. I appreciate you taking time to consider being a part of my project. Please contact Sana Khan at khanss@augsburg.edu to determine eligibility.

Get an EDGE: Looking for First Year Students

submitted by nguyenma@augsburg.edu

Recruiting now for the Travelers EDGE program. This program offers scholarship, mentorship, internship, professional development and more!

Seeking first-year students with 3.0+ GPA in the following majors:
– Accounting
– Business Admin/Management
– Communicationss
– Computer Science
– Economics
– Finance
– International Business
– Math
– MIS
– Marketing

Attend an informational sessions to learn more about the program, hear from Scholars/Alumni, and get application tips!

– Thursday November 20th, 2025 | 4:30-5:30pm Hagfors 106
– Tuesday December 2nd, 2025 | 4:30-5:30pm Hagfors 150 B/C
– Wednesday December 10th, 2025 | 12-1pm On Zoom. Click link to register: https://augsburg.zoom.us/meeting/register/V4Rnu3iORUGzP5T-oN5PPw

Application and Learn More!

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

New: D&D Kit at the Library

submitted by cronink@augsburg.edu

Whether you’re a tabletop veteran or new to the hobby, the library’s newest addition to the board game collection is for you! Our new D&D kit includes the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, 6 sets of dice, a DM screen, and a dry-erase grid. Students are welcome to play in the library, or to check out and take the kit home for up to a week at a time.

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot: Quick-Start Workshop for SoNS and HSS faculty (Decemeber 8)

submitted by yoon@augsburg.edu

Are you teaching in SoNS or HSS and wondering how to set a clear AI policy for one assignment without redesigning your whole course?

This year Augsburg is piloting an AI-Informed Assignment project in the School of Natural Sciences (SoNS) and Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). The pilot focuses on one concrete task: updating a single existing assignment so that your AI policy is transparent, students can briefly provide evidence of any AI use (if allowed), and compliance with that policy is gradable – all without the use of AI-detectors.

The first CTL Quick-start workshop for this pilot will be held:
Monday, December 8, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Marshall Room

Please bring one existing assignment that could benefit from a clearer AI policy. By the end of the hour, you should have a solid draft of an “AI-informed assignment update,” plus a plan to finalize it in January or to apply the approach to another assignment. For this initial pilot round, there is a modest stipend for each completed assignment update (up to two per faculty member).

To learn more or indicate interest, visit the pilot page at http://go.augsburg.edu/aipilot
The site links to a brief Overview and Starter Kit, and to a single Intake & Submission Form you can use to sign up for the workshop, request a consult, or request an optional pre-paid BoodleBox seat (a faculty-only AI tool). Participation in this round is limited to SoNS and HSS faculty.

AI-Informed Assignment Pilot overview and sign-up

Small Ensembles Concert – Monday, Nov. 24

submitted by borden@augsburg.edu

Augsburg Music Department Presents:

The Small Ensembles Concert
Monday, November 24, 2025
7 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel

Come hear music performed by a collection of student ensembles so small you’ll barely be able to see them 😀

The Augsburg Flute Ensemble, Augsburg Jazz Combo, African Drum Ensemble, and a group humbly called THE Group will present selections from the Great American Songbook, traditional Ghanaian and Malian drumming, music that literally sounds like a steam locomotive, your cool uncle’s favorite Led Zeppelin song (probably), and more. Don’t miss it!

Check out more upcoming music events.

Volunteer for Advent Vespers

submitted by dames@augsburg.edu

Be a part of our 46th Annual Advent Vespers on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. Volunteers are needed before each performance to welcome guests to Central Lutheran Church and to staff the will-call table. Volunteers are needed on Friday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm prior to the 7:00 pm service, and on Saturday, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for the early service and from 4:00 – 5:00 pm prior to the 5:00 pm service. After volunteering, stay for the performance! Please contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu with any questions.

Sign Up Here

Student Employee Supervisor Training – December 2

submitted by caguanas@augsburg.edu

Human Resources will be holding a training for anyone that supervises Student Employees on campus on December 2, 2025 from 1pm – 2pm.

This training will cover the following topics:
Student Eligibility
Job postings and hiring
Onboarding and Orientation
Augsburg policies and Federal Compliance
Timesheet Approvals and reminders

This training will be held via Zoom and will be recorded to be posted to the HR website. All student employee supervisors are invited to join for a refresher on these topics!

Click here to register for this training!

Faculty – Provide your Feedback: Ethics Survey

submitted by mader@augsburg.edu

On behalf of the Batalden Fellows of Applied Ethics, I would like to invite you to participate in a survey about ethics at Augsburg. This survey will ask you about your experiences with and hopes for conversations on ethics in your courses and around the institution.

We would request that you complete the survey by Wednesday Nov. 26th.

Please note there is also an option to indicate your interest in participating in upcoming focus groups where we can delve deeper into key areas identified by the survey. If you do not wish to include your email with the survey but would like to participate in the focus groups, please send an email to any of the fellows or reply to this email.

Thanks so much for your time; we look forward to learning from you!!!

Best wishes during this busy time of the semester,
The Batalden Fellows
(Jacqui deVries, Soebin Jang, and Tara Mader)

Survey Link

Happiness Gym at the Mixed Blood Theatre, November 6–December 7, 2025

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

The Mixed Blood Theatre cordially invites you and the Augsburg Community to attend our production of The Happiness Gym – A National New Play Network Rolling Premiere, based on an original concept by Ken Weitzman! Co-directed by Alejandro Tey and Mark Valdez. This production uses the tenets of positive psychology to craft exercises that engage the Twin Cities community in uses of good news, gratitude, and connection.

Link to register: https://mixedblood.com/the-happiness-gym/

Come to the Happiness Gym if:
You believe there is revolution in meaningful connection.
Need a break from the 24 hour news cycle.
Burnout threatens to pull you from the people and causes you care about.
You want to cultivate happiness using science!

PRICING
Free. Our work is guided by deep community engagement and rooted in Radical Hospitality. We eliminate barriers that prevent people from participating due to lack of resources, racism, physical accessibility, gender discrimination, or other barriers. Tickets are available at no cost to attendees.

Faculty: Nominate Your Colleagues for the Strommen Faculty Fellowship

submitted by musto@augsburg.edu

The Strommen Center is launching a fellowship for faculty members! This three-day fellowship workshop will help faculty members identify the role they play in fusing career development in the Augsburg experience through curriculum development integration and, in doing so, provide equitable career development for all students. This fellowship will help develop skills in articulating how curricula aligns with the world of work and ensures that all students have access to the tools and resources necessary for post-graduation success.

Upon completion of all fellowship requirements, participating faculty will receive a $300 stipend for workshop participation and $200 for completion of career-integrated assignment or activity that the faculty members plan to implement either in the Spring 2026 semester or throughout the 2026-2027 academic year. We will celebrate their work at the end of the semester during Days in May.

The workshops run from January 13th through the 15th from 9am – 11:30am each day.

We are seeking nominations from colleagues, department chairs, and/or school directors for this opportunity. The Strommen Center will share with both the nominator and the nominee if they have been selected for the fellowship. We hope to have one faculty member for each of the five schools for this initial cohort and will be accepting nominations through November 26th.

Nominate your colleagues for the Strommen Faculty Fellowship!

Interested in Working With Young People? Consider a Youth Studies Minor Class This Spring

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

Youth Studies 220 (YST 220) will provide students with practical perspectives and experiences in work with children and youth from interdisciplinary perspectives. We will cover both theoretical frameworks for liberatory and culturally grounded work with youth and focused examinations of different types of youth work. Throughout the course, we will consider how our own positionality and experiences affect our engagements in work with youth and children.

The course is offered in Spring 2026 from 3:40-5:10PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays and is taught by Professor Kao Nou Moua.

Why a Youth Studies Minor?

This minor prepares you to work with and advocate for youth more effectively. You will develop knowledge and skills for working with young people from a variety of professions, including:

Teacher
Social Worker
Therapist
Nurse
Religious Leader
Scientist
Youth Program Coordinator

This minor can enrich many majors! This includes:

Social Work
Education
Psychology
Nursing
Sociology
Communications
Environmental Studies
Theater
Urban Studies
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Religion

Youth Studies Minor

Free Astrology Readings — After a Quick Survey (*UPDATED*)

submitted by xiongjj6@augsburg.edu

Hello! My name’s Julius and I am a student at Augsburg university! I have a research project for my English class and I am looking for people to pariticipate in my survey! It is a short and informal survey for my class, so its not asking you anything personal.

There is a completely optional choice to opt-in to receive a free astrology reading as a little “Thank You” for completeing the survey. More info in the survey!

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/6KUe8gbtLHsVt1DB8

(To those who were frustrated or bummed out that they may have missed the opportunity: This post was originally up and running early Monday morning, but got taken down due to suspected IRB violations. I had to contact and change a couple things and got everything approved by the chair of IRB, so you can now take the survey!)

Thank you!

https://forms.gle/6KUe8gbtLHsVt1DB8

Happiness Gym at the Mixed Blood Theatre, November 6–7, 2025

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

The Mixed Blood Theatre cordially invites you and the Augsburg Community to attend our production of The Happiness Gym – A National New Play Network Rolling Premiere, based on an original concept by Ken Weitzman! Co-directed by Alejandro Tey and Mark Valdez. This production uses the tenets of positive psychology to craft exercises that engage the Twin Cities community in uses of good news, gratitude, and connection.

Link to register: https://mixedblood.com/the-happiness-gym/

Come to the Happiness Gym if:
You believe there is revolution in meaningful connection.
Need a break from the 24 hour news cycle.
Burnout threatens to pull you from the people and causes you care about.
You want to cultivate happiness using science!

PRICING
Free. Our work is guided by deep community engagement and rooted in Radical Hospitality. We eliminate barriers that prevent people from participating due to lack of resources, racism, physical accessibility, gender discrimination, or other barriers. Tickets are available at no cost to attendees.

Want to Have a Say in Community Work on Campus? Apply for the Sabo Center’s Student Co-Design Teams

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Student Co-design teams is an initiative through Campus Compact, a national organization that supports college campuses across the U.S. with community and civic engagement. This initiative is intended to more fully and effectively embed student voice into the functioning of the university and campus culture more broadly. The Sabo Center is considering submitting an application for this program to more fully bring students into the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council (SCEC), which began meeting in Spring Semester of 2025.

Should an application be accepted, a team of 4-6 people (staff, faculty and students) would begin meeting in January of 2026. The project will require at least two hour-long meetings per month during the Spring and Fall semesters. The program begins in January 2026 and will end in May of 2027. Students will be compensated for their role with the project.

Applications are due Friday, December 5th, we need to confirm a team no later than Monday, December 1, 2025. Please fill out this short Google form to express your interest: https://forms.gle/DLk8e1GVQ8bohHnN9

Please reach out to Jenean Gilmer with any questions, gilmerje@augsburg.edu. Learn more about the program here: https://compact.org/news/introducing-student-co-design-teams-applications-open

Monday, November 24, 6-8, Banner Making Workshop

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Sean Lim to campus. Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. We’ll be painting a banner for Campus Kitchen in the East Commons–stop by and bring a friend!

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Banner Making
Monday, November 24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI. Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

Are you Muslim? Click Here for an Opportunity to Talk About Your Experiences

submitted by khanss@augsburg.edu

As-salamualaikum! My name is Sana Khan and I am currently a clinical psychology doctoral study student at Augsburg University. I am conducting a research study about how the mental health and religiosity of Muslim college students is impacted by Islamophobia and I would love to have you be a part of my study! The study will consist of an initial screener to make sure eligibility criteria is met and then scheduling an interview in which I ask you questions about your demographics and experience as a Muslim college student as related to Islam, religiosity, and Islamophobia. The interview should take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. To thank you for your participation, upon completion of your interview, there will be an option at the end for you to enter your information to receive a $10 Visa gift card. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at my email listed below. I appreciate you taking time to consider being a part of my project. Please contact Sana Khan at khanss@augsburg.edu to determine eligibility.

Volunteers Needed at Advent Vespers

submitted by dames@augsburg.edu

Be a part of our 46th Annual Advent Vespers on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. Volunteers are needed before each performance to welcome guests to Central Lutheran Church and to staff the will-call table. Volunteers are needed on Friday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm prior to the 7:00 pm service, and on Saturday, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for the early service and from 4:00 – 5:00 pm prior to the 5:00 pm service. After volunteering, stay for the performance! Please contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu with any questions.

Sign up to volunteer

Student Employee Supervisor Training – December 2

submitted by caguanas@augsburg.edu

Human Resources will be holding a training for anyone that supervises Student Employees on campus on December 2, 2025 from 1pm – 2pm.

This training will cover the following topics:
Student Eligibility
Job postings and hiring
Onboarding and Orientation
Augsburg policies and Federal Compliance
Timesheet Approvals and reminders

This training will be held via Zoom and will be recorded to be posted to the HR website. All student employee supervisors are invited to join for a refresher on these topics!

Click here to register for this training!

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party – December 18

submitted by bergc2@augsburg.edu

Faculty and Staff Holiday Party
Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 3–5 p.m.
Hoversten Chapel | Foss Center

You are invited to attend the annual faculty and staff holiday party! Celebrate the completion of a successful semester and the holiday season with colleagues on campus. Light food and beverages will be provided.

If you need accommodations, please call the University Events department at 612.330.1104 or email events@augsburg.edu.

To support our community, please consider bringing nonperishable food or hygiene product donations for Campus Cupboard. A list of preferred/needed items is linked below.

Suggested items for Campus Cupboard

NEW: D&D Kit at the Library

submitted by cronink@augsburg.edu

Whether you’re a tabletop veteran or new to the hobby, the library’s newest addition to the board game collection is for you! Our new D&D kit includes the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, 6 sets of dice, a DM screen, and a dry-erase grid. Students are welcome to play in the library, or to check out and take the kit home for up to a week at a time.

TODAY MN Paid Leave Webinar – All Employees

submitted by vachta@augsburg.edu

Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (MN PFML) program begins January 1, 2026. This is a significant change that will affect all employees.

This statewide program provides partially paid time off for qualifying medical and family leaves. This applies to all our employees, including faculty, staff, adjunct faculty, and student employees.

This program will be funded, in part, by new employee payroll deductions starting in 2026.

You’re Invited: Your Guide to MN Paid Family & Medical Leave
To help you understand how this new program will impact you, your pay, and your existing benefits, please join us for an informational webinar.

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
Presented by: Our partners at NFP and Unum

At the webinar, you will learn:

– What counts as a “qualifying leave”
– How benefit amounts are calculated
– How to apply for leave
– How the new payroll deductions will work
The webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards.

Additional Details
Our Partner: We have selected Unum to administer our PFML benefits. Many of you already know Unum as our provider for life insurance, AD&D, and long-term disability.

State Resources: You can learn more about the state’s program directly at the MN DEED Paid Leave website. https://mn.gov/deed/paidleave/

Augsburg PFML resources
https://sites.augsburg.edu/hr/employees/benefits/pfml/

Register for the Webinar

Apply for Travelers EDGE: Scholarship, Mentorship, Internship, Career Development+

submitted by nguyenma@augsburg.edu

Recruiting now for the Travelers EDGE program. This program offers scholarship, mentorship, internship, professional development and more!

Seeking first-year students with 3.0+ GPA in the following majors:
– Accounting
– Business Admin/Management
– Communicationss
– Computer Science
– Economics
– Finance
– International Business
– Math
– MIS
– Marketing

Attend an informational sessions to learn more about the program, hear from Scholars/Alumni, and get application tips!

– Thursday November 20th, 2025 | 4:30-5:30pm Hagfors 106
– Tuesday December 2nd, 2025 | 4:30-5:30pm Hagfors 150 B/C
– Wednesday December 10th, 2025 | 12-1pm On Zoom. Please register to get the link.

Application and More Info Here!

Faculty/Staff Headshot Photos Available

submitted by selinski@augsburg.edu

Faculty and Staff headshot portraits from Wednesday, October 29 are available to download from the linked Google Drive folder. You must be logged into your Augsburg email/Google account to gain access. Any headshot photos taken before 10/29/25 have been moved into the “Archive” folder and can be accessed there.

If your headshot needs to be updated on the website, please submit a request to our Project Management System–Lytho: augsburg.ignite.inmotionnow.com

Faculty/Staff Headshot Photos Google Drive Folder

Symphony Orchestra Concert – November 21

submitted by urrizaly@augsburg.edu

The Augsburg Symphony Orchestra presents:
Heroic Harmonies: Music of Courage and Resilience
Friday, November 21, 2025
7 p.m.
Sateren Auditorium
Free

The music department invites you to an evening of orchestral music presented by the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark Elliot Bergman, featuring soloists Azariah Myart-Young, Sydney Elliot, and Andres Johnson.
This program brings together works that, in different ways, reflect on the idea of heroism. Battle inspires courage and intensity. Méditation offers a moment of inward reflection and the strength to change. Don Quixotte Burlesque playfully explores the determination, sometimes misguided, of a dreamer striving toward impossible ideals. Finally, Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus embodies the heroic spirit of art itself, bringing light and inspiration to humanity.

Check out more upcoming music events.

Invitation to Participate in Research: Tinder Use and Mental Health Outcomes

submitted by bloyere@augsburg.edu

My name is Evan Bloyer, and I am a graduate student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program here at Augsburg University. My clinical research project is understanding how Tinder use impacts mental health outcomes, particularly self-esteem and body esteem. I have received Augsburg University’s IRB approval and am able to collect data from eligible participants. To participate, please click on the link below. Email me at bloyere@augsburg.edu for any questions or concerns. If you participate, you will be eligible for a raffle for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards.

Mental Health Survey

Interested in Working with Young People? – Consider a Youth Studies Minor Class This Spring

submitted by finka2@augsburg.edu

Youth Studies 220 (YST 220) will provide students with practical perspectives and experiences in work with children and youth from interdisciplinary perspectives. We will cover both theoretical frameworks for liberatory and culturally grounded work with youth and focused examinations of different types of youth work. Throughout the course, we will consider how our own positionality and experiences affect our engagements in work with youth and children.

The course is offered in Spring 2026 from 3:40-5:10PM on Tuesdays/Thursdays and is taught by Professor Kao Nou Moua.

Why a Youth Studies Minor?

This minor prepares you to work with and advocate for youth more effectively. You will develop knowledge and skills for working with young people from a variety of professions, including:

Teacher
Social Worker
Therapist
Nurse
Religious Leader
Scientist
Youth Program Coordinator

This minor can enrich many majors! This includes:

Social Work
Education
Psychology
Nursing
Sociology
Communications
Environmental Studies
Theater
Urban Studies
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies
Religion

Youth Studies Minor

Symphony Orchestra Concert – Friday, November 21

submitted by urrizaly@augsburg.edu

The Augsburg Symphony Orchestra presents:
Heroic Harmonies: Music of Courage and Resilience
Friday, November 21, 2025
7 p.m.
Sateren Auditorium
Free

The music department invites you to an evening of orchestral music presented by the Augsburg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark Elliot Bergman, featuring soloists Azariah Myart-Young, Sydney Elliot, and Andres Johnson.
This program brings together works that, in different ways, reflect on the idea of heroism. Battle inspires courage and intensity. Méditation offers a moment of inward reflection and the strength to change. Don Quixotte Burlesque playfully explores the determination, sometimes misguided, of a dreamer striving toward impossible ideals. Finally, Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus embodies the heroic spirit of art itself, bringing light and inspiration to humanity.

Check out more upcoming music events.

New Course: The History of Migration and Immigration from Africa

submitted by devries@augsburg.edu

HIS 440: Black Migrations to the United States (Prerequisite: ENL 111)
Spring 2026

Tuesday / Thursday 10:10 11:40AM (on campus)
Taught by Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi

Course Description

An estimated 48 million people in the United States identify as Black. Their migrations—forced and voluntary—began in 1619 and continue to the present day. They came from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Many are descendants of enslaved people; others have emerged from places like Somalia and Ethiopia and Ghana and Jamaica. This course provides an overview of the journeys and experiences of African Americans and Black migrants and examines their unbroken ties—imagined and real—to the African continent. The course draws from a wide range of interdisciplinary sources, exposing students to major historical themes and significant Black figures. Through lectures, discussions, and thesis-driven writing assignments, students gain a substantive understanding of the African diaspora’s historical formation and develop critical reading and writing skills essential to successful careers.

Prof. Ibrahim Hirsi is completing his Ph.D. in Immigration History at the University of Minnesota, after working as a journalist for the Sahan Journal, MinnPost, and Minnesota Public Radio. In addition to English, he speaks Somali, Arabic, and Swahili.

Volunteers Needed at Advent Vespers

submitted by dames@augsburg.edu

Be a part of our 46th Annual Advent Vespers on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. Volunteers are needed before each performance to welcome guests to Central Lutheran Church and to staff the will-call table. Volunteers are needed on Friday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm prior to the 7:00 pm service, and on Saturday, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for the early service and from 4:00 – 5:00 pm prior to the 5:00 pm service. After volunteering, stay for the performance! Please contact Janice Dames at dames@augsburg.edu with any questions.

Sign up to volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdEBYB57knVl0TUZYsGOTUDiDDdUfK-Mae1Vatd1uxKIbGaw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Daily Chapel: Muntadher Aljebery

submitted by dames@augsburg.edu

Please join us in Hoversten Chapel at 12:00 pm to hear Imam Muntadher Aljebery who serves the Shia Muslim community in Minneapolis share his story of commitment in the next installment of “Living Stories.” “Living Stories” is a series co-hosted by the Department of Religion and Philosophy, Augsburg Interfaith Institute, and Campus Ministry. Each month we will hear stories of commitment from across traditions.

TODAY at Noon, Community Changemakers: Making Art for Community Movements Talk

submitted by gilmerje@augsburg.edu

Join the Sabo Center Community Engagement Council’s Community Changemakers and the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute in welcoming Sean Lim to campus. Sean works with EPNI, Spill Paint Not Oil and other community groups & Movements to make art that draws attention to social and political problems. He’ll be giving a talk about his work and we’ll come up with some ideas for Banner and Poster workshops happening in the next two weeks! Coffee and cookies will be served.

Stay tuned for a call for project proposals with EPNI in December! Funding and support will be available for course engagements, events, campus projects and whatever else you might dream up with the amazing team of peeps who work with EPNI.

Sean Lim: Making Movement Art Talk
Wednesday, November 19, Noon to 1:00 pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Banner Making
Monday, November 24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Sean Lim: Movement Art Workshop – Screen-printing Posters
Monday, December 1, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Christensen Center, East Commons

Daniel Colton Schmidt: Finance & Fundraising for Community Movements
Monday, December 1, Noon – 1:00pm
Oren Gateway Center, Room 100

Visit https://linktr.ee/epnifarm to learn more about EPNI. Learn more about Community Changemakers here: https://www.augsburg.edu/sabo/community-changemakers/

Are you Muslim? Click Here for an Opportunity to Talk About Your Experiences

submitted by khanss@augsburg.edu

As-salamualaikum! My name is Sana Khan and I am currently a clinical psychology doctoral study student at Augsburg University. I am conducting a research study about how the mental health and religiosity of Muslim college students is impacted by Islamophobia and I would love to have you be a part of my study! The study will consist of an initial screener to make sure eligibility criteria is met and then scheduling an interview in which I ask you questions about your demographics and experience as a Muslim college student as related to Islam, religiosity, and Islamophobia. The interview should take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. To thank you for your participation, upon completion of your interview, there will be an option at the end for you to enter your information to receive a $10 Visa gift card. If you are interested in participating, please contact me at my email listed below. I appreciate you taking time to consider being a part of my project. Please contact Sana Khan at khanss@augsburg.edu to determine eligibility.