The Augustana Fund Report 2006-2007

The following sampling illustrates some of the ways in which contributions to The Augustana Fund were used during the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Study Abroad Programs
Augustana celebrated its 30th year of offering Latin American programming with 65 students participating in the fall term and studying in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Mexico. The college also successfully held two first-time spring term study abroad experiences - 31students in Ireland and 22 students in India. Throughout the year, seven percent of the student body participated in international programs in 10 different countries.

Career Center Programs
From "Marketing Your Liberal Arts Degree" to "Navigating the Graduate and Professional School Fair," approximately 1,300 students participated in 45 programs and workshops put on by the Career Center. In order to meet the needs of students and employers, the center updated technology, software and books in the resource area and enhanced internship opportunities by becoming an official affiliate of The Washington Center Internship Program.

Diversity Initiatives
Minority Teacher's Incentive Program (MTIP) of the Rock Island Milan School District, in partnership with Augustana's Office of Diversity Services and the Biology and Geology departments, hosted 60 students from local middle schools to explore the sciences at Augustana. In the spring, MTIP brought 40 junior high students to campus for a mentorship program entitled Heart-2-Heart wherein Augustana students led discussions on social and professional boundaries, healthy choices and academic discipline.

Campus Ministries
Spring Break brought 25 students to Ocean Springs, Mississippi and provided reconstruction help on four homes affected by hurricanes. They also assisted with the distribution of food and clothing. Sister Marilyn Ring and Pastor Julio Cruz-Natal accompanied seven students to Fort Benning, Georgia to join the rally protesting the School of the Americas and show their support for oppressed groups in Latin American countries. Closer to campus in Rock Island students served the local community throughout the year at St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen and the Christian Care Center.

Athletic Department
In addition to new uniforms for the women's and men's basketball, tennis, soccer, and men's football teams, Augustana renovated the Ericson Field press box, added new bleachers to the softball facility and accelerated the football helmet purchasing/replacement program.

Chemistry Department Equipment
The purchase of a variety of needed equipment, including a centrifuge for biochemistry, digital cameras for the polarizing microscope, a pump for the Shimadzu gas chromatograph/spectrophotometer, constant temperature circulating bath and rotary evaporator for organic chemistry, and a light source for the infrared spectrometer, enhanced student learning.

Community Programs

Augustana Fryxell Geology Museum provided 7,270 people with interactive and hands-on geology programs and tours through scheduled elementary school fieldtrips and community science days. In addition, thousands of public visitors experienced the museum on their own and hundreds of Augustana faculty, staff and students use the museum as a resource. In addition to the geology faculty who use the museum for their classes on a weekly basis, art professors often use the museum for their students to study texture and design.