Facilities

Excellent Learning Facilities

Augustana's Biology Department is housed in the new and well-equipped Science Building (built in 1998). The Science Building houses separate laboratories for zoology, botany, ecology, microbiology and genetics, physiology, and anatomy, two large lecture halls, a 40-foot greenhouse, a computer lab, and offices and lab space for faculty. Adjacent to Augustana's new Olin Technology Center, the Science Building also houses the Chemistry and Physics Departments.  Many classrooms in the Science Building are 'smart classrooms' equipped with projectors, computers and internet capabilites.  Some classrooms also have student responder technology and a number of faculty make use of this tool in teaching.  Finally, there is wireless access to the campus network from any location in the Science Building.

Lab Experience

All biology faculty teach the laboratory portions of their courses. This enhances the continuity between each student's lecture and laboratory experiences and improves the rapport between the biology faculty and the students. Biology labs are kept small so that all students may conduct experiments and all may get personal attention from the faculty.

Field Stations  

Augustana owns and manages three environmental field stations that are used for educational purposes. Collinson Ecological Preserve (67 acres) and Beling Ecological Preserve (109 acres) are two of these that are in close proximity to campus. Collinson consists predominantly of upland hardwood forest and Beling contains flood plain forest that is adjacent to and seasonally flooded by the Rock River.

Our third and largest field station is Green Wing Environmental Laboratory, which is approximately 80 miles to the east of campus. Green Wing totals 420 acres of upland forest and wetland habitats and is equipped with two houses that can accommodate students and professors for short and long-term trips.

All three field stations are used for teaching and research. Courses that are taught include Local Flora, Entomology, Aquatic Biology, and Environmental Sampling for Vertebrates. Research activities by students and professors revolve around prairie restoration, animal ecology, and conservation biology.