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Augie Choice application and FAQs

Questions related to current or future applications for internships, research or study away programs should be directed to Ginny Schuette, Augie Choice coordinator. 

All internships must be registered through CORE. Internship registration appointments may be scheduled through Handshake.

Q: Where do I find the Augie Choice application?

A: If you are applying for Augie Choice for a domestic internship or a research/creative scholarship, use the application here.

If you are applying for Augie Choice for an experience abroad, (i.e. J-term program, semester abroad, international internship), you will need to be accepted to that program before applying for Augie Choice. Once accepted, the Augie Choice application can be found within the Study Abroad platform.

Q: When is the application deadline?

International or off-campus experience: Augie Choice applications must be submitted 60 days prior to the first day of the experience. This allows time for adjustments to financial aid packages to be implemented. Payment will be distributed approximately 30 days prior to the beginning of the Augie Choice experience, when the application is completed in a timely manner.

Internships: Augie Choice applications must be submitted once the internship has been registered through CORE. Payment will be distributed approximately 30 days from the date that the application is complete, but no more than 30 days prior to the first day of the experience. This allows time for adjustments to financial aid packages to be implemented.

Research/creative scholarships: Augie Choice applications must be submitted once the research/creative scholarship project has been planned. Payment will be distributed approximately 30 days from the date that the application is complete, but no more than 30 days prior to  the first day of the experience. This allows time for adjustments to financial aid packages to be implemented. Applications must be approved by the Student Research/Creative Scholarship Coordinator.

• Augie Choice applications submitted after the learning experience is completed will not be accepted. 

Q: How do I know if I am eligible to apply for Augie Choice?

A: Any currently enrolled Augustana student who has 60 completed Augustana credits, or has been in attendance for four consecutive semesters (or equivalent combination of trimesters and semesters), is eligible to apply for Augie Choice. 

In most cases, transfer students need 30 completed Augustana credits or two consecutive semesters (or equivalent combination of trimesters and semesters). Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, Augustana is piloting a new initiative for transfer students. Transfer students may apply for Augie Choice funding before they have completed one year of enrollment to participate in international study experiences that will only be offered once during their remaining years at Augustana.  

To receive funds, a student must be in good academic standing with the Office of Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar, Dean of Students and Office of Academic Affairs. Students who have an outstanding balance on their student accounts will not be approved for Augie Choice payment until their balances are paid. If the balance is not paid after four months post-graduation or departure from the college, the Augie Choice payment will be forfeited.

Q: What do I need to do in order to use Augie Choice for an internship?

A: All Augie Choice funded internships must be registered for zero or more credits before applying for Augie Choice. Internships for one or more credits are supervised by a faculty member or the assistant director of internships. Zero-credit internships typically are not supervised by a faculty member but instead are supervised by the assistant director of internships.

The assistant director of internships will assist students in registering for ALL internship credits in a required appointment. Appointments with the assistant director of internships can be made through Handshake.

According to federal guidelines for Curricular Practical Training, international students must register for at least .25 credit to be eligible for an internship and to be eligible to receive Augie Choice funding.

If a student fails to complete the Augie Choice approved experience, is terminated by their employer and/or does not pass the internship course, their approved funding must be returned to Augustana College or the full amount may be added to the student’s account in the Business Office. 

Q: How do I use Augie Choice for research or other creative scholarship?

A: All Augie Choice funded research projects must be supervised by an Augustana faculty member. Off-campus research or other creative scholarship opportunities will need approval and summary reporting by an Augustana faculty member. Augie Choice can be used for stipends, travel, materials, or other expenses directly related to completing the project.

Q: What is included in “research”?

A: We refer to “research and creative scholarship” to reinforce that “research” refers to the expected scholarship found in any field of study. The linking connection is that the activity provides an original contribution to the field in a way that can be shared with others. Here are some examples.

Q: How do I use Augie Choice for study abroad?

A: With only a few specific exceptions, Augie Choice can only be used for international (not domestic) study away. Programs that are Augie Choice eligible will be indicated as such in the program information in Studio Abroad.

All Augie Choice applications for study abroad or international programs should be completed in Studio Abroad.

If you wish to participate in a program not sponsored by Augustana, you will complete the Co-curricular and Independent programs application in Studio Abroad.

Q:Where do I find Student Learning Outcomes for my application?

A: Here: Learning Outcomes

Q: What approvals will I need?

A: All applications require signatures from the applicant, and approval from the major or academic advisor and the experience supervisor. The experience supervisor for an internship experience, will most likely be Bobbie Tidball, assistant director of internships, or an Augustana faculty member, depending on the experience.

Q: What should I include in the budget?

A: The budget proposal is an estimate of expenses (this excludes tuition) that students plan to accumulate through their Augie Choice experience. Please be specific in detailing the estimated expenses in the Budget Narrative section of the Augie Choice application. Guidelines include:

Travel. The standard rate for mileage is $0.58 a mile. How many miles are you driving during your experience? Use the following formula to calculate your travel amount: (daily miles x # of total days working x $.58 = $). Bus passes, train tickets, plane tickets and taxi/Uber fees can be used also.

Food. Refers to meals/food purchased during the hours of the experience (lunches). The standard rate is $15 a day. Use the following formula to calculate your food amount: (# of days of experience x $15 = $)

Housing. Students are eligible for rent expenses when the primary need for housing is the Augie Choice eligible experience (ex. summer internships or research). This cannot cover housing expenses during the academic school year. Use this amount to calculate your housing amount: (monthly rent and expenses x # of months)

Equipment. Equipment of more than $50 becomes property of Augustana College and therefore may not be eligible. Consult the Augie Choice Coordinator for more information.

Stipend. Augie Choice can be used for stipends for time spent conducting research/creative scholarship or internships calculated on estimated hours worked. This is only for unpaid experiences.

→ On-campus experiences use the Augustana rate of $9.75 per hour, effective Oct. 31, 2022.
→ Off-campus experiences use a $14 an hour minimum, unless the minimum wage is higher in the location where the experience is located.

Use the following formula to calculate your stipend amount:  (# of hours working during experience x appropriate rate = $)

Misc. The cap on professional attire is $250.

Sample budget for a 14-week internship:

Travel: $406 — 10 miles per day for five days a week for 14 weeks at $.58 per mile
Food: $1,050 .— $15 per lunch for five days a week for 14 weeks
Housing: $900 — $300 per month for three months for summer internship
Stipend $3,800 — $12/hour for 20 hours a week for 14 weeks
General/misc. — $250 for professional attire
Total $6,406 (in this case the student would receive the maximum $2,000 Augie Choice grant).

The budget narrative is a requirement. Show how you arrived at each amount.

Any purchase over $50 becomes property of Augustana College

 Receipts for purchases over $50 are required

Laptops are not an approved expense

Grad school applications and job interview expenses are not approved expenses.

A reflection is required when the experience is finished

Q: Will Augie Choice help pay for expenses for student teaching?

A: Yes, you will apply for Augie Choice in the internship category. You may include the full $2,000 towards “stipend” in your budget on the Augie Choice application.

Q: Are Augie Choice funds taxable?

A: Augie Choice funds may have tax consequences. Students are advised to seek tax advice on this matter. In addition, Augie Choice funds may affect eligibility for Federal Work Study and/or Federal Student and/or parent loans. Again, students are advised to seek advice on this matter.

Q: Can I use Augie Choice to pay for tuition?

A: No. It is to cover the expenses related to doing something over and above your regular college experience.

Q: I'm a senior. How long am I eligible for Augie Choice?

A: If you are graduating in May, you will need to complete the Augie Choice experience by June 30. If the experience requires completion of credits, you can still participate in Commencement but will need to delay degree completion until summer. Students registered for courses beyond a fourth year remain eligible through a fifth year at Augustana as long as they are registered and the degree is not yet completed.

Q: Can I use Augie Choice more than once?

A: No. Augie Choice can only be used once. It cannot be split into more than one experience.

Q: I forgot to use my Augie Choice. Can I still get it?

A: Students must participate in an approved experience in order to be eligible to receive Augie Choice funding. If you have further questions about your eligibility or approved experiences, please contact Augie Choice coordinator Ginny Schuette.