Campus update for May 4, 2020

May 4, 2020

Dear students,

Some good news: We are planting "pollinator pockets" on campus to nourish bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.

The first pollinator pocket planted with native flora will be a quarter-acre area near the Bell Tower.

The idea for the project came from faculty and students. Good work by senior Kirsten Biefeld and grounds supervisor Josh Becker in leading the initiative! Read more about it.

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Today's updates:

• Farrah Roberts, director of student well-being and resiliency, will offer a well-being lab: "Taking Control of Your Well-Being" at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow. 

• You can pick up mail in Receiving (back entrance to Sorensen) on Tuesdays and Thursdays in May. Faculty/staff time is 9:30-11 a.m. and students' time is 1:30-4 p.m.

• The deadline to apply for study away in 2020-21 is Friday. Openings are available for semester programs and J-terms at many destinations. More info and applications.

• You're asked to share feedback about your courses using the anonymous IDEA evaluation form. Some instructors may ask you to wait to do the forms on the last day of class. Otherwise, access the evaluation forms any time between now and 11:59 p.m. May 17. Use your Augie username and password.

• Although the Augustana Bookstore is closed, it is taking online orders. Rental returns have been extended to June 5. You can return books by mail, UPS, or FedEx. You pay for shipping. See details.

• The end-of-semester book buyback has moved online.

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Today's exhibition: Senior Jessica Beyer presents "Plants: Cultivators of Curiosity and Inspiration." This exhibit reflects elements of her major in biology, minor in history, and experience as a student worker in Special Collections, where the staff helped convert her work to a digital format.

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Change in the Academic Standing Policy

Academic Standing will not be processed at the end of spring semester or summer term due to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Standing will remain unchanged with one exception. Students who began spring semester below Good Standing (e.g., Academic Probation or Continued Academic Probation) and who completed 12 or more graded credits during spring semester and/or a 4-credit summer course will be individually reviewed to identify those who have achieved Good Standing.

If a student returns to Good Standing after spring semester or summer term, that student's academic record will be updated, and the student will begin fall semester in Good Standing.

This is a change to the Academic Standing policy only and does not affect policies related to Financial Aid.

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