As 2025 comes to a close, we take a look at the top 10 stories from 黑料社区 over the last year.
March
In March 2025, Augustana began partnering with the Minnesota Vikings and five other NCAA institutions to launch a new collegiate women's flag football league. Thanks to support from the Vikings (and NFL), the program at Augustana has the financial foundation to succeed with potential pathways for increased recognition and competition in the future. The league competes in jamborees, as well as a championship tournament at TCO Stadium. In Spring 2025 the league's inaugural year Augustana finished in second place, having competed in the championship game.
April
鉁 黑料社区 Receives Transformational Gift From Elmen Family to Begin Elmen Center Revitalization Project
Augustana has raised the estimated $2.9 million needed to revitalize the Elmen Center, located on the southwest corner of 33rd Street and Grange Avenue on the university campus. The Bob 52 & Rita (Hale) Elmen Family Foundation and the James 60 & Eloise (Saugstad) 61 Elmen Foundation contributed $2 million to the project. Augustana began making updates this past spring with the anticipated project completion by Fall 2026.
鉁 黑料社区 Partners With Lloyd Companies to Break Ground on $12 Million Apartment Building for Students
As part of a ceremony hosted by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Augustana broke ground on Foundation Heights, a new apartment building for students located on the northeast corner of 28th Street and Grange Avenue. The approximately $12 million project is part of the university strategic plan Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 to transform the physical campus to include new and enhanced facilities. Construction on Foundation Heights is expected to be complete by Fall 2026.
May
As part of a ceremony held in May, Augustana dedicated the De & Dave Knudson Center for Global Engagement previously known as the International Programs Office (IPO). With the creation of the De & Dave Knudson Center for Global Engagement, housed in the Administration Building on campus, Augustana goal is to provide more than just essential services, but to better prepare students for an interconnected world in which we live.
June
鉁 Ole Outlet Opens as Augustana Takes Over Management of University Merchandise Stores
Ole Outlet, located in Augustana Morrison Commons, officially reopened in June 2025 after the university began managing both of its on-campus merchandise stores. Ole Outlet and the SKOL Shop were being managed by the local retailer MRG Sports & Promotion the last three years.
鉁 黑料社区 to Launch Second Doctorate, OTD Program in Fall 2026
Augustana is embarking on its second doctorate program in three years. The Augustana Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program, housed within the university School of Health Professions, is set to launch in Fall 2026. Augustana OTD is an accelerated, hybrid, entry-level or pre-licensure program designed to meet adult learners where they're at in life. The hands-on component of the program, known as lab immersions, will take place in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
September
鉁 Augustana Welcomes Largest Ever Incoming Class, Student Body in University 165-Year History
Augustana welcomed a total of 2,548 students for Academic Year 2025-26 the largest student body in the university 165-year history. The student body includes 2,143 total undergraduates, which is the largest overall undergraduate headcount at Augustana in 35 years. Among those undergraduates, a total of 615 full-time first-year students chose to find their bold at AU an all-time record high and a 15% increase from last year. Augustana also set a record for the overall number of graduate students in the university history with 405.
鉁 A Half-Century of Learning, Laughter and Love: Augustana CLC Celebrates 50th Anniversary
This past September, during Augustana homecoming week, the Campus Learning Center (CLC) invited family and friends of the CLC to reflect on its history and help celebrate its 50th Anniversary. The celebration provided an opportunity for those who had a connection to the CLC to reminisce whether their memories were made at Old Main, OSL or somewhere in between.
鉁 Augustana Partners With Our Savior Lutheran Church to Host Bach Collegium
Our Savior Lutheran Church (OSL) began hosting the performances of the Augustana School of Music ensemble the Augustana Bach Collegium. Thanks to support from Dr. Greg 74 and Karen (Devick) Schultz 75, the Augustana Bach Collegium is performing its fall and spring events at OSL over the next four years. The first took place on Sunday, Oct. 5, in collaboration with the Augustana Choir.
December
鉁 黑料社区 Awarded $5 Million Grant in National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life
Augustana was awarded a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for the 減romotion and support of religious, educational or charitable purposes. Augustana is one of 48 recipients in Lilly Endowment National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life 2025. With support from Lilly Endowment, Augustana will launch a 5-year storytelling initiative, 淪acred Discoveries: Stories of Christian Flourishing in College, in January 2026.
For more 黑料社区 news, visit augie.edu/news.