{"id":7643,"date":"2017-05-30T17:41:04","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T17:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/?p=7643"},"modified":"2021-09-10T20:25:24","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T20:25:24","slug":"augsburg-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/2017\/05\/30\/augsburg-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Augsburg University"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AnO<\/span>n September 1, \u201cAugsburg College\u201d officially will become\u00a0\u201cAugsburg University\u201d\u2014a change approved by both the Board\u00a0of Regents and the Augsburg Corporation.<\/p>\n

For generations of Augsburg alumni and friends, it may seem like\u00a0the place always has been called \u201cAugsburg College.\u201d That\u2019s been\u00a0the formal name of the school for the past 54 years.<\/p>\n

Over the course of the school\u2019s history, nearly 24,000 people\u00a0have completed degrees at Augsburg. With so many Auggie alumni\u00a0accustomed to thinking of Augsburg as a college, why change the name?<\/p>\n

In short, the term \u201cuniversity\u201d illustrates the breadth of Augsburg\u2019s\u00a0current reality and goals for the future. And, \u201cwhile our name is\u00a0changing,\u201d said Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow<\/strong>, \u201cthe essence\u00a0of who we are is not.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the first seminary created by Norwegian Lutherans in America,\u00a0the name Augsburg\u2014chosen by the school\u2019s founders in 1869 to\u00a0honor the Augsburg Confession\u2014always has defined the ethos of\u00a0this institution and its mission to support those called to service in\u00a0the world. Since its founding, Augsburg has been known by at least\u00a0four different names. The name has shifted as the school has grown,\u00a0but our commitment to an accessible, quality education has never\u00a0wavered. Likewise, our dedication to the Lutheran principles of\u00a0hospitality, service to the neighbor, and social justice is as steadfast\u00a0today as ever.<\/p>\n

In announcing the name change, Pribbenow affirmed\u00a0that becoming Augsburg University \u201cdoes not alter our\u00a0dedication to integrating the liberal arts and professional\u00a0studies or our commitment to being small to our students\u00a0and big for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than moving Augsburg away from its roots,\u00a0the name change helps Augsburg remain both faithful\u00a0to its heritage and relevant to the educational needs of\u00a0students in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

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Ever evolving, always Augsburg<\/h3>\n

Growth\u00a0in graduate programs<\/h4>\n

From its early years, Augsburg stressed that a good\u00a0education is practical and focused on educating\u00a0ministerial candidates and theological students as well as\u00a0farmers, workers, and businesspeople.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s no surprise that Augsburg today offers\u00a0a number of professional master\u2019s and doctoral\u00a0degrees \u2014 a mix of programs that makes Augsburg\u00a0already more like a university than a college. While there\u00a0is no fixed definition outlining the distinction between a\u00a0\u201ccollege\u201d and a \u201cuniversity,\u201d offering post-baccalaureate\u00a0degrees commonly is associated with institutions named\u00a0as universities.<\/p>\n

Augsburg\u2019s first advanced degree program, the\u00a0Master of Arts in Leadership, launched 30 years\u00a0ago. Since then, 3,700 people have earned master\u2019s\u00a0or doctoral degrees from Augsburg. This past fall,\u00a0Augsburg\u2019s graduate enrollment reached a record\u00a0high\u2014representing 28 percent of total enrollment\u2014and\u00a0continued growth in Augsburg graduate programs is\u00a0anticipated in the coming years.<\/p>\n

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Augsburg Name Change History<\/h4>\n

1869<\/strong>
\nAugsburg Seminarium<\/p>\n

1872<\/strong>
\nThe Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Augsburg Seminary<\/p>\n

1892<\/strong>
\nAugsburg Seminary<\/p>\n

1942<\/strong>
\nAugsburg College and Theological Seminary<\/p>\n

1963<\/strong>
\nAugsburg College<\/p>\n

2017<\/strong>
\nAugsburg University<\/p>\n

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An international perspective<\/h4>\n

Today, Auggies live and work all over the world. In many\u00a0countries and cultures, the word \u201ccollege\u201d is associated\u00a0with a high school-level education. Alumni who work\u00a0in international settings have noted that they already\u00a0refer to their alma mater as \u201cAugsburg University\u201d in\u00a0order to avoid confusion. For the same reason, the name\u00a0change also will help Augsburg be more attractive as a\u00a0destination for international students, which represents a\u00a0potential growth area for Augsburg.<\/p>\n

A view from the outside in<\/h4>\n

With nearly 150 years of history, it\u2019s no surprise that\u00a0Augsburg is well known in the region\u2014even among\u00a0people who haven\u2019t (or haven\u2019t yet) studied here. What\u00a0impact would a name change have on their perceptions\u00a0of Augsburg? We asked the following groups to share their\u00a0thoughts:<\/p>\n