Augustana College

Quick Facts

Our Location
The College is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city with a population of more than 162,000 in a metropolitan area of approximately 235,000.

Our Campus
Augustana’s beautifully maintained, tree-lined campus is situated on 100 acres in a residential area.

View the "Fast Facts" pamphlet that provides an overview about the state of the College. It includes a snapshot of our student population and cites many of the attractions of Sioux Falls.

Our Students
Approximately 1,765 full- and part-time students, primarily of traditional age, come from 30 states and 44 foreign countries. More than 100 international students are enrolled.  Students typically enter the College with an average ACT of 26 and a high school grade point average of 3.69. Of students whose schools report class rank, 63% ranked in the top quarter of their graduating class.

Our Faculty
Nearly 82 percent of our 129 full-time and tenure-track faculty possess the highest degree in their disciplines. The student to faculty ratio is 12:1 with an average class size of 20 students.

Co-Curricular Activities
Beyond the classroom, we provide opportunities for involvement in more than 100 student organizations and activities, including special interest groups, 18 NCAA Division II athletic teams and 20 performing arts ensembles in music and theatre.

Our Traditions
Major College traditions include Opening Convocation, Viking Days, Viking Varieties, Christmas Tree-lighting, Augustana Vespers, Community Service Day, Semester Shutdown, the Augustana Symposium, Senior Celebration, Family Weekend and the Faculty Gauntlet at Commencement. Ole, the Viking statue in the center of the Quadrangle, is often decorated for special seasonal events. The Green is the large expanse of green space used for frisbee, bonfires and all kinds of student activities. An age-old college tradition — college football — returned to campus after 52 years with the inaugural season in Kirkeby-Over Stadium in 2009.

Residential Life
Living opportunities include six residence halls, 16 theme houses and five apartment complexes.

Comprehensive Costs for 2013-2014

Tuition                                                                                                                                       $28,200

Student Activity Fee (Supports campus events, concerts and student activities)            $430

Room and Board (Does not include S.D. sales tax of $250)                                           $6,920

Total                                                                                                                                           $35,500

Rowe Fund

The Rowe Fund is an educational loan program of the Organization of American States (OAS) that helps citizens from Latin America and Caribbean OAS Member States finance their studies or research in accredited universities across the United States by awardinginterest-free loans of up to $15,000 dollars.

By financing a portion of their studies in the United States, the Rowe Fund helps students complete their education while at the same time fostering cultural diversity, friendship, and communication among the people of the Americas. Rowe Fund loans include:

• Deferred repayment while in school
• No application or processing fees
• Applications are accepted and reviewed year-round and at any time during the studies in the U.S.
• Funding is sent directly to the student after approval
• Easy access to loan application forms and instructions

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Applicants or, if you have already been awarded a Rowe Fund loan, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions for Current Beneficiaries.   

The Rowe Fund was endowed through a bequest from Dr. Leo Stanton Rowe, who served as Director General of the Pan American Union (the precursor of the OAS), from 1920 until his death in 1946.  Dr. Rowe devoted his life to furthering understanding and integration among the countries of the Americas, particularly through higher education.

Visit http://www.oas.org/en/rowefund/ for more information.

Internet Safety Tips for Elementary School Kids

Keep your kids safe online

When your kids start to interact on the Internet -- playing games, watching YouTube videos, socializing in virtual worlds, getting homework help, and searching on Google -- you may feel that you're losing control over your kids' world.

The best way to wrap your arms around your kids' online activities is to spend some time with them while they're visiting their favorite sites. Talk with them about what they like and what they don't.

Why Internet safety matters

Kids today can go online from so many different sources, including video game consoles, iPhones and smart phones, and even handheld gaming devices. Young people are increasingly living their lives online, and their digital devices are some of their favorite toys and tools.

Shouldn’t this new playground be a safe and nice place? With your guidance, it can be. Teaching Internet safety in the elementary years will have lasting rewards for you and your kids.

Internet Safety Basics

Help your kids understand that they should:

• Never share their names, schools, ages, phone numbers, or addresses;
• Never send pictures to strangers;
• Keep passwords private (except to parents);
• Never open email from strangers – it may contain viruses that can harm a computer; and
• Immediately tell an adult if something mean or creepy happens.

Strategies for a responsible -- and safer -- online life

• Visit only age-appropriate sites. Check out the site before your kids visit it. Know what features and what content exist and make sure they’re good for your kids.
• Search safely. Use safe search settings for young kids or think about applying filtering software to limit inappropriate exposure.
• Avoid strangers. Tell your kids that people aren’t always who they say they are in cyberspace. Explain that if someone they don’t know talks to them, they shouldn’t respond but should let you know.
• Be a good cyber citizen! Remind kids that an Internet playground is still a playground and they need to play nicely. A good rule of thumb: If they wouldn’t do something in real life, they shouldn’t do it online. Find out how your children can report mean behavior or unkind content on their favorite sites and teach them how to do it.
• Online cheating? It’s still cheating and it’s a no-no – pure and simple.
• Keep the computer in a central place. So you can see what’s going on.
• Establish expectations and limits about the amount of time your children spend online and what they do. Check out our family media agreement for a helpful place to start.
• View your own habits carefully. You are their role models.
• But, mostly, be involved and have fun with them! Keeping kids safe and teaching them how to use digital technology responsibly is all about staying involved. Start by showing interest in the sites they visit and the games they play and your job will be a lot easier when they start exploring these technologies more independently.

Shared from www.commonsensemedia.org

Update on Eckerd College

Application:

1. SAT is not required for students who do not hold US passports.
2. TOEFL/IELTS is not required for students who have spent all of their high school experience in an English language high school. Students are asked to submit a copy of a graded paper instead.
3. Financial documents are no longer requested at the point of application. Students will be reviewed for admission and offered academic scholarships prior to providing proof of financial responsibility. 
Scholarships:

Last year, our scholarships ranged from $5,000-$12,000. I'm very pleased to announce that our new awards range from $10,000-$18,000. Scholarships are awarded at the point of admission based on academic achievement

6 Ways to Make the Holidays More Meaningful

December offers families countless opportunities to bond and share lessons in faith and kindness. We've got six simple ways to help yours learn and grow this season.

Explore Different Cultures

Help your kids get a sense of life in other countries by introducing them to a variety of holiday rituals celebrated around the globe during this time of year. A few examples for you to check out:

Ethiopia: Here, many families celebrate Christmas on January 7—though most people actually refer to the holiday as either Genna or Ganna, after a hockey-like game that is traditionally played on that afternoon.

The Netherlands: Children set out pairs of shoes on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, December 6. In the middle of the night, St. Nick pays a visit, filling the shoes with small treats such as chocolates, candies, and toys.

Italy: Kids write letters to their parents promising good behavior (and apologizing for recent misdeeds), as well as telling them how much they love them. The letters are then placed under Dad's plate on Christmas Eve; he reads them all aloud once the meal is through.

Mexico: December 28, Day of the Holy Innocents, is celebrated much in the same way as April Fool's Day. Children—and adults—play innocent pranks. If successful, the trickster gives his victim a candy treat.

Sweden: St. Lucia Day, December 13, is the beginning of the holiday season; one girl in each home dresses as Lucia, patron saint of light, in a white gown and a crown of leaves—and then wakes everyone by bringing a tray of breakfast treats.

Korea: Families celebrate January 1 by making Duk Gook—also spelled Ddeokguk—or rice-cake soup. According to tradition, enjoying a bowlful on New Year's Day allows everyone to advance a year in age.

Shared from www.parents.com

The Do's and Don'ts of Homework

Follow these Do’s and Don’ts of homework with your kids to make the most of their learning time at home:

Do:

• Provide quiet study time in a well-lit place.
• Be available to encourage, praise, advise, and supervise.
• Monitor your child’s understanding of concepts and skills.
• Check work for accuracy, neatness, and completeness.
• Provide related home-learning experiences to reinforce concepts learned at school.
• Cooperate with and be supportive of the child’s teacher.
• Help your child make education a top priority during his/her school years. Show by example that learning can be exciting and fulfilling.

Don’t:

• Do the child’s homework for him/her.
• Make excuses or allow the child to make excuses for incomplete or sloppy work.
• Change, criticize, or belittle a teacher’s assignments. If there’s a problem, talk to the teacher.
• Allow the child to skip an assignment he/she doesn’t like.
• Fill the child’s life with so many non-school activities there is no time left for homework or play. Relieve the child of responsibility for getting homework back to school on time.

Shared from http://www.thelearningcommunity.us

College Tours 2014

Northeast Tour A

This 7-day tour will allow students to visit a wide variety of colleges in and around the major college hubs along the Northeast Coast. Each day students will visit two different colleges, and receive advice directly from admissions reps, as well as current college students. This tour is structured to allow participants to have time to visit some ‘reach’ (highly selective) schools as well as some selective colleges. Students will also have the opportunity to visit Times Square, the White House and the National Mall and Smithsonian in DC. This is our most popular tour where there is something for everyone!Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights

Colleges/Universities we will visit:

Harvard University, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Boston University, Boston College, Babson College, Bentley University, Brown University, Yale University, Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University

Space is limited to 26 students.

Cost: $2365 USD

Includes all transportation (excluding flight to/from Boston/Washington DC), breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars.

Northeast Tour B

This tour is similar to Northeast Tour A but it is a day longer which provides for more opportunity to explore some of the most vibrant cities in the US – Boston, New York and Washington DC. Along with the college visits, we will have some time to have some ‘tourist’ time in each city. This tour has been popular in the past and is expected to be booked quickly! Duration: 8 days/7 nights

Colleges/Universities we will visit:

Harvard University, MIT, Tufts University, Boston College, Boston University, Brown University, Yale University, Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University.

We will begin accepting applications Nov. 1st.
Space is limited to 26 students.
Cost: $2495 USD

Includes all transportation (excluding flight to/from Boston/Washington, DC), breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars

California Tour

During the California tour students will enjoy visits to the most popular university destinations for international school students from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of schools in terms of selectivity, size, and “feel”. After a couple of days in San Francisco, we will travel to southern California to visit some of most well known and prestigious universities in that region. Students will spend one well-deserved day of relaxation and fun at Disneyland! This is a great tour for those students considering attending college in California!

Duration: 9 days/8 nights

Colleges/Universities we will visit:

UC Berkeley, Stanford University, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, UC Santa Barbara, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer College, Chapman University, UC San Diego, University of San Diego, Occidental College, University of Southern California

We will begin accepting applications Nov. 1st.
Space is limited to 26 students.
Fee: $2675 USD

Includes all land travel from San Francisco to LA, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner each day), all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars, entrance fee to Disneyland.

Art College Tour

The Art Colleges Tour provides students the opportunity to visit some of the best art colleges in the US. For those interested in pursuing art-related careers, this tour will allow them to preview first-hand what each school has to offer as well as enlighten them to the world of possibilities for art careers. This tour will be led by a highly experienced art teacher from an international school with an established reputation of assisting students being admitted to selective art programs. The tour will also provide opportunities to engage in evening seminars on the college application process, and a special seminar on the process of creating the best portfolio possible.

Duration: 7 days/6 nights

Colleges/Universities we will visit:

School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Rhode Island School of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, School of Visual Arts, Yale University, California Institute of the Arts, Art Center College of Design, UCLA, Otis College of Art and Design.

We will begin accepting applications Nov. 1st.
Space is limited to 26 students.
Cost: $2690 USD

Includes all domestic transportation (including flight from New York to Los Angles, all meals (3 meals per day), all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars.

UK University Tour

New for 2014, the UK tour provides an opportunity for students to visit some of the premier institutions in the UK. DESCRIPTION TO FOLLOW…

Duration: 9 days/8 nights

We will begin accepting applications Nov. 1st.
Space is limited to 26 students.
Cost: $2690 USD

Includes all domestic transportation, all meals (3 meals per day), all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars.

Scotland University Tour

A great add-on to the UK Tour or as a completely separately tour, the Scottish tour will visit the best universities of Scotland and give students a chance to explore some of the intriguing and historic cities.

Duration: 3 days/nights

We will begin accepting applications Nov. 1st.
Space is limited to 26 students.
Cost: $925 USD

Includes all domestic transportation, all meals (3 meals per day), all accommodations, all tour fees and seminars.

Custom Tours

In addition to the pre-scheduled tours, TS College Tours offers customized college tours for schools, groups, or individual families.

WhatWe Do

·         Plan all logistics including arranging flights, hotels, transportation, meals, campus visit
and meetings with admissions representatives.

·         Provide promotional materials to advertise to your students.

·         Arrange all colleges visits and information sessions.

·         Make arrangements for any requested activities (museums, amusement parks, restaurant
reservations, etc.)

·         Provide students with a pre-departure planning booklet, summaries of colleges to be
visited, and a checklist to use to evaluate each college during the tour.

Benefits to you/your school:

·         Counselors, teachers, or parents will not have to spend days on planning the logistics.

·         One chaperone travels free with every 10 students.

·         Students get a complete overview of the college admissions process and its’ components.

·         Students return to their senior year focused, with a very good sense of the schools to
consider, their applications and essays already started, making their time more efficient
and productive.