The Augsburg College Board of Regents has decided to make the transition from a college to university this coming fall semester.

Researchers at the school, along with with input from staff, students and alumni, found that reality, reputation and impact are three major categories people associate with universities that Augsburg already has.

“Augsburg college, like St. Thomas did a number of years ago, is going through the process of being a college and transitioning to a university,” Weiss said.

On Sept. 1, 2017, Augsburg will become the seventh university in the MIAC.

“It’s a discussion we started probably around 18 months ago or so, with our Board of Regents, about what do we do as a college, and if we function more as a university rather than a college,” Augsburg spokesperson Stephanie Weiss said.

Through research, Augsburg administrators found three key aspects of an Augsburg education that prompted the name change, the first being how the university already operates.

“The reality is, we act like a university because we offer graduate and doctoral programs, undergraduate research and international programs,” Weiss said.

These types of programs are usually present at universities, not colleges.

“For us, this was one of the biggest markers for if we function as a college or university.”

Augsburg’s current reputation as a diverse and inclusive college also factored into the transition.

“We learned from our research that people think universities are diverse, and when they talk about diversity they mean diversity of ideas and opportunities. We already have a reputation for being diverse and for our equity and inclusion,” Weiss said.

Although Augsburg does not have the high enrollment and large campus that people associate with universities, the board wants it to be a model.

“We want to be a new kind of university, and what we mean when we say ‘a new kind of university’ is we want to be big, but big for the world and small to our students,” Weiss said.

Augsburg promises to remain a liberal arts school and a comfortably small campus where students and faculty have the ability to make deep and meaningful connections.

“When I heard of the change from my teachers I was happy for Augsburg,” sophomore Jacie Hoehn said. “The college is progressing, and I am happy to be a part of it and experience the growth of my school.”

The administration says it will be exploring different opportunities for improvement.

“We are going to be a place that leans into providing transformative experiential learning, helping our students learn how to use their gifts and their education to foster positive change in the world, and I think that’s where we’re going to see the big impact,” Weiss said.

Lauren Knisley can be reached at knis1243@stthomas.edu.