Augustana University College

Augustana University College

Augustana University College in Camrose, Alberta, was established by Norwegian pioneers in 1910 as Camrose Lutheran College. It was the first private college in Alberta to receive degree-granting authority under the provisions of legislation enacted in 1983 by the Alberta government, changing its name to Camrose Lutheran University College in 1989 and to its current name in 1991. It is a residential liberal arts and sciences university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and is a full member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

In its early years, Augustana provided a significant opportunity for secondary education and was recognized for the quality of its academic program and its endeavour to provide an education that extended beyond the intellect to the "heart and its affections." Augustana began offering university work in the fall of 1959 as an affiliated college of the University of Alberta and added a second year of the transfer program in 1969. It became a university in 1985 when the first BA degrees were granted. The university now grants baccalaureate degrees in 19 disciplines in the arts and sciences, and is open to students of all traditions.

With a current student population of 850 and 56 full-time faculty members, Augustana is dedicated to excellence in undergraduate teaching and to the development of students intellectually, morally and spiritually. In addition, it presently facilitates a number of international study programs and has students representing more than 15 countries. In 1991 Augustana established the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in the Liberal Arts (CIRLA), which supports the publication of Dianoia: A Liberal Arts Interdisciplinary Journal, sponsors international conferences and hosts electronic forums like the e-group CIRLA-L. Augustana has the only private natural luge course in Canada. In the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake, three Augustana alumnae were on Canadian teams in cross-country skiing, biathlon and speed skating.