Greetings from my remote work station in south Sioux Falls where I'm thankful that as the weather turns to spring my basement has windows! I hope this email finds you and your family healthy and safe.

This time of year the last two years have been the start of something very special for Viking athletics as both our baseball and softball teams started their run to a national championship. I can't wait to get back to watching our student-athletes compete.  

As a university, we are doing everything we can to be back on campus in the fall with in-person classes and the same goes for our athletics department. President Herseth Sandlin announced the Viking Flex Plan this week with the focus being on the health and safety of all students and staff.

We've been appreciative of the initial response to A-Club and season ticket renewals, especially during these uncertain times. It just shows the spirit and generosity of our membership and please remember we stand ready to help you as you think about your support of our student-athletes through the A-Club.

As part of my pledge to keep you informed as we work toward our goals in Viking Bold: the Journey to 2030, which includes a reclassification to NCAA Division I competition, today I would like to go into more detail on one of our strategic themes and how it fits into our goal of becoming a Division I institution. That theme is Student-Athlete Health, Safety and Performance.

We are a student-athlete centered department at Augustana so this is one my favorite themes. It ties directly to our tag line – Building Champions. The theme is also a great fit at Augustana because of our strong health sciences curriculum and outcomes. From nursing to pre-med, AU students leave our campus ready for what's next. The goals within this theme are:

Develop a Premier Student-Athlete Health Care Model.
Our sports medicine partnership with Sanford Health and our athletic training staff led by head athletic trainer Brian Gerry give us a leg up in this goal. We will establish a cross-functional collaborative team focused on nutrition, mental health, strength & conditioning, athletic training, and physician services. Access to facilities and resources is crucial and that's why our location in Sioux Falls is a gift.  

Advance Student-Athlete Mental Health Services.
This goal is part of our entire campus strategic plan as well as we recognize the need for mental health services. We agree with the NCAA's statement "We strive to improve access to quality mental healthcare with the goal of creating a culture where care seeking for mental health issues is as normative as care seeking for physical injuries." I'm proud of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for hosting its 3rd annual mental health panel in April, though this one was the first virtual panel!  

Provide Cutting Edge Student-Athlete Performance Methods.
We are fortunate to have Brett Chambers lead our strength & conditioning and we look forward to expanding our weight room space as part of our campus master plan.

Expand Student-Athlete Nutrition Services.
You helped lead the way in getting this nutrition program off the ground last year.  A-Club MVP gifts of over $6,000 supported our nutrition program which includes recovery drinks, grab-n-go snacks and the most important piece, education. Our student-athletes have really enjoyed working with Lizzie Kasparek, Sanford Health sports dietitian. The goal of this program is to improve current health and performance, but also to set our student-athletes up for the rest of their lives.

Promote a Welcoming, Inclusive and Safe Environment.
We have already started working with Willette Capers, Augustana's Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to incorporate the Diversity & Inclusion Plan for the university into our protocols and procedures. This goal also focuses on Title IX and gender equity which is and will be foundational to what we do and how we operate day-to-day. Within this goal we also want to nurture our student-athletes in their own faith journey and tie back to the Christian core value of Augustana University.

These are exciting times at Augustana as we look to accomplish all that's part of Viking Bold: the Journey to 2030 and we couldn't even think about accomplishing so much without the financial support from you and others who care enough to invest in our university. Thank you and as always, don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you have. Go Vikings!

Together as Vikings,

Josh Morton
Athletics Director

P.S. Have you been keeping up with our Viking Video Chats? You can learn about birding, unique home visits near Disney World, and how Tom Billeter is spending his days!