Innovation that Starts with a Question

At Augustana University, innovation doesn’t begin with technology—it begins with purpose.
Our guiding question has always been: Are we preparing students for their future—or clinging to our past?

That mindset led us to Google Workspace for Education Plus and NotebookLM, a suite of tools helping us shape a campus culture where collaboration, automation, and creativity flow naturally.
The full story is now featured on the Google Workspace Blog—a look inside how Augustana is rethinking the very idea of digital learning and administration.

---

From Tools to Transformation

With the support of Google’s Premier Partner, Burwood Group, Augustana moved beyond traditional workflows to create a truly connected academic environment.
Some of the most exciting outcomes:

• $15,000 per year saved by switching from Zoom to Google Meet.
• AI-powered learning with NotebookLM, helping students build personalized quizzes, flashcards, and research outlines.
• Administrative innovation—complex workflows automated in minutes using Gemini AI and Apps Script.
• Secure e-signature integration within Drive and Docs, streamlining approvals and record-keeping.

Each improvement has one focus: freeing people’s time so they can spend more of it teaching, learning, and innovating.

---

A Culture of Continuous Learning

Innovation at Augustana isn’t confined to one department.
Faculty are experimenting with NotebookLM to tailor learning materials.
Administrators are designing new automations.
And through our AI Micro-Grant Initiative, we’re incentivizing faculty to embed generative AI into courses—helping students graduate fluent in the technologies shaping tomorrow’s workforce.

We’ve also launched “Welcome to the Future,” a first-year seminar exploring the ethical, creative, and intellectual dimensions of emerging technologies—a course built on the same principles powering our digital transformation.

---

Why This Matters

The world of work is changing fast—39% of key skills will evolve by 2030.
By weaving AI, automation, and collaboration tools into our institutional DNA, Augustana is preparing graduates who can adapt, lead, and imagine the future.

“Working with the Google team to upskill our faculty, simplify our administrative work, and empower our students for the future reassures me that we have more than a platform provider; we have a real collaborator.”
— Dr. Peter Folliard, Vice President for Innovation & Dean, School of Music

---

Read the Full Story

The details behind this transformation—including real numbers, team insights, and AI applications—are captured in Google’s official feature:
👉 Read the full story on the Google Workspace Blog →