Commonly Asked Questions:
The Augsburg College StepUP Program
Q: What is StepUP?
The StepUP Program is an Augsburg College program for men and women in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other
drugs who are pursuing a college education. StepUP concurrently supports Augsburg students in their academic studies and
their recovery.
Q: What specific services are provided to students enrolled in StepUP?
1. StepUP provides a chemical-free living area on three floors in Anderson Hall. Each floor contains single or double rooms
for 15 students. Bedrooms surround a furnished community living area composed of a large living room, dining room,
and fully equipped kitchen.
2. Each student meets weekly with the StepUP Director or Assistant Director, who monitors his/her continued recovery plan
and academic progress.
3. Each student is required to attend the weekly StepUP circle meeting, focusing on academic skills, recovery, and
community living issues.
4. Each student is required to attend weekly floor meetings with the peers on their floor.
5. Each student is required to attend a minimum of one AA/NA meeting per week, including a consistent home group.
6. Each student is required to maintain weekly communication with his/her AA/NA sponsor.
7. Each student has access to therapists in the Augsburg College Counseling Center.
Q: What are the requirements for enrolling in StepUP?
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Successful completion of high school, or the GED exam;
Admission to Augsburg College by the Office of Undergraduate admissions;
Six months of continuous sobriety by the date in which the student moves into StepUP housing;
Agreement to reside in StepUP housing (on the Augsburg campus);
An in-person interview with the StepUP Director or Assistant Director;
A completed StepUP recommendation form from a recent treatment or after-care counselor or therapist; and
The signed StepUP contract, in which the student commits to the StepUP policies.
Q: What are the requirements for admission to Augsburg College?
To be directly admitted to the College, applicants are required to fall above the 50th percentile of their high-school graduating
class with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or receive a score of 70 or higher on each section of the GED. An ACT score must be 22
or higher. A combined score of 1000 or greater is required for the SAT. If there is personal information that may have
affected the applicant’s previous academic performance, it may be included with the application for admission.
Q: What are the college costs for students in the StepUP Program?
The College does not charge students any extra for being in the StepUP Program. Students in StepUP are responsible for the
same tuition, activity fees and room and board costs required of all students. The 2002-2003 total annual cost for tuition, fees,
and room and board is $24,283. Books are estimated at $100 per course. Students in the StepUP Program are eligible for the
same need and merit based financial aid available to all students at Augsburg College. There is no financial assistance
dedicated exclusively to students in the StepUP Program at this time.
Q: Once a student is accepted into StepUP, must they stay in the program and college housing until
they graduate?
While we would love to keep students in StepUP until graduation, we realize the transition need of individual students.
The StepUP Program is a voluntary program for students in recovery looking for support as they transition into the wider
community. Many students have chosen to participate in the program for one or two years and then live elsewhere as they
finish their degrees. Many indicate they want to stay in the program until they graduate. In a few cases, students have
transferred to other colleges once they felt ready to leave StepUP. Students are required to live in StepUP housing (Anderson
Hall), as it is an integral part of the StepUP concept.
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Q: When and how did StepUP begin?
The program began in September of 1997 and is now in its fifth year. It came about as a result of the number of students in
recovery who were enrolling at Augsburg College and asking for academic skills counseling. Realizing that Augsburg had no
sober living environment or formal support program for students in recovery, a proposal was created for the StepUP Program.
It was approved by the President’s Council and the Program began its first year with 25 students enrolled.
Q: How many students are currently enrolled?
StepUP currently has 45 enrollees. The program has room for a total of 54 enrollees, available on a first-come, first-served
basis. An additional 30 StepUP alumni remain in close contact and in good standing with StepUP.
Q: Has the StepUP Program been successful?
StepUP has been successful in supporting its students in their academic studies and in their recovery. The current mean
cumulative grade-point average of the StepUP students is 3.0. In the first year, StepUP experienced a 25% relapse rate; the
second year 20%; the third year an 8% relapse rate, and 9.8% in the forth year. Owing to its successes, StepUP has entered a
“friendship” with Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, allowing StepUP to benefit from consultations and direct servicing
of StepUP students. The Hazelden Butler Research Center completed a formal evaluation of the StepUP Program.
Q: How does StepUP differ from a treatment program or halfway house?
The StepUP Program is not a treatment program but a recovery based student support program. It does, however, provide
Structure for the students enrolled. StepUP students are required to attend AA, weekly meetings with the Director or Assistant
Director of StepUP and Circle Meetings to discuss issues relating to recovery. The StepUP contract also requires that each
student attend classes regularly, be responsible for attending weekly floor meetings, keep the community areas clean, and
refrain from vandalism, theft, harassment of others, and, most importantly, using. Unlike treatment, however, there is no
curfew and there is little monitoring of the student’s daily activities.
Q: Who are the staff of The StepUP Program?
Patrice Salmeri, Director
Patrice’s twenty year professional career has been solely focused on young people and their families. She has held positions
as a college instructor and a coach, as well as a treatment center clinician, supervisor, and Associate Clinical Director. Patrice
holds a Master’s degree in Human Development, a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education and is a Minnesota
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She views her vocation as helping people become who they were created to be. Her
commitment to nurturing the resilience of young people has led her to Augsburg’s StepUP Program.
David Hadden, Assistant Director
David has worked with youth over the course of thirty years in education, corrections and treatment. He is a Licensed
Independent Social Worker and a Minnesota Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, with majors in School and Community
Health, an MA in School Health and Post Graduate Certification in Drug and Alcohol Counseling. David’s passions lie in the
areas of education and recovery and preparing young people for the world of work.
Kara Malmgren, Administrative Assistant
Kara is an Augsburg College Social Work alum and has worked in the area of family and child social services for the past
twelve years. She has been a part of the StepUP Program since its inception and is inspired by the growth and changes she
sees among StepUP students. Kara’s passion lies in helping people in their journey of transformation and healing.
Q: To what extent do College administration, faculty and staff support StepUP?
President’s Council and the Deans have solidly supported StepUP, offering encouragement and counsel. The Residence Life
staff, which governs all of the residence halls, has worked closely with StepUP so as to provide safe, comfortable housing, as
well as leadership opportunities for StepUP students. Faculty frequently comment about what excellent students the StepUP
people are. A history professor recently asked, “Can you head more of them in my direction? I love having them in class.
They WANT to learn!”
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