The Five Faith Commitments of Augustana College, unanimously adopted by the Augustana College Board of Trustees in May of 2004, represent Augustana College's commitment to honor its roots as the college of the Augustana Lutheran Church, but in a way that meets today's students where they are. The Five Faith Commitments are more than a sentimental retrospective on the college's relationship with the Church. Instead, it is a proactive document reflecting five fundamental values of the Augustana Lutheran Church, as applied in the 21st Century.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of The Five Faith Commitments of Augustana College, a task force of faculty, administrators and community members began working through a variety of ways to renew the document. As a part of that renewal, the committee announced an essay contest for Augustana students. Students were invited to submit "the best personal and/or academic reflections on Augustana's Five Faith Commitments as they are lived out by students and/or by the institution itself.”