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Our Aspiration and Our Pledges

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Our Aspiration and Our Pledges

Since American University’s founding in 1893, inquiry, engagement, and service have been at the center of our mission. An enduring and boundless curiosity guided our early embrace of international perspectives, our deep commitment to public service, and our goal of producing leaders who advance knowledge, build community, and seek new frontiers in government, business, culture, law, policy, and research.

We pledge to prepare students for meaningful lives of purpose and achievement, to expand our curiosity, to build our community, and to be accountable for our outcomes. Our pledges meet what students and families expect and what the world demands. They reflect where AU excels. Each commitment draws from our community and aligns today’s ambitions and tomorrow’s needs. The pledges ensure every student is ready to thrive, lead, and make an impact beyond graduation locally, nationally, and globally.

American University Will Meet Our Moment

American University pledges to prepare students for meaningful lives and careers of purpose and achievement, to expand our curiosity, and to build our community.

Over the next five years, AU will...

  • provide every undergraduate the opportunity for a funded internship or research experience (beginning sophomore year)
  • update our core curriculum to emphasize exploration, simplicity, adaptability, inclusion, and experiential learning to support career prep and a liberal arts and sciences education
  • integrate Washington, DC-based opportunities in all academic programs
  • infuse civic learning and engagement as a feature of every AU education
  • provide students with the opportunity to engage a mentor
  • deepen student engagement and belonging through intentionally designed cohorts and connections
  • foster responsible, ethical, and practical AI literacy in all students
  • modernize career and study abroad functions to support students’ professional readiness
  • ensure undergraduate student access to a study abroad experience, global learning opportunity, or international research project
  • deploy more international opportunities for graduate students
  • provide a required graduate professionalization course integrating career preparation from day one
  • pilot a 90-credit degree program to offer a flexible pathway for students, including transfer students and nontraditional learners
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American University Pledges

Our Intended Outcomes
AU Ready (Undergraduate Students) Every undergraduate will have access to a $4,500 resource for a funded internship or research experience beginning in sophomore year. The experiences will include a professionalism course, career preparation support, and other required foundational activities to enhance student skills.
AU Ready (Graduate Students) Every graduate student will complete a professionalization course, integrating career preparation from day one of their program..
AU Global (Undergraduate Students) Every undergraduate will have guaranteed access to a study abroad experience, global learning opportunity, or international research project.
AU Global(Graduate Students) AU will deploy more international opportunities for graduate students.
Mentors Matter All sophomores and transfer students will have the opportunity to engage a mentor, building durable professional networks and communities. Graduate students and Washington College of Law students will have access to mentoring opportunities as well.
A Distinctive Curriculum A new AU core curriculum will emphasize exploration, simplicity, adaptability, inclusion, and experiential learning with the goal of making AU’s general education uniquely impactful for career development, inquiry, and comprehensive learning.
AI Readiness AU students will graduate with responsible, ethical, and practical AI literacy—fully prepared, regardless of major, with the skills, confidence, and judgment needed to thrive in a digital and AI-powered world.
Civic Engagement and Learning AU curricula will infuse civic learning as a feature of every degree, supported by a unique Civic Transcript to formally document students’ civic engagement.
AU90 A 90-credit degree pilot program will offer a flexible pathway for students, including transfer and nontraditional learners, while maintaining academic rigor and expanding access.
DC-Centered Learning All academic programs will integrate Washington, DC-based opportunities through the AU/DC Community Portfolio and DC-intensive lab courses, blending service, arts, policy, and cultural experiences.
Student Belonging and the Power of Cohorts Expanded cohort models (including a larger AU Honors program) will deepen engagement and belonging, supporting student identity and peer connections.
Career Preparation Through Integrated Experiential Learning and Workforce Preparation Services Modernized and integrated career and study abroad functions—including new employer partnerships—will support students’ readiness for the workforce and professional opportunities.