American University facts for kids
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| Motto | Pro deo et patria (Latin) |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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"For God and Country" |
| Type | Private federally chartered research university |
| Established | February 24, 1893 |
| Founder | John Fletcher Hurst |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
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Religious affiliation
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United Methodist Church |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $908.9 million (2022) |
| President | Sylvia Mathews Burwell |
| Provost | Vicky M. Wilkins (acting) |
| Students | 13,019 (Fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 7,571 (Fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 3,613 (Fall 2023) |
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Other students
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1,835 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
38°56′14″N 77°05′13″W / 38.9371°N 77.0869°W |
| Campus | Large City, 90 acres (36 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Eagle |
| Colors | Red Blue White |
| Nickname | Eagles |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Clawed Z. Eagle |
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American University (often called AU or American) is a private university in Washington, D.C.. It was started by an Act of Congress in 1893. A Methodist bishop named John Fletcher Hurst wanted to create a school that would teach students about public service and working with people from different countries.
AU's main campus is about 90 acres (36 hectares) in Northwest D.C. It first opened for graduate students in 1914. Undergraduate students (those working on their first degree) were admitted starting in 1925. Even though it's connected to the United Methodist Church, students don't need to be part of that church to get in.
American University has eight main schools and colleges. These include the School of International Service, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Washington College of Law. The university offers over 160 different programs. This includes bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. More than 13,000 students attend AU. They come from all 50 U.S. states and 141 different countries. About one-fifth of the students are from other countries.
AU also owns WAMU, a radio station that creates programs heard across the country and around the world.
History of American University
How American University Started
American University was officially created on December 5, 1892. This happened thanks to John Fletcher Hurst, a Methodist bishop. He wanted to build a school that would train people to work in public service. The university was officially opened on May 15, 1914. Its first classes began in October of that year with 28 students.
AU was special because it accepted both women and African Americans. This was not common for universities at that time. Five women were among the first 28 students. An African American student was admitted in 1915 to study for a doctoral degree.
Classes at AU were stopped during World War I. The university allowed the U.S. military to use some of its land for testing. In 1917, the military divided the campus into two parts. One part was used for chemical weapons research. The other part was used for new camouflage techniques. The Army Corps of Engineers worked to clean up the campus in the 1990s and later.
At first, AU only offered degrees for graduate students. But in 1925, the College of Liberal Arts was started. This college offered the first undergraduate degrees. In 1934, the School of Public Affairs was founded. President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported this school. He wanted it to help train future government workers.
AU continued to help the U.S. government during World War II. The campus hosted a U.S. Navy school for bomb disposal. A ship, the SS American Victory, was named in AU's honor for its help during the war.
Growth After World War II (1949–1990)
After World War II, American University grew a lot. In 1947, the Washington Semester Program began. This program allowed students to do internships in Washington, D.C. for a whole semester. In 1949, AU joined with the Washington College of Law. This law school was special because it was the first law school started by women. It was also the first law school in D.C. that accepted both men and women.
In the 1950s, several departments became their own schools. These included the School of Business Administration (now Kogod School of Business) in 1955. The School of International Service was created in 1958.
In the early 1960s, the U.S. government used AU for research. President John F. Kennedy gave a famous speech at AU in 1963. In his speech, he asked the Soviet Union to work with the United States. He wanted them to agree on a treaty to stop nuclear weapons testing. This helped reduce tensions during the Cold War.
In 1986, the university bought the Immaculata Campus. This campus later became Tenley Campus. It helped solve space problems at the university.
American University Today
The School of Communication became its own school in 1993. Before that, it was part of the College of Arts and Sciences.
In 1997, American University helped start the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. This was the only coeducational university in that country. AU helped them with academic management.
In 2005, the new Katzen Arts Center opened. This building is home to art departments and a museum.
Cornelius M. Kerwin became the university's president in 2007. He retired in 2017. The current president is Sylvia Mathews Burwell. She started her job on June 1, 2017.
A friendly feral cat, known as "Wonk Cat," started living on campus around 2017. Students and staff took care of her. She became a beloved part of the campus community. Sadly, Wonk Cat went missing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, the School of Education (SOE) became a separate school. This was done to encourage more students to become teachers.
On April 22, 2020, AU announced that it would no longer invest in fossil fuels. This means the university stopped putting its money into companies that deal with oil, gas, and coal. AU was one of the first universities in the U.S. to do this. This decision came after many students campaigned for it.
American University Campuses
American University has two main campuses for classes and student housing. These are the main campus on Massachusetts Avenue and the East Campus on Nebraska Avenue. The Washington College of Law is located at the Tenley Campus. AU also owns other buildings nearby.
The campus was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It is about 84 acres (34 hectares) in size. The campus is surrounded by nice neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. It has a main area with academic buildings, nine dorms, a large arena, and an outdoor theater. The campus is also a public garden and arboretum. It has many different kinds of plants and trees.
Buildings for Learning and Fun
- Abbey Joel Butler Pavilion: This building has the campus store, career center, and meeting rooms.
- Battelle-Tompkins Building: This used to be the university library. Now it holds parts of the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Don Myers Technology and Innovation Building: Opened in 2017, this building is home to the physics, mathematics, computer science, and other tech-related departments. It is designed to be very energy efficient.
- Hall of Science: Opened in 2020, this building houses the biology, environmental science, and chemistry departments. It is also designed to be energy efficient.
- Hurst Hall: This was the very first building of the university. It now holds various departments and classrooms.
- Katzen Arts Center: This building opened in 2005. It is home to departments like performing arts and graphic design. It also has the American University Museum.
- Kay Spiritual Life Center: Built in 1963, this is a place for different religions to worship. It's sometimes called the "flaming cupcake" because of its unique shape.
- Kerwin Hall: This is the largest classroom building on campus. It was built in 1968.
- Kogod School of Business: This building was updated in 2009.
- Mary Graydon Center: Often called MGC, this is the main student center. It has student offices and dining areas.
- McKinley Building: President Theodore Roosevelt helped lay the first stone for this building. After big renovations in 2014, it became the new home for the School of Communication. It is also very energy efficient.
- School of International Service: The new building for this school opened in 2010. It is also designed to be very energy efficient. This school has over 2,000 undergraduate students and over 900 graduate students.
- Sports Center: This includes Bender Arena, Reeves Aquatic Center, and Jacobs Fitness Center.
- American University (Bender) Library: This library has over a million books.
Where Students Live (Residence Halls)
The university guarantees housing for students for two years. Most first-year and second-year students choose to live on campus.
In 2017, the university added 590 new beds with the opening of East Campus. The dorms on the main campus are in three groups:
- North Campus:
* Hughes Hall * Leonard Hall * McDowell Hall * Nebraska Hall (has apartment-style rooms) * Cassell Hall (opened in 2013, has a large fitness center, and is energy efficient)
- East Campus: (opened in 2017, all are energy efficient)
* Duber Hall * Constitution Hall * Federal Hall
- South Campus:
* Anderson Hall (the largest dorm for first-year students) * Centennial Hall (has suite-style rooms) * Letts Hall * Roper Hall (home to AU's Black Affinity Housing program)
Tenley Campus
The Tenley Campus is about half a mile from the main campus. American University bought it in 1987. Since 2016, this campus has been home to American University's law school, the Washington College of Law. Many old buildings were replaced with new, modern ones for the law school.
What Students Study at American University
The university has eight main divisions, called colleges or schools. These are where all the different academic programs are.
- College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)
- Kogod School of Business (KSB)
- School of Communication (SOC)
- School of Education (SOE)
- School of International Service (SIS)
- Professional Studies and Executive Education
- School of Public Affairs (SPA)
- Washington College of Law (WCL)
American University also has a special program called the Washington Semester Program. This program brings students from other universities to AU for a semester. Students take classes and do internships in Washington, D.C. This gives them a unique experience in the nation's capital.
Getting into American University
| Undergraduate | U.S. (2018) | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 51.3% | 55.2% |
| Asian | 6.3% | 7.0% |
| Hispanic | 11.4% | 19.5% |
| Black | 6.5% | 13.4% |
| Two or More Races | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| American Indian | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| International | 15.8% | N/A |
| Unknown | 4.2% | N/A |
| Male | 38% | 43% |
| Female | 62% | 57% |
| Admissions statistics | |
|---|---|
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2019 entering
classChange vs. 2014 |
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| Admit rate | 32%
(
 −8.2) |
| Yield rate | 26.2%
(
 +4) |
| Test scores middle 50%* | |
| SAT EBRW | 620–700 |
| SAT Math | 590–690 |
| ACT Composite | 27–31 |
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Getting into American University is considered "more selective." For students who started in fall 2019, AU received over 18,500 applications. About 6,691 students were accepted, which is about 36%. The middle 50% of accepted students had SAT scores between 590–690 for reading and writing, and 590–690 for math. For the ACT test, the middle 50% of scores were between 27–31.
Studying Abroad
The U.S. News & World Report has ranked American University 7th for its Study Abroad programs. AU has programs in places like Brussels, Belgium; Madrid, Spain; and Nairobi, Kenya. It also works with many other universities around the world.
University Rankings
| THES World | 601–800 |
|---|---|
| USNWR National University | 105 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 118 |
| Forbes | 133 |
In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked American University tied for 105th among all "national universities." It was also ranked tied for 31st in "Best Undergraduate Teaching."
The Princeton Review has named American University the most politically active school in the nation several times. This means many students are interested in politics and current events. AU is also known for having many students who become Peace Corps volunteers.
The School of International Service is ranked among the top schools for preparing students for careers in foreign policy. The School of Communication is also among the top 25 in the country. The School of Public Affairs was ranked 10th in the U.S. in 2023.
Folio Literary Magazine
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Abbreviated title (ISO 4)
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Folio |
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| Discipline | Literary journal |
| Language | English |
| Edited by | Jenny Dunnington |
| Publication details | |
| Publisher |
American University (United States)
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Publication history
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1984-present |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Indexing | |
| ISSN | 1547-4151 |
| OCLC no. | 20236678 |
| Links | |
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Folio is a literary magazine that started in 1984 at American University. It publishes short stories, poetry, and creative nonfiction twice a year. Folio has also featured interviews with famous writers.
Sine Institute of Policy and Politics
In 2018, AU President Sylvia M. Burwell announced the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics. This institute uses AU's location in Washington, D.C. It brings together smart people like scholars, journalists, and experts. They work together to find solutions to the nation's problems. The goal is to find common ground and work across different political views.
American University Library
| American University Library | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1926 as Battelle Library |
| Location | Washington, D. C. |
| Collection | |
| Size | over 1 million volumes |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 10,000 students & 1,000 faculty |
| Other information | |
| Director | Jeehyun Davis |
| Staff | 72 (full-time) |
The Jack I. and Dorothy G. Bender Library and Learning Resources Center is the main library at AU. It has over one million books. The library is part of a group of eight libraries called the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). This group allows students to borrow books from other member libraries.
The library also has special collections. These include rare materials and documents about the university's history.
Student Life at AU
AU has over 150 student organizations. These groups cover everything from politics to social activities.
The university has a top-ranked Model United Nations team. This team competes against other colleges. They also host a yearly Model UN competition for high school students.
The American University Student Government (AUSG) is run by students. It helps represent the student population. AUSG works to support student ideas and projects on campus.
AU has eight student-run media groups. These include The Eagle newspaper, the WVAU radio station, and several magazines.
Religious Groups
Even though AU is connected to the United Methodist Church, it has many other religious groups. These include Catholic, Jewish, and other Christian communities.
Greek Life
American University has different Greek organizations. These include fraternities and sororities. They are part of different councils like the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council.
Being Green (Sustainability)
American University is very committed to protecting the environment. In 2008, AU joined over 500 other U.S. universities. They promised to work towards reducing their impact on the climate. The Office of Sustainability was created a year later.
Students at AU have worked on projects to reduce waste. For example, they found that not using trays in the dining halls greatly reduced food waste.
AU has received the highest possible rating for sustainability from a group called AASHE. This shows how committed the university is to being green. In 2011, the School of International Service building earned a special certification for its energy-efficient design.
In 2014, AU was ranked #2 on the Sierra Club's list of the "Top 10 Greenest Colleges."
AU also partnered with George Washington University to build a solar farm. As of 2016, this solar farm provides half of AU's electricity. In 2018, American University became the first university in the U.S. to become carbon-neutral. This means it balances the amount of carbon it puts into the air.
Sports at American University
American University is part of the Patriot League. Its sports teams are called the American Eagles. AU has many sports teams for men and women. These include:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Cross-country
- Swimming and diving
- Track
- Volleyball (women's)
- Field hockey (women's)
- Lacrosse (women's)
- Wrestling (men's)
There are also club sports like tennis, rugby, and ice hockey.
Bender Arena is a large building where many of AU's sports competitions take place. It opened in 1988.
Reeves Field is where the soccer team plays. It has also hosted NCAA Tournament games. The field has a track for the track and field teams.
AU has tennis courts and basketball courts outdoors. The university has hosted Patriot League tennis championships.
In 2008 and 2009, AU's men's basketball team won the Patriot League Championship. This earned them a spot in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.
The William I Jacobs Recreational Complex on campus has a softball field and sand volleyball courts. The Marilyn Meltzer Wrestling Room is where the men's wrestling team practices.
Notable People from American University
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Americana (Washington D. C.) para niños
