Jonathan Alger delivered his first report as American University’s president to the Board of Trustees during its November 2024 meeting, reflecting on what he learned from over 30 listening sessions with students, faculty and staff.
Chair of the Board Gina Adams wrote in a January email about the meeting that his insights would be critical to the University’s upcoming strategic planning process.
“Building on our research strengths, enhancing community and connection, developing new academic programs to address the grand challenges of the 21st century, and promoting civic engagement and education and civil discourse through The Civic Life initiative,” will be important to the planning process, Adams wrote.
The Board typically meets four times each year to update trustees on AU happenings and allow time for trustees to approve policy changes when necessary. Two of these meetings occur in the fall.
Alger founded the Civic Life initiative, a program that offers meals and space for discussion for a diversity of voices, in his first semester at the University. The program held a kickoff event on Oct. 21 and has also hosted a Unity Dinner and launched a presidential speaker series. A steering committee of faculty and staff guides the programming.
Vice President Bronté Burleigh-Jones briefed the Board on the progress of the campus safety review on whether to arm the AU Police Department. The Security Review Working Group held forums in October and launched a survey in November to gauge feedback about the options regarding the arming of AUPD officers. The forums were scarcely attended, but most attendees voiced concerns about the idea of arming officers.
The working group’s website said it expected to publish a report from the forums and the feasibility study — which examined the cost and practicality of buying weapons and training officers — by December 2024. As of Feb. 7, there is not a public report from the group. The University is due to announce a decision in February 2025.
Burleigh-Jones and Vice President of Student Affairs Raymond Ou informed trustees about new campus policies and the University’s “comprehensive approach for supporting campus activism activity while maintaining a safe environment for all.”
New and updated policies in fall 2024 included:
- Outdoor chalking policy: notes acceptable locations and uses of chalk by student groups; prohibits others from defacing or removing chalk
- Tabling policy: outlines procedures for AU groups and programs while tabling; requires outside groups to coordinate with an AU host to table
- Facilities use policy: outlines acceptable uses of University facilities and requires that they “align with the intended purpose of each space” and “uphold the highest standards of safety and well-being for all”
- Social media policy: outlines requirements for all social media accounts associated with the University, including University-owned accounts, accounts operated by departments and other units of the University and accounts operated by registered student groups; outlines guidelines for University employees’ personal social media usage
Acting Vice Provost Vicky Wilkins and Vice President of Undergraduate Enrollment Management Evelyn Thimba reported on fall 2024 enrollment levels and recruitment efforts for the next incoming class. Adams also wrote that the University was “working on new partnerships and expanding international efforts to attract graduate students.”
The University’s fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment fell short by nearly 430 students of the 2,250 first-year and transfer student enrollment target.
2024’s faulty FAFSA created extra enrollment challenges for many schools, but for AU, which relies on student tuition and fees for over 90 percent of its operating budget, the drop in enrollment compounded an existing budget shortfall from a previous year of lower graduate enrollments. The result was a $68 million budget deficit.
The University offered early action applications for the first time this year, which Adams wrote were showing “strong initial results.” AU accepted its final applications for first-year students on Jan. 15 and announced the following day that it received a record number of applications, 20 percent more than the previous year.
Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Matthew Bennett also presented some of the University’s new marketing materials — including a redesigned website home page and social media content centered on student life — aimed at “enhancing AU’s reputation and supporting the enrollment priorities.”
Trustees also voted to approve an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for actor Sean Astin — who received a master’s in Public Administration and Policy from the School of Public Affairs — during the fall graduation, where he was the commencement speaker.
“We also honored Professor Bob Karch, who has been a member of the AU community for more than 50 years and was instrumental in securing the gift of Airlie in 2016,” Adams wrote.
The board will meet next on Feb. 27 and 28.
This article was edited by Owen Auston-Babcock, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Olivia Citarella, Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ariana Kavoossi, Hannah Langenfeld and Ella Rousseau.
