To:

American University Community

From:

Doug Kudravetz, CFO, Vice President and Treasurer
Mary Clark, Interim Provost

Subject:

Passing of former President George H.W. Bush

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former President George Herbert Walker Bush last Friday evening. Former President Bush will be honored in several ways in Washington, DC in the coming days, including a day of mourning with the closure of the federal government on Wednesday. 

As is the case with other local universities, AU will not cancel classes on Wednesday, but faculty may choose to excuse absences. There also will be unscheduled leave for staff and discretionary on-site presence for faculty. This means: 

• Staff: Unscheduled leave provides all staff not designated as essential the option of utilizing annual leave without the leave being scheduled previously and approved in advance by their immediate supervisor. Nonessential staff must inform their supervisors of their intent to take unscheduled leave. 
• Faculty: At the discretion of individual faculty, classes may continue on-site as scheduled, be cancelled, or be held on-line. It is the responsibility of faculty to notify their students of the option chosen. 

Former President Bush will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from 5 p.m. Monday through 7 a.m. Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, there will be a state funeral for him at the Washington National Cathedral. 

There will be significant security at the National Cathedral – located about one and a half miles from the main AU campus – and in the surrounding neighborhoods. If you drive to campus, please make sure that you plan ahead and leave extra time to travel to and from campus. 

Flags on the AU campus will be flown at half-staff for 30 days in honor of the nation’s 41^st President. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your immediate supervisor or instructor.