AU’s pre-eminence in the federal government’s Presidential Management Fellowship Program has been proven once again with the selection of 59 semi-finalists for 2016—the most of any university in the nation—including a record 27 recent alumni and the first online student ever to be chosen from AU for the prestigious two-year, fully-paid bursary.

American outpaced George Washington University, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland . AU’s top-of-the-charts performance came despite a 32-per cent decline in the overall number of candidates nationwide, from 1,200 to 808.

PMF fellows receive 160 hours of intensive management and leadership training at one or more federal agencies, fulfill a 4-to-6-month developmental assignment, undergo regular evaluation and assessments, and are eligible for conversion to a full-time or term position upon the successful completion of the program. The fellowship was established in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter.

The PMF Program is expected to announce its finalists in March.