Engaged Citizens

AU strives to prepare our graduates for great lives and great jobs. We believe graduates thrive when they achieve well-rounded success in social, community, and financial well-being.

AU is proud to attract active citizens who want to create meaningful change. AU students seek to participate and engage. They aspire to create personal and professional pursuits that are socially worthwhile and individually fulfilling. In the 2023 Summer Transition Survey, an AU survey conducted of incoming first year students, asked students the importance to them personally of the following:

• 73 percent said it is important to influence social values
• 81 percent said it is important to address racism.
• 57 percent said it is important to influence the political structure.

To help our students achieve these goals, AU facilitates alignment between academic study, co-curricular activity, and individual passion.

AU faculty and staff serve as an important resource as AU students start and continue their journey toward a great life. Our professors are excited about their fields of study and eager to share this excitement with students. In the 2019 Campus Climate survey, when students were asked to rate the quality of faculty members:

• 78 percent of students described their professors as accessible almost always or most of the time.
• 70 percent described their courses as intellectually challenging. Faculty and staff members seek to ensure that every student feels valued, supported, and encouraged as they pursue their individual aspirations.

For undergraduates, AU's interdisciplinary studies, internships, challenging learning communities, and study abroad opportunities enable students to craft a unique path to success, one that reflects their own style and interest in community engagement. It's worth noting that for AU students, "community" could mean the hometown neighborhood or a nation on the other side of the world.

AU encourages students to learn beyond the classroom, gaining experience in fields they care about.

Together, these resources ensure that after graduation, our students are ready to serve as knowledgeable and committed citizens poised to participate in their communities, our democracy, and the world. They engage in public service, including Peace Corps and Teach for America, lead professional associations, join volunteer organizations, contribute to community service, vote and engage in elections, share opinion pieces in news media, and take initiative to start brand-new endeavors. At AU, we aim to produce more than future employees. We help our students acquire the tools, experiences, and support they need to discover their dreams and pursue their purpose.