The Board of Trustees conducted our annual retreat on September 4-5, 2024 at American University’s Airlie facility in Warrenton, Virginia. During the retreat, we conducted thorough discussions with university leaders on key themes shaping both our current operations and our future strategy––our academic vision, enrollment trends, and the university budget.

On behalf of the trustees, I am excited to announce that we will celebrate President Jon Alger’s inauguration on March 27-28, 2025. A series of campus events and gatherings across two days will culminate in the installation ceremony in Bender Arena on March 28. Please hold the dates for this important community milestone. More information will be shared in the coming weeks and months.

Acting Provost Vicky Wilkins highlighted the ongoing work to match our academic vision to current marketplace realities. We are responding to demographic shifts in the student population, changing financial aid needs, and enhanced student and family expectations for a return on their investment in higher education. Our unfolding vision places the student and our research at the center of our academic mission, builds on our areas of strength, focuses on interdisciplinary scholarship and learning, prepares students to succeed in the future workplace, and provides us the tools and flexibility to nimbly adapt to the changing higher education landscape.

Vice President Evelyn Thimba and Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies Wendy Boland summarized the enrollment levels for fall 2024, which was one of the most challenging enrollment cycles in recent history. They highlighted updated strategies to engage prospective undergraduate and graduate students, including enhanced marketing, the new Early Action undergraduate application, and updated strategies for online graduate educational offerings.

Vice President Bronté Burleigh-Jones updated the trustees on the ongoing management of the FY25 university budget; investments in key student facilities such as the renovations of TDR, McDowell Hall, and the 3rd floor of Mary Graydon Center; our institutional assessments that will contribute to our future strategies; and the extensive community engagement to hear input and feedback as we address budget questions.

During our business meeting, we approved the resolution to officially close the Change Can’t Wait campaign, which exceeded our ambitious $500 million fundraising goal. The campaign and the generous contributions from across the AU community redefined what is possible for American University. The campaign featured than 180 scholarships created or expanded, $34 million raised for the Student Thriving Complex’s Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance and the renovated Mary Graydon Center, nine new endowed faculty positions created, and four dedicated centers and institutes launched or enhanced to help develop impactful scholarship on today’s most pressing challenges.

We also approved Marcus McNeill as our new student trustee-elect. Marcus is a junior majoring in political science, with a minor in education. He previously served as president of the AU Residence Hall Association and as an orientation leader. We look forward to Marcus joining us at the November meeting.  

Finally, Vice President Burleigh-Jones updated the trustees about the ongoing campus safety review process which is continuing this fall with an updated resources website, community forums in October, and campus survey later this fall. The process is expected to be complete by the beginning of the spring semester and findings will be shared with the community.

Our best wishes for a successful fall semester. We look forward to seeing you at the many exciting campus events this fall, including the Civic Life presidential speaker series and the Change Can’t Wait Festival on September 28. The Board of Trustees will next meet on November 21-22, 2024.