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Family Update

Message from Dr. Fanta Aw
Vice President, Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence

Photo of Fanta Aw

As I write this, snow is still present in patches, but the ground is thawing and there is warmth in the air. It seems symbolic of where we are as a community: dealing with a challenging present, and yet full of hope and preparing for change. We are busy planning the return to campus this fall, even as we live and work in the present.

It now has been nearly a year since COVID-19 upended life for all of us. It has been particularly hard for our students – being away from campus, pivoting to a new learning modality, and working to build community in spite of it all. The resilience, creativity, and commitment they continue to show is impressive and inspiring, yet we are all eager to be together safely at the appropriate time, in person and face to face. Some of your students will arrive soon for the Mid-Semester Residential Experience, part of our ramped-up on-campus activities this spring. Others will join us on campus in the Fall, and will experience some wonderful changes, such as our newly-opened Hall of Science. We look forward to the return to campus with hope, and also with deep gratitude for all that you as families have been doing to support your students through these unprecedented times.

Event Calendar Make a Gift AU News

Key DateS and REminders

Campus in snow

1098Ts are available now on Eagle Service. 
2/24 - 2/25: Founders Day Challenge - Are you with us?
3/9: Family Webinar: Filling out the FAFSA, 7 p.m. EST
3/4 - 3/14: Mid-Semester Residential Experience move-in
3/7: Meal Plan begins. All dining is to go. Eagle Bucks are available starting March 4.
3/7 - 3/14: Wellness Week, no exams or assignments for students

ARE YOU WITH US? #foundersdaychallenge 

Founders Day

Founders Day is here! Though this past year brought unexpected challenges, Eagle families everywhere stepped up to support students. Your support is even more critical this year. You choose the cause. You make an impact. You help shape AU's future. Every gift makes a difference. Are you with us?

Join the Parent Leadership Council

The Parent Leadership Council (PLC) is a group of parent leaders who champion AU on campus and at home through volunteerism and philanthropy. To join, click the button to the left or email [email protected]

GATES STRESSES OPTIMISM IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Bill Gates

Bill Gates hosted an hour-long virtual conversation with students from American, George Washington, Georgetown, and Howard universities last week. The event came a day after the release of his new book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need.

Tapping into the Power of Data

1 Billion Records on Tap

The Accountability Project, a powerful resource to help newsrooms and researchers search across data, this week surpassed a significant milestone—one billion records.

KOgod School of business awarded $1 million research grant from the national science foundation and amazon

Professors Heng Xu and Nan Zhang, Kogod School of Business

Two Kogod School of Business professors to research fairness and bias in artificial intelligence hiring practices.

New AU Tutoring Corps Supporting Families During Pandemic

Remote learning student

Families are struggling to juggle work, childcare, and school during the pandemic. AU's innovative Virtual Tutoring Corps provides pay and a meaningful teaching experience for AU students, interactive learning assistance for children, and a break from child supervision for AU employees while schools are closed.

SOC Alumna Carol Wright Pens Her Own Story After AU

SOC alumna Carol Wright

Carol Wright was among students who spent the last of their collegiate time in quarantine due to COVID-19. Since, she's made impressive strides as a comms professional, founder of her own magazine, and a soon-to-be grad student at Harvard Business School.

Read American Magazine #11 Top 50 Green Colleges from Princeton Review 93% of grads are working, in grad school, or both #2 producer of Peace Corps volunteers
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