The Faculty & Staff Community Group program was launched in 2017 starting with the Black Faculty & Staff Community Group. Since that time, seven additional community groups have formed, including the LGBTQ+, Latino and Hispanic, People of Color, International (AU Global), Disability+, AANHPI, and Military-Connected Faculty and Staff Community Groups. 

Community-focused groups increase a sense of belonging for all faculty and staff at American University. All staff and faculty members are invited to join one or more community groups. Our community groups are supportive networks that empower employees to connect around shared identities, experiences, or allyship in a collaborative and respectful space.

Sign up here to join community group(s) listservs.

Below is a list of all eight of our current groups:

• Black Faculty & Staff Community Group  
• Disabililty+ Faculty & Staff Community Group
• International Faculty & Staff Community Group
• Latino and Hispanic Faculty & Staff Community Group
• LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff Community Group
• People of Color Faculty & Staff Community Group
• AANHPI Faculty & Staff Community Group
• Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Community Group

The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) works to create a strong community by valuing and engaging the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of our students, faculty, and staff in order to cultivate collaboration, innovation, and leadership on campus and beyond. Our office also addresses issues of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct to ensure compliance with local and federal civil rights laws. Our aim is to live out our values of inclusive excellence by leading with conviction, modeling compassion, and inspiring efforts that build a better world for all of us.

We encourage all of our community to participate in the many activities and events designed to start conversations and help us find our similarities and understand our differences.

Kay has been a "house of prayer for all people" and is home to more than two dozen religious communities. Kay has championed the idea of unity in differences, seeking to help each community live out its own vibrant faith as our way of celebrating religious perspectives rather than trying to water our religious expressions down into a lowest common denominator kind of experience. Kay is a home for students, faculty, and staff of any and all faiths. All of our communities of faith are open to visitors who are either looking for religious community or who are simply curious to learn something about different religious traditions. All of our services are open to all.

Our unique looking building—a round structure with a sixteen-foot impressionist flame on top—sits on the north side of the university's Eric Friedheim Quad directly opposite the library on the south end. These two structures comprise the intellectual and spiritual "poles" of American University, reflecting the institution's commitment to both intellectual and spiritual pursuits, to "knowledge and vital piety combined."

The mission of the Veterans Lounge is to provide a space for the AU military community to gather for camaraderie and mutual support toward achieving academic objectives.

For faculty and staff, AU now has a Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Affinity Group. Consider signing up as a member.

Raising healthy and happy children can be as challenging as it is rewarding. This group brings together faculty and staff from across campus to share parenting experiences. Join the listserv today!