Dear Colleagues,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at this week’s Eagle Welcome event. For those who couldn’t attend, I want to share the main themes I discussed, along with my appreciation for everything you do to make American University a thriving and supportive community.

The start of a new academic year is a time of energy and anticipation. Yet in recent years, and this year in particular, higher education has faced unprecedented challenges—from demographic changes and shifting enrollment patterns to uncertainty and upheaval in federal policy. In times like these, it’s essential to remember why we are here: to empower lives of service, purpose, and leadership, advance knowledge, and serve our community and our world. This mission is a noble calling, and it has never been more important.

Every day, I see that purpose reflected in your work — through the vital roles you play to support our students. You make it possible for students to learn, grow, and succeed. You skillfully navigate the complex operations that keep AU running and foster a culture of inclusion and excellence across campus. AU’s success truly depends on your dedication, creativity, and care.

Staff Award Winners: Celebrating Excellence at AU

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Staff Appreciation Awards, recognized at Eagle Welcome for their extraordinary commitment, innovation, and service to our university. These colleagues represent the best of AU staff who go above and beyond, often behind the scenes, to help our community thrive. And to all our staff: your daily contributions, whether celebrated publicly or carried out quietly, are deeply valued and foundational to our collective success.

For a complete list of award recipients, please visit the Staff Awards webpage.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Entering the 2025–26 academic year, we must both confront challenges and embrace opportunities. Completing the FY26 budget process required deep collaboration across AU, and as this year begins, we continue carefully tracking enrollment and its financial impacts. We’ll provide definitive updates after the October census.

One bright spot: our incoming class will be the most diverse in AU’s history, enriching our educational environment with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. While this reflects national high school demographic trends, it also speaks to the creative, dedicated work of Vice President Evelyn Thimba and her team. Of course, recruiting talented students is only the start—retaining them and supporting their success depends on every one of us building an inclusive, engaging, and welcoming campus.

Navigating the Federal Policy Landscape

Nationally, higher education is grappling with a dynamic—and turbulent—policy environment, with significant developments including:

• Debates over federal funding for student financial aid and research vital to our mission.
• Regulation changes affecting student loan forgiveness and repayment programs.
• New and proposed rules regarding international student visas and work authorization, which impact our ability to welcome global talent.

These trends create real uncertainty across the higher education sector. Despite this, our north star remains unchanged: we stand for academic freedom, equitable access, and a welcoming environment for people from all backgrounds. As I underscored at my inauguration, higher education is a cornerstone of American democracy, and I pledge to work alongside you to defend and advance it in changing times.

In the months ahead, we will continue to engage extensively with members of Congress – including several AU alums currently serving in the House. One of these alums, Representative Sarah McBride (D-Del.), will be joining us on campus on September 3. Stay tuned for more information on that exciting event.

Key Initiatives for the Year Ahead

While managing these challenges, we’re launching exciting new initiatives. Among them is the Democracy Innovation Lab at the Sine Institute for Policy & Politics, which will bring together AU’s expertise and resources to create a national hub for research, collaboration, and thought leadership. In addition, we’ll continue our work through the Civic Life initiative to ensure AU is a place where diverse people come together to engage and debate ideas through civil discourse and search for common ground.

We’re also building a partnership with the Civic Learning & Democracy Engagement Coalition (CLDE), established in 2021 to accelerate civic learning, document best practices, and nurture future leaders in civic engagement. You’ll hear much more about this work and ways to get involved as the year progresses. And we’ll be continuing work on our strategic plan, focusing on the development of a few key “Big Bets” to distinguish and differentiate AU. Through this effort, we’ll be taking a creative look at areas such as our curriculum, career preparation, community engagement, and civic pluralism. Look for opportunities to get involved throughout the coming semester.

Looking Toward 250+

With the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 on the horizon, we’re preparing for the future through the “250+ @ AU” initiative. The “plus” reflects our confidence that America’s experiment in democracy, freedom, and opportunity will endure and evolve—and that AU will continue educating citizens and leaders ready for the challenges to come.

A Community Effort

Progress at AU has always depended on the creativity, commitment, and compassion of our entire community. Thank you again—for your ideas, spirit, care for students, and dedication to our mission. I am truly grateful for every contribution you make.

Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2025–26 academic year.

With gratitude,

Jonathan R. Alger
President, American University