American University supports our staff and faculty by providing paid time off opportunities, including annual leave (vacation), sick leave, holidays, and leave for new parents.

Annual & Sick Leave

Full-time staff accrue 12-21 days of annual leave based on years of service. Library faculty earn 21-24 days of annual leave. Additionally, full-time staff and library faculty accrue 12 days of sick leave to care for themselves or a family member. Eligible part-time staff accrue up to 7 days of sick leave a year.

Family Care

Family Care leave provides as much as 16 weeks of unpaid time off for full-time staff and faculty to care for a family member or to manage their own medical condition.  In some cases, the leave is paid.

Holidays & Closures

American University observes 12 paid holidays per year in addition to Inauguration Day every four years.

Faculty fall, winter, and spring breaks are based on the academic calendar in addition to university holidays and closures.

Medical & Behavioral Health

Medical and behavioral health leave provides full-time staff and faculty the necessary time to prioritize their well-being and concentrate on recovering from medical conditions or psychological challenges.

Parental Leave

Parental leave provides eligible full-time staff and faculty 8 weeks of paid leave to bond with a new child, including adopted and foster children.