Contact Us
Valuing Community
Human Resources is committed to facilitating opportunities to come together as a community to enrich personal experiences and workplace culture.
In an effort to further our commitment to Inclusive Excellence at AU, Human Resources sponsors a number of groups and programs, including AU Connects, faculty & staff affinity groups, support groups, and learning communities. Most recently, we have launched these groups and programs in the last year:
CHEWS - Join the Climate, Health, Environment, and World Systems, also known as CHEWS, learning community for monthly conversations over the lunch hour. While 'chewing' on your lunch, chat about the intersections of climate, health, and equity. Reading resources for meetings will be available in the Teams site once you are registered for the program. Register
(Peri)menopause Support Group - Perimenopause and menopause are important times of transition. Join other members of the AU Community experiencing this change of life for support, education, and hopefully some laughter. Register
AU Community Resource: What Is There for Faculty and Staff? - This is a new onboarding presentation designed to welcome new hires and help them get involved at AU. Learn about AhealthyU, RecFit, Center for Well-Being, AUPD, the Office of Sustainability, and the DEI consultant on how they support AU faculty and staff. Hosted on Workday, this program is perfect for new hires, but all faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Join us and learn how you can engage with the AU community! Register
If you have any questions or ideas for groups or programs or need assistance for a facilitated meeting or presentation with AU Connects, please contact Dr. Shannon Telenko, DEI Consultant for Talent Strategies at telenko@american.edu.
Click the expandable links below to learn more about Inclusive Excellence at AU as well as other communities that provide employee support on campus.
Campus Communities
The Faculty & Staff Affinity Group program was launched in 2017 starting with the Black Faculty & Staff Affinity Group. Since that time, seven additional affinity groups have formed, including the LGBTQ+, Latino and Hispanic, People of Color, International (AU Global), Disability+, AANHPI, and Military-Connected Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups.
The general purpose of affinity groups is to increase a sense of belonging for the targeted membership. Targeted membership for all faculty and staff affinity groups are individuals from historically and currently underrepresented and minoritized communities on our college campuses. Any staff or faculty member is invited to join one or more affinity groups. Members of affinity groups show allyship with targeted membership within an affinity group and across all established affinity groups here at AU.
Sign up here to join affinity group(s) listservs.
Please visit any of the Faculty & Staff Affinity Groups' pages to learn more about each one:
- Black Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- Disabililty+ Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- International Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- Latino and Hispanic Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- People of Color Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- AANHPI Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
- Military-Connected Faculty & Staff Affinity Group
Throughout our history, inclusiveness and diversity have been hallmarks of American University.
Our academic, social, and organizational strength is enhanced by our inclusiveness and respect for the unique identity of individuals reflected in their cultural traditions, beliefs, and viewpoints.
American University embraces diversity in its broadest sense, including diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, nationality, disability, socioeconomic standing, and intellectual viewpoint.
The university views diversity as an essential component of the educational experience of our students and an important indicator of our success in adapting to the dramatic demographic shifts that will occur in the decades ahead.
We will dedicate the necessary resources to recruiting, welcoming, supporting, and retaining outstanding students, faculty, staff, and leadership who will significantly improve the diversity of our community, with particular attention to the inclusion of underrepresented domestic minority students.
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. Here are some ways individual employees can help to foster Inclusive Excellence:
1. Share your pronouns in your email signature and AU Zoom Account. Learn more via this Pronouns Guide.
2. Tell us how to pronounce your name. You can use a free online service like NameCoach and provide the link in your email signature or bio.
3. Sign up for diversity and inclusion trainings.
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 diversity, seeking to help each community live out its own vibrant faith as our way of celebrating religious diversity 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. Learn more about them and 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!
Community News & Events
Inclusive Excellence: Year 2
AU's IE Plan guides efforts across our campus and community to build a culture where everyone feels included.
AU Connects
AU Connects is a network of AU community members who can provide offices and teams with skilled facilitation around topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reach out to Dr. Shannon Telenko, DEI Consultant, to learn more.
Connect with AU Affinity Groups
Interested in learning more about our faculty and staff affinity groups? Join one or all of the group listservs to receive updates and information on future events.