June 22, 2021

Dear AU Community,

A core component of the successful return to in-person learning and residential experiences this fall will be our individual and collective commitment to health and safety. We have learned throughout the pandemic that effective safety protocols can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and advance our core principles of safeguarding our community, furthering our learning and research mission, and supporting the broader response to COVID-19.

Today, we are publishing the updated AU Forward Health and Safety Guide for the fall semester. This comprehensive document outlines our requirements and operational steps that will support our students and our workforce in the return to the classroom and the office. The guide includes updated protocols for mask wearing, testing, and space capacity, among others. It also provides details about building operations, event management, and relevant policies and directives. We encourage you to review this information before the full return to campus in August.

The health and safety measures are based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and DC Department of Health (DCDOH). They also build on the activities and lessons from our community during our revised operations throughout the past year.

Moving forward, the fall health and safety guide will be updated as needed based on the trajectory of the pandemic and relevant new information from CDC and DCDOH. Any significant changes will be communicated to the AU community and posted on the COVID-19 Resources website. Additional reminders and directions about protocols that students, faculty, and staff must follow–including the health pledge/acknowledgement, vaccine requirement, and daily screening–will be provided as we approach the start of the fall semester.

Thank you for your commitment to supporting the health and safety of our community. If you have questions, please email fallfeedback@american.edu.

Sincerely,

Fanta Aw
Vice President of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence

Dan Nichols
Assistant Vice President for Risk Management, Safety, and Transportation