The Board of Trustees fall 2024 meeting (November 21-22, 2024) highlighted important progress in key areas that support our vision for AU as an innovative higher education community that is addressing the challenges of our world. As we navigate rapidly changing dynamics in higher education and our broader society, we are committed to our mission of creating knowledge and educating and empowering students to pursue lives and careers of purpose.

In his first report to the trustees, President Jon Alger reflected on his initial months at American University, sharing high-level insights and opportunities identified during his more than 30 listening sessions with students, faculty, and staff. Building on our research strengths, enhancing community and connection, developing new academic programs to address the grand challenges of the 21^st century, and promoting civic engagement and education and civil discourse through The Civic Life initiative are among the key areas that will be foundations for the upcoming strategic planning process.

Acting Provost Vicky Wilkins and Vice President Evelyn Thimba presented the current fall 2024 enrollment levels and the ongoing recruitment work for the incoming class in fall 2025. Our new Early Action application for undergraduate students is showing strong initial results and we are working on new partnerships and expanding international efforts to attract graduate students. With student enrollment and retention as core elements of the university’s budget, Vice President Bronté Burleigh-Jones discussed the FY26 budget process and the actions and opportunities that will help us align our mission and vision with our resources and structures to help AU continue to thrive.

Vice President Matt Bennett highlighted ongoing strategic university marketing efforts aimed at enhancing AU’s reputation and supporting the enrollment priorities. He presented recent work to improve audience engagement including the redesigned AU homepage, new collateral materials, and expanded social media content featuring students and campus life. Vice President Burleigh-Jones and Vice President Raymond Ou updated the trustees on campus safety, including the implementation of several new policies that went into effect this fall and our comprehensive approach for supporting campus activism activity while maintaining a safe environment for all. Finally, Vice President Burleigh-Jones updated the trustees about the ongoing campus safety review process, which continued this fall with an updated resources website, community forums in October, and a campus survey. The process is expected to be complete in the first part of the spring semester and findings will be shared with the community.

During our business meeting, we approved the honorary degree for our fall commencement speaker, and we were all excited to welcome actor and AU alumnus Sean Astin on December 15. We also honored Professor Bob Karch, who has been a member of the AU community for more than 50 years and was instrumental in securing the gift of Airlie in 2016.

The Board of Trustees will next meet on February 27-28, 2025. We hope your conclusion of the semester was successful and you enjoyed well-deserved rest over the holidays. Congratulations to fall graduates, celebrating you was a heartening capstone to 2024.