Since its founding by an Act of Congress in 1893 as a private, independent, co-educational institution under the auspices of the United Methodist Church, American University has been a national and international university. A distinctive feature of the university is its cosmopolitan, multicultural campus population. Approximately 11,000 students are equally divided between undergraduate and graduate, come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 140 countries.

AU actively promotes international understanding, which is reflected in the university's course offerings, faculty research and the regular presence of world leaders on campus. The university's six schools and colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences, Kogod School of Business, School of Communication, School of International Service, School of Public Affairs and Washington College of Law, offer research and work experiences both in the classroom, throughout Washington, DC and around the world.

The Kogod School of Business has just been named by the Wall Street Journal and Business Week magazine as one of the top business schools in the country. The School of International Service is recognized as the largest of its kind in the U.S. The School of Public Affairs is ranked among the top 15 programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Washington College of Law's clinical program ranks third in the nation, its international law program is ranked among the top 10 in the nation and the school itself ranks among the top 50 U.S. law schools according to U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges.

Faculty awards range from the Pulitzer Prize and Fulbright Scholarships to Academy Awards and Emmys.

The university has three priorities as the core of its business plan:

• academic inquiry: the creation and transmission of knowledge
  
• quality of the student experience
  
• extensive engagement with Washington and global affairs
  

American University has been building its partnership with the Washington metropolitan area for more than 100 years. The University takes its responsibility to the community very seriously. Businesses, local governments and individuals throughout the area depend on AU to bring financial benefits and a myriad of resources to the region.

Facts and Figures About AU

• American University's total economic impact on the District of Columbia in 2001 was over $600 million. AU is one of the area's largest employers.
  
  
• AU injected about $275,000,000 into the District economy. The University employs a workforce of 7,137 full-time and part-time faculty and staff.
  
  
• Nearly 35,000 AU alumni live in the District area and generate additional millions of dollars in taxes and expenditures.
  
  
• AU is the first university in the country to offer wireless data, voice and messaging capabilities on campus.
  
  
• National and international media contacted AU for quotes/comments on political, business, social, educational and religious issues more than 3,500 times in 2001.
  
  
• WAMU, American's National Public Radio Station, is one of the top 5 NPR stations in the country.
  
  
• American University will add two new cultural venues within the District. The first is the Greenberg Theatre opening in early 2003, and the second is the Katzen Arts Center scheduled to open in 2004.
  
  
• AU students have distinguished academic records and earn many honors and awards, including Fulbright, Truman, Marshall, Jack Kent Cooke, Boren and Rotary Scholarships; Javits Fellowships; memberships in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society; and appointments as Presidential Management Interns and White House Fellows.
  
  
• Over 80% of AU undergraduate students and 60% of graduate students complete at least one internship or other experiential education experience by graduation.
  
  
• Fifty-seven percent of AU's undergraduate and 40% of graduate students participate in significant community service in the local community by graduation.
  
  
• Nine U.S. Presidents have served on AU's Board of Trustees.
  

Find out more at http://www.american.edu/media/.


Business Assets

Business Assistance

For immediate information on the types of resources and how to access AU's resources, please call 202-885-2700 to speak with someone in the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer's office about your needs, or visit their website at http://www.american.edu/finance/vpfin/. Click on VP for Finance Staff to see a directory of names and numbers to be directed to the appropriate office on campus.

Centers, Institutes and Programs

There are 32 centers, institutes and programs that can assist international and local businesses. Each of these areas offers the expertise of world-renowned scholars as well as a presence in the local community through volunteer service or educational programs. Visit http://www.american.edu/academics to find out more about these programs:

Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
American Consortium on European Union Studies
American University of Sharjah
Campaign Management Institute
Center for Asian Studies
Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies
Center for Global Peace
Center for the Global South
Center for Islamic Peace
Center for Israeli Studies
Center for North American Studies
Center for Social Media
Center of Slavic and Related Studies
Center for Teaching Excellence
Comparative Justice Institute
Federal Elections Project
Global Intellectual Property Project (GLIPP)
Graduate Research Center on Europe
Institute for Democracy and Election Management
Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation
Intercultural Management Institute
International Institute for Health Promotion
Justice Programs Office
Key Executive Program
Kogod's Center for Information Technology and Global Economy
National Center for Health and Fitness
National Training Laboratory Program (AU/NTL)
Program on Counseling Electronic Commerce Entrepreneurs
Public Affairs Institute
Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable
Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC)
Women and Politics Institute

Faculty/Research Staff Specialists

Ninety-six percent of the faculty has the highest degree in their fields. AU faculty are noted both for their commitment to teaching and for their nationally and internationally recognized research and creative endeavors. Taking advantage of its location in the nation's capital, American University supplements its 476 outstanding full-time faculty and 102 administrators and library personnel with adjunct faculty from the Washington professional community.

The Center for Teaching Excellence was created to support faculty use of cutting-edge education technology in the classroom as well as offering pedagogical assistance to anyone with teaching responsibilities.

The office of Media Relations provides campus news and information to the media and the public. For assistance in contacting qualified faculty with specific expertise, contact Media Relations at 202-885-5950 or aumedia@american.edu. View the Experts Guide at http://www.american.edu/media/.

Partnerships

American University was the first university in the country to integrate its telephone and IT infrastructure to provide wireless voice, data and messaging capabilities anywhere, anytime on campus. AU partnered with KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint), CISCO Systems, IBM, Compaq Computer, Foxcom Wireless and Cingular Wireless to explore cutting-edge applications of wireless technology on campus, while providing them with access to new student markets.

Partnership Programs

American's partnership with local governments, businesses and individuals exemplifies the University's tradition of turning ideas into action and action into service. American has a long history of partnering with the District of Columbia School system to provide tutors, improve teaching methods, college admission counseling and scholarship opportunities to make college affordable.

American University seeks other partnerships with local businesses in order to meet the growing needs of our undergraduate and graduate students. For example, the University has secured a long-term master lease on a 250-unit apartment building near campus, which provides students with an attractive housing option and the apartment owners with a guaranteed flow of rental income.

AU also brings business to campus to better serve the campus community. The Career Center works with area corporations and organizations regularly to identify opportunities for both internship and permanent employment opportunities.

Current campus businesses include a bank branch, a travel agency, dry cleaners, hair salon, photocopy and mail center, coffee shop and multiple eating establishments.

The Kogod School of Business has established partnerships and alliances throughout the metropolitan area and offers customized executive training. Visit http://kogod.american.edu/ArtPage.cfm?ItemID=137 to learn more about this training. Kogod's Center for Information Technology and the Global Economy undertakes research in collaboration with institutions and firms worldwide to shed light on critical issues related to global business and information technology. Management of Global Information Technology (MoGIT) is a partnership-created MBA program at the Kogod School of Business. Senior managers from key strategic corporate partners were intimately involved in the creation of the program. Working together with Kogod faculty and administrators, they defined the program mission and curriculum content.

AU's National Center for Health and Fitness

The Center for Health and Fitness, has worked extensively with international corporations such as Hoescht Celanese and TRW, insurance giants such as Aetna and Allstate and government agencies such as the U.S. Army and U.S. Public Health Service, to develop and implement health promotion activities and programs. The International Center for Health Promotion provides similar resources on a global level.

Corporate or government executives interested in learning how to take advantage of University resources should contact the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer's office at 202-885-2700.

Types of Academic Programs Related to Business

American University offers 55 bachelor's programs, 66 master's programs, 13 doctoral programs, JD and LLM degrees and a variety of certificate programs. AU's six major academic divisions are the College of Arts and Sciences, which is made up of 21 teaching units; Kogod School of Business; School of Communication; School of International Service; School of Public Affairs and Washington College of Law. A complete list of academic programs can be found at http://www.american.edu/academics.

The Kogod School of Business routinely brings business leaders to campus to speak to students-both graduate and undergraduate. Together with some of the country's most progressive and successful companies, Kogod has created academic programs that train students to work effectively in cross-functional teams, deal with multidimensional problems, and think creatively.

The Alan Meltzer CEO Leadership Speaker Series brings top business leaders to campus to provide insight into practical and strategic business issues. Kogod students have the opportunity to interact informally with the CEO during a reception following the presentation.

In 2001, the series hosted the following top business leaders:

• Barry Schuler, Chairman and CEO, Digital Services Development Group, AOL TimeWarner
  
• Brigadier General Andrew B. Davis, Director of Public Relations for the U.S. Marine Corps
  
• Barbara Krumsiek, CEO, Calvert Group
  
• Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief, Kiplinger Letter
  
• Allan Sloan, Wall Street Editor, Newsweek
  

Another program offered by Kogod is the annual conference, Kogod Interactive. Managed by Kogod students, it presents future business leaders with the opportunity to develop strategies to deal with a challenging and changing economic future. Conference participants can work with today's business leaders in small workshops that touch upon subjects as diverse as:

• The Security Question: New Urgency for an Old Question
  
• Biotech: The Next Frontier In Biotechnology and Its Impact On Our World
  
• IT Consulting: Areas With High Demand
  
• Biotech: What Career Opportunities Does it Offer to MBA's?
  
• Knowledge Management: Judging the Necessity of a KM System
  
• Industries with Opportunities: A Look at Where the Jobs Are
  
• Energy: California, Enron and Oil
  
• Wired or Not: What's on the Emerging Security Technological Horizon?
  

Previous speakers have included Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Radio; Mark Walsh, Chief Technology Officer at the Democratic National Party and former President/CEO of VertialNet; and Chris Schroeder, President of Washingtonpost.com.

Continuing/Certificate Education

While the university does not offer formal continuing education programs, it does offer a wide variety of certificate and part-time graduate programs including evening and weekend classes to make it easier for working adults to take classes. Kogod will customize executive education courses to meet the specific needs of organizations. For more information on the Kogod Executive Education program, visit http://kogod.american.edu/ArtPage.cfm?ItemID-137 or call 202-885-1994.

Master's and doctoral programs are offered in each of the schools and colleges. Those of most interest to the business community are arts management, business (all areas), chemistry, computer science, development finance and banking, economics, environmental science and policy, health promotion management, human resource management, information technology, international communication, international development, international relations, mathematics and statistics, organization development, public administration and public communication. For more information, visit http://www.american.edu/academics.

For those who do not wish to pursue a degree, certificate programs can usually be completed within 18 to 24 months. For more information, call 202-885-6000, or email afa@american.edu. AU currently offers certificates in arts management, cross-cultural communication, environment assessment, information resource management, information systems, international economic relations, organizational change, public financial management, public management, social research, systems and project management, teaching English to speakers of other languages, the Americas, translation: French, Russian or Spanish and toxicology.

Student Internships and Hiring Opportunities

American University's Career Center is an award winning program that has served as a model for many other schools and colleges throughout the country. Students are encouraged to integrate academic studies with professional experience to earn academic credit and valuable real world experience. Full-time faculty members guide and evaluate the student intern experience and help them to explore career options or prepare for advanced degree programs.

Many District-based employers have their staffing needs met through the University's Career Center. The center lists more than 23,000 unique jobs annually for consideration by students and alumni. Each year, more than 1,000 businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations in the District benefit from the professional contributions of students who have chosen to make work and internships part of their academic experience. For more information, visit the Career Center at http://www.american.edu/careercenter/internships or call the director of Experiential Education at 202-885-1806.

Internships

More than 80%of AU's undergraduates and 60% of graduate students complete at least one internship or experiential education experience prior to graduation. Internships vary from volunteer service to work for pay and may be either full- or part-time positions. Interns work with businesses, in labs, with different levels of government and with arts, education, community, policy and international organizations. In addition to the services offered by the Career Center, each of the schools and colleges find internship opportunities for students through their faculty, alumni and professional affiliations.

College of Arts and Sciences
School of Communication
Kogod School of Business
School of International Service
School of Public Affairs
Washington College of Law

Permanent Employment

The Career Center provides a range of services for industries of all sizes and will work with corporations and organizations to find qualified candidates to meet their hiring needs. The Career Center hosts two Job & Internship Fairs in the fall and spring semesters. These fairs offer an opportunity to recruit undergraduate and graduate students for internship positions or part-time and full-time jobs. The fairs typically attract over 1,000 students.

For more information, contact the Career Center's employer relations specialist at 202-885-1814. For a customized marketing consultation, contact the employer relations manager at 202-885-1820.

Both Kogod and the Washington College of Law (WCL) have their own recruiting offices. For Kogod MBA recruitment, contact Corporate Relations at 202-885-1989. To post a job or to recruit a WCL graduate, contact the director of Career Services at 202-885-4091.

University Research

The Office of Sponsored Programs manages all research projects by faculty and students who receive outside funding from corporations, foundations, individuals and government agencies. Last year, faculty members received grants and contracts from external agencies and organizations worth more than $12.74 million, and 436 AU faculty members published books, monographs, articles, government or corporate reports and creative works. Contact the director of Sponsored Programs at 202-885-3442 or email osp@american.edu for more information.

AU's Media Relations provides news and information on research initiatives generated by American's faculty. These subjects range from economic development to campaign finance, technology in the classroom to the human genome project, organized crime to gender equity and globalization of communication media to health care. To identify qualified faculty with specific expertise, contact Media Relations at 202-885-5950 or aumedia@american.edu. View the AU Experts Guide at http://www.american.edu/media/.

Small Business/Entrepreneurial Services

American offers many opportunities for the small business owner or entrepreneur to receive training. Within the Kogod MBA program, students may concentrate in Enterprise Management or Entrepreneurship Management. Other departments such as the International Training and Education Program within the College of Arts and Sciences offers intensive training for educators/trainers on entrepreneurship and small business in conjunction with Kogod. The College of Arts and Sciences also offers arts management and health promotion management degrees.

AU offers other resources to the small business owner or entrepreneur. Under the direction and guidance of its distinguished faculty, the Washington College of Law offers clinics such as the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic. Cases assigned to students in the clinic involve issues drawn from the full range of intellectual property specialties (copyright, patent, trademark and beyond). Under the supervision of professors, students engage in client counseling, transactional lawyering and litigation, administrative and legislative advocacy.

The clinic represents individual creators and users of intellectual property, small businesses and communities of rights-holders and consumers, not-for-profit institutions and associations and other entities - all without fee. They will consider any and all cases and matters on behalf of clients who require quality intellectual property representation but who are unable to obtain legal services from the general market. More information on this clinic is available at http://www.wcl.american.edu/clinical/ipclinic.cfm. To find out more about the clinic's director, Peter Andrew Jaszi, visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/faculty/jaszi or call 202-274-4216.


Community Assets

Located in upper Northwest, DC, the university's 76-acre campus offers a restful atmosphere and open green space for jogging, dog walking or relaxing. The campus is just minutes from the Tenley Metro stop and downtown Washington.

Residents of Greater Washington are welcome to attend a variety of special programs on campus, including lectures, athletic events, concerts, plays and recitals. Many community groups hold meetings in American University's facilities. Bender Library serves as a learning resource and study center for the wider community, and memberships in the sports center with its expanded and renovated Jacobs Fitness Center are available.

Area residents can also enjoy AU's radio station, WAMU-FM at http://wamu.org/. Licensed to American University in 1961, WAMU-FM is a not-for-profit public radio station that serves the Greater Washington metropolitan area. The station fulfills a community outreach role for the University through 24-hour programming that includes a variety of news, public affairs, public service and music programs. The nationally syndicated Diane Rehm show is produced here. Businesses underwrite the production of many of these programs. WAMU is committed to covering political and social issues in the District and sponsors public forums and community events throughout the year. A member of National Public Radio (NPR), WAMU is the top news and information public radio station in the area and attracts the second largest public radio audience in the nation.

Overall Economic Impact

In the academic year 2001-2002, AU injected about $275,000,000 into the District economy. The University employs a workforce of 7,137 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, of which approximately 4,152 (58%) are District residents. The remainder reside in Maryland and Virginia. During fiscal year 2001-2002, AU employees who lived in the District generated more than $2,216,000 in District income tax withholding revenue. The University paid nearly $228,000 in DC unemployment tax for those employees. During 2001-2002, the AU payroll for its employees living in the District was more than $41,000,000. Additional funds were spent on income taxes in Maryland and Virginia.

The nearly 7,000 AU alumni who live in the District generate additional millions of dollars in taxes and expenditures. AU brings close to 12,000 out-of-town visitors to Washington, DC, annually who support local hotels, restaurants, entertainment and tourist attractions. American has partnerships with local hotels to encourage our visitors to use their services.

AU offers an extensive range of scholarships, loans, grants and part-time employment opportunities to help students defray the cost of higher education. Sources include the University, individuals, federal, state and private organizations. Approximately 60% of AU students receive some form of financial aid. In 2001-2002, the University provided over $30,000,000 in financial assistance to AU students who reside in the District. City residents are eligible for many scholarships and grants offered by the University, including the Community Studies Scholarships, Fredrick Douglass Scholarships, Federal Work-Study Community Service Program and other District-oriented scholarship awards.

Community Service Programs

American University students, alumni, faculty and staff are committed to providing assistance and services for District area residents. Through its Community Service Center on campus and WAMU's public service announcements that can be found online at http://www.wamu.org/, AU promotes and coordinates volunteer activities with meaningful, structured programs to address issues such as housing and homelessness, hunger, environmental issues and literacy tutoring. A number of students also work independently with the elderly. Student volunteerism continues at exceptional levels, with almost 40% of AU undergraduates performing service in the local community each year. More than 50% of the staff and faculty contribute at least one hour of community service each year. In 2001-2002, the University's 2,000 volunteers contributed 41,720 service hours. A sampling of ongoing community service activities includes the following:

Established in 1991, the Freshman Service Experience engages approximately 500 new students and 100 returning student leaders each fall in community service in the District. The week before classes start, freshmen volunteer an average of 10,000+ hours at more than 60 work sites. In addition, every AU athletic team participates in two volunteer projects per year. Over 250 athletes volunteer their time in various programs. All of the 11 fraternities and 13 sororities at AU participate in philanthropic activities. Activities include fund raising for the Special Olympics, St. Elizabeth's Hospital Volunteer Program, the Pediatric Aids Foundation, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, numerous blood drives, tutoring services and assistance at nursing homes. Our students also go on "alternative spring breaks" to carry out community service projects in such locations as Cuba, North Carolina or Vietnam.

Each year, through AU's well-known Washington Semester program, more than 800 students from colleges and universities across the country come to the city to intern with federal and District government agencies, cultural and media organizations. These students help their sponsoring organizations provide services to the community.

The Washington College of Law's clinical programs provide free legal services, under close faculty supervision, to poor and otherwise under-represented residents of the District. The Women and the Law Clinic represents indigent women in family law cases and offers a special program in domestic violence. The Community and Economic Development Clinic works with under-represented clients through a variety of advocacy strategies. The Criminal Justice Clinic prosecutes and defends criminal cases. The Civil Practice Clinic assists low-income residents of the District of Columbia with a wide range of civil legal problems. The International Human Rights clinic handles domestic and international cases with human rights dimensions including District residents seeking asylum through the immigration system. The Tax Clinic represents taxpayers involved in Internal Revenue Service cases who would otherwise not be able to secure legal representation. The Intellectual Property Law Clinic assists under-represented DC residents with cases involving copyright, patent, trademark and related fields. Students also develop public interest projects, work with Neighborhood Legal Services and the Whitman-Walker Clinic and are involved in the Voting Rights Project working to achieve full Congressional representation for Washington, DC.

Pro bono work by law school faculty has included representation of local housing groups, tenants' associations, community development groups, labor unions, homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters. One prominent professor is a nationally recognized expert on, and strong proponent of, DC Voting Rights.

The Community Service Learning Project benefits residents of the District who need personal support and/or social services. It involves over 50 students per year in a community service project consisting of at least 40 hours per semester of approved off-campus work.

Education and Training

The School of Education (SOE) in the College of Arts and Sciences offers programs that prepare teachers, educational leaders, managers, educational specialists and researchers for careers in schools, colleges, federal, state and local government agencies, community and professional organizations. SOE has initiated many programs within DC elementary, middle and high schools to improve the use of technology in teaching and to prepare students for a college education. Professor Sally Smith is a pioneer in the instructional methods used at the Lab School of Washington for students with learning disabilities. Visit http://www.american.edu/cas/soe/partnerships.html to find out more about AU's partnerships with DC schools.

Faculty conduct the Eisenhower Professional Development Institutes for middle school and high school teachers in the District of Columbia to promote integration of mathematics, science, technology and the language arts. Wilson High School, Deal Junior High School, Hardy Middle School, The Lab School of Washington, Coolidge High School, Backus Middle School, Paul Junior High School and Takoma Educational Center have participated in this program.

The International Training and Education Program (ITEP) is dedicated to the preparation of leaders and practitioners in international and community education, focusing on education both as an instrument of international development and as a means of promoting cross-cultural understanding.

DC Computer Science Conference, conducted in collaboration with Joint Educational Facilities, Inc., gives DC high school students a unique opportunity to experience the computing profession and gain confidence in their own computing and presentation skills. The students give talks with posters in a conference-style setting. AU publishes the students' papers in a conference proceedings booklet. To prepare for the conference, AU faculty and students work with DC teachers and their students on computing projects throughout the year.
Murch School Partnership is part of the District Public Schools' Partnership Education Program linking businesses, non-profit groups and universities with area elementary and secondary schools. Through the partnership, AU's School of Education faculty provide teacher preparation and assessment workshops for Murch teachers. Murch teachers also are able to use our School of Education lab and curriculum development facilities and materials.

DC Reads benefits from more than 180 tutors provided by AU each year to help raise the literacy rates of District youth. AU DC Reads sites are predominately located in the Southeast and Columbia Heights areas of Washington, DC. Tutoring sessions are held in public schools or community centers. At most sites students are used to provide one-on-one tutoring, while at other locations, tutors are used as teacher assistants in the classroom.

High School/College Internship Program (HI/SCIP) allows DC high school seniors to enroll in college courses, earning approximately six transferable college credits. Enrollment is through high school counselors during April of their junior year. Eligibility requirements include: residency in DC.; enrollment in a high school in DC and completion of course requirements through the eleventh grade; a minimum GPA of 3.0; and an acceptable PSAT or SAT score. AU gives successful HI/SCIP students priority consideration in admission decisions.

Project Seed is a cooperative venture with the American Chemical Society. DC high school students have the opportunity to conduct independent research in chemistry. Students work full-time, under the supervision of faculty members, to design and complete a project during an eight-week period over the summer. The experience enables students to test their interest in chemistry as an academic discipline and as a potential career. Students receive a small stipend.

Students at American Volunteer Effort (SAVE) annually involves more than 150 AU students in community service activities. Students participate on a daily basis in activities ranging from serving in soup kitchens to working with homeless children and battered women.

Greater Washington College Information Center (GWCIC) is located at the Martin Luther King, Jr., library and is staffed by all colleges in the Consortium. The center's mission is to increase awareness and participation in post-secondary education for low-income minority and immigrant students throughout the Washington metropolitan area. During the past year, AU staff and students volunteered more than 250 hours and hosted several financial aid workshops at the GWCIC.

The Kids to College program is sponsored by the University's office of Multicultural Affairs and brings approximately 100 Lincoln Middle School students per year to a campus workshop on preparing for college.

The Institute for Learning and Retirement offers non-credit courses for senior citizens in a variety of areas. To learn more, call 202-885-1000.

Community Improvement

Since 1992, AU has paid over $31,000,000 to LSDBE-certified enterprises for projects related to bond issues and other university services. On April 7, 1999, Mayor Anthony Williams honored American University for its efforts in this area with a Certificate of Appreciation "..for the significant contribution that the University has made to furthering the purposes of the District of Columbia Local Business Development Administration." He stated that ".you have joined the growing ranks of corporate citizens that have exceeded their commitment to the viability of domestic firms."

Since 1997, over 780 jobs have been listed with District Office of Employment Services (DOES) and 199 have been filled by DC residents. American University also participates in job fairs to provide broad outreach to residents of the District of Columbia. AU also participates in the People's Involvement Corporation Welfare to Work Programs for DC and the DOES Summer Youth Employment Program.

The University regularly donates time, labor and supplies to refurbish and upgrade Turtle Park in our neighboring community. In addition, the university has recently volunteered to take over landscaping duties at Ward Circle and Tenley Circle from the National Park Service. Both areas have long languished due to limited resources of the Park Service.

In the academic year 2001-2002, the University provided more than $30,000,000 in financial assistance to AU students who live in the District. City residents are eligible for many scholarships and grants offered by the University.

AU Students organized a university-wide effort, the House that AU Built. The AU chapter of Habitat for Humanity raised over $70,000 so that 500 AU students could volunteer their time to build a house in Northeast Washington. In April 2002, it was dedicated to Michele Jeter and her five children. The chapter is now planning to raise funds to build a second house.

AU students led an effort to raise $100,000 and recruit more than 300 volunteers to carry out Project Playground. Students constructed a playground on an empty lot between Simon Elementary and Hart Middle schools in Ward 8 of Southeast DC. The playground was donated to DC Parks and Recreation.

Throughout the year, donations of clothing, non-perishable food, books, eyeglasses, office and school supplies are collected from the campus community for distribution to the needy. Each year, academic departments and student organizations sponsor approximately a dozen on-campus blood drives, generating more than 400 units of blood annually to help with the growing demand for blood in District area hospitals.

In addition to the above, American University is pleased to announce a major commitment to the arts in Washington by providing two new venues for cultural activities. The Greenberg Theatre will provide a state-of-the-art-theatre that will seat 300 people. The Theatre is scheduled to open in early 2003. The Greenberg Theatre will contain all the modern "back of house" facilities and equipment needed to stage professional productions.

The second venue is the Katzen Arts Center. The Center will house all of the university's arts education programs in a new 130,000-square-foot-building. The building includes a 30,000-square-foot-gallery to exhibit the university's existing Watkins and Katzen art collections, future donations and acquisitions, student work and visiting exhibitions. Two small performance spaces are also planned for the facility. A 200-seat recital hall will be used primarily for music performances and a laboratory theater will host small performances in all disciplines. Most of the building will house the specialized instructional facilities needed to offer a contemporary arts program. These include painting, drawing, graphic design, music, dance studios, faculty offices and support facilities.

For more information about American University, call 202-885-4811 or e-mail spencer@american.edu.