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A

American University

American

Also known as: AU

universitystandardest. 1893

Washington, DC, US

American University (AU) is a Methodist-affiliated university in Washington, D.C., chartered in 1892, known for public service and internationalism. It began instruction in 1914 and later established the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public Affairs.

Overview

American University (AU) is a Methodist-affiliated research university in Washington, D.C., chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892, at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst. Founded by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to create a national institution promoting public service, internationalism, and pragmatic idealism, AU opened for graduate instruction in October 1914 with 28 students and added undergraduate programs in 1925. The university established the School of Public Affairs in 1934 specifically to train federal employees in public administration, fulfilling George Washington's vision for a national university to train public servants. Today, AU comprises eight schools and colleges serving 13,347 students under President Jonathan Alger, with its stated mission "to advance knowledge, foster intellectual curiosity, build community, and empower lives of purpose, service, and leadership." The institution maintains its connection to the United Methodist Church while requiring no religious affiliation for admission or employment. As a congressionally chartered institution in the nation's capital, AU has maintained close ties to federal operations through its public affairs programs and partnerships with D.C.-region organizations. Notable alumni include Lonnie G. Bunch III, who served as an AU history professor before becoming founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Key Programs & Events

programDeclassified1964 – 1965

Project Camelot

Army/CIA-linked counterinsurgency research program. Caused a major scandal when exposed in 1965.

Source: Exposed by Chilean academics, congressional investigation

founding1934

School of Public Affairs Established

Founded partly to educate future federal employees in public administration.

founding1934

School of Public Affairs Established

The School of Public Affairs was founded specifically to train federal employees in public administration.

founding1934

School of Public Affairs Establishment

Founded specifically for training federal employees in public service and administration.

founding1914-10

University Opening

AU opened for graduate instruction with 28 students after dedication on May 15, 1914.

founding1914-05-15

Official Dedication

The university was officially dedicated after twelve years of development following the congressional charter.

founding1914-05-15

Official Dedication and Opening

American University was officially dedicated and began instruction with 28 graduate students in October 1914.

founding1914-05-15

Official Opening

American University officially opened as a graduate institution with 28 students and was formally dedicated.

founding1914-05-15

Official Dedication

University was officially dedicated with President Woodrow Wilson delivering the dedication address.

founding1914-05-15

Official Dedication

The university was officially dedicated and began instruction in October 1914 with 28 graduate students.

founding1914-05-15

Official Dedication

American University was officially dedicated after fundraising efforts.

founding1898

Washington College of Law Established

Founded as the first law school of its kind founded and led by women, Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett.

founding1898

Washington College of Law Establishment

Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett founded the first U.S. law school established and led by women.

founding1898

Washington College of Law Established

Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett founded the first U.S. law school founded and led by women.

founding1898

Washington College of Law Establishment

Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett established the first law school founded and led by women.

founding1898

Washington College of Law Establishment

Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett founded the first U.S. law school founded and led by women.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by Act of Congress at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst to create a national institution for public service education.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

Congress chartered American University at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst to create a national institution promoting public service and internationalism.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress as a Methodist institution through the efforts of bishop John Fletcher Hurst.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress through the advocacy of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was established by an Act of Congress and chartered in 1893 as a national Methodist institution.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst to promote public service and train future government servants.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress, establishing the institution in the District of Columbia.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress in Washington, D.C.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

American University Chartered

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was established by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Act of Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress through efforts of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter Granted

American University received its charter from the U.S. Congress, establishing it as a Methodist-affiliated institution for training public servants.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress at the urging of Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Congress

American University was officially chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was established by Act of Congress, making it one of the few universities with a congressional charter.

founding1892-12-05

Chartered by Congress

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress.

founding1892-12-05

Congressional Charter

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress, establishing it as a Methodist-affiliated national institution.

Departments & Divisions

Washington College of LawWCL

Founded by women's rights pioneers to provide legal education to women excluded from mainstream law schools.

est. 1896
Washington College of Law

First U.S. law school founded and led by women, with early graduate Alice Paul becoming a prominent suffragette.

est. 1898
Washington College of LawWCL

First U.S. law school founded and led by women, established in 1898 by Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett.

est. 1898
Washington College of LawWCL

First law school founded and led by women, established in 1898 by Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett.

est. 1898
Washington College of LawWCL

The first law school founded and led by women, founded in 1898.

est. 1898
Washington College of LawWCL

Established in 1898 as the first law school founded and led by women, with early graduates including suffragette Alice Paul.

est. 1898
Washington College of Law

The first U.S. law school founded and led by women, later became part of AU.

est. 1898
Washington College of Law

First U.S. law school founded and led by women.

est. 1898
Washington College of LawWCL

First U.S. law school founded and led by women, with early graduate Alice Paul becoming a prominent suffragette.

est. 1898
College of Arts and Sciences

Introduced undergraduate degrees, expanding from AU's initial graduate-only focus.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences introduced undergraduate degrees to the university.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Introduced undergraduate degrees at American University.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Originally the College of Liberal Arts, established in 1925 to provide undergraduate education.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Originally the College of Liberal Arts established in 1925, marking AU's expansion to undergraduate education.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Established in 1925, offering undergraduate degrees.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Established in 1925 to offer undergraduate degrees and programs at American University.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Originally the College of Liberal Arts, it marked the beginning of undergraduate programs at American University.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Offers undergraduate degrees and originated as the College of Liberal Arts.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Originally the College of Liberal Arts, established in 1925 to provide undergraduate education at the previously graduate-only institution.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

This college offers undergraduate degrees.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Introduced undergraduate degrees, shifting from a graduate-only focus.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Established as the College of Liberal Arts in 1925 to offer undergraduate degrees.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Formerly the College of Liberal Arts, this division introduced undergraduate degree programs.

est. 1925
College of Liberal Arts

Established in 1925 to provide the first undergraduate programs at the previously graduate-only institution.

est. 1925
College of Arts and Sciences

Formerly the College of Liberal Arts, admitting undergraduates starting in 1925.

est. 1925
School of Public Affairs

The School of Public Affairs was founded to train federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded specifically for training federal employees in public service and administration.

est. 1934
School of Public AffairsSPA

Founded in 1934 to train federal employees in public administration, serving as a key pipeline for government personnel.

est. 1934
School of Public AffairsSPA

Founded specifically to educate future federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public AffairsSPA

Founded specifically to train future federal employees and government administrators.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 to train federal employees in public administration, reflecting AU's mission to prepare public servants.

est. 1934
School of Public AffairsSPA

Founded in 1934 as one of the first graduate schools dedicated to training public servants and policy professionals.

est. 1934
School of Public AffairsSPA

Founded in 1934 specifically to train federal employees in public administration, reflecting the university's public service mission.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 specifically to educate future federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 to educate future federal employees.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 to educate future federal employees.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Dedicated to educating future federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

This school focuses on public administration training.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 to educate federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

This school was established to educate future federal public administration employees.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

The School of Public Affairs was founded to educate future federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Aimed at educating future federal employees in public administration; now a flagship program.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Focused on public administration training for federal employees.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Aimed at educating federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
School of Public Affairs

Founded in 1934 to educate future federal employees in public administration.

est. 1934
Washington College of Law

This college provides professional law degrees.

est. 1949
Washington College of Law

A well known law school.

Special Operations Research OfficeSORO

Hosted Project Camelot, a controversial social science research program from 1964-65.

Special Operations Research OfficeSORO

Research office that ran Project Camelot as mentioned in current bio.

Quick Facts

Founded

1893

Headquarters

Washington, DC, US

Type

university

Transparency

standard

Status

Active

Wikipedia →Website →

Connections

1

mapped relationships

Institutional Connections

Connections

funded
Central Intelligence Agency

SORO at American University ran Project Camelot (1964-65).

1964 – 1965Covert