Year Four Outcomes

By building on our strong foundation, we continue our journey, remaining focused on actions that increase student access, enhance faculty and staff learning, and create a sense of belonging for all.


AU Marks a Milestone on Journey to Inclusive Excellence

AU’s commitment to advancing equity and inclusion has earned a national award. That's reason to celebrate─and recommit.

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AU Student Earns Obama-Cheskey 'Voyager' Award

Preparing for a life of service

Edwin Santos, SPA/BA ’24, MPA ’25, a first-generation college student; politics, policy, and law scholar; and son of El Salvadoran immigrants; is one of 100 to receive the inaugural Voyager Scholarship: The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. Working with AU’s Office of Merit Awards, Santos, who wants to start a law firm that focuses on criminal and immigration law, plans to travel across Europe helping non-profits who focus on prison reform. “I’m excited to visit other countries, see the world, and learn,” Santos said. “And thanks to this program, I can take that knowledge and use it to help low-income communities.”

Goal 1: Learning, Curriculum, and Professional Development

  • First AU Supervisor Academy focused on the theme of inclusive management
  • 2,000-plus AU community members (students, faculty, and staff) engaged in 47 training sessions on educating the community on the university’s discrimination and harassment policies
  • 649 faculty and staff attended at least one training focused on DEI issues; 80 percent agreed they learned something they can use to make their work and teaching more inclusive
  • 33 staff earned HR’s DEI training certificate
  • Two President’s Cabinet trainings focused on disability equity and antisemitism

Goal 2: Campus Culture, Climate, and Community

  • 4,068 AU community members recorded their name pronunciations for their fellow students and colleagues through NameCoach (launched campus-wide in 2021)
  • A new Asian and Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Faculty-Staff Affinity Group launched, for a total of seven that include Black, Latino and Hispanic, LGBTQ+, international, and people of color groups
  • 39 students enrolled in Black Affinity housing
  • First pride flag raising ceremony held by AU’s LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Affinity Group to celebrate Pride Month
  • First summit on fostering indigenous spaces at AU convened by faculty, students, and staff

Goal 3: Policies, Processes, and Procedures

  • 8,170 individuals entered chosen names, pronouns, or gender identities in AU’s new self-service system
  • Six full-time staff members in the Office of Equity and Title IX
  • 20 restorative circles or conferences held by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services
  • New practices reduced financial barriers to enrollment at AU (including expanded ease of access to fee waivers for Pell-eligible students and self-reported test scores)

Goal 4: Access and Equity

  • New undergraduate admissions partnerships enhanced access for , as well as
  • 65 percent of AU’s 31 new tenure-line faculty and 40 percent of AU’s 91 new term faculty hired in fall 2022 self-identified as faculty of color
  • 4,000-plus donors and more than 6,700 gifts dedicated to (including scholarships, and support for books, fees, and other necessities while at AU), resulted in a 34 percent increase in giving to equity-based funds
  • First SPA Summer Diversity Academy mentored young public administration professionals from underrepresented backgrounds
  • 141 laptops distributed, and 37 internet stipends received

Goal 5: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work

Mia Owens

Inaugural Fellow Develops Antiracist Research Tool

Key resource helps fellow students research AU, DC racial histories

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The first supervisors academy aims to build a culture of belonging and thriving.

Building a Culture of Belonging and Thriving

HR pilots custom leadership program for university supervisors

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Kenneth Meier. Summer Diversity Academy participants.

SPA Diversity Academy Draws Junior Scholars

Initiative supports research careers of underrepresented faculty

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The Counseling Center has increased its services for the fall 2021 semester.

Greater Staff, Services for Counseling Center

Adds more emergency services, wellness options with campus return

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Gloved hand holds cardboard sign reading "We are all immigrants"

New Lab to Research “All Things Migration”

Informs policymakers and corrects misperceptions about immigrants

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Eight SIS students who were named to the first group of Said Peace Scholars

Inaugural Abdul Aziz Said Peace Scholars Named

Students focus on conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue

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