How We Work

How AU Works

American University’s hybrid workplace represents how we work toward advancing our mission, serving our students, and supporting our staff. Many staff members work some days on-campus and some days from a remote location in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region (DMV). Many others work in-person four or five days a week. How AU works is a critical element of enhancing the student experience, advancing our educational mission, building community, and supporting our teams. Fostering a collaborative, productive, and engaged workplace is directly connected to how students and our teams experience AU and succeed together. A thriving campus community is critical to meeting our students’ needs and building our culture.

Hybrid work modalities are based on university needs

Supporting our on-campus, residential experience and educational mission

A position’s eligibility for a hybrid modality is based on the university’s academic, administrative, and operational needs and the duties of the positions. The university’s educational mission and our work to support students primarily happen on campus and in person. Therefore, most staff will work on campus 3-5 days per week.

In hybrid work, AU’s goal is to have consistent modalities. Basing remote work schedules on job functions and operational needs rather than personal preferences reduces the chances that hybrid scheduling will be applied unevenly to positions with substantially similar duties and responsibilities. All full-time staff will be given at least a four-week notice of a change in modality or regular schedule.

Community Building

For our teams, coming together regularly in person to collaborate and advance priorities, build community, and enjoy opportunities for the social and spontaneous aspects of work strengthens our culture and enhances both professional and personal connections. Hybrid work helps us maintain flexibility for staff, but our norm is to have most staff on campus 3-5 days per week to help build our community ties.

How it works

Each full-time and part-time staff member will either be working a full presence (5 days a week on campus) work modality or be assigned a hybrid work modality based on the position’s job duties, the university’s needs, and the department’s operational requirements.

Work Modality

Full campus presence

Positions meeting the criteria for full presence and supervisor full-presence position(s).

Hybrid work modality

Positions that work a set number of days each week on-campus and work remotely the balance of their workweek.

Remote out of the DC-Maryland-Virgina area

Employees seeking to work a full remote schedule and reside outside the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia should follow the Out of State Staffing Policy.

Keys to success

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In a hybrid work environment, staff and supervisors need to approach the work with intentionality. In addition to setting schedules based on university needs and job functions, this also means developing norms, expectations, and structures around working in a hybrid work environment.

Together, we support our students, our learning and research, and our community to make our way of work successful in the long term.

Expectations for How We Work

It is important to remember that employees are responsible for their performance wherever they work, and department heads retain the right to make changes to support their teams and the university or department’s goals. Supervisors can require staff to be in person on a scheduled hybrid work day for meetings or to meet operational needs. AU will also implement “all hands days,” where those on remote schedules across the university or in certain divisions will be required to be in person, for example, for Preview Day. Where possible, units will be encouraged to identify early in the year when their unit will have dates that require staff in the units to be in person to assist with planning.

Process

The university has developed a process and criteria for all units to use to make decisions through a fair and equitable approach. While most staff will be in the office 3, 4, or 5 days per week, factors departments should consider when assigning a hybrid modality include, but are not limited to, the degree to which a staff position:

Responsible for face-to-face, walk-in, scheduled, or unscheduled advisory or customer service to students, faculty, staff, or external customers.
Requires the use of equipment or tools only available onsite.
Requires a visual inspection of work to assess performance or ensure health, safety, security, or quality standards.
Licensing, accreditation, or other compliance requirements require an onsite presence.
Requires direct supervision, including frequent check-ins and collaboration.
Involves supervision of staff whose presence is required.

Modalities may be changed to meet university or department needs.

What is AU’s dress code for faculty and staff?

At AU, all faculty and staff are expected to dress professionally, aligning with the nature of their role at the university and their function at any given time. Staff who work in certain university positions, such as facilities and public safety, are provided with uniforms. For other positions, in general, business casual dress is appropriate. Business casual dress generally includes shirts with collars, business casual tops, and shirts, blouses, and polo shirts. Casual slacks, trousers, skirts, dresses, and jeans are appropriate, but this does not include shorts. Casual slip-on or tie shoes, boots, dress sandals, and athletic shoes are appropriate.

When meeting with parents, alums, or external organizations, traditional business attire may be expected. Although it is impossible and undesirable to establish a universally applicable dress code given the range of roles and functions at AU, the university will apply a reasonable and professional workplace standard. An employee unsure of what is appropriate should check with their supervisor.

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