American University

See also the American University in Cairo and American University of Beirut

History

American University traces its history to a letter written by George Washington, in which he expressed a desire for a "national university" to be located in the nation's capital. The university was established in the District of Columbia by an Act of Congress on February 24, 1893 primarily due to the efforts of Methodist Bishop John Fletcher Hurst. Bishop Hurst and his colleagues were concerned with building an institution that would meld the strengths of the best German universities with the strengths of the existing university system in America. As their plans developed during the early years, they began to conceive of American University as an institution that would be:

Related Topics:
George Washington - National university - 1893 - John Fletcher Hurst - German

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• A privately supported university financed principally by the membership of the churches, particularly the Methodist Episcopal Church, which had been the founders of many of the colleges and universities in the early years of American history.
• An internationally minded institution where scholars from across the nation and from throughout the world would gather to dedicate their combined efforts to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge.
• A center of higher education and research activities that, while independent of the government, would draw freely on the intellectual and scientific resources of the Nation's Capital to supplement and to extend its own capabilities.
• An institution that would contribute to the general cultural life and development of the Capital in much the same manner that state supported universities in other world capitals contributed to their communities.

After more than two decades devoted principally to securing financial support, the

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University was officially dedicated on May 15, 1914. The first instruction began on October 6 of that year, when twenty-eight students were enrolled (nineteen of them graduate students, nine of them special students not candidates for a degree). The First Annual Commencement, at which no degrees were awarded, was held on June 2, 1915. The Second Annual Commencement was held on June 2, 1916, and at that time, the first degrees (one master's degree and two doctor's degrees) were awarded. It was not long after these early commencement ceremonies that classes would be interrupted by war. During both World War I, the university allowed the U.S. military to use some of its grounds for testing. In 1917, the US military divided American University into two segments, Camp American University and Camp Leach. Camp American University became the birthplace of the United States' chemical weapons program, and chemical weapons were tested on the grounds; this required a major cleanup effort in the 1990s. Camp Leach was the home to advanced research, develop and testing of modern camouflage techniques.

Related Topics:
1914 - 1915 - 1916 - World War I - U.S. military - 1917 - Camp American University - Camp Leach - Chemical weapons - 1990s - Camouflage

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During the next ten years, instruction was offered at the graduate level only, in accordance with the original plan of the founders. In the Fall of 1925, the College of Liberal Arts (subsequently named the College of Arts and Sciences) was established. Since that date, the University has offered both undergraduate and graduate degrees and programs.

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During WWII, the campus again offered its services to the US Government, and became home to the US Navy Bomb Disposal School and a WAVE barracks. For AU's role in these wartime efforts, the Victory Ship SS American Victory was named in honor of the university.

Related Topics:
US Navy - Victory Ship - SS American Victory

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The present structure of the university began to emerge in 1949. The Washington College of Law became part of the University in that year, having begun in 1896 as the first coeducational institution for the professional study of law in the District of Columbia. Shortly thereafter, three departments were reorganized as schools: the School of Business Administration in 1955 (subsequently named the Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod College of Business Administration and in 1999 renamed the Kogod School of Business); the School of Government and Public Administration in 1957; and the School of International Service in 1958.

Related Topics:
1949 - Washington College of Law - 1896 - 1955 - 1957 - 1958

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In the early 1960s, the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency operated a think tank under the guise of Operation Camelot at American University. The government abandoned the think tank after the operation came to public attention. AU's political intertwinement was furthered by President John F. Kennedy's Spring 1963 commencement address. In the speech, Kennedy called on the Soviet Union to work with the United States to achieve a nuclear test ban treaty and help reduce the considerable international tensions and the specter of nuclear war during that juncture of the Cold War.

Related Topics:
1960s - Department of Defense - Central Intelligence Agency - Operation Camelot - John F. Kennedy - Cold War

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From 1965 to 1977, the College of Continuing Education existed as a degree-granting college with responsibility for on- and off-campus adult education programs. The Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing provided undergraduate study in Nursing from 1965 until 1988. In 1972, the School of Government and Public Administration, the School of International Service, the Center for Technology and Administration, and the Center for the Administration of Justice (subsequently named the School of Justice) were incorporated into the College of Public and International Affairs. In 1988, the College of Public and International Affairs was reorganized to create two free-standing schools: the School of International Service and the School of Public Affairs, incorporating the School of Government and Public Administration and the School of Justice. The School of Communication became independent from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1993.

Related Topics:
1965 - 1977 - 1988 - 1972 - School of International Service - School of Public Affairs - School of Communication

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In 1997 AU formally became affiliated with the American University of Sharjah. AU's affiliation with the university in Sharjah will last until at least August 2009.

Related Topics:
1997 - American University of Sharjah - Sharjah

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AU and The United Methodist Church

The development of AU has been supported by many sources, but particularly important has been The United Methodist Church. As the result of an amendment to its Charter by the Congress of the United States on August 1, 1953, AU became closely associated with the Board of Education of The United Methodist Church, which makes an annual contribution. Active management of the corporate affairs of the AU is vested in the Board of Trustees.

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AU is not sectarian in its educational philosophy or in its academic programs. The United Methodist Church, recognizing the integral place of religion in the human experience of men and women, seeks to provide optimum opportunity for religious development on its campuses. However, it always has taken care to guarantee the values of academic freedom in its colleges and universities. The faculty and the student body of AU represent a diversity of religious as well as academic and national backgrounds and experiences. Moreover, the Board of Trustees has delegated to the faculty basic responsibility for planning and pursuing, according to its best judgment, the academic programs of the university.

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