Dear AU Community,
Free expression and the creation of a safe and welcoming community for all are bedrock principles of American University. These ideals are central to our academic mission and the learning, connections, and experiences that define our time at AU.
Our Freedom of Expression policy and statement of values provide critical foundations, standards, and guidance for our ongoing pursuit of these goals. These resources help us constructively collaborate, pursue inquiry, engage responsibly in our community, and foster dialogue on difficult topics. When the free expression policy and statement of values were completed two years ago, we knew additional work would be needed to further define how we apply the policy.
A key element of this work is updating a range of policies that effectively manage university operations; support free expression, safety, and belonging; and provide clarity on activities and behaviors that are consistent with our core values and principles. Throughout the spring and summer, we researched best practices in this space, benchmarked against other universities, and engaged in community discussions.
The research and discussions surfaced helpful questions and provided feedback about possible policy changes. Conversations with faculty, staff, and students included entities such as the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Free Expression Working Group; undergraduate, graduate, and law student leadership; and individual community members. Last week, we conducted an open forum with faculty and staff to discuss the policies under development. A second forum is being planned, and we are working with student leadership to host a forum for students on August 19.
Based on the work and feedback to date, the following draft policies are in development:
- Outdoor Chalking
- Tabling
- Posting Materials on Campus
- Facilities Use
- Social Media
The draft Outdoor Chalking, Tabling, and Posting Materials on Campus policies are now available online for review and comment. The draft Facilities Use and Social Media policies require additional work and will be posted following further discussions and input. Updates on the status of each policy will be posted on the Policy Updates page as they progress through the policy development process. Comments and feedback will continue to be reviewed and addressed as we conduct this work.
While we continue working and listening to the community, our existing policies will be applied and enforced to support our students, faculty, and staff. The existing policies include but are not limited to Freedom of Expression, the Faculty Manual, the Staff Personnel Policies, Student Conduct Code, the Discrimination and Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct policy, and the Title IX Sexual Harassment policy. The vigorous and effective use of our policies and ensuring accountability for behavior will support the safe and welcoming environment we all want and will contribute to swiftly addressing any concerns or incidents that arise. We have done extensive work to evaluate our protocols to ensure the application of our policies can address the types of concerns from last year.
The January 25, 2024, directives are no longer in effect. Once the revised policies are completed and in effect, we will continue community engagement and make further updates as appropriate if new questions arise.
In addition to these policy updates, we are launching several initiatives that will continue to build community, provide forums for students, faculty, and staff to engage in discussion, and leverage AU’s many strengths to enhance our knowledge and understanding of complex and vital issues. This includes a Dialogues Across Differences initiative to advance our inclusive excellence work and key values of respectful inquiry, critical thinking, and active listening. Additionally, we are moving forward on the campus-wide civic education initiative that will bring together many of AU’s strengths and signature programs to help our community engage in this critical topic. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting programs as the semester gets underway.
Sincerely,
