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American University Profile

Washington D.C.

The Basics

American University was established in 1893 as a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church offering educational programs in liberal arts & social sciences, business, and public health. AU’s network of private educational facilities offer comprehensive undergraduate, and graduate programs in several different fields including international affairs, art & sciences, business, public health, performing arts, sports management, and social work. AU prepares students for careers in the above-mentioned 5 undergraduate schools through educational, and certificate programs. The school itself is located in the northwestern community of Tenley Town in Washington D.C. in close proximity to the Vice President’s Mansion and the U.S. Naval Observatory off Massachusetts Avenue.

The university is unique because it’s located within a suburban neighborhood of NW Washington D.C. within commuter distance to the nations capital with it’s panoramic views of the White House and federal monuments. The school is very spread out geographically for a suburban school with university facilities starting on University Ave to the north, and Nebraska Ave to the south with the eastern point of the campus footprint lies on Massachusetts Ave and continues to Rockwood Parkway to the west. As you can see, the university’s footprint is large for a private urban school with 84 acres.

American University’s educational landscape offers students the ability to enjoy a suburban campus with it’s park like landscape while still being connected to everything in Washington D.C. American also offers professional education, capital hill, and city resources for students, while still maintaining a close-knit university community. The main AU campus has a comfortable academic and residential lifestyle within one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. AU has approximately 41 buildings in total including lecture, residential, performing arts, recreation centers, and dining facilities. These internal campus settings also provide students, employees, and alumni with several types of services including health, physical fitness, library, and cultural meeting places.

The issue of student housing on campus is a challenge for American University because the school is going through a growth period with higher number of applicants. The university has started actively competing for real estate resources within the general area, and has started several building projects to convert older facilities into new residential halls for students. Currently, American University only guarantees housing for 1st, and 2nd year students on a first come, first served basis. American University has developed 5 resident hall facilities within the suburban landscape to provide housing that’s in close proximity to lecture halls, and the student center for easy access to student life facilities.

AU is a medium sized school that has links to everywhere in the city on a 24-hour basis including government buildings & services, music & theatre productions, sporting & cultural events, museums, nightlife, and restaurants. American’s observed focal points of reference during the campus tour were the Katzen Arts Center, the Edna Arena (Recreation Center), and the Graydon Student Union, which are the main internal student life areas of the campus. My tour guide told me that students come to the campus centers to relax, workout, and read. Students also use these multi-story facilities to socialize and talk about school and life. These facilities are large for a private school with offices for all the student clubs and activities, and a school bookstore for students to enjoy; AU students also enjoy several large green areas around the campus including the large grassy landscape outside the student union called “the Quad”. The external observed focal points for the university could be found along Massachusetts & Nebraska Avenues with students enjoying several campus green areas along the avenues and several small restaurants and deli’s off Tenley Circle.

The published demographic information for the university describes a culturally diverse student population with students from all across the world. American University has developed several different schools, within it’s educational network to offer students a Liberal Arts and Science, Business, and a comprehensive education format to enhance it’s commitment to different types of career endeavors. The university has also developed independent affiliates with several global universities to highlight it’s commitment to global learning. Below is a description of demographics for AU’s campus in Washington D.C.

The University is home to approximately 2,147 male, and 3,634 female full time students, and 121 male, and 140 female part time students. AU also has a graduate school population with 1,874 male, and 3,264 female students enrolled. The average age of a freshman is 18 years old. 88% of students are from out of the Washington D.C. area, mostly the Middle Atlantic States. Students on campus provide a diverse multi-cultural makeup including students from all 50 states, 104 foreign countries, and Canada. 65% of students are white, 8% are African American, 7% Asian Americans, and 6% are Hispanic and 14% unknown.

Published Academic Standards for Admission Programs

American University has a medium sized educational system for a private school, which offers Liberal Arts, and Sciences, Public Health, International Studies, and Business programs. Below is a specific list of under graduate admission requirements.

Student Housing

The purpose of student housing is to provide safe and reasonable accommodations for students living away from home. The issue of housing and dormitory life is a critical element of overall campus life because students spend a large amount of time in their rooms. Student housing units historically come in 3 different styles including traditional corridor, suite, and apartment style units.

American University requires students to live on campus for the first year (Freshman) and it continues to guarantee housing for 2nd year students who have filed their intent to reside on campus by the stated deadline and who have continuously registered as full time students. AU currently has 5 on campus resident halls for students with a total capacity of 3,460 students. Campus housing is offered on a first come, first served basis with only 400 dorm slots available to upperclassman. AU has started developing housing resources for upper classman through it’s capital improvement initiatives but as of now the residence halls have 3 students to a room.

The university has developed apartment style-housing units for upper classman within blocks of the campus. Many of these apartments are located within city apartments and refurbished town homes that are new, and beautiful, but only upper classmen can rent them. The upside to renting these units is the distance to academic buildings, which is very close. Information about AU housing can be found on the quick links page of this document.

Off Campus Housing

American University has been described as a comfortable suburban campus within an affluent residential community. The reason I have mentioned the overall community of Tenley Town is to re-assert the point that AU’s network of affiliated campuses has encapsulated it’s real estate holdings within the area. The campus footprint allows almost every student to have housing within commuter distance to the campus. The issue of off campus housing has a different feel to it compared to other university off campus housing demands due to the high security facilities in close proximity to the school.

The demand for housing, especially off campus housing is usually a tough issue for institutions attempting to keep students within the general geographical area. AU has addressed this issue by buying up residential buildings and developing housing networks. Information about off campus housing can be found on the AU quick links page of this document.

Campus Life

American University is a multi-cultural campus environment that provides students with an excellent social, and educational atmosphere. The admissions demographics paint a picture of a very diverse community with students from all over the world. The local community of Tenley Town only adds to the universities international status because the community has multi-cultural roots as well. AU also addresses the issue of ecology in a positive way. The physical environment is reasonably clean and well maintained and the economic conditions are favorable to students and local residents due to the available services in walking distance to the school.

The emotional climate and culture of the entire AU community is a combination of intellectual and social due to it’s close relationship with the Capital Hill community.

The school’s mature student population, educational, and athletic resources makes American an attractive institution because it offers students real world professional experiences in Washington D.C., while providing social relationships with local organizations and community groups through student activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the year. The university also provides students with daily e-mails that describe daily events and activities on campus. AU also posts this information within the entry hall of the Graydon Center on a 52-inch plasma television for everyone to see.

The university also thrives on it’s physical and intellectual relationships with federal agencies that students flock to each year. American University can be considered one the districts main think tanks for public policy due to it’s well recognized school of International Affairs. Georgetown (GU), and George Washington (GW) Universities can also be considered heavy Political Science programs in the D.C. area. Students from these universities are involved with student politics and internships within the capital on a daily basis with guest speakers making occasional visits to keep the debate going on campus.

This issue of school culture is also a very important part of campus life because everyone wants to have a connection and emotional fit to their new school and community. AU is first, and foremost a university that is linked physically and emotionally to national political debate and international issues. AU has done a great job developing positive social systems with it’s students by providing a series of coordinated programs including workshops and seminars for freshman students to advance these studies. This type of process provides a foundation for learning and personal growth providing over 160 academic clubs, student organizations, and over 20 intramural sports activities. AU is also home to a substantial Greek population with 14% of students belonging to 11 national fraternities and 12 national sororities.

Campus life at AU is more than academic excellence; it’s about building personal relationships with students and facility that continues throughout each student’s career. The school also offers students the ability to enjoy school sports, performing arts, history, cultural events, Greek life, restaurants, and local museums. For example, Washington D.C. has hundreds of venues to enjoy the previously stated activities including the Kennedy Center and the massive Smithsonian Museum network on the Mall in downtown Washington. The university also has several global education centers within it’s campus network for students to learn, and gather information about international careers.

Finally, AU has a strong athletic footprint on campus with several venues for students to participate in, or to cheer for fellow students. Local residents and AU students can walk over to the Bender Arena to watch the school’s teams play several sports including basketball, and women’s volleyball during the year. Finally, the overall up side of exercise facilities within the campus are fantastic with students enjoying them on a daily basis, AU participates in 16 NCAA Division I, Varsity Sports for Women and Men.

Public Transportation

American University has a student shuttle system that connects students with the nearby Tenley campus as well as several areas of Washington D.C. In formation about this service can be found on the quick links page of this document. The Washington D.C. Transit System (Metro Red Line) has a subway station on Wisconsin Ave & Albermarie Street in Tenley Town (The Nearest Metro Stop for American University) that offers riders the ability to access several main lines including the Orange & Blue Metro Lines. These transit lines connect with every other subway line within the system including Union Train Station on the Red line. Passengers who require one of the five metro lines can change trains at Metro Center in downtown Washington D.C. on 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Regional Public transportation resources can be found within Union Station that links with trains to suburban Maryland (Baltimore) and Arlington Virginia through the Maryland Rail Commuter Service (MARC). Amtrak also uses Union Station as a major hub within it’s Northeast Corridor. The Red Line on the Metro, which makes stops at Union Station, can link all these trains. Riders who wish to go to northern Virginia on the Metro can catch the orange line at Metro Center. This complex train system also allows riders the ability to travel to Ronald Reagan Airport via the blue & yellow Metro lines. People who live, work, and visit Washington D.C. usually travel by some type of mass transit. Mass transit information can be found at: www.wmata.com

Washington D.C. itself is located within the 2 northeastern states of Maryland and Virginia which makes it convenient to several suburban communities and highway networks. The city itself also has several main roadways that connect the community to major state highways including the Capital Beltway Route 495, Route 295 that links Washington D.C. and Baltimore Maryland, Route 95 which is the main highway corridor on the eastern seaboard, and finally Rout 270 that links Washington to communities east and west of the city. Shopping, restaurants, and hotel chains can be found within these major transportation networks after a short drive from the campus.

Community Profile

The Tenley Town area of Washington D.C. has been identified on maps geographically as west of the White House, and north of Constitution Ave between Rock Creek Park, and M Street. The community has been described in different ways, including a tourist heaven due to the high number of federal residences and Embassies in the general area. The Tenley Town area also borders the Georgetown, and the Friendship Heights sections of Chevy Chase within northwest Washington D.C., and Maryland which offer residents, and visitor’s additional tourist, and commercial resources within commuter distance.

The area can also be considered an upscale residential community with historic brownstones, town homes, and modern apartments buildings lining several streets. The Tenley area also has several shopping areas including Wisconsin Avenue northeast of campus. And finally, the student friendly community has international restaurants and nightlife along several avenues within nearby Adams-Morgan including 18th Street in the heart of the community.

Student population and historical neighborhood architecture can be found mainly within 4 blocks of Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Wisconsin Avenues within the overall neighborhood. The greatest number of residents in this area is in fact students, and employees of AU. The Tenley Town community has a real intellectual/political/ and welcoming type feel to it because a large number of people live, work, and study within the area. Washington D.C. itself is a maze of local neighborhoods that are unique to the people who live and work in them.

The Tenley section can also be considered a mixed residential area because you have commercial, residential, cultural, and intellectual all within the same block with people walking around the AU campus on their way to work, or home. The area around Massachusetts &Wisconsin Avenues is a major pedestrian walkway in the area for residents, and commuters because it’s really in the middle of the community. That’s why you can find endless shopping and restaurants along these streets.

The issue of walking alone at night outside the perimeter of the AU campus should be curtailed because you’re in a big city with big city crime. Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Massachusetts Avenues becomes less populated after 9:00PM due to the large commercial establishments in the area. Tenley also has several federal and community parks in the area including Glover Archbold Park to the west of the university and local police officers have told students to exercise some caution when using the parks after dark because the areas have reduced lighting resources.

Community demographics

The following demographics for Washington D.C. describe a multi-cultural community within a total population of 591,833 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A Census Bureau community survey highlights several characteristics to describe the population including: 47% of residents are male, 53% are female. 36% of residents are white, 54% are African American, 7% are Hispanic or Latino, 3% are Asian, and finally 2.0 are two or more Races. The median age of population is 35 years old. 80% of residents are 18 years old or over, 74% age 21 and over, and finally 12% of city residents are over the age of 65. The issue of housing in Washington D.C. is also interesting. 88% of all housing units within the city are occupied. 55% of housing units are renter-occupied, while 45% of units are owner-occupied.

Local weather

Weather is also an issue to consider for students preparing for a university experience. Washington D.C. enjoys all four seasons of weather including rain and snow. Northeast weather patterns sometimes allow for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees for a considerable amount of time during the winter. The District of Columbia also gets it’s share of rain during the spring and summer months as well.

The Your College Profile web site also contains an “Everything in Washington D.C.” document for families who wish to explore D.C. while visiting American University. This site contains a full list of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, and tourism resources for families enjoying the region. Below is a sample list of local hotels and restaurants in nearby Chevy Chase Maryland & Georgetown in NW Washington D.C.

Embassy Suites Hotel at Chevy Chase Pavilion
4300 Military Road
NW Washington D.C. 20015
Holiday Inn Georgetown
2101 Wisconsin Ave
NW Washington D.C. 20007
Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Road
NW Washington D.C. 20008
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown
3100 South Street
NW Washington D.C. 20007
Four Seasons Washington D.C. Hotel
2800 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW Washington D.C. 20007
Georgetown Inn
1310 Wisconsin Ave
NW Washington D.C. 20007

NW Washington D.C./Chevy Chase Maryland Restaurants

American University Quick Links

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