A community-based planning process will support the collaborative development of American University’s next strategic plan, the roadmap for AU’s future.

Building on our identity as an engaged anchor institution in the nation’s capital devoted to such enduring ideals as public service, democracy, pluralism, justice, and equality, there is an opportunity to redefine our American (University) dream together. The strategic planning process will be guided by this question: What can or should make AU distinctive?

Framework and Working Groups

• Building Community: How can AU develop a truly welcoming, inclusive community?
• Civic Pluralism: How can AU students learn to be engaged citizens and problem solvers in a pluralistic society?
• Public Service: How can AU reflect and reinforce its founding principles to foster public service?
• Innovation and Experimentation: How can AU lead in creating inter- and trans-disciplinary academic programs?
• High-impact Experiential Learning: How will AU set a national standard for integrating theory and practice?
• Research Distinctiveness: How can AU transition to an R1 institution and focus on differentiation through public impact research?
• Enduring Connections: How can AU create lifelong learning opportunities and intergenerational connections for students and alumni?
• Operational Infrastructure and Support: How can AU identify and adopt emerging best practices to provide the best possible operational infrastructure and support?

View members of the 2025 Working Groups >>

Timeline

Our new strategic plan will be developed over the course of this year and will go live on January 1, 2026.

Phase 1 | February to May 2025

Form working groups, explore key questions, and develop ideas for “big bets” through community engagement, research, and discussion.

Phase 2 | June to October 2025

Continue working group activity and community engagement, align strategy development with the university budget process, determine the overall time horizon for the plan, and produce concise working group reports with goals, strategic proposals, and metrics.

Phase 3 | November 2025

Draft final strategic plan based on working group reports and review with the Board of Trustees.

Phase 4 | December 2025

Launch the plan and prepare for January 2026 implementation.

Explore the current 2019-2025 strategic plan, Changemakers for a Changing World >>