Parent and Family Members
»
Parent
Guide
2008–2009
WASHINGTON, D.C.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Parent Guide Table of Contents
- Letter from the Dean of Students
- The Parent Program
- Washington, DC Information
- Selected Offices & Services
- Hotel Information
- Important Phone Numbers
- Web Sites
- 2008-2009 Calendar
- 2008-2009 Parent Guide (PDF version)
On behalf of the American University community, welcome. We are pleased and honored that you and your student have chosen AU for undergraduate studies. With its emphasis on interdisciplinary inquiry, international understanding, and experiential learning, AU is among the leaders in educating students for the twenty-first century. Its location in the nation’s capital provides unparalleled opportunities for intellectual and career exploration and for community service. We invite you to visit campus frequently throughout your student’s enrollment here. We hope you will make a special effort to participate in Family Weekend, held each fall.
Our goal is to ensure that your student’s needs outside of the classroom
are as well met as those inside the classroom. AU prides itself on the quality
of its campus life and the many activities that enrich the academic experience.
More than 160 clubs and organizations provide outlets for nearly every interest.
Recreational and sports opportunities, such as those in the Jacobs Fitness
Center, are readily available. The Kay Spiritual Life Center is a locus of
activity for a variety of faith groups and the site for many distinguished
speaker events. This publication is your guide to information about these
and other university programs and services. You are
invited to contact any of the offices listed for assistance. Our students’
parents are an important part of life at American University. We welcome you
and share in your pride that your student is an “Eagle.”
Sincerely,
Faith C. Leonard
Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students
You can strengthen your connection to AU and the life of your student in many ways:
- Visit the AU Web site at www.american.edu and click on Parents to receive up-to-date information of interest to parents.
- Call the Office of the Dean of Students at 202-885-3300, or e-mail us at dos@american.edu, if you have questions or concerns. Watch for special parent events offered by this office.
- Read Eagle News if you are the parent of a first-year student. This electronic newsletter features the information and advice most needed by parents of freshmen. E-mail us at dos@american.edu to sign up.
- Serve as a career mentor, host an Admissions summer send-off, or sponsor a regional gathering of parents. Contact Rachel Mlinarchik, mlinarch@american.edu, 202-885-5925 for more information about these and other outreach opportunities.
Whatever your interest, we invite you to be part of the AU tradition by getting involved.
Family Weekend
Family Weekend will be held October 24–26, 2008. All parents and family members are invited to attend. Activities include a chance to sit in on classes, a family barbeque, an optional bus tour of Washington, D.C., a sparkling-cider brunch, and a welcome reception hosted by the AU President. We look forward to seeing you in October.
Your student has chosen a great city to live in. Aside from being the seat of the United States government, Washington, D.C., is among the world's most culturally rich cities. Museums, theatres, parks, restaurants, and exciting festivals are just a few of the attractions you'll find when you visit Washington, D.C.
Getting Around
Washington is home to an award-winning subway system known as Metrorail. The Metrorail system has five lines, denoted by color, and serves most of the D.C. metropolitan area. The Tenleytown-AU stop (on the Red Line) is located less than a mile from campus (a 15- to 20-minute walk) and is easily accessible via the university shuttle. Metrobus, the city bus system, also serves American University with several bus routes.
For specific information about schedules, fares, and stops for rail and bus, call Metro at 202-637-700 or visit www.metroopensdoors.com.
Directions to AU
By Car
From northeast of Washington (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore):
Follow I-95 south to I-495 (Capital Beltway). Take I-495 west toward Silver
Spring. (See “From I-495,” below).
From northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland): Follow I-270 south. Where I-270 divides, follow the right-hand branch toward Washington and northern Virginia. Merge with I-495 (Capital Beltway). (See “From I-495,” below).
From south or west of Washington (northern Virginia, Norfolk,
Richmond, Charlottesville): Follow I-95 north or I-66 east to I-495
(Capital Beltway). Take I-495 north toward Baltimore. (See
“From I-495,” below).
From I-495 (Capital Beltway): Take exit 39 and follow the signs for River
Road (Maryland Route 190) east toward Washington. Continue east on River Road
to the fifth traffic light. Turn right onto Goldsboro Road (Maryland Route
614). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Massachusetts Avenue (Maryland
Route 396). Continue on Massachusetts Avenue for about two miles and proceed
around the first traffic circle (Westmoreland Circle). Continue one more mile
on Massachusetts Avenue to the next traffic circle (Ward Circle). Take the
first right off
Ward Circle onto Nebraska Avenue. The campus is on the right.
By Plane
Washington’s Reagan National Airport—the airport most convenient
to AU—is approximately 30 minutes by cab to campus during rush hour.
Washington Metro trains run daily from Reagan National Airport into downtown
Washington on the Yellow and Blue Lines. To get to AU, you must transfer to
the Red Line. Dulles International Airport is about 45 minutes from campus,
and Baltimore-Washington International Airport is about one hour from campus.
All three airports offer shuttle
service to major hotels and meeting points in downtown Washington. Shuttle
services cost between $15 and $25 one-way, depending on your point of origin.
Hotel Information
The hotels listed below are used often by AU families and visitors. Note that
hotel accommodatons may be difficult to sercure at certain times of the year.
Advance reservations are advised.
| Days Inn Connecticut Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel Embassy Suites Hotel at chevy Chase Pavilion Four Seasons Hotel
Georgetown Suites Holiday Inn Georgetown |
Hotel Monticello Georgetown Latham Hotel Georgetown Park Hyatt Washington Savoy Suites Georgetown The Watergate Hotel The Westin Fairfax Wyndham Bristol Hotel |
| Academic Campus Store Counseling Disability Financial Aid Greetings! At the Housing and Kay Spiritual Parents Program/ |
Parking Public Safety Sports Hotline Student Student Student Health University Operator Work-Study |
Residence Halls Anderson Capital Centennial Congressional Federal Glover Hughes Leonard Letts McDowell Park Bethesda |
Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/athletics
Campus Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.american.bkstr.com
Commencement Information . . . . . . .www.american.edu/commencement
Faculty and Staff Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . www.american.edu/directory.html
Family Weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/familyweekend
Financial Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/finaid
Housing and Dining Programs . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/ocl/housing
Office of Campus Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/ocl
Parents Program . . . . . .www.american.edu/ocl/dos/Parents/welcome.htm
Student Handbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/handbook
Student Health Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/healthcenter
Transportation Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.american.edu/finance/ts
Looking to get in touch with your son or daughter? Make sure to address any mail in the following manner:
Student’s Name
Student’s Residence Hall, Room XXX
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
For more information about Mail Services, call 202-885-2575.