I am writing to remind the campus that the Army Corps of Engineers began their intrusive (digging) operations on Monday (October 29) on 4825 Glenbrook Road, adjacent to the AU campus. The work on this site is expected to continue for at least the next 14 weeks.

American University continues to work with the Army Corps, D.C. Department of the Environment officials, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other organizations and individuals to ensure that the work on the site is conducted with utmost safety protocols in place and with the well being of the campus and surrounding neighborhood of prime importance.

In previous updates and via materials available on the AU Army Corps operation Web site (www.american.edu/usace) and on the Army Corps own Web site (www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/springvalley.htm), you can review the safety measures in place—which are substantial. And if you have specific questions, call 202-885-2020.

On the AU campus, we have conducted informational and shelter-in-place sessions for the occupants of buildings closest to the site; we have relocated the children in the Child Development Center to their previous home in Leonard Lounge (and we thank the students and staff of Leonard for their assistance and understanding); with the cooperation of the athletics staff, we have altered the use of the Jacobs turf field to curb activities between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday–Friday (with a very small number of exceptions and schedule adaptations made possible through prior arrangement); and we have signage and marshals in the vicinity to assist anyone should the unlikely event occur that the siren goes off.

Admittedly, this is an unusual situation that requires considerable patience and understanding by the entire AU community, and I appreciate the support of our campus. Through it all, our priority is the well-being of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors, friends, and the surrounding community. We will not compromise that.

I will provide updates into the future as the situation warrants.