September 13, 2024

Dear AU Students,

I hope you are having a terrific beginning of the semester thus far! It has been energizing seeing so many new students on campus, and we in Student Affairs have enjoyed interacting with many of you during Orientation and Welcome Week. As you settle into the semester, please note the following resources and reminders.

At American University, your mental health and well-being is our top priority, and the Center for Well-Being Programs and Psychological Services is thrilled to partner with Mantra Health to support your wellness needs. With Mantra Health, you now have access to free 24/7 support, including therapy, self-care modules, emotional wellness coaching, and in-the-moment support via ConnectNow, right at your fingertips. These services are available for students across all 50 states. Sign up or download the "Mantra Health" app today.

Through a collaborative effort with many of our student leaders and University partners in Risk Management and Student Affairs, the University procured and dispersed individual boxes of Naloxone (commercially known as Narcan) to several locations on campus. Naloxone is a nasal spray used to reverse an opioid-related drug overdose. No medical license or prescription is needed to carry or administer it. Naloxone is available without a prescription in pharmacies and community sites across the District of Columbia. The individual Naloxone boxes are in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) boxes across campus and are accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the Student Conduct Code and University Student Policies. The Code is designed to support a safe, honest, and inclusive community with a shared commitment to acting with mutual respect and forming the highest standards of ethics and morals among its members.

Community is an important aspect of your AU experience. Please take the time to connect with your fellow students, faculty, and staff members. Engage is your one-stop shop for the student involvement experience. Engage allows students to find student clubs and organizations and discover events happening on campus. To get started, simply sign into Engage using your AU Portal username and password.

Finally, it was a pleasure for us to see so many of you at the last open forum to review new university policies. If you have not had an opportunity to submit written feedback, we strongly encourage you to do so through the policy website.

I wish you a terrific semester filled with stimulating conversations, new experiences, and rewarding interactions within our community.  Go Eagles!

Yours,  

Raymond Ou
Vice President of Student Affairs