Families, we shared this update with our students, faculty and staff a few moments ago. We share it with you now for your reference. We know that safety is a key concern for our parents and families and we will continue to share these resources and updates with you. 

Dear fellow Eagles,

We know that this is a stressful and sad time for our community. We want to assure you that your safety and well-being continue to be our top priority.

In addition to providing direct resources to those in our community who need our support, the AU Police Department (AUPD) is diligently stepping up its patrols and visibility, while using a variety of tools and expertise at our disposal to ensure the safety of our community. Our presence and involvement across campus enables us to encourage awareness, increase security, and engage with our community.

We continue to partner with area law enforcement and intelligence organizations across the city to make certain that we have the most up-to-date information regarding external threats and activities. And we are working alongside the FBI as we continue to collaborate on the investigation of the incidents of hate on our campus targeted at parts of our community that impact all of us. We are drawing from the combined expertise of our internal and external resources to develop and implement a collective all-hazards approach.

Engagement with the community is critical to our work. We are working with campus partners across the university to ensure a consistent exchange of information regarding the concerns of our students, staff, and faculty.

AUPD is also proactively working with event organizers across the university to perform assessments of their events and develop a plan to provide an appropriate level of security, while also being respectful of their preferences regarding the visibility and interaction of law enforcement.

Please remember that we have a collective responsibility to look out for one another. We encourage you to download the Rave Guardian app and program the AUPD emergency line, 202-885-3636, into your phone. You may also leave an anonymous tip on the app.

To learn more about AU’s emergency preparedness plan, please visit: american.edu/emergency.

Onward we go together,

Bronté Burleigh Jones
Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer

Phil Morse
Assistant Vice President, University Safety and Security Services