American University (AU or American) is a private examination college in Washington, D.C., United States, partnered with the United Methodist Church, despite the fact that the college's educational modules is common. The college was sanctioned by an Act of Congress on February 24, 1893 as "The American University," when the bill was affirmed by President Benjamin Harrison.

AU was named the most politically dynamic school in the country in The Princeton Review's yearly study of understudies in 2008, 2010, and 2012. The college has six schools, including the School of International Service (SIS), as of now positioned eighth on the planet for its graduate projects and ninth on the planet for its undergrad program in International Affairs by Foreign Policy, and the Washington College of Law. Starting 2016, about 7,710 undergrad students and 5,230 graduate understudies are as of now selected. The school has become progressively aggressive as of late, with a 25% acknowledgment rate for the Class of 2020 versus a 46% acknowledgment rate for the class of 2018. An individual from the Division I Patriot League, its games groups contend as the American University Eagles.The American University was set up in the District of Columbia by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892, principally because of the endeavors of Methodist religious administrator John Fletcher Hurst. 

After over three decades committed mainly to securing money related backing, the college was formally devoted on May 15, 1914. The main direction started on October 6 of that year, when 28 understudies were selected (19 of them graduate understudies, nine of them extraordinary understudies who were not possibility for a degree). The First Commencement, at which no degrees were honored, was hung on June 2, 1915. The Second Annual Commencement was hung on June 2, 1916 where the principal degrees (one graduate degree and two specialist's degrees) were granted.

Origination of Army Chemical Corps

Soon after these early beginning services, classes were hindered by war. Amid World War I, the college permitted the U.S. military to utilize some of its justification for testing. In 1917, the U.S. military separated American University into two fragments, Camp American University and Camp Leach. Camp American University turned into the origination of the United States' substance weapons system, and synthetic weapons were tried on the grounds; this required a noteworthy cleanup exertion in the 1990s. Camp Leach was home to cutting edge exploration, advancement and testing of present day disguise procedures. Starting 2014, the Army Corps of Engineers is as yet evacuating weapons including mustard gas and mortar shells.

Amid the following ten years, guideline was offered at the graduate level just, as per the first arrangement of the organizers. In the fall of 1925, the College of Liberal Arts (along these lines named the College of Arts and Sciences) was set up. Since that date, the University has offered both undergrad and graduate degrees and projects. In 1934, the School of Public Affairs was founded.

Amid World War II, the grounds again offered its administrations to the U.S. government and got to be home to the U.S. Naval force Bomb Disposal School and a WAVE garisson huts. For AU's part in these wartime endeavors, the Victory ship SS American Victory was named to pay tribute to the university.The present structure of the college started to develop in 1949. The Washington College of Law turned out to be a piece of the University in that year, having started in 1896 as the primary coeducational establishment for the expert investigation of law in the District of Columbia. Presently, three divisions were revamped as schools: the School of Business Administration in 1955 (therefore named the Robert P. also, Arlene R. Kogod College of Business Administration and in 1999 renamed the Kogod School of Business); the School of Government and Public Administration in 1957; and the School of International Service in 1958.

In the mid 1960s, the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency worked a research organization under the appearance of Operation Camelot at American University. The legislature relinquished the research organization after the operation came to open consideration. AU's political intertwinement was facilitated by President John F. Kennedy's Spring 1963 initiation address.In the discourse, Kennedy approached the Soviet Union to work with the United States to accomplish an atomic test boycott arrangement and to decrease the significant global pressures and the ghost of atomic war amid that point of the Cold War.

From 1965 to 1977, the College of Continuing Education existed as a degree-giving school with obligation regarding on-and off-grounds grown-up instruction programs. The Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing gave undergrad study in Nursing from 1965 until 1988. In 1972, the School of Government and Public Administration, the School of International Service, the Center for Technology and Administration, and the Center for the Administration of Justice (accordingly named the School of Justice) were fused into the College of Public and International Affairs.

The University purchased the Immaculata Campus in 1986 to reduce space issues. This would later get to be Tenley Campus.

In 1986, development on the Adnan Khashoggi Sports and Convocation Center started. Financed with $5 million from and named for Saudi Arabian Trustee Adnan Khashoggi, the building was expected to upgrade games offices and give another stadium, and in addition a parking structure and office space for managerial administrations. Costing an expected $19 million, the building spoke to the biggest development undertaking to date, however met challenge by both personnel and understudies to the University's utilization of Khashoggi's name on the working because of his inclusion in global arms trade.

In 1988, the College of Public and International Affairs was revamped to make two unsupported schools: the School of International Service and the School of Public Affairs, fusing the School of Government and Public Administration and the School of Justice. That same year, development on the Adnan Khashoggi Sports Center finished while the Iran-Contra Affair discussion was at its stature in spite of the fact that his name stayed on the working until after Khashoggi defaulted on his gift commitment in the mid to late 1990s.The School of Communication got to be autonomous from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1993.

In 1997, American University of Sharjah, the main coeducational, human sciences college in the United Arab Emirates, marked a two-year contract with AU to give scholarly administration, an agreement which has subsequent to been augmented various times through August 2009. A group of senior AU directors migrated to Sharjah to help with the foundation of the college and aide it through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation process.

In 2003, American dispatched the biggest gathering pledges battle in its history. The project, ANewAU, has an objective of raising $200 million. As of October 2009, the University had raised $189.6 million. At the point when the battle is finished, the University's site expressed that it would "draw in and hold the finest workforce, build grant bolster, make and supply exploration and approach focuses, guarantee best in class assets in the majority of our schools and universities, extend worldwide projects, and secure the long haul budgetary strength of the college by boosting the endowment."

In the fall of 2005, the new Katzen Arts Center opened.

Benjamin Ladner was suspended from his position as president of the college on August 24, 2005, pending an examination concerning conceivable abuse of college assets for his own costs. College workforce passed votes of no trust in President Ladner on September 26. On October 10, 2005, the Board of Trustees of American University chose that Ladner would not come back to American University as its president.Dr. Cornelius M. Kerwin, a long-lasting AU chairman, served as interval president and was designated to the position for all time on September 1, 2007, after two untouchables declined an offer from the Board of Trustees. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Ladner got an aggregate pay of $4,270,665 in his last year of administration, the second most astounding of any college president in the United States.

Ground was broken for the new School of International Service expanding on November 14, 2007 and finished in 2010. A discourse was given by Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI).

Dr. Neil Kerwin reported he would resign as AU's leader when his present contract terminated in May 2017. Amid his residency, the school's blessing came to $500 million.