School of International Service @ American University

Introduction

The School of International Service (SIS) first opened its doors in 1958 to a class of 80 students, with the mission of fulfilling Founding Dean Ernest S. Griffith’s vision to build a school with 400 students and 20 full-time faculty. Today, the SIS is the largest school of international studies in the United States with more than 2,500 students from 150 countries and 300 faculty members. The SIS faculty is remarkably diverse in terms of academic discipline and professional experience, and use innovative approaches to teaching while encouraging students to apply their theoretical research to practical situations. Our multidisciplinary curriculum emphasizes the operative word Service. The School’s eight fields of study provide students with the opportunity to combine high ideals and a pragmatic view of the world with a strong sense of community.

The School of International Service celebrated the 50th anniversary of the original ground breaking on June 9, 2007. SIS has grown because of its founder’s vision of educating students for international public service and has continued to increase in relevance as the world has become more complex and interdependent. Recently, both our graduate and undergraduate programs were ranked in the top ten in the nation by Foreign Policy magazine. With its success, SIS needs resources to sustain and nurture its mission for future generations of students. Most clearly the original building, which was designed for a school one-sixth its current size, needs to be replaced by a much larger, state-of-the-art facility.

Green Building

SIS needs a physical structure that reflects the vision of our founder and demonstrates the success we have had achieving that vision. Currently, faculty offices are scattered across campus in ten different buildings, and classrooms are poorly configured, over-crowed and technologically ill-equipped. The new, 70,000 square-foot building will reflect our commitment to academic excellence, and the design, created by the “green” architectural firm William McDonough & Partners, will highlight the School’s concern for social justice, especially environmental stewardship and the responsible use of natural resources. The building will provide a vibrant center for teaching, research, and public dialogue. It will enhance the School’s distinctive identity as a cross-national community dedicated to improving policy and practice world wide. The very process of constructing the building, with careful attention to environmental challenges, will itself serve as a learning model.

The goal of the Campaign for SIS is to raise $25 million to offset design and construction costs and to provide additional support for academic programs and student scholarships. All contributions are appreciated, and gifts of $10,000 or more, which can be paid in annual installments for up to five years, will entitle the donor to the naming rights of a room or feature in the new building.

Donor Acknowledgements

All Donors will be acknowledged in the Annual Report of Gifts for the fiscal year in which the gift was received. (The Annual Report of Gifts is mailed as an insert with American Magazine each year to some 70,000 AU alumni and friends.) Donors whose gifts total $1,000 or more will also be acknowledged on an "Honor Roll of Donors" that will be located in the Grand Atrium of the new SIS building.
Gifts of $10,000 or more may be designated for a specific room, office, or public space (interior or exterior) in the new SIS building which may be named in honor of the donor, or in honor of another person or persons of the donor's choosing.
Contributions up to $9,999 may be designated for general support of the SIS Building Fund, or may be aggregated with other gifts to support a specific room, office, or public space in the new SIS Building.

Gifts in Support of Student Scholarships and Academic Programs

As part of the overall Campaign for SIS, the School of International Service also welcomes contributions for specific academic programs and scholarship funds. Prospective donors are invited to contact the SIS development office for detailed information and assistance.