Launching the Graduate Program (1914-1924)
In 1914, American University officially opened and welcomed its first graduate students. The initial programs focused on providing co-educational evening classes to allow government workers to achieve graduate level degrees and to "go forth from them to help influence the nation and the world." There were few academic buildings in those days, so students had to provide their own research laboratories and rely on the resources of DC for study materials. From its inception the Graduate School had an international and intellectual focus with a goal of "training gifted young men and women for practical leadership in the highest walks of life."
During WWI, the main campus was handed over to the US government for the war efforts and classes took place in a series of rented buildings on F Street. AU officially bought these buildings in 1920 to create a Downtown Campus which would serve as a central location for Graduate Studies until it was sold in 1968 and the Graduate School was re-integrated with the Undergraduate programs.
Future AU Chancellor, Bishop John W. Hamilton speaking at the University's opening ceremony in 1914 after giving Bishop Hurst the first dollar supporting the establishment of the university.
In 1916, AU conferred its first degrees – two PhDs and one MA to Junius Sidney Cates, Elbert Clyde Lathrop, and Morton Oscar Cooper respectively. All three were employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
AU sponsored fellowships for graduate study at other universities from 1915-1924 to students for "training gifted young men and women for practical leadership in the highest walks of life"
In 1920, AU purchased properties on F Street between 19th and 20th Streets to create a downtown campus which provided evening classes to government workers.