How does AAUW support women’s education and career advancement. What impact has AAUW made on gender equity since 1881. Why is AAUW’s work still critical for women’s empowerment today.
AAUW’s Mission and Impact: Championing Women’s Education and Equity
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been at the forefront of advancing equity for women and girls through education, research, and advocacy since 1881. With a rich history spanning over 140 years, AAUW has made significant strides in empowering women across various fields and continues to be a powerful force for change in today’s society.
AAUW’s commitment to women’s education and career advancement is evident through its extensive fellowship and grant programs. These initiatives have supported countless women in pursuing higher education, conducting groundbreaking research, and leading innovative community projects.
Key Facts about AAUW’s Fellowship and Grant Programs:
- AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education since 1888
- In the 2023-24 award year, AAUW provided over $6 million in funding to nearly 285 fellows and grantees
- The organization offers various types of fellowships and grants, catering to different academic and professional goals
How have these programs impacted women’s lives? Recipients of AAUW fellowships and grants have gone on to become leaders in their fields, driving innovation and social change. Many have pursued careers in academia, science, technology, and public policy, contributing to advancements that benefit society as a whole.
AAUW’s Advocacy: Addressing Critical Issues Affecting Women
Beyond financial support for education, AAUW actively engages in advocacy efforts to address pressing issues that disproportionately affect women. One of the organization’s current priorities is tackling the student debt crisis, which has a particularly severe impact on women borrowers.
AAUW’s Stance on Student Loan Debt:
- AAUW has conducted research on the disproportionate impact of student loan debt on women
- The organization advocates for solutions such as student debt cancellation and expanded loan-repayment programs
- AAUW emphasizes the need for equal access to affordable, quality higher education for women and communities of color
Why is the student debt crisis a gender equity issue? Women, on average, take on more student loan debt than men and face greater challenges in repayment due to persistent gender pay gaps. This financial burden can have long-lasting effects on women’s economic security and career trajectories.
AAUW’s Research: Shedding Light on Gender Disparities
AAUW’s commitment to evidence-based advocacy is reflected in its robust research initiatives. The organization regularly publishes reports and studies that illuminate gender disparities across various sectors, providing valuable insights for policymakers and the public.
Notable AAUW Research:
- “Deeper in Debt: Women & Student Loans” – A comprehensive study on the impact of student debt on women
- Research on the gender pay gap and its implications for women’s economic security
- Studies on women’s representation in STEM fields and leadership positions
How does AAUW’s research contribute to advancing gender equity? By providing data-driven analysis of gender disparities, AAUW equips advocates, policymakers, and the public with the knowledge needed to push for meaningful change. This research forms the foundation for AAUW’s advocacy efforts and helps shape public discourse on gender equity issues.
AAUW’s Engagement: Mobilizing Members for Action
AAUW’s strength lies not only in its national initiatives but also in its engaged membership base. The organization provides numerous opportunities for members to get involved in advocacy efforts and make their voices heard on critical issues affecting women and girls.
Ways AAUW Members Can Take Action:
- Joining AAUW’s Action Network to receive urgent email notices and text messages about advocacy opportunities
- Using AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist tool to quickly contact legislators on important issues
- Participating in AAUW webinars and events to stay informed about current priorities and advocacy strategies
Why is grassroots activism crucial for advancing gender equity? By mobilizing its members to engage with policymakers and raise awareness in their communities, AAUW amplifies its impact and ensures that women’s voices are heard at all levels of decision-making.
AAUW’s Educational Programs: Empowering Women Through Knowledge
In addition to its fellowship and grant programs, AAUW offers various educational initiatives designed to empower women with the knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers and advocate for themselves.
AAUW’s Educational Offerings:
- Webinars featuring national staff, outside experts, and thought leaders on critical issues
- Workshops and training programs on topics such as salary negotiation and leadership development
- Resources and toolkits to help women navigate challenges in the workplace and higher education
How do these educational programs contribute to AAUW’s mission? By providing women with practical skills and knowledge, AAUW equips them to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential in their personal and professional lives. This aligns with the organization’s broader goal of advancing equity through education and empowerment.
AAUW’s Partnerships: Collaborating for Greater Impact
AAUW recognizes the power of collaboration in driving social change. The organization actively seeks partnerships with other organizations, institutions, and thought leaders to amplify its impact and address complex issues affecting women and girls.
Examples of AAUW Partnerships and Collaborations:
- Hosting webinars and events featuring prominent figures such as U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren
- Collaborating with organizations like the Student Debt Crisis Center and Young Invincibles on advocacy initiatives
- Partnering with universities and research institutions to conduct studies and gather data on gender equity issues
Why are partnerships crucial for advancing AAUW’s mission? By joining forces with other organizations and leveraging diverse expertise, AAUW can tackle complex issues more effectively and reach a broader audience with its message of empowerment and equity.
AAUW’s Global Reach: Supporting Women Worldwide
While AAUW’s primary focus is on advancing equity for women and girls in the United States, the organization also has a global impact through its International Fellowship program and other initiatives that support women from around the world.
AAUW’s Global Initiatives:
- International Fellowships for women pursuing graduate or postgraduate studies in the United States
- Support for projects that promote education and equity for women and girls in various countries
- Collaboration with international organizations on global gender equity issues
How does AAUW’s global reach contribute to its mission? By supporting women from diverse backgrounds and countries, AAUW fosters cross-cultural exchange and promotes a global perspective on gender equity. This international engagement enriches the organization’s work and helps build a worldwide network of women leaders and advocates.
AAUW’s multifaceted approach to advancing equity for women and girls has made a significant impact since its founding in 1881. Through its fellowship and grant programs, advocacy efforts, research initiatives, educational offerings, and partnerships, AAUW continues to empower women to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.
As society evolves and new challenges emerge, AAUW’s work remains as critical as ever. The organization’s commitment to addressing issues such as the student debt crisis, persistent gender pay gaps, and underrepresentation of women in leadership positions demonstrates its ongoing relevance and importance in the fight for gender equity.
By supporting AAUW’s mission and getting involved in its initiatives, individuals can contribute to creating a more equitable world for women and girls. Whether through financial contributions, advocacy efforts, or participation in educational programs, every action taken in support of AAUW’s goals helps move society closer to achieving true gender equity.
As AAUW looks to the future, it continues to adapt its strategies and priorities to meet the evolving needs of women and girls. With its rich history, dedicated membership, and commitment to evidence-based advocacy, AAUW is well-positioned to continue making a significant impact on gender equity for generations to come.
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Laura Laster, AAUW 2018-19, Career Development Grant
AAUW Denounces the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Student Loan Forgiveness
Following the court’s decision against student borrowers, especially against the nation’s millions of women borrowers, AAUW calls on President Biden to offer permanent solutions, such as student debt cancellation and expanded loan-repayment programs. Amid challenges, AAUW remains committed to advocating for women and communities of color’s equal access to affordable, quality higher education.
Research & Data
Deeper in Debt: Women & Student Loans
Student debt is making it nearly impossible for many women to afford their basic living expenses after graduating from college, but AAUW is dedicated to getting the college debt crisis under control. Learn more about how women are disproportionately impacted by student loans — and steps we can take to make college more affordable and accessible for all!
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Why Women Will Suffer the Most if the Supreme Court Rules Against Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of AAUW, was featured in TIME magazine’s recent article highlighting the significant burden of student loan debt on women, particularly due to persistent gender gaps and the need for advanced degrees to match male counterparts.
2021-22 American Fellow Ola Galal
Funding Education
Congrats to AAUW’s 2023-24 Fellows & Grantees!
AAUW is excited to announce over $6 million in funding to nearly 285 fellows and grantees in the 2023-24 award year.
These exceptional recipients will pursue academic work and lead innovative projects to empower women and girls.
Recent Webinars
Join AAUW in conversation with national staff and outside experts to bring you engaging programming on the issues most important to you. Check out recordings from recent webinars and look out for news of upcoming online events!
Recent Webinar
Delivering on Debt Relief: The Fight for Racial and Gender Justice
Watch AAUW’s most recent webinar in which U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, AAUW CEO Gloria L. Blackwell, Natalia Abrams of the Student Debt Crisis Center, and Kristin McGuire, the executive director of Young Invincibles, discuss how student loan debt puts a disproportionate burden on women of color and contributes to gender and racial inequity.
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Take Action
Members of AAUW’s Action Network receive urgent email notices and text messages when their advocacy is needed most.
With our online Two-Minute Activist tool, it takes just minutes and an internet connection to make your voice heard on issues impacting women and girls!
Fellowships & Grants – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881
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Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education, investing in women who go on to change the world.
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Congrats 2022-23 Fellows & Grantees!
AAUW is excited to announce over $6 million in funding to nearly 285 fellows and grantees in the 2022-23 award year. These exceptional recipients will pursue academic work and lead innovative community projects to empower women and girls.
Farole Safia
Gala Ola
Elathram Hanin
Ohiomoba Ramael
Current Opportunities
Pursuing academic work or leading community projects? See if there is an AAUW fellowship or grant that matches your academic or professional goals! To confirm your eligibility for a program, review the application instructions carefully.
Faces of AAUW
Welcome, Class of 2022-23!
Dr. Nabiha Saklayen, 2013-14 International Fellow and CEO and Co-Founder of Cellino, welcomes the incoming class of AAUW fellows and grantees.
Faces of AAUW
Meet a Grantee
As an advocate for social justice, Chasity J.
Deal is currently researching the correlation between inadequate housing and inequitable health care within our underrepresented and underserved populations. Her work also focuses on poverty and health, and how this correlation affects entire populations. She intends to pursue her doctoral degree upon earning her master’s. Her goal is to start a nonprofit research organization devoted to eradicating food and water insecurity in the United States.
2021-22 Career Development Grantee Chasity Deal is funded with the support of The Office of Angela Scott’s For Women Who Mean Business Grant™
3 Questions for Rachael Rollins
Faces of AAUW
“We need to realize that we are just as qualified to do things as men are.”
3 Questions for Rachael Rollins
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Elite education for women in the US | Forbes Education
What is today?
There are 33 women’s colleges in the US in 2020.
Now, when the trend towards equality is gaining momentum, the question of their relevance is more acute than ever.
Without a doubt, women have achieved a lot, but they still often cannot match men in terms of salaries and career prospects. Almost 200 years ago, it was education that gave women the necessary impetus to gain new opportunities and roles in society. Women’s colleges became the place where it was possible to transfer a woman from the only familiar “home” role to the role of a professional, a scientist, an equal.
Women’s college graduates unanimously report that they feel more prepared for the “work universe” than female students who attended co-ed universities.
The standard undergraduate program at women’s colleges is not limited to academic subjects: it teaches logic, critical thinking, oratory, preparing students for leadership positions in any industry.
Criticism of women’s colleges is often based on the fact that they artificially cut off their students from the world.
But the colleges claim that they rather teach women to take a more active position in this world.
Despite the relatively small number of women’s colleges, their graduates amaze with the level of influence on modern society. The brightest and most famous of them are Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Martha Stewart and Madeleine Albright. In 2006, when the number of women in the Fortune 500 first crossed the 10 mark, four of them were women’s college graduates.
Now, in principle, women are more actively choosing higher education, which is confirmed by statistics: in 201911.3 million new students were expected in the US this year, but only 8.6 million new students.
At a time of such dramatic growth, it is especially important for women to be in an environment that will help them build their self-confidence, competence and desire to achieve more.
Such things are important for both American and foreign students. I am often asked by students and their parents about how to choose an education that will turn out to be a good investment (it often means “will bring a high salary”).
The answer to it is always difficult, since not only the specialty determines success. Finding a job in the United States is not a linear process, where a diploma from a certain university in a sought-after specialty will guarantee success, but the creation of a certain set of skills and knowledge that the employer is looking for.
Women’s colleges offer all the necessary subjects and additional classes to make graduates among the first to be interviewed: an active social position, negotiation skills, social flexibility, the ability to critically assess the situation and make decisions – all that they now want to see in an employee. This is also confirmed by such an interesting fact: Congress is a frequent place of work for graduates of women’s colleges, and this is by no means an accident.
Why do our girls go to women’s colleges? This is a question I expect from parents who are accustomed to questioning many opportunities for their children. My answer is that it is important to see in each new proposal the essence that determines its value, and for women’s colleges, the essence is not in the name.
This is a unique combination of a historically elite education and the inclusion of preparation for the realities of career success in a separate block of subjects in the undergraduate program. No co-educational university will ever make your child’s career success a top priority, and no one will include in the academic program those skills that a girl needs to acquire in the first place, so that in today’s job search realities she is the strongest player. It can be said that not all students plan to build their careers in the USA, and it would seem that this option will be useless for them. But I believe that the problems that women see in a career and academic context are similar regardless of the country, and, having learned how to solve them in the United States, this can be easily explicated to Russian reality.
It is important to understand that women’s colleges are another new reality for us. The new often causes both interest and a lot of questions and doubts. But the experience and impact that the colleges have had is undeniable.
If we want a high-quality education that enables alumni to become leaders in the challenging US work climate, we must give women’s colleges a chance.
Tuition fees at American University, Washington – UniPage
The information is for informational purposes only. Check the prices and requirements on the official website of the educational institution.
About the University
American University (AU) is a private non-profit institution. AU is located in Washington DC, United States. AU is part of the Sport affiliations and memberships: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The university was highly rated by the international ranking of the best universities QS and won 703 positions in the world. AU is one of the best universities in the USA. The university is considered one of the best in the arts and humanities, social sciences and management, which is confirmed by the QS rating. The THE independent university ranking puts the university in 505th place in the world.
The American University Admissions Office recruits students for undergraduate and graduate programs.
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By directions
| Direction | Place in QS 2023 |
|---|---|
| Social sciences and management 900 68 | 272 |
| Arts and Humanities | 350 |
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American University tuition fees
Like other US universities, the academic calendar at American University consists of two semesters. For convenience, the cost of training is calculated per year. Prices in an educational institution vary depending on citizenship. For residents of the United States, the cost of a year of study starts at 19,995 USD, and for foreigners – a minimum of 24,993 USD. Thanks to scholarships and financial support programs, university students have the opportunity to fully or partially cover the cost of education.
Check the university website for up-to-date information on prices and available scholarships.
When choosing an educational institution, it is important to be aware of the additional costs: hostel rent, transportation, teaching materials, meals and personal expenses.
American University study programs
Computer science and ITB.S. in Computer Science – EntrepreneurshipComputational ScienceComputer ScienceData ScienceData Sciences for Justice, Law and Criminology Show all
LegalData Sciences for Justice, Law and CriminologyJustice and LawLegal StudiesScience and MathematicsB.S. in Applied MathematicsBS in MathematicsBS in Mathematics and EconomicsBiochemistryBiology (Combined) Show all
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A. in Environmental StudiesEngineering & TechnologyAudio TechnologyB.S. in Audio Technology – PhysicsPhysicsPhysicsHumanitiesB.A. in American StudiesB.A. in Arabic StudiesB.A. in Asian StudiesB.A. in French StudiesB.A. in History Show all
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Languages, Literature and LinguisticsAfrican American and African Diaspora StudiesArab World StudiesArabic StudiesAsian StudiesBusiness, Language and Cultural Studies Show all
Social Sciences and ManagementAfrican American and African Diaspora StudiesAmerican StudiesAnthropologyAnthropology and Public Anthropology (Combined)Arab World Studies .
in Business AdministrationB.S. in Business and EntertainmentB.S. in Business, Language & Culture Studies Show all
OtherB.A. in Arab World StudiesB.A. in EconomicsB.A. in German StudiesB.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG)B.A. in Justice and Law Show all
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EducationEducation Policy and LeadershipEducation Policy and Leadership (Online)International Training and EducationMaster of Science in Measurement and Evaluation Nutrition Education (Online) Show all
Social Sciences and ManagementCombined Degree of Master of Laws and Public Administration: LLM/MPACombined Degree of Master of Laws and Public Policy: LLM/MPPCounter-Terrorism and Homeland Security (Online)Education Policy and LeadershipEducation Policy and Leadership (Online) Show all
Languages, Literature and LinguisticsCreative WritingLiterature, Culture, and TechnologyMedicineBiologyBiotechnologyChemistryHealth Promotion ManagementHealth Promotion Management (Online) Show all
Science and MathematicsChemistryData ScienceNutrition Education (Online)History, Philosophy and TheologyArt HistoryArts ManagementEthics, Peace, and Human RightsInternational Peace and Conflict ResolutionPhilosophy Show all
Engineering and TechnologyAudio TechnologyChemistryIntellectual Property and TechnologyLiterature, Culture, and TechnologyArts and HumanitiesArt HistoryArts Management Creative WritingFilm and Media ArtsFilm and Media Production Show all
Computer Science and ITAnalyticsAnalytics (Online) Computer ScienceData ScienceEnvironmental Science Show all
LawAdvocacyEthics, Peace, and Human RightsGender, International and Comparative LawIntellectual Property and TechnologyInternational Arbitration and Business Law Show all
Accounting and Finance ing (Online)EconomicsEconomics – Applied Economics (Online)Finance Show all
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OtherMA in Strategic CommunicationMaster of Science in Human Resource Analytics and Management Other programs
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AU undergraduate admission
IELTS is required before applying.
AU Graduate Admissions
When selecting for Master’s programs, the admission committee of the university pays attention to the student’s academic performance in the undergraduate program. To confirm the level of English, you will need an IELTS, PTE or TOEFL language exam. AU provides an opportunity to get a master’s degree remotely.
American University campus
American University campus – urban. This means that students study in close proximity to attractions and the entire recreational infrastructure of the city of Washington. This type of campus gives students more options for internships and part-time jobs. The university has a library, in the collection of which you will find not only textbooks and scientific works, but also works of the classics, modern literature and much more. AU regularly accepts students for international exchange programs, providing both local and international students with the opportunity to come into contact with different cultures and gain unique experience.
