Sign Your Offer Letter

It is important that you acknowledge your offer by signing and submitting your offer letter before you begin.

New Hire Packet

You will receive an email from "AUHumanResources@american.edu" that contains important new hire documents, resources, and policies to review. Please follow the instructions and complete before your first day at AU.

Forms to complete in your new hire packet

• Personal Information

• Foreign National Status

• Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

• Form W-4, Employee’s Federal Withholding Allowance Certificate

• State Tax Withholding Form

• DC Pregnancy Accommodation Notice

• Equal Employment Opportunity Self-Identify Form

• Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form

Resources in your new hire packet

• AU Policies and Procedures

• Staff Personnel Policies

• Benefits Enrollment Guide

• Notice of Health Insurance Exchange

• 403(b) Retirement Plan Enrollment Guide

• Retirement Enrollment Eligibility Verification

• Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure Notification

• Directions, Parking & Campus Map

Your offer letter will advise you when you are scheduled to attend new-hire orientation. Orientation is held virtually on Zoom, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, unless your letter states otherwise.

You will receive an overview of the university, a technology overview, and a video summarizing your benefits package and how to enroll. 

If you are unable to attend orientation on your scheduled date, please email HR Payroll Help, or call 202-885-3836.

There are a few more things that you will need to do once you have started in your role and have access to AU’s portal.

Verify Part 2 of Your Federal I-9 Form (Employment Eligibility) within 3 days of your start date

• This is a federal requirement that shows your proof of U.S. citizenship or legal authorization to work in the U.S.
• Your offer of employment is contingent upon you providing proof of employment eligibility in the United States and must be completed no later than three (3) days of your first day of work.
• Where to verify Part 2 of your Federal Form I-9
  • The Office of Human Resources
    Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., by appointment only
    To schedule an appointment:
    • Go to https://help.american.edu
    • Login with your AU credentials
    • Select “Appointments” in the top-right header menu
    • Select “Office of Human Resources – In Person Visits”
• • Offered on-site by some departments
    Check with your HR Representative for availability
• You will need to show proof of your employment eligibility when you verify Part 2 of your I-9. Acceptable, original, unexpired documents that you can use to complete the Form I-9 can be found on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-9 Acceptable Documents site.

Complete new hire forms

• COVID-19 Vaccine Attestation
• Health and Safety Faculty, Staff, and Affiliate Acknowledgement
• Hybrid Work Agreement (for staff working remote some days of the week or a modified work schedule)
• Direct Deposit, AU’s primary method of payment. You will need your banking information to complete the online form.

  • Make your payment selection. Direct deposit is AU's primary method of payment. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, you will be issued a paper check and it will be sent to your school for distribution. 

  • Once you've selected Direct Deposit as your payment method, use the navigation that appears under the Eagle Service logo and select Employee > Banking Information to add your bank information.

• Elect your benefits within 30 days of your hire date (medical & prescription, dental, flexible spending accounts, optional life and AD&D insurance, and the legal plan)
• Elect to receive electronic W2 statements
  • Provide consent to receive your W2 tax statement online. The W-2 form is the document that employers are required to send to each of their employees and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the end of the year. The form reports the employee's annual wages and the amount of taxes and is used to file tax returns each year by the April 15 deadline.
• Designate your emergency contact. You will need their name, address, and phone number(s).
• Sign-up to contribute to the American University 403(b) Retirement Plan
  • You are eligible to enroll in the Plan immediately without a match and can sign-up on www.netbenefits.com/au. After one year of qualifying service (you have worked 1,000 hours and are scheduled to work at least 20 hours a week), you will automatically be enrolled in the Plan and receive the 2:1 match. If you have a year of service at another non-profit, you may be eligible for the match now. Learn more on our Benefits Retirement page.