The African-American Student Union (AASU) serves as an excellent resource for African-American students during their first year transition to HBS. Even more importantly, AASU is there for you throughout your academic tenure, and beyond. AASU operates with a clear vision and goals that are suited to the needs and concerns of the African-Americans at HBS.

Each of AASU’s objectives is realized through the overwhelming contributions of its members. It will galvanize your experience by establishing a strong support network of your fellow first-year classmates, more experienced second-year students, as well as alumni and faculty. AASU effectively becomes the personification of an older brother or sister with plenty of solid advice across various topics:

Trying to figure out a strategy to prepare for your first cold call?

Wanting to know where to find the best barber shop or hair salon in Boston?

Looking for an awesome Caribbean or Soul Food restaurant?

Needing little extra help with in figuring out cycle times in your Technology and Operations Management course?

Real relationships among AASU members are formed early and last a lifetime. Both academic enrichment and social interaction are benefits of being part of the AASU community.

At the beginning of each school year, the organization formally organizes an off-campus retreat for entering and returning students. Packed with information, the retreat begins the bonding process through a series of workshops that provide winning strategies for its membership. Socially explosive, the event sets the standard for the “work hard, play hard” balance essential to any successful HBS student.

Throughout the first term, AASU is a great source for help with academics. From formal reviews hosted by AASU to resume workshops, AASU supports you. AASU continues to strengthen social bonds by hosting social events such as dinner parties and mixers. The culmination of the organization’s activities is the Annual H. Naylor Fitzhugh Conference, which is held early in the second term. The conference brings together Alumni, business people, and students from around the world to discuss hot topics in business and in the African-American community.

AASU has proven itself a dynamic organization dedicated to enriching the HBS experience for black students as well as the larger HBS community.