The American University of Rome: A Global Education in the Eternal City
The American University of Rome (AUR) is a private, independent, not-for-profit American university located in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1969, it stands as the oldest American-accredited university in Italy. AUR offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, along with study abroad programs, all catered to English-speaking students from across the globe. With a diverse student body representing over 60 nationalities, AUR provides a unique and enriching educational experience.
A Historical Overview
AUR's origins can be traced back to the period following World War II. David Colin, an American journalist who had been in Italy prior to and during the war, settled in Rome and played a key role in fostering cultural exchanges between Americans and Italians. Informal discussions at his home gradually evolved into structured lectures and classes. George Tesoro, an Italian who had left Italy in 1940 in protest against Mussolini's fascist regime, collaborated with Colin. Upon incorporation, Tesoro served as chairman until 1983, when Joseph D. Ventura, then vice chair, succeeded him. During Ventura's time as chairman, the board of trustees became a degree-granting institution from the District of Columbia in 1986. In 1987, Dr. Margaret Giannini, a professional in the scientific and medical research field, became board chair and served until 2003. Under her 16 years of leadership, the university grew in its student and faculty numbers, curriculum offerings, and financial and management systems.
Campus and Facilities
The American University of Rome is seated on 1 acre. The university campus is located near the center of Rome on the Janiculum hill in the Monteverde Vecchio neighborhood. The campus is located on top of the Janiculum, Rome's highest hill, offering views of the city. The main campus includes two gardens centered around the main A and B buildings, the Evans Hall Library, and the Auriana Auditorium. Originally a Barnabite monastery, later a radio station, recording studio, and guest house; AUR's main campus is built around 4 core buildings: Building A (Administration), Building B (teaching), the AUR Library, and the Auriana Auditorium. Over recent years, AUR has expanded into a number of other neighborhood buildings including the Carini Building and the AUR Art Studios on Via Masina (all within a couple of minutes' walk from the main campus). At least one staffed computer lab is available to students. A wireless computer network is available throughout the campus. Number of computers available are 68.
Academic Programs and Features
The American University of Rome prepares students to live and work across cultures as skilled and knowledgeable citizens of an interconnected and rapidly changing world. Taking the best of the American approach to interdisciplinary, student-centered learning, our international faculty and staff use Rome as our classroom and Italy and Europe as invaluable resources. AUR prepares you to live and work across cultures as skilled and knowledgeable citizens of an interconnected and ever-changing world through its practical interdisciplinary academic majors, opportunities for learning through travel and internships, and its multi-cultural student body, faculty, and staff.
AUR is a liberal arts university with a student-faculty ratio of roughly 16:1. The following special programs are offered: External Degree Program, English as a Second Language program, Academic remediation, Double major option, Independent study, Learning disabilities services, Advanced Placement credit, Student-designed majors, Internships, Off-campus study, Summer session for credit, Sponsors its own study-abroad program, Part-time undergraduate degree programs. No degree programs are available as an online learning option.
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Accreditation and Recognition
The American University of Rome is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) was formally incorporated under Pennsylvania Commonwealth law on March 1, 2013. From its origins in 1919 through February 2013, the Commission was a unit of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Virgin Islands, including distance education and correspondence education programs offered at those institutions. The Commission is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. The American University of Rome is licensed by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware to award associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Experiential Learning: Internships
Abundant opportunities to gain real-world work experience through internships with national and international commercial companies and NGOs. Internships: Academic internships for course credit (available in all majors) provide students with various pathways from academics to a career.
Tuition and Financial Aid
AUR is a not-for-profit university and we work hard to keep our tuition fees as affordable as possible. Lend Edu estimates the average cost for four-year higher education at an American non-profit college is around $50,000 per annum. AUR is wholly committed to assisting students whose academic merit and financial need warrant recognition and support.
Student Life and Activities
AUR is home to a highly diverse student body representing over 60 countries on campus. The AUR community of students and faculty publishes a literary journal of student works called Remus each year. A monthly student run newspaper called "the Howler" is now being published. The Wolves and She-Wolves are the American University of Rome's soccer clubs which play competitively against Rome's other universities including La Sapienza and Roma Tre University. The school mascot is "Wolfie". The first mascot in Roman university athletics, Wolfie has been representing AUR since 2006. Parker W.
AUR together with Rula Jebreal (award-winning journalist, author, and foreign policy analyst) started the Rula Jebreal Scholarship Fund in 2015. The scholarship fund has been designed to directly respond to the global migration crisis, a crisis that is particularly affecting Italy.
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A variety of student clubs are active on campus, including: Veterans Club, Business Club, Culture Club, Italian Studies Club, International Relations Club, Communication Club.
Rome as a Classroom
Rome is our classroom. Rome’s beauty quickly overtakes all who enter its ancient walls. A walk or bus ride through even the most commonplace quarters of the city yields encounters with innumerable monuments, towering pillars, and major imperial buildings that still stand imposingly just as they have for over 2,000 years! Professors complement their lessons with on-site visits around the city, ensuring students’ full immersion in their subject and guiding them through the richly layered experience that is Rome - both past and present. The eternal city offers over 50 museums and 900 churches with world-renowned paintings, frescoes, and sculptures. The cobblestoned streets and beautiful piazzas are architectural masterpieces. However, we encourage our students to venture out of the city and make the most of having the rest of Europe on their doorstep.
Alumni Network
Over its 50 years of teaching and learning, AUR has graduated thousands of students from across the world. This network of alumni spans the globe and the career spectrum and many of its members actively work to help new graduates from the university.
Leadership
The American University of Rome is governed a board of trustees, president, and a senate. The highest governing body, the board of trustees, is responsible for overseeing the university and maintaining its academic and financial health and welfare. The current president of the university is Dr. Scott Sprenger who assumed the position in July 2020, taking over from Dr. Richard Hodges.
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