The American University of Rome (commonly referred to as AUR) is a degree-granting American university in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. AUR is accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (abbreviated as MSCHE and legally incorporated as the Mid-Atlantic Region Commission on Higher Education) is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit membership organization that performs peer evalua ...
in the United States and is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education as an American University duly authorized to operate in Italy as a Foreign Higher Education Institution. The American University of Rome's degrees, accompanied by a Statement of Comparability or a Dichiarazione di Valore (Certified Degree Equivalency) is valid for admission to Italian graduate degree programs such as the laurea magistrale or Italian first level Master programs.
The school was founded in 1969, making it the oldest American degree-granting university in Rome.
AUR is situated near the center of Rome on the
Janiculum hill in the
Monteverde Vecchio neighborhood, and has a total student enrollment of around 600.
The language of
instruction is English.
History
AUR has its origins soon after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. David Colin, an American journalist in Italy prior to and during the war, settled in Rome. While American students and professors visited Rome, Colin helped foster cultural exchanges between Americans and their Italian counterparts. Over time, informal discussions at his home became more formalized, turning into structured lectures and classes. His wife, Joan Carpenter, assisted Colin with this undertaking.
George Tesoro, an Italian who left Italy in 1940 in protest against
Mussolini's fascist regime, began to collaborate with Colin. As the program grew, The American University in Rome became reality when AUR was incorporated in 1969 in the District of Columbia with its academic headquarters located in Rome, Italy.
Later development
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, a member of the board, 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. Dr. Giannini initiated AUR's first accreditation with the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools in 1992 and planted the seeds for Middle States accreditation.
After operating from different locations in central Rome for almost 25 years, AUR moved to its current campus in 1993.
Campus
The campus is located on top of the
Janiculum, Rome's highest hill, offering views of the city. Most of its buildings are located on Via Pietro Roselli adjacent to a portion of the
Aurelian Wall with the Communications Building, commonly known as the Carini building, being located on Via Carini, only a short walk.
The Carini building, completed in 1970, is after the style of the Italian architect
Paolo Portoghesi
Paolo Portoghesi (born 2 November 1931, Rome) is an Italian architect, theorist, historian and professor of architecture at the University La Sapienza in Rome. He is a former president of the architectural section of the Venice Biennale (1979–92 ...
and has been commonly referred to as ''Casa Papanice''. However, after some dispute, it has been acknowledged that the original Casa Papanice is another building in Rome and the Carini building of The American University of Rome cannot be officially designated as a Portoghesi building but a building 'in the style of'.
The campus was extended in early 2018 to include an Art Studio, exhibition space and classrooms on via Angelo Masina. This building is adjacent to, and shares garden space with, the
American Academy in Rome.
The main campus includes two gardens centered around the main A and B buildings, the Evans Hall Library, and the Auriana Auditorium. The main teaching block (Building B) is part of a
Barnabite monastery.
File:AUR Full View Campus.JPG, View of AUR main campus A and B buildings
File:AUR Library Study Room.jpg, Photo of an Evans Hall Library Study Room
File:AUR Evans Hall Library Outside.jpg, AUR Evans Hall Library view from outside
File:AURGardenView2.jpeg, AUR Main Garden
Organisation and administration
The American University of Rome is governed a
board of trustees
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...
, 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. Among other duties, the board appoints the president and has final approval of changes to the curriculum proposed by the AUR Senate (the body which, forms and amends academic policies and includes a student government representative).
The current president of the university is Dr. Scott Sprenger who assumed the position in July 2020, taking over from
Dr. Richard Hodges OBE, who was named President Emeritus & Professor Emeritus upon completing his tenure.
AUR is a member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities and
The American International Consortium of Academic Libraries (AMICAL).
Academics
The American University of Rome is a liberal arts university with a student-faculty ratio of roughly 16:1.
AUR's undergraduate student body of roughly 500 students is multicultural and representative of over 30 nationalities.
Accreditation
The American University of Rome is regionally accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (abbreviated as MSCHE and legally incorporated as the Mid-Atlantic Region Commission on Higher Education) is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit membership organization that performs peer evalua ...
, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the
U.S. Secretary of Education
The United States secretary of education is the head of the United States Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States, and the federal government, on ...
and the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for academic quality through accreditation in order t ...
.
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. In Italy, AUR is registered as a legal entity with the Rome Tribunal and it is authorized to operate in Italy by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research.
Academic programs
AUR offers three master's degrees (in
Peace Studies
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
,
Sustainable Cultural Heritage
Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...
and
Food Studies) and ten bachelor's degree programs with 16 concentrations or tracks, two associate degree programs and 18 minors. Of the ten undergraduate programs nine are Bachelor of Arts degrees. The Program of Business Administration offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Administration
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
. Associate of Arts Degrees can be obtained in liberal arts and international business. Internships are available in all majors for course credit and provide a practical format to relate their studies to career interests.
The university's programs and areas include:
*
Archeology
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...
and
Classics
Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...
*
Art History
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
*
Business Administration
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
*
Communication
Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inquir ...
and
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
*
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
,
Writing, Literature and Publishing
*
Film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
and
Digital Media
Digital media is any communication media that operate in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital media can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, and preserved on a digital electronics device. ' ...
*
Fine Arts
In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...
*
Interdisciplinary Studies
*
International Relations and Global Politics
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
*
Travel and Tourism Management
Travel is the movement of people between distant geographical locations. Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel c ...
The university also offers four master (M.A.) degree programs:
*
Arts Management
The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation. They encompass multiple diverse and plural modes of thinking, doing and being, in an extremely broad range of media. Both ...
*
Food Studies
*
Peace Studies
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
*
Sustainable Cultural Heritage
Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...
The Rula Jebreal Scholarship Fund
AUR together with
Rula Jebreal
Rula Jebreal ( ar, رولا جبريل, he, רולא ג'בריל; born April 24, 1973) is a Palestinian foreign policy analyst, journalist, novelist and screenwriter with dual Israeli and Italian citizenship. She was a commentator for MSNBC.
...
(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. In 2017, AUR brought three students from
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
to study in Rome and since then the project has expanded to provide tuition and living costs for six further students from conflict-torn countries (
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
,
Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
,
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
, and
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
).
Student life
Students live off-campus mostly near the university, giving the opportunity to allow the students to immerse in the surrounding communities.
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. AUR student run organisations include Student Government and a variety of clubs such as: Veterans Club, Business Club, Communication Club, Culture Club, Italian Studies Club, and International Relations Club which also organises AUR's
Harvard National Model United Nations
The Harvard International Relations Council (HIRC) is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote awareness of international relations based out of Harvard University. As several semi-independent but centrally funded programs, the IRC focus ...
delegation. The Communication club also supports AUR's Communication Week which is a showcase of the American University of Rome students communications and English work.
Athletics
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
The Sapienza University of Rome ( it, Sapienza – Università di Roma), also called simply Sapienza or the University of Rome, and formally the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a public research university located in Rome, Ita ...
and
Roma Tre University
Roma Tre University[Uniroma3.it]
( it, Università degli Studi Roma Tre) is an Italian John Cabot University
John Cabot University (JCU) is a private American-style university in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1972 and it offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and study abroad programs to English-speaking students. The university has more tha ...
, in what has been dubbed the "American Derby". Notable performances over the years in this match were: 2008 AUR team led by the trio Jeff Palumbo (ST), Greg Walker (LB) and John Mangione (M) coming from 0–3 to win 4–3.
AUR Wolves, men's soccer team, won the Universities of Rome a5 Football Championship on April 26, 2018, their first trophy since co-founding the league in 2006.
In 2013, the university added volleyball as a competitive team and became a founding member in the newly created co-ed tournament, "Campionato di Volley delle Università Romane"
Mascot
The school mascot is "Wolfie". The first mascot in Roman university athletics, Wolfie has been representing AUR since 2006. Originally named "
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary foundation of Rome, founder and King of Rome, first king of Ancient Rome, Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus ...
" in reference to the mythical founder of Rome, the name Wolfie was popularized by students and later formally adopted.
American University of Rome Abroad (AURA)
The American University of Rome hosts a number of study abroad students but also promotes the opportunity for resident students to study abroad from AUR using the AURA program. Partnering institutions that accept AUR students to study abroad with them include:
*
American University
The American University (AU or American) is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was charte ...
(AU), Washington, DC
*
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, S ...
, Philadelphia, PA
*
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...
(Goizueta School of Business), Atlanta, GA
*
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University (Florida Atlantic or FAU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Florida, Dania Beach, Davie, Florida, Davie, Fort Lauderd ...
, Boca Raton, FL
*iCLA - International College of Liberal Arts, Yamanashi Gakuin University, Yamanashi, Japan
*
International School of Management (ISM), Dortmund, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart – Germany
*
LIM College
LIM College is a private for-profit college in Midtown Manhattan focused on the business of fashion. LIM College offers master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs in fashion-focused majors with an emphasis on the connection between rea ...
, New York, NY
*
Marymount University, Arlington, VA
*
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...
, College Park, MD
*
University of Miami
The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, incl ...
, Coral Gables, FL
*
University of Westminster
, mottoeng = The Lord is our Strength
, type = Public
, established = 1838: Royal Polytechnic Institution 1891: Polytechnic-Regent Street 1970: Polytechnic of Central London 1992: University of Westminster
, endowment = £5.1 million ...
(School of Media, Arts & Design), London - U.K.
*
Vesalius College
Vesalius College, also known commonly as VeCo, is a college situated in the heart of Brussels, Belgium. The college is operated in association with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. It is named after Andreas Vesalius, one of the first and foremost pi ...
, Brussels – Belgium
Through the AAICU Direct Educational Exchange Program (AAICU-DEEP) (Association of American International Colleges and Universities) students can apply to study abroad for a semester at:
*
American College of Thessaloniki
Anatolia College (Greek: Κολλέγιο Ανατόλια, , also known as the American College (Greek: Αμερικάνικο Κολλέγιο, ), is a private, non-profit, educational institution located in Pylaia, a suburb of Thessaloniki, G ...
*American University of Bulgaria
*
American University of Armenia
*
American University of Central Asia
The American University of Central Asia (AUCA) (russian: Американский университет в Центральной Азии; ky, Борбордук Азиядагы Америка Университети), formerly the ''Kyrgyz ...
*
American University of Nigeria
*
American University of Sharjah
*
Al Akhawayn University
Al Akhawayn University ( ar, جامعة الأخوين, Berber: ''Tasdawit En Wawmaten'') is an independent, public, not-for-profit, coeducational university located in Ifrane, Morocco, from the imperial city of Fez, in the Middle Atlas Mount ...
, Ifrane, Morocco
*
Central European University, Hungary
*
Franklin College, Switzerland
*
Forman Christian College University, Lahore
*Haigaizian University, Lebanon
*Institute for American Universities (Aix-en-Provence)
*
Irish American University
*
Lebanese American University
*Saint Louis University, Madrid
*
The American College of Greece
*
The American University in Cairo
*The American University of Afghanistan
*The American University of Beirut
*The American University in Kosovo
*
The American University of Paris
The American University of Paris (AUP) is a private, independent, and accredited liberal arts university in Paris, France. Founded in 1962, the university is one of the oldest American institutions of higher education in Europe, and the first t ...
Notable scholars and honorary degree recipients
*
Stanley Tucci
*
James Murdoch
*
Colin Renfrew
Andrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, (born 25 July 1937) is a British archaeologist, paleolinguist and Conservative peer noted for his work on radiocarbon dating, the prehistory of languages, archaeogenetics, neuroarchaeology, an ...
*
James Walston
James Walston (1949 – 12 May 2014) was a professor of international relations at American University of Rome, The American University of Rome (AUR), specialising in Italian politics and modern history. He was chair of the AUR's Department of ...
*
Rula Jebreal
Rula Jebreal ( ar, رولا جبريل, he, רולא ג'בריל; born April 24, 1973) is a Palestinian foreign policy analyst, journalist, novelist and screenwriter with dual Israeli and Italian citizenship. She was a commentator for MSNBC.
...
*
Parker W. Borg
Parker W. Borg (born May 25, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a former professor at the American University of Rome and is a former United States Ambassador to Mali and Iceland.
Borg graduated from Dartmouth College in 1961 and received an MP ...
*
Bjorn Thomassen
*
David Thorne
*
Ronald P. Spogli
Ronald P. Spogli (born 1948) is an American venture capitalist and politician. He is the former United States Ambassador to Italy and to San Marino. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 30, 2005, after being nominated by President George W ...
*
Hage Geingob
*
Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Calogero Camilleri (; 6 September 1925 – 17 July 2019) was an Italian writer.
Biography
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Girgenti, Sicily, Camilleri began university studies in the Faculty of Literature at the University of Palermo, b ...
*
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-so ...
*
Donna Shalala
Donna Edna Shalala ( ; born February 14, 1941) is an American politician and academic who served in the Carter and Clinton administrations, as well as in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. Shalala is a recipient of the Presid ...
*
Francesco Guccini
*
Mary Beard
*
Aurelio De Laurentiis
Aurelio De Laurentiis (born 24 May 1949) is an Italian film producer through his company, Filmauro, and the owner of Italian Association football, football clubs S.S.C. Napoli, Napoli (of which he is also chairman) and S.S.C. Bari, Bari.
He is ...
*
Piero Angela
Piero Domenico Angela (; 22 December 1928 – 13 August 2022) was an Italian television host, science journalist, writer, and pianist.
He started as a radio reporter, then became a foreign correspondent, and established himself as the host of ...
*
Andrea di Robilant
Andrea di Robilant (born in Rome, Italy) is an italian people, Italian journalist and writer.
Early life and education
Di Robilant was born in Rome and attended a Swiss boarding school, Institut Le Rosey. He moved to New York for university, wh ...
*
Richard Hodges (Archaeologist)
See also
*
American University (disambiguation) for a list of similarly named institutions
References
External links
The American University of Rome
{{DEFAULTSORT:American University Of Rome
Universities and colleges in Rome
Rome R. XIII Trastevere
Educational institutions established in 1969
1969 establishments in Italy