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American University of Rome

Coordinates: 41°53′09″N 12°27′44″E / 41.8857°N 12.4623°E / 41.8857; 12.4623
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The American University of Rome
Seal of The American University of Rome
Motto"Inter Gentes Trans Orbem"
Motto in English
"Between Peoples Across the World"
TypePrivate, independent, not for profit, liberal arts university
Established1969
PresidentRichard Hodges[1]
Students500
Location
Rome
,
Italy

41°53′09″N 12°27′44″E / 41.8857°N 12.4623°E / 41.8857; 12.4623
CampusUrban Via Pietro Roselli, 4
Colors  Green   Silver
NicknameAUR Wolves (men's) AUR She-Wolves (women's)
MascotWolfie [2]
Websitewww.aur.edu/
File:The American University of Rome logo.jpg

The American University of Rome (commonly referred to as AUR) is a degree-granting American university in Rome, Italy. The school was founded in 1969, making it the oldest American degree-granting university in Rome.[3] AUR is situated near the center of Rome on the Janiculum hill, and has a total student enrollment of around 500. The language of instruction is English.

History

AUR has its origins soon after World War II. 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.[3]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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 a spectacular view 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 one of the works of the Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi called Casa Papanice.[5][6]

The campus includes two gardens centered around the main A and B buildings and the Evans Hall Library. Campus computer facilities are located in Building A, Carini building and Evans Hall Library with WiFi areas extending to both gardens and terraces on campus.[7]

  • View of AUR main campus A and B buildings.
    View of AUR main campus A and B buildings.
  • Photo of an Evans Hall Library Study Room.
    Photo of an Evans Hall Library Study Room.
  • AUR Evans Hall Library view from outside.
    AUR Evans Hall Library view from outside.
  • AUR Main Garden
    AUR Main Garden

Organisation and administration

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. 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 Board is currently led by Gabriel A. Battista, a board member since 2006.[8][9]

The current President of the University is Dr. Richard Hodges, who assumed the position in July 2012, taking over from then-acting President Andrew Thompson.

AUR is a member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities[10] and The American International Consortium of Academic Libraries (AMICAL).[11]

Academics

The American University of Rome is a liberal arts university with a student-faculty ratio of roughly 16:1.[7] 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, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.[12] 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.

Academic programs

AUR offers four master's degrees (in Arts Management, Religious Studies, Cultural Heritage 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. 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. [13]

The university's programs and areas include:

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,[25] Business Club,[26] Communication Club, Culture Club,[27] Italian Studies Club,[28] and International Relations Club which also organises AUR's Harvard National Model United Nations delegation.[29] The Communication club also supports AUR's Communication Week which is a showcase of the American University of Rome students communications and English work.[30][31]

The American University of Rome's mascot "Wolfie"

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 and Roma Tre University. Both AUR's men's and women's teams were founding members of their respective intercollegiate tournaments; the men's "Campionato di Calcio delle Università Romane" (2005) [32] and the women's "Campionato Calcio Feminile delle Università Romane" in 2006.[33]

AUR Wolves regularly play against Rome's second American university in what has been dubbed the "American Derby".[34]

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" [35]

Mascot

The school mascot is "Wolfie". The first mascot in Roman university athletics, Wolfie has been representing AUR since 2006. Originally named "Romulus" in reference to the mythical founder of Rome, the name Wolfie was popularized by students and later formally adopted.[2]

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. Through a partnership with the CUNY-CSI Center for International Service, students can study in the United States (College of Staten Island), China (Nanjing University and Shanghai University), Denmark (Danish International Studies Program), Greece (American College of Thessaloniki) and Ecuador (Catholic University of Guayaquil and the University of San Francisco de Quito). Students may also take advantage of options in the United Kingdom (Middlesex University) and Spain (Menéndez Pelayo International University). Study abroad opportunities are available throughout the year, including winter and summer programs.

Notable scholars and Honorary Degree recipients

References

  1. ^ "President-About Dr. Richard Hodges". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Wolfie". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "History of the American University of Rome". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Biography of Margaret Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P." Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  5. ^ "American University of Rome Campus". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Casa Papanice di Portoghesi e Gigliotti, 1966-70". ATCasa Corriere Della Sera. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Facts & Statistics". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  8. ^ "NIAF News Release". The National Italian American Foundation. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Board of Trustees and Senate". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Regular Members The American University of Rome". Association of American International Colleges and Universities. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Member Institutions The American University of Rome". AMICAL. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Institution Directory The American University of Rome". Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Introduction to The American University of Rome". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  14. ^ "Department of Archeology and Classics". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Department of Art History". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Department of Business Studies". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Department of Communication and English". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  19. ^ "Fine Arts Area". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  20. ^ "M.A Program in Food Studies". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Department of International Relations". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Department of Interdisciplinary Studies". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  23. ^ "Department of Italian Studies". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  25. ^ "Veterans Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  26. ^ "Business Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  27. ^ "Culture Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  28. ^ "Italian Studies Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  29. ^ "International Relations Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Communication Club". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  31. ^ "Communication and English Department Week Recap! Posted April 8, 2011". AURCOM. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  32. ^ "Sport at AUR Wolves Soccer". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  33. ^ "Sport at AUR She Wolves Soccer". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  34. ^ "AUR defeats JCU in Derby". Torneo Universita di Roma. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  35. ^ "Sport at AUR Wolves Volleyball". The American University of Rome. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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