Американский университет в Риме: история и современность.

University in Rome, Italy

The American University of Rome (commonly referred to as AUR) is a degree granting American university in Rome, Italy. AUR is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education 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 700. The language of instruction is English.

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. After operating from different locations in central Rome for almost 25 years, AUR moved to its current campus in 1993.

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 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.

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 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).

The American University of Rome is a liberal arts university with a student faculty ratio of roughly 16:1. 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.

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. In 2017, AUR brought three students from Beirut 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, Palestine, Eswatini, and Egypt).

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 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.

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.