Mission Statement
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. AUR is a private, independent, not-for-profit institution of higher education, offering undergraduate and graduate liberal arts programs to degree-seeking and study abroad students from around the 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’s innovative programs promote intellectual excellence, personal growth and an appreciation of cultural diversity in an international environment.
Our Time is Now - University Strategy 2026-2029
Our Time Is Now II sets out an ambitious vision for The American University of Rome, strengthening academic excellence, expanding opportunities for students, and guiding the University's next phase of sustainable development.
Since 2022, AUR has increased its student numbers by 70-75%, strengthened its academic programs and faculty, expanded its international partnerships, and secured a substantially enlarged campus within Rome's historic Barnabite monastery. These achievements provide the foundation for the University's next phase of development.
The 2026-2029 strategic plan marks a deliberate shift from growth alone toward purposeful, sustainable development, with a focus on academic excellence, graduate outcomes, and preserving the highly personalized, international educational experience that distinguishes AUR.
Six strategic priorities will guide the University through 2029:
- Place: Strengthening AUR's distinctive educational model by integrating Rome, Italy, and Europe more deeply into teaching, research, and experiential learning.
- Learning: Combining academic excellence and the enduring strengths of a liberal arts education with professional preparation, technological fluency, and measurable graduate outcomes.
- Community: Cultivating a connected, internationally diverse university community, strengthening student engagement, wellbeing, and lifelong alumni relationships.
- Institutional Sustainability: Pursuing responsible enrollment growth, expanding strategic partnerships, strengthening philanthropy, and diversifying revenue.
- Campus: Continuing the transformation of AUR's expanded campus, creating modern academic facilities and inspiring spaces for learning, collaboration, and student life.
- Institutional Effectiveness: Strengthening governance, institutional research, assessment, and evidence-based decision-making.
By 2029, AUR aims to serve approximately 1,000 students, supported by the expansion of its campus, academic resources, and student services. Growth will be carefully managed to preserve the small classes, close faculty relationships, and strong sense of community central to the AUR experience.
Underpinning the plan is a commitment to an education that combines intellectual breadth, depth in an academic discipline, with professional preparation. As artificial intelligence and global economic change reshape the world of work, AUR aims to equip graduates with disciplinary expertise and technological fluency alongside the critical thinking, creativity, ethical judgment, and intercultural understanding needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
Our Time Is Now II represents the next chapter in AUR's evolution: building on recent achievements to establish a stronger, more distinctive, and more sustainable international university, firmly rooted in Rome and preparing students for opportunities around the world.
Read the full university strategic plan (pdf file).
