Student Consumer Information

1. Accreditation Information
2. Information on Academic Programs, Faculty and Facilities
3. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for US Federal Student Loans
4. Return of Title IV Fund Policy for US Federal Student Loans
5. Transfer of Credit Policy
6. Diversity, Enrollment & Retention
7. Graduation Rates, Graduates by Major and Post Graduate Pathways
8. Completion/ Graduation and transfer-out rates for students receiving athletically related student aid and intercollegiate athletic program participation rates and financial support data
9. Facilities/Services for Students with Disabilities
10. Student Financial Aid Information
11. Copyright infringement policies and sanctions (including computer use and file sharing)
12. Misrepresentation Statement
13. Drug and Alcohol Abuse
14. Text Book Information
15. Privacy of Student Records
16. Grievances (Student complaints)
17. Academic Regulations

1. Accreditation Information

The American University of Rome is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, 215-662-5606. AUR’s accreditation status is 'Accreditation Reaffirmed'. The last reaffirmation of accreditation was granted in 2024 and the next reaffirmation is scheduled for 2031/32. The University’s Middle States Statement of Accreditation is available on the Middle States website.  

The American University of Rome is licensed to give degrees from the state of Delaware and is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the District of Columbia. The American University of Rome is registered as a legal entity with the Rome Tribunal and is authorized to operate in Italy by the Ministry of Education, University and Research.
 
In 2011 the United States Department of Education determined that The American University of Rome satisfies the new definition of a foreign institution, and therefore permitted to continue its participation as an eligible institution under Title IV of the HEA, and specifically for the William D. Ford Direct Student Loan Program.

Information on filing complaints is available via the MSCHE website and the website of Delaware Department of Education

2.  Information on Academic Programs, Faculty and Facilities

Academic Programs (including faculty and facilities)
 

• For information about the undergraduate programs offered by AUR, please visit our academics page.
• Information on our faculty members is found on our faculty directory.
• Information about AUR’s facilities can be found on our webpage here.

3. Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for US Federal Student Loans 

Please find our Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for US Federal Student Loans on our Financial Aid webpage.

4. Return of Title IV Fund (R2T4) Policy for US Federal Student Loans

Please find our R2T4 Policy on our Financial Aid webpage. 

5. Transfer of Credit Policy

Information for undergraduate transfer students can be found on our transfer admissions page.
 
More information can be found on the academic catalog.
 
Students are classified according to the number of credit hours they have completed as follows:
 
0-29 Freshman
30-59 Sophomore
60-89 Junior
90 or more Senior

6. Diversity, Enrollment & Retention 

7. Graduation Rates, Graduates by Major and Post Graduation Pathways

8.  Completion/ Graduation and transfer-out rates for students receiving athletically related student aid and intercollegiate athletic program participation rates and financial support data

The American University of Rome does not administer any athletically related student aid nor have an ‘intercollegiate athletic program’ similar to US schools. For information on the athletics at AUR please visit our student life web page.

9.  Facilities/Services for Students with Disabilities

Students must notify the Registrar’s Office for any facilities needed due to physical disabilities. 
Click here to contact the Registrar. 
 
Campus Facilities:

• Health Care, Counseling and On-Campus Doctor
• Counseling Centers

Academic Assistance:

• Academic Regulations
• Help Desks and Workshops

10. Student Financial Aid Information

including criteria and eligibility, price of attendance, refund policy, requirements for withdrawal and Title IV financial aid, student loan information published by the US Department of Education, National Student Loan DataBase System (NSLDS), Entrance and Exit Counseling for student loan borrowers, private education loan disclosures, code of conduct for education Loans.

Financial Assistance Criteria and Eligibility
General financial aid requirements: All awards are limited to students enrolled full-time and are in good academic standing, by meeting and following the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and not have defaulted on previous education loans. Students must also maintain SAP in order to continue to receive financial assistance.

Please refer to our scholarship website for all the eligibility requirements and criteria in addition to our SAP policy needed in order to maintain any scholarship awarded.

*Please note that non-degree programs are not eligible for US federal loans administered by AUR. For US federal loan eligibility to study abroad at AUR, students need to contact their home University for further information. 
 
For undergraduate students:
Federal and institutional student financial assistance programs available to students who enroll at The American University of Rome.

The American University of Rome offers the following financial aid to those who qualify enrolled degree seeking students; Direct Stafford Federal Loan Program, we also provide institutional scholarships based on both merit and need as well as offering student assistantships on campus.

The terms and conditions under which students receive Federal Direct Loans:
Students who are eligible may complete a FAFSA online, complete their award letter, complete entrance counseling, and a Master Promissory Note in order to receive Federal Direct Loans. Students must submit a FAFSA, complete a Master Promissory Note and award letter each academic year. Please refer to the Financial Aid calendar on MyAUR for deadlines.

Parents who are eligible and wish to borrow Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans must also complete an award letter, Master Promissory Note and have a credit check approved by Federal Direct Loan Program each academic year. Generally students who are under 24 years of age are dependant students, students who are 24 years of age and older are Independent students.  See the chart below of how that may affects your award.
 

The procedures and forms by which students apply for assistance:

How you may apply for a Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan and other federal student aid is by completing and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA. (The school code for The American University of Rome on the FAFSA is G31025.).
 
After your FAFSA has been submitted online and processed, the information from your application will be shared with The American University of Rome and AUR will notify you through an award letter of the types of aid for which you are eligible. Read carefully the award letter, complete, sign and send back the original letter to AUR (attention: Financial Aid Office).
 
Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is a legally binding agreement to repay your loan to the US Department of Education. Before receiving your Direct Loan, you must sign an MPN.  You may complete the MPN online at Federal Student Aid. First time borrowers at AUR must also complete an entrance counseling through the US government website.

Information Related to the Costs of Attending The American University of Rome, Including Tuition, Fees, Books, and Room and Board:

• For undergraduate students, the estimated cost of attendance can be found on our page here.
• Information about tuitions and fees can be found here.
• For further detailed information Title IV Aid application and procedures please visit our website.

Information Related to The American University of Rome’s Refund Policy and/or Requirements for Withdrawal from the University:

• Withdrawal from the University
• Refund Policy

Student loan information published by the US Department of Education: 
The American University of Rome will provide any information published by the US Department of Education to students anytime requested, including the rights and responsibilities of students and schools under title IV, HEA loan programs. For more information on this please contact us.

National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS)
If you borrow a US federal student loan at The American University of Rome the office of Financial Aid will provide data to NSLDS and this data will be accessible to guarantee agencies, lenders and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Entrance Counseling and Exit Counseling
For students who borrow US federal student loans first time borrowers (other than Parent PLUS loans) must also complete the entrance counseling. The Entrance counseling is a comprehensive information session on the terms and conditions of the loan and the borrower’s responsibilities. First time borrowers are notified of this requirement upon financial aid packaging.

Exit counseling is also required upon withdrawal or completion of the degree if the student borrowed a US Federal student loan. Both the entrance and exit counseling’s will be provided by The American University of Rome.

Private Education Loan Disclosures
Private Education Loans are available for students pursuing degrees at The American University of Rome. A student may borrow up to the Cost of Attendance minus any AUR institutional aid.  While a student may pursue any private loan lender, the most accessible private student loan options for US Citizens studying at foreign schools are Sallie Mae or Earnest. For more information, please visit their websites: Sallie Mae Student Loans. --- Earnest Student Loans. 

Code of Conduct for educational loans
AUR’s code of conduct is as follows:
In order to prohibit a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent with resepect to private education loans, all financial aid staff at the University are prohibited from the following:

• Revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender

• Receiving gifts from a lender, a guarantor, or a loan servicer

• Contracting agreements providing financial benefits from any lender or affiliate of a lender

• Directing borrowers to particular lenders or refusing or delaying loan certifications

11. Copyright infringement policies and sanctions (including computer use and file sharing)

The American University of Rome’s Student Code of Conduct sets forth the standards that govern student conduct. The Code can be found in the Student Handbook, which is made available to all students at the University. Included in the “Major Violations” Category are infractions which failure to abide by copyright law is likely to cause:

• Violation of Sovereign Law
• Acts of misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, or knowingly using false information, documents or instruments not covered by the Academic Integrity Code.

Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Information
A copyright is a form of legal protection for creative works. Copyrights help to ensure that authors of creative works can control how those works are used and prevent others from capitalizing on, or using or distributing, the works without permission. The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material such as songs, videos, games, textbooks, or other type of creative content, including through peer-to-peer file sharing, may subject students to serious criminal and civil penalties, so students and others need to understand what is and is not permissible when it comes to the downloading and distribution of creative materials.

Although using peer-to-peer file sharing technology in itself is not illegal, what you share and how you share it may violate the law. The laws that govern copyright are not specific to any one technology; you can violate the rights of a copyright holder using many different types of technology. Both uploading and downloading of copyrighted files can violate copyright law.

Federal Copyright Law
 Federal copyright law establishes a wide range of civil and criminal penalties for copyright infringement. For those who download or upload large numbers of songs, civil damages could reach into the millions of dollars. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) have pursued these monetary damages in lawsuits. Although to date criminal prosecutions of students for file sharing have been rare, potential civil and criminal penalties for peer-to- peer activity include:

• Statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each act of willful infringement (i.e., each song or movie illegally copied or distributed),
• Lower damages for acts of unintentional infringement.
• Pre-litigation settlements prior to filing lawsuits against students from $3,000 to $4,000 and up.
• Jury verdicts against file sharers in the hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.
• Reasonable attorney fees to the copyright owner at the court’s discretion.
• Fines.
• Prison time. 

Legal Resources
Information on legal resources for downloading copyrighted material and copyright law can be found at https://www.riaa.com/resources-learning/ provided by the RIAA.
In addition, The American University of Rome’s Policy on Computer Use is available in the Student Handbook and online.

12. Misrepresentation Statement

The American University of Rome is prohibited, by federal law, from making false, erroneous, or misleading statements, directly or indirectly, to a student, prospective student, member of the public, accrediting agency, state agency, or to the U.S. Department of Education. Misleading statements are those that have the likelihood or a tendency to deceive or confuse the person to whom they are made. A statement is any communication whether it is made in writing, visually, orally, or through any other means of communication. Substantial misrepresentation is misrepresentation on which a person could reasonably be expected to rely, or has reasonably relied, to that person’s detriment.

Statements subject to this policy specifically include, but are not limited to:

• The nature of the education programs offered through the university;
• The nature of financial charges, tuition, fees, and other costs;
• The employability of graduates of the university; and
• The relationship of the university with the U.S. Department of Education.

A Title IV eligible school may not describe its participation in a way that suggests approval or endorsement by the Department of Education of the quality of its educational programs. Student testimonials that are made under duress or as a requirement to participate in a program are considered to be in violation of this policy or federal law.

Directors of operational units are responsible for the training of personnel regarding misrepresentation of information about the university or its programs or services.

The university considers violations of this policy as serious offenses and will take corrective action appropriate to the nature and extent of the violation to ensure that violations are not repeated.

13. Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol and Drug Policy and Support Resources  

14. Text Book Information  

The American University of Rome provides all students with text book information for books required on the syllabus of the course, as well as within our online course catalog.

15. Privacy of Student Records  

Student Records Policies / Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution.)  These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day The American University of Rome receives a request for access. A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect.  The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write the school official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by AUR in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for AUR. Upon request, the school also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by The American University of Rome to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:  
   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue,
   SW Washington, DC 20202

 
Directory information, in compliance with §99.37 of the regulations, consists of the following items of information:

• Academic program (degree, major, minor)
• Dates of attendance, full-time / part-time status
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Email directory lookup
• Local address* and AUR directory phone number
• School or College
• Listing in Commencement Program
• Parent Information

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA
regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student,
§99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student –

• To other school officials, including teachers, within AUR whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§99.31(a)(1))
• To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2))  
• To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State- supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf.  (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4))  
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6))  
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. ((§99.31(a)(7))
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9))
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10))
• Information the school has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))
• To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of §99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§99.31(a)(13))  
• To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of §99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her. (§99.31(a)(14))
• To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21. (§99.31(a)(15))

16. Grievances

It is not uncommon that students encounter problems during their university study. They may be academic or non-academic in nature. Students are encouraged to seek problem resolution as soon as possible. Problems, complaints and /or grievances may involve other students, staff, faculty or university policies or procedures. It is specifically recommended that in attempting to resolve a problem or dispute that the students be polite, be specific and follow the below guidelines.

With respect to NON-ACADEMIC issues, students should first contact the parties or offices directly involved in a frank, respectful way. (Ex: fellow student, staff member etc.). The focus should be as specific as possible. Issues that are vague are by nature harder to resolve. If this does not resolve or satisfactorily clarify the situation the student should then seek an appointment with a staff member of the Office of Student Life. In the event this does not resolve any dispute or provide a satisfactory understanding of the situation, the student should write the Dean of Students requesting an appointment. The communication should describe clearly the nature of the problem, the names of any persons or offices involved and importantly a description of any previous efforts made to resolve the problem. The Dean of Students does not serve as the initial point of reference with respect to the resolution of student non-academic issues. Students are also reminded the student government of AUR (AURSG) is an active campus governance organization. The AURSG routinely holds meetings and open forums and this student organization has often assisted its constituents with problem resolution.

However, not all complaints can be resolved one on one. The American University of Rome has created an online process by which a student can file a formal complaint. Complaints placed in writing on this form will be directed to the person who can most appropriately address the complaint. Students will be contacted if additional information is needed and notified of the actions taken regarding the complaint. The Form is available on MyAUR

17. Academic Regulations

Our full Academic Regulations can be found at https://aur.edu/academic-regulations

*Students must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be eligible to study as a degree-seeking student at AUR.