This quick-guide has been designed to provide a summary of the most important points of information regarding behaviors, protocols, and procedures for the Fall 2020 semester at The American University of Rome. While students will have seen this information via emails & webinars, this page unites the information for easy reference. 

Please note: AUR continues to be guided by the Italian authorities’ recommendations and mandates. As we remain attuned to the advice and orders issued by the authorities, these guidelines may be modified, in which case we shall issue new instructions immediately. 

Further updates to Covid-19 related information will be posted at https://aur.edu/fall-2020-information-parents-students. This page was designed for Fall 2020 entry and is now archived. 

Covid-19 Testing

For the community's peace of mind and protection, The American University of Rome has arranged mandatory Covid-19 testing for all students, staff, and faculty to take place before the start of the fall semester. Through taking this action, AUR will be able to create a snapshot of its community's health and, while it is acknowledged that this in no way negates the necessity for the community to rigorously follow all ongoing health precautions, this decision has been taken to eliminate concerns about asymptomatic individuals potentially spreading the virus on campus at the start of the semester.

Please note, for those members of the community who are required to quarantine on arrival, the test will be administered at the end of the quarantine period, before entrance to campus.

AUR’s resident doctor has arranged for qualified nursing staff to administer the rapid swab test over a period of days in order to facilitate testing for the entire community. The testing procedure is simple, quick, and test results are available within 30 minutes. Scheduling of testing will be communcated over the next few days.

ARRIVING IN ITALY, ACCOMMODATION, & QUARANTINING 

Arriving in Italy 
Currently, all students arriving in Italy from the US and from outside the Schengen Area (apart from Spain, Malta, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria) are required to spend 14 days in quarantine upon arrival in Italy (full details on traveling to Rome here). If these restrictions apply to you, upon arrival in Rome you must go directly to your accommodation where you must remain, without exception, for 14-days. 
 
Please note: The AUR Student Life Team will be your direct contact during this period. While, depending on your arrival date, you may be taking your initial classes online, Student Life have also scheduled a range of activities to help you get through this period while keeping active and networking with fellow students & staff. 

Quarantining 
If you are required to self-isolate upon arrival in Italy, you must notify the Rome health authority (ASL) of your arrival and of your residence in Rome where you will be quarantining. AUR’s Student Life Team will help you do this, so don’t worry about the paperwork.  

A warning: the fourteen-day quarantine period must be strictly adhered to. Should you fail to do so, you will be liable to be fined by the authorities, and if you are found to infect others due to violating the 14-day quarantine period, you will face criminal charges. 

Accommodation 
Students who have opted to live in AUR housing for the Fall semester will be accommodated in single rooms, with a maximum of 3 students per apartment. All apartments will be properly sanitized prior to students’ arrival and cleaning service will be provided once a week. 

Note: If you identify as being high-risk in relation to Covid-19, please ensure that you have informed the Student Life Office who will work with you to assure a suitable solution tailored to your needs. 
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ACCESSING THE AUR CAMPUS 

Prior to accessing the AUR campus, all students must complete and sign the AUR Student Pledge and the Travel Declaration. Both are available on MyAUR under the ‘Back to Campus’ tab and can be completed electronically. 

Anyone who, in the last 14 days, has had contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or has come from areas of high risk according to the latest Italian government Travel Advisory, will not be permitted to access the campus and will be asked to quarantine and/or test as per government regulations. 

In the event of a positive Covid test result, the person infected will be required to submit a medical certificate showing two negative swab results obtained 24 hours apart before being allowed to return to campus. 

Each day, before entering AUR’s campus, your body temperature will be checked. If the temperature exceeds 37.5°, access to the campus will not be permitted. 

If you begin to display symptoms of Covid-19, you must not come to campus but stay at home, inform AUR immediately, and contact the campus doctor. A medical consultation will be arranged. 

Family members and visitors are, unfortunately, not permitted access to the campus. 

Note: all members of the AUR community will undergo manadatory testing for Covid-19 before the start of the Fall 2020 semester.
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ON CAMPUS AND IN CLASS 

Update, September 20 - What students should do if they have Covid symptoms

Do not to come to campus if you have Covid-related symptoms.

You should immediately contact our doctor (Medinaction) for a medical evaluation via video and then, fill out the form on MyAUR to let the university know the situation. Your notification will go directly to your professors and advisor, as well as to the Academic Dean, the Registrar, and Student Life. You will be automatically authorized as a remote student for three full days following the submission of the form and must not return to campus during this period. The most likely scenario is that the doctor will recommend a test at the end of the three days before clearing you to return to campus. 

Update, September 20 - Entering and exiting classes in Building B 

In Building B from 8:00-17:40 daily, the main staircase should be used for going up only, and the Barnabites’ staircase for going down. After 17:40 the main staircase can be used for both up and down journeys and the Barnabites’ staircase should not be used. 

Hygiene 
The use of masks, throughout campus, is mandatory at all times. Masks must be standard and surgical – these will be supplied by AUR to those who do not have them. Cloth masks are not acceptable. 

Hands should be thoroughly washed and/or disinfected, multiple times, throughout the day. Hand sanitizing stations are provided throughout campus. 

A thorough cleaning of common areas, keyboards, drinks and snack dispensers will be carried out daily with special detergents. Periodic deep-cleans will be carried out. 

Disinfectant and paper towels are in all classrooms so that you may wipe down your desk area before the class lesson. 

The use of vending machines and printers or other commonly shared equipment must strictly comply with the general health and safety rules (e.g. hand washing after use, mask use).  

The use of vending machines and printers will be limited to one person at a time and the 1-meter safety distance must always be respected. 

The use of toilets will be limited to one person at a time in order to avoid crowding outside and near the washbasins, and users must respect the 1-meter interpersonal distance. 

Social distancing 
Everyone must maintain an interpersonal distance of 1 meter at all times. 

All classrooms have been prepared to ensure that social distancing requirements are adhered to. 

Common areas will have limited capacity, with the permitted number to be indicated at the room or area entrance. 

Traffic flow through campus will be regulated, ensuring a one-way system through classroom exits, stairwells, corridors etc. 

On-campus medical service 
Standard medical appointments for regular health needs will continue to be available as usual with the campus doctor. 

If you develop a fever or symptoms while on campus, you will be temporarily isolated and the Prevention Department of the local Health Authority will be alerted. 

We have implemented a medical system of on-call assistance and intervention for students with a doctor from Medinaction, an English-speaking medical service, located at Salvador Mundi International Hospital. In the event of a Covid-19 case on campus, Medinaction, will guide us and act as our liaison with the local health authorities. 

Teaching & Learning 
All classrooms have been be equipped with wide-angle webcams, desk microphones, and video conferencing software to allow remote students to view and participate in live classroom lessons in high quality recording conditions. 

Access to electronic library resources has been enhanced. 

The stairs in building A must be used scrupulously, keeping to the right, in both up and down directions. When crossing paths on the stairs, it is requested that those going down give precedence to those going up, stopping temporarily on the landing of the floor to which you are closest. 

Building B’s staircase will be used as the building entrance, to go up only, while the Barnabites’ staircase at the back of building B will be used to exit, going down only. This will be accessed through the emergency doors at the back of each corridor. The staircase will be monitored by a member of staff, who will ensure that the correct entrance and exit paths are used, with minimal interference with the Barnabites’ premises. 
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GENERAL PRACTICE 

Adopt general prevention and protection measures: washing hands, sneezing/coughing into a disposable handkerchief or elbow, throwing used handkerchiefs into designated rubbish containers. 

Avoid forms of social aggregation. 

If you begin to exhibit influenza symptoms (cough, cold, conjunctivitis, fever, sore throat, etc.) or are exposed to another individual with such symptoms, you must stay home, alert AUR, and contact the campus doctor. 
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TRAVEL

AUR recommends not traveling outside Italy for the forthcoming semester. If you do choose to travel outside of Italy, you must inform the AUR Student Life Office of your plans to do so prior to departure. AUR advises all members of the community to limit travel as much as possible to minimize risk of contagion, both for the individual and the greater community. If you travel outside Italy, you are likely to have to quarantine upon your return. 
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If you have any concerns or questions around life at AUR during the Fall 2020 semester, you can address these directly to our Student Life team at studentlife@aur.edu

If you're on campus, you'll find the Student Life offices on the ground floor of Building A, second door on the left.

We really value any feedback you may have on coming to Rome, your experience at AUR, your experience in the wider Rome community - or anything else you'd like to comment on. You can send feedback to the Student Life team (at the address above) or you can email news@aur.edu - your privacy will always be respected!