The American University of Florence is a free-standing, private, non-profit, and non-denominational institution located in Florence, Italy.
Given the range of academic study, AUF is organized since its inception along the lines of a US-style higher education institution with instruction in the English language, processes, and structure comprised of multiple colleges or schools of study as typically implemented in the United States.The University is comprised of nine schools:
APICIUS International School of Hospitality
DIVA School of Digital Imaging and Visual Arts
FAST School of Fashion and Accessory Studies and Technology
IDEAS School of Interior Design, Environmental Architecture, and Sustainability
ISB International School of Business
J SCHOOL School of Journalism, Communication and Publishing
SAS School of Arts and Sciences
SQUOLA Center for Cultural and Italian Studies School of Graduate Studies
ACCREDITATION
The American University of Florence has been granted initial accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Accreditation by the Commission indicates that the institution meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university has been found to have the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs. It also gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to:
The New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210
Wakefield, MA 01880, U.S.A.
Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785
E-mail: info@neche.org
Website: www.neche.org
AUF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEMBER INSTITUTIONS (CEMI)
The AUF academic community in Florence serves as the bridge between classroom learning and the opportunity for the student to express learned competencies in a real, community-based enterprise. AUF’s efforts dedicated to cultural integration results in the projects and activities of the CEMI Community Engagement Member Institutions associated with each of the University's schools. The CEMI and AUF campus facilities are located in beautifully renovated historic palaces well known to the Florentine community and represent unique urban campus environment.
An important aspect of AUF education is the collaboration and exchange between academic departments and CEMI projects for cultural integration – spaces connected to the institution that are open to the local community and operate in cooperation with the faculty and student body as a part of the academic experience at AUF. The educational aim of involved courses is aligned with these spaces in order for students to directly apply Experiential Learning in a training ground that fosters the intermingling of communities and cultures.
The institutional CEMI for AUF is the Palazzi Community Center; it is open to the public and serves as a cultural center for outreach opportunities that the Florentine community may benefit from. The center's activities embrace events and initiatives involving all academic divisions, feature services for the community, and sustains entities representing the local territory (independent bookstores, cultural associations, charities, sustainable food/wine producers, community gardens, artists, designers, etc.).
Each of the 9 academic divisions at AUF features its own distinct CEMIs:
APICIUS International School of Hospitality
DIVA School of Digital Imaging and Visual Arts
FAST School of Fashion and Accessory Studies and Technology
IDEAS School of Interior Design, Environmental Architecture, and Sustainability
ISB International School of Business
EntrepreLearn Lab
Pomario Botanical Retail Store
SCHOOL School of Journalism, Communication and Publishing
Ingorda Campus Press
SAS School of Arts and Sciences
F_AIR Florence Artist in Residence
SQUOLA Center for Cultural and Italian Studies
CCIS Center for Cultural and Italian Studies
AUF Operations