Enrollment at the University of Arkansas Rome Center is at record levels this semester. One hundred and thirty students from four universities are currently studying at the Rome campus, 36 from the U of A.

"I am pleased that the University of Arkansas Rome Center's numbers are steadily growing," said Davide Vitali, director of the Rome Center. "I am particularly happy to see new courses offered, contributing to our multidisciplinary approach in introducing the city of Rome and culture of Italy through the viewfinder of each course's objectives. In the near future, I imagine students from architecture, art, business, communication and journalism, fashion, international and European history and many others from the University of Arkansas schools and colleges permanently working and learning together in our center. This environment would represent a real example of academia of the 21st century."

New course offerings have partially led to the increased enrollment in semester-long programs at the Rome Center. Newly offered journalism and communication courses taught by U of A professors Jan and Robert Wicks have been a hit with students. All the Wicks' courses, which only debuted at the Rome Center this semester, have reached maximum enrollment capacity.

"Rome is an excellent place where students can learn about international and intercultural communication," Jan Wicks said. "Students are learning about communication and journalism in Italy, and tours and visits from professionals from various media outlets and nongovernmental organizations and nonprofits are also planned as part of the curriculum."

The courses taught by the Wicks focus on differences in advertising and public relations between the United States and Europe, the role of advertising in modern society, the function of the communication process in political environments and the implications of how the media convey national and international events.

"Rome is a great place to teach political communication," Robert Wicks said. "Students learn that political communication is certainly nothing new, and the forms it takes are similar to dialogues that took place in Ancient Rome. We have visited the Roman Forum and the Foro Italico where students have learned that the propaganda techniques that are still used today were developed and utilized thousands of years ago."

Learning is not confined to the classroom for students studying at the Rome Center. In addition to traditional coursework, the broad curriculum focuses on the city itself. Faculty architects at the Center lead students on tours of the city, explaining the significance of Rome's historical landmarks along the way.

"Not only do we experience interesting tours of sites all over Rome I would never otherwise see, the classrooms we sit in to learn are perfectly sculpted pieces of art," said Caroline Biedenstein, a U of A junior studying at the Rome Center. "Studying in Rome has been more than I thought it would be. Often while sitting in beautiful locations eating fresh pasta and pizza, my roommates and I just sit back and take in the fact that we actually get to live here. Living in the city of the gladiators is an opportunity I encourage everyone to take."

The University of Arkansas has had an academic presence in Rome for 30 years and offers the opportunity to have classroom success and achievement, while learning and living in one of the great cities of the world. The "Rome experience" prepares students for meaningful careers in our increasingly global society.

Students interested incorporating a Rome Center experience into their curriculum should contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange.