January 16, 2018
La Roche Launches Semester in Rome Program
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 16, 2018 – An exciting new initiative at La Roche University will provide the opportunity for students to study abroad in Rome for a full semester. The program’s first group of 10 students will spend the spring semester in Rome from Jan. 18 to April 17.
The new Study Abroad Program will be hosted on the Campus of the School Sisters of Saint Francis in Rome. Students will be just a 20-minute walk from the Vatican with easy access to public transportation. Amenities include single rooms with private bathrooms, access to free Wi-Fi, free laundry and three meals a day provided by a cooking staff to enhance a traditional Italian experience.
“This is a significant milestone for La Roche University, and we couldn’t do it without the support of the School Sisters of Saint Francis,” President Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., said. “What better way to use underutilized space as we go through changes within the Catholic Church than to share them with young people in an educational setting. When we are generous and creative and willing to collaborate, everyone benefits.”
The program is open to all students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Tuition is equal to the cost of La Roche’s regular tuition. Students are responsible for the cost of airfare and travel insurance.
“The top reason why students don’t study abroad is the economic barrier, so we kept the cost to study in Rome the same as our campus here in Pittsburgh,” Assistant Director of Study Abroad+Study USA Nicole Gable said.
The semester study abroad program grew from the University’s successful Study Abroad+Study USA program, which is included in the cost of tuition and enables students to travel abroad or domestically for 10 to 14 days at no additional cost.
“There are two things that are central to our mission at La Roche. Our Catholic Identity, first and foremost, and second is our commitment to producing citizens of the world,” Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean Howard Ishiyama, Ph.D., said. “The Semester in Rome program will enable our students to further embrace our mission and better understand the world before they leave La Roche and embark on their own personal journeys.”
For students Morgan and Jayson, the semester in Rome is their first time traveling abroad, and Morgan’s first trip on an airplane.
“I applied to the semester study abroad program because I’m very eager to explore Rome, try authentic Italian food and climb the Spanish steps,” Morgan, a film, video and media major, said. She added she hopes to collect footage of Rome to find inspiration and use for future projects.
History professor Paul Le Blanc, Ph.D., will lead the trip as a faculty representative. Dr. Le Blanc previously led two Study Abroad+Study USA trips in England and Russia, and travels annually for conferences abroad. He will teach two classes on site: an enhanced La Roche Experience class and a history course on the framework of modern Europe.
Kristen, a child and family studies major, said, “I believe I will be more appreciative of everything in my life by spending a semester abroad. I will get a better understanding of how others see and view real-world problems. I will apply this to my career and be more grateful and understanding of people’s feelings, views and morals.”
The new program is the result of the groundwork of Father Tom Schaefer, Ph.D., associate vice president of academic affairs, and Ms. Gable.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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