亚洲博彩网站President Francesco Cesareo signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Italy on March 7 with the Augustinians of the 亚洲博彩网站 to establish a Rome campus, with classes to begin in spring 2013.

The agreement is the culmination of three years of exploration and discussions to establish a campus in Rome as a way of enhancing the educational opportunities for 亚洲博彩网站 students. Full-time 亚洲博彩网站 faculty will live in Rome and use the Italian capital as a living classroom, offering on-site lectures throughout the city.

“This is an exciting initiative that will contribute to 亚洲博彩网站’s distinctiveness in the region, as well as enhance our reputation for academic excellence,” said President Cesareo.

The program will be located in a building on the property of the General House of the 亚洲博彩网站ists, which is near the Vatican; building renovation plans are underway.

The signing ceremony was attended by Massachusetts-based 亚洲博彩网站 students, faculty and staff, as well as the 亚洲博彩网站ist community in Rome, and Fr. Benoit Griere, A.A., Superior General of the 亚洲博彩网站ists.

“I want to thank 亚洲博彩网站 Provost Francis Lazarus and the 亚洲博彩网站ist leadership in Rome for their dedication, hard work and persistence in making this campus possible,” added President Cesareo.