Richmond, The American International University in London

Richmond, The American International University in London is a private, liberal arts and professional studies university. It is an internationally accredited institution [cite web|url=http://www.aaicu.org/member.jsp;jsessionid=CFBE3945A1D4EF1E635FAFCE16BF8F0F?code=12N3PSVHF|title=Richmond, The American International University in London|publisher=Association of American International Colleges and Universities|accessdate=2008-05-16] established in 1972 in Richmond, a suburb of London.

Campus

The university is split between two campuses, both in the Greater London area: the Richmond campus, located near the crest of Richmond Hill and approximately convert|1.5|mi|km from Richmond tube station, and the Kensington campus, located at a point equidistant between Kensington High Street and Cromwell Road. The Richmond campus is the primary residence of undergraduate students, especially freshers who have just enrolled at the university; its facade is a major symbol of the school and appears on almost all promotional literature. The school's headquarters and admissions department are also located here. The Kensington campus, in reality, is a closely grouped set of buildings rather than a campus. It is where many of the upper-level undergraduate students reside. Both campuses are reasonably close to London Underground stations and the Richmond campus is served by the London Buses 371 route, currently operated by London United. Access to the town of Kingston can be made using this route.

Degrees of study

The university is accredited in the US, while in the UK degrees are validated by the Open University; this means that the degree is equally valid in both countries.fact|date=May 2008 The primary curricula available for study at Richmond are:

*Business & Economics [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-programs/business-economics.aspx]
*Engineering [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/undergraduates/bs_computing_computer_engineering.asp]
*Arts & Sciences [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-programs/communication-fine-arts.aspx]
*Humanities & Social Sciences [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/content/academic-programs/humanities-social-sciences.aspx]

Lower-division courses are primarily taught at the Richmond campus. Upper-division courses are unevenly split, with all of the CMS courses and some of the business, finance and humanities courses taught at the Richmond campus; the remainder of the courses are taught at the Kensington campus. Both campuses are supported by the university library; the Richmond campus has benefited from the construction of a new library, classroom and office complex in 2000, providing new facilities for faculty and for students. [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/resources/library/index.asp]

Recognition

Institutions that have degree-awarding powers in the UK are known as 'recognised bodies'. There are also 'listed bodies' which do not have degree awarding powers but provide complete courses leading to recognised UK degrees, validated by institutions which have degree-awarding powers. [cite web|url=http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&CategoryID=8|title=About UK degree awarding institutions|publisher=Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills|accessdate=2008-05-16] The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills does not list Richmond as a 'recognised body' authorised to award higher education degrees in the UK. However, Richmond University is a 'listed body'. [ [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&CategoryID=8 Listed Bodies.] UK Department for Universities, Innovation and Skills. Accessed April 27, 2008 ] The degrees granted at Richmond are validated by the Open University Validation Services [ [http://www.open.ac.uk/validate/p5.shtml Open University Validation Services] , Open University] .

Richmond is accredited [http://www.msche.org/documents/SAS/377/Statement%20of%20Accreditation%20Status.htm Statement of Accreditation] by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools [ [http://www.msche.org/institutions_directory.asp?txtRange=r Institution Directory] , Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accessed April 27, 2008 ] , an institutional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Richmond is licensed to award Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and the Master of Business Administration degrees by the Department of Education in the State of Delaware [ [http://www.aifsabroad.com/england/london/university.asp Richmond, the American International University in London] ] [http://www.richmond.ac.uk/cms/pdfs/RICHMOND-Viewbook-pp24-40.pdf] . Richmond is also accredited in the United Kingdom by the Open University Validation Services [ [http://www.open.ac.uk/validate/p5.shtml Open University Validation Services : OU Approved Institutions ] ] and holds related degree validation. Richmond's degrees are also designated by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom (Recognized Awards) [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20063121.htm|Statutory Order 2006 (SI 3121)] dated November 23, 2006 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20063121.htm The Education (Recognised Awards) (Richmond The American International University in London) Order 2006] .

Student body

Richmond University is characterized by its international student body which is generally comprised of students from more than 100 different countries despite the relatively low total number of students enrolled at the university (less than 2,000);fact|date=May 2008 it is commonly said that no individual cultural or social group has a majority in the student body.fact|date=May 2008 Some students studying at Richmond are part of the school's study abroad program.

The multicultural diversity of the student body is very much a part of the school's mission, and it actively encourages students from all nations to enroll.fact|date=May 2008 This diversity is celebrated with an event occurring every year called "International Night", where the student body stages a performance highlighting the various cultures and ethnicities of the Richmond populace.fact|date=May 2008

International Study Centers

Richmond students have the opportunity to complement their studies in London with a semester, year or summer at one of Richmond's two international study centers. The centers are in Florence and Rome, Italy. Although each center has a specific academic focus, they both offer intensive study of Italian language and culture and a curriculum that is integrated with the degree requirements in London.

Florence Study Center

The Florence Study Center specializes in the study of studio and fine arts. Each participant's first semester begins with an intensive three-week Italian language course at the Scuola di Lingua e Cultura Italiana per Stranieri in the historic town of Siena. This is followed by eleven weeks of study in Florence. With the exception of Italian language, most courses are taught in English.

Rome Study Center

The Rome Study Center offers a program that emphasizes the study of Italian language and culture, art history, economics and political science. The semester program begins with an intensive three-week Italian language and orientation course in Florence. This is followed by eleven weeks of study in Rome where the study of Italian continues as one course in the student’s program of four or five courses. With the exception of Italian language, most courses are taught in English.

tudent life

Being located in London, student life at Richmond is quite different from life at any large American institution. Over 100 countries are represented in the student population.fact|date=May 2008 Class sizes tend to average between 10 to 15 students, with the lower-level classes tending to be much larger than the higher level ones.fact|date=May 2008

External links

* [http://www.richmond.ac.uk Richmond University web site]
* [http://www.aaicu.org/member.jsp;jsessionid=CFBE3945A1D4EF1E635FAFCE16BF8F0F?code=12N3PSVHF Official AAICU Accreditation website]
* [http://www.msche.org/institutions_view.asp?idinstitution=377 Middle States Commission on Higher Education Accreditation page]
* [http://www.open.ac.uk/validate/p5.shtml Open University Validation Services]
* [http://www.open.ac.uk/validate/pop28140.shtml Open University Approved Institutions]
* [http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/list.html International Association of Universities]

References