The John Felice Center

The John Felice Rome Center holds the distinction of being the oldest continually-operating U.S. university program in Italy. For almost five decades now, the JFRC has served as a fully-equipped American campus; its present location is on Monte Mario near the site of a former Olympic Village, just 20 minutes northwest of Vatican City and 1/2 hour from Rome's historic city center (Roma Centro). The campus opened its doors in the spring of 1962 as the Loyola University Chicago Rome Center for Liberal Arts. The center continues to bring together students from dozens of universities and colleges throughout the United States for a unique living-learning experience. For more information on the Felice Center, please see the following page: The John Felice Center.

Facilities and Location

While you're at the John Felice Rome Center, we want you to feel right at home. That means having the necessary support to ensure a smooth transition into Italian life, one that is safe and successful.You will find all that on the JFRC's multi-level, residential campus, which spans five acres in the upper Balduina district of Monte Mario, Rome's highest hill.

The nearest bus stop is only two blocks away, providing a short 20 minute ride to Vatican City or an easy 40 minute ride downtown. Within walking distance are grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, a salon, a convenience store, a post office, banks and ATM's, and other small businesses.

This neighborhood is home to diplomats, senators, judges, and other distinguished families. By living on a campus in the center of a great neighborhood, you will have everything you need, including: residence hall, 24-hour doorperson, cafeteria with daily lunch and dinner service, all-day coffee and snack bar, self-service laundry facilities, workout and dance studio, outdoor basketball court, classrooms,  a beautiful chapel, computer labs, bookstore, and medical clinic.

Courses

There are a variety of courses to choose from including classes representing the following disciplines: Art, Art History, Classics, Economics, Finance, History, Italian Language, Literature, Marketing, Philosophy and Political Science. For more information regarding courses and course scheduling, please refer to the following: John Felice Center courses.
https://www.luc.edu/rome/academics/courseofferings/

Accommodation and Dining

All students are housed in the comfortable residential area of the John Felice Rome Center.  Traditional residence halls offer double-room occupancy with community bathrooms. There may be times when students are placed in single-, triple-, or quadruple-room occupancy. All rooms are fully furnished with a bed, closet, desk, and chair for every student. Rooms also include a refrigerator, sink, and ceiling fan.

The JFRC cafeteria, Mensa, provides students lunch and dinner during the academic year and lunch during the summer. The cafeteria is not open on designated breaks. Students should view the calendar for these dates.

The cafeteria service is provided by an Italian catering company, and the menu items are predominantly Italian. Italian cuisine is among the most delectable in the world, and discovering its variety is an integral part of a student's experience. Students will find a variety of choices at the JFRC, including salad, fruits, pastas, fish or meat, vegetables, and breads.

Rinaldo's is a coffee and snack bar on campus owned and operated by Rinaldo and Nella Fiorini, their son Davide, and their daughter Sylvia. Students can eat, study, read, and access wireless in this quaint little cafe.

Throughout the year, Rinaldo's is the place where a variety of social and cultural events occur. The Office of the Associate Director of Student Life organizes events that include lectures on Italian life and culture, volunteer activities, talent shows, and theme parties.

Computing and Library

The John Felice Rome Center provides more than 40 PC computer stations for its students. All have Internet connections and are accessible 24 hours a day. Student also have access to printers.

If students decide to bring a personal laptop with them, there is wireless access available in the common areas, including the library and Rinaldo's Cafe. Students will not have wireless access in the residential area of the JFRC.

The library at the John Felice Rome Center serves as a gateway to the world of information and scholarship for the community. We offer one of the largest English language libraries in Italy with the additional resources of inter-library loan from the home campus, full access to the extensive Loyola electronic databases, and other user-oriented services.

Our collection is growing from its traditional strengths in art history and classical studies to a center for Italian studies, including contemporary Italian history, politics, and culture.

The JFRC library further supports student, faculty, and staff interests with travel guides, films, and newspapers. We also have joined local library networks to expand our patrons' access to unique materials and resources in this historic city.

Important Dates

Below you will find a link to the Academc Calendar

Academic Calendar

 

Student Experience
View this video made by one of our Work-Study students, Eric Tomeo
https://youtu.be/iM7Rk3qCsnE