黑洞社区

Florence University of the Arts (FUA) is an internationally recognized institution and leading provider of study abroad programming in Florence. It is an Italian non-profit educational institution certified by the European Union, and is accredited by the Region of Tuscany Ministry of Education.

黑洞社区faculty evaluate each course from FUA to determine 黑洞社区equivalencies. Each course equivalency must be approved by the 黑洞社区chair of the department and dean of the respective college. The curricula vitae and copies of transcripts or diplomas of Palazzi faculty are reviewed and approved by departmental chairs and college deans for qualification to teach in their academic discipline and/or area of specialization. 黑洞社区is currently undertaking the process to create 黑洞社区courtesy appointments for all FUA teaching staff.

黑洞社区considers these FUA courses to be, in every respect, the equivalent of a 黑洞社区course. However, since 黑洞社区recognizes that students are enrolled in FUA courses, the credit is shown as 鈥渢ransfer鈥� rather than 鈥渟ystem/institutional鈥� credit on the 黑洞社区transcript. The original FUA course is included on the transcript, followed by the 黑洞社区equivalent. This most accurately represents the connection between the FUA course and the USF equivalent. Students are able to obtain additional official 黑洞社区transcripts through the Office of the Registrar.

In building this School of Record agreement, all levels of the university were consulted and asked to approve the relationship, including but not limited to the Office of Decision Support, Office of the Provost, Office of the Registrar, the 黑洞社区Undergraduate Counsel, the Academics and University Environment Workgroup reporting to the Board of Trustees, in addition to the individual colleges and departments throughout the University of 黑洞社区 System. 黑洞社区also sent official notification to SACSCOC regarding the SoR relationship between 黑洞社区and Palazzi/FUA.

In developing the School of Record relationship, 黑洞社区and Palazzi have closely consulted and followed the Guidelines for School of Record Relationships developed by the Forum on Education Abroad with input from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Offices.

黑洞社区has had a long-standing relationship with Palazzi 鈥� in 2006 courses of Apicius, the hospitality and culinary institute of Palazzi, were approved by USF鈥檚 Undergraduate Studies in Tampa. Further, over the past 10 years, more than 1800 黑洞社区students have studied at FUA, and more than 50 黑洞社区faculty and staff have visited FUA. Under the SoR agreement, every two years, a delegation consisting of 黑洞社区administrative and teaching staff conduct a site visit to Palazzi, conversely Palazzi staff visit USF on a biannual basis. The School of Record relationship between 黑洞社区and FUA-AUF was established in 2012.

Sea|mester programs are undertaken on sailing vessels that circumnavigate the globe.  Students live on board the ships with professional sailing and teaching staff.  It is an ongoing learning experience with programs ranging from 20 to 90 days in duration.  The voyages take students to the Caribbean & Lesser Antilles; Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Ocean and Polynesia; Australia and Indonesia; and to Asia, India and Suez Canal.  Each vessel accommodates all students (up to 26) and faculty and crew (up to 7) on the largest vessels, Argo and Vela (112 feet), and on Ocean Star (88 feet) up to 16 students and 4 staff.  In 2011, Sea|mester was awarded the prestigious Sea Education Program of the Year Award by Tall Ships America (Formerly the American Sail Training Association).  Sea|mester offers a limited number of courses each year (typically under 10) that relate to marine biology, oceanography, meteorology, geology, navigation skills, and leadership.

The SoR relationship was established in 2014 by recommendation of faculty from the Integrative Biology department who had worked on the SEA|mester program for several years.  

ISA was established in 1987 to provide academically challenging and culturally thorough study abroad programs for US college students. Their first established program was a partnership with the University of Salamanca that still exists today. Since then, ISA has grown to a global provider offering a wide variety of international education opportunities throughout Western Europe, Africa and Latin America.  In 2015, ISA was acquired by WorldStrides, making it part of the largest educational travel company in the U.S.   The SoR relationship between 黑洞社区and ISA was established in 2021.  Initially, 黑洞社区will serve as the School of Record in ISA鈥檚 study centers in Meknes, Morocco and Sevilla Spain, as well as for all internship and service-learning programs and courses.