STUDENT HANDBOOK 2019–2020 Throughout the year, there may be changes to the information contained in the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook is available on the University website: www.newhaven.edu/studenthandbook Produced by the Office of Marketing & Communications 175373-0619 2 UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN — TUSCANY CAMPUS UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN — FOLLOW UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN TUSCANY CAMPUS TUSCANY CAMPUS ON: Piazza San Francesco 8 Facebook.com/UNewHavenPrato 59100 Prato Italy Tel: +39 0574 604 508 Twitter.com/UNewHavenPrato From the U.S.: 011 39 0574 604 508 Emergency tel: +39 338 9466 785 Instagram.com/UNewHavenPrato TUSCANY CAMPUS HOURS Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Closed on Saturday and Sunday UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN STUDENT HANDBOOK | PRATO, ITALY TUSCANY CAMPUS ADDENDUM 3 WELCOME BENVENUTI IN ITALIA! You’re about to embark upon one of the most exciting adventures of your university career, and certainly one of the most transformational moments of your life. Study abroad is a rare opportunity for personal and professional development, and I admire all of you for seizing this chance to explore and grow. Many new challenges lie ahead, and our role in Prato is to guide and help you throughout the experience. For this reason, we created this handbook to provide you with plenty of information about the program, life in Prato, and the many exciting opportunities you have while you are here. Keep it with you, and use it as a reference tool during the weeks ahead. As a final note, if there’s anything you can’t find in here, come and see us! We’re happy to hear any suggestions you may have to add to the handbook — and future students in Prato will appreciate your contribution as well. Sincerely, Dr. Kevin Murphy Campus Dean, Tuscany Campus TABLE OF CONTENTS University of New Haven Tuscany Staff 4 In and Around Prato 21 San Francesco 7 Florence (Firenze) 31 Lyme Studio 10 Keeping in Touch 35 The University of New Haven and Money Matters 37 the City of Prato 11 Safety Abroad 39 Academics 12 Health 43 Housing 14 Meal Plan 19 UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN STUDENT HANDBOOK | PRATO, ITALY TUSCANY CAMPUS ADDENDUM 4 STAFF — TUSCANY CAMPUS, PRATO, ITALY Dr. Kevin Murphy Valentina Seffer Campus Dean Assistant Dean [email protected] [email protected] A native of Liverpool and a resident of Valentina Seffer grew up in the south Prato since 1995, Kevin Murphy has been of Italy in Palermo, Sicily. Dean of the University of New Haven’s She holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages Tuscany Campus in Prato since its found- and Teaching of Italian as a Second ing in 2012. He brings over 20 years of Language from the University of Palermo and an M.A. in experience in international education as an instructor and direc- Linguistics and International Communication (concentration: tor. He has taught courses and seminars in Italian Art History at teaching Italian for foreigners) from the Foreigners University many universities in the United States (such as Syracuse, Florida of Siena. Valentina completed her Ph.D. in Italian Studies at State, Gonzaga, Kent State), and for many years was Director of the University of Sydney. She also holds the DITALS Certificate, the Art History department at the British Institute of Florence. Level 2, for the teaching of Italian at all levels, issued by the Before taking up his position in Prato, Kevin was Academic University of Siena, as well as the CELTA certificate to teach Dean and Campus Director of the CEA Global Education Pro- English as a foreign and second language, issued by the Univer- grams in Rome and Florence (his collaboration with the Univer- sity of Cambridge. sity of New Haven began at CEA, as New Haven is the University of Record for all of CEA’s study abroad programs worldwide). Throughout her years of work and study, Valentina has acquired valuable experience in the areas of academic research, language Kevin is active in the field of international education, and has teaching, administration, and organization of events working in presented sessions and workshops at conferences in Europe different academic environments, both in Italy and in Australia. and the U.S., focused particularly on aspects of intercultural competence, experiential learning, and the relationship between As Assistant Dean, Valentina supports the Dean in all aspects international study and careers. He is a member of the National of the program, particularly academics and works closely with Society for Experiential Education, from which he received his faculty in supporting and following up with students who may Experiential Education Academy Certificate of Completion be at risk (as identified by instructors). Valentina also teaches in 2012. He was formerly Chair of SAFSA (Study Abroad and the First Year Experience program (FYE) for first-year students Foreign Students Advisers), a professional section of the EAIE aimed at helping them to adjust to a new academic and learning (European Association for International Education). He has also environment and offers Italian language tutoring classes. chaired and presented panels at the annual Conference of the Forum on Education Abroad. In her spare time, Valentina likes to travel to spend time with friends and family scattered around Italy and Europe. In 1997, he earned his Ph.D. at the Courtauld Institute of Art She also likes to learn foreign languages and keeps saying she at the University of London, U.K., and has published on Italian will, eventually, start learning piano. Renaissance art and patronage. Kevin also teaches the course ‘Art & Science in Renaissance Italy’ at the Tuscany Campus. In his free time, Kevin enjoys traveling, reading, football, and golf. UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN STUDENT HANDBOOK | PRATO, ITALY TUSCANY CAMPUS ADDENDUM 5 STAFF — TUSCANY CAMPUS, PRATO, ITALY Lauren Pugh Silvia Risaliti Student Affairs Coordinator Student Affairs Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Lauren Pugh was born in Lynchburg, From Prato, Silvia graduated cum Virginia and spent her middle and high laude (with honor) in modern languages school years in Wisconsin. During her from the University of Florence with undergraduate, she spent a year studying a specialization in British literature and in Bologna, Italy, where she fell in love the Grand Tour. After many years of with the Italian language and culture. working in the family textile agency as export manager, in 2002 she became a professional tour guide for the Provinces of Prato After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Italian Studies and and Florence. In the same year, she began organizing educa- a minor in Learning Abroad, Lauren returned to Italy as the tional conferences and historical tours for the Monash Univer- Resident Assistant for an American university program in Sesto sity center in Prato. Fiorentino. Since 2011, Lauren has called the town of Prato her home. Before joining the University of New Haven Tus- She is an active translator and research assistant for writers and cany Campus team, she taught English at two local Italian high scholars. Since 2012, she has also been active in the creation schools, and worked in at an international university in nearby and development of the Tuscany Campus. Her responsibilities Florence as a Student Life Advisor. Lauren is currently finishing include faculty and student housing, excursions and activities, her Master’s degree through the University of Florence in Com- as well as programming and on-site teaching for special group parative European and American Languages and Literatures. visits to Prato. She loves the sea, traveling, reading, walking, food, and wine. As Student Affairs Coordinator at the University of New Haven in Prato, Lauren is in charge of organizing student activities, volunteer opportunities, and excursions, managing communi- Stefano Giusti cations with students, and overseeing the school’s social media Emergency Phone presence. Having walked in their shoes, Lauren understands [email protected] what it is like to be an American transplant in Italy, and enjoys Stefano Giusti was born and raised in sharing her insight into the local culture and territory with Prato. He decided to move to the U.S. fellow study abroad students. some years ago, where he became fluent Lauren enjoys traveling, reading, and taking her dogs for walks in English. He spent nine years in Prov- along the Bisenzio river. She is big sci-fi fan and one of her idence, Rhode Island, working in home favorite local events is the annual Lucca Comics festival. improvement, before returning to Italy with his family. He spent his immediate years after coming back to Prato repairing guitars, a lifelong passion. He joined the University of New Haven Tuscany team in 2013, where his primary role is to respond to calls made to the Emergency Phone by all students, during all times when the campus offices are closed, at nights and on weekends. He enjoys his job and takes it very seriously, as he understands how important it is for students far from home to be able to call someone when they unexpectedly need help. UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN STUDENT HANDBOOK | PRATO, ITALY TUSCANY CAMPUS ADDENDUM 6 STAFF — TUSCANY CAMPUS, PRATO, ITALY Vania Ruzzi Lara Pugi Residential Life Coordinator Program Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Vania Ruzzi was born and raised in Lara Pugi was born in Florence, spent Pistoia, a small city 15 minutes away her childhood in the Chianti area, and from Prato. She received her High now lives in Prato. School Diploma in Psychology and During her time at the University of Pedagogy, then she attended the Univer- Florence, Lara worked in the marketing sity of Florence to study English, Portuguese, and Spanish and office of a clothing designer and manufacturer.