Cultural Programs History

The History of the Cultural Program 

Study trips have always been an integral part of AUP’s unique approach to international liberal arts education. Walter Brennan was the University’s first Cultural Program Advisor, leading outings to performances, talks and exhibitions across Paris all the way back in 1962. Marie DeLamater – wife of AUP’s founder, Dr. Lloyd DeLamater – later ran cultural excursions to museums and châteaux across France as part of the University’s art history courses. Alumni from our Founding Classes often cite these excursions as among their favorite memories of their time in Paris, whether they attended performances at the Paris Opéra or visited Normandy and the world-famous Mont Saint Michel, one of the most well-remembered trips from the era. 

Alongside the cultural experiences were more academically focused travel opportunities. In the late 1960s, study trips to the Soviet Union, including one to East Germany, allowed students to visit what were at the time otherwise inaccessible regions, immersing themselves in the complex political issues of the day. Study trips were always faculty-led and closely tied to the curriculum, providing an innovative and inspirational way for students to put theory into practice. 

Notable Trips 

One of our longest-running study trips, Shakespeare in Context, which takes students to London and Stratford-upon-Avon, first ran in 1994 and has been offered annually, except for during the Covid-19 pandemic, ever since. Other notable recurring trips – including to Fez, Morocco, and Iceland – first appeared in the 2000s and 2010s, in parallel with the introduction of AUP’s graduate programs. 

The Sustainable Development Practicum in Auroville, India, which has been running for more than 13 years, is today one of our flagship programs. It provides a month-long opportunity for students to work closely with NGOs in the township to gain hands-on experience in how communications and management principles work in practice.