Friends of International Students Program
The Friends of International Students (FIS) Host Program matches Middlebury College international students in Vermont with family in the Middlebury area.
Fall Term 2023 Update
We are gearing up for our fall term matching event on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in hosting a student or having a host family this year.
The application period for our fall term matching is now closed. At the moment, we are busy with the matching process. Keep an eye out for upcoming emails from ISSS which will let you know if we’ve found a great match for you!
If you are interested in hosting a student during the spring term, please check back in early winter for the dates of our upcoming host and student information sessions.
Read an Addison Independent feature story about our program.
For Students
- Are you interested in experiencing life with a U.S. family?
- Do you wish to experience life outside Middlebury College?
- Would you like to meet people in the local community?
If so, we invite you to discover more about the FIS Host Program. The FIS Host Program matches Middlebury College international students in Vermont with family in the Middlebury area. The program also offers local hosts a chance to learn about another culture. Hosts are not expected to provide students with a place to stay, but rather to invite students to explore life outside the campus. Hosts may be individuals, couples, or extended families. Our hope is that you will form a friendship that will last beyond your first year at the College.
How do I get involved?
Are you interested in getting involved and hope to be matched with a host in the future? Students who are interested in our program for the academic year 2023-24 should email isss@middlebury.edu so that we can put them on our list for one of our upcoming student information sessions. Students must attend an information session, submit a questionnaire, and be invited to a matching event before they can be matched with a host family.
If you are a new or returning student and have not yet attended an information session, please check back in late fall or early winter for the dates of our next sessions.
Once you have attended a student information session we invite you to submit our FIS Questionnaire.
When is the next FIS Host Program matching event?
The date of our fall 2023 matching event is Saturday, September 30, 2023. You must receive an email invitation from ISSS saying that you’ve been matched with a host in order to attend the event.
For Hosts
The FIS Host Program offers Middlebury College international students a chance to connect with an individual or family from the Middlebury area. It is a friendship program that provides an opportunity for hosts to share experiences in the local community with international students through invitations to join the host for a meal, a community event or simply to explore life outside the campus.
ISSS typically matches students with hosts twice per year (fall and spring) at an informal “matching event” hosted by International Student and Scholar Services. From that point on, the program is what you and your international student make of it. Some families and students meet weekly, while others meet periodically throughout the year for meals, campus events or holiday celebrations. Our hope is that you will form a friendship that will last far beyond the student’s time at Middlebury.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: Middlebury has ended its COVID-19 requirements for its campuses in Vermont and California. Employees, students and visitors (including host families) should follow CDC guidance, state health department guidance, and their healthcare provider’s advice for prevention and treatment of the virus.
If you are interested in hosting a student, please email isss@middlebury.edu for more information.
When is the next FIS Host Program matching event?
The date of our fall 2023 matching event is Saturday, September 30, 2023. You must have received an email invitation from ISSS saying that you’ve been matched with a student in order to attend the event.
The date of our spring term 2024 matching event is yet to be determined.
How do I get involved?
Are you interested in learning more about the FIS Host Program at Middlebury College and would like to be matched with a student during the academic year 2023-24? If so, please email us at isss@middlebury.edu and let us know you’re interested.
We expect all potential new hosts to attend an information session and complete a host questionnaire before they can be matched with a student. Experienced hosts will just need to submit the questionnaire but they are welcome to join us for a meeting as well so they can share their experience with new hosts.
JOIN US! Here are the dates of our upcoming host information sessions on Zoom:
Please check back in late fall or early winter for the dates of our next sessions.
Please email us at isss@middlebury.edu and tell us your name, phone number and which session you’d like to attend. We will respond to your email with the Zoom link for your particular session.
Once you have attended an information session and you decide to host a student, please fill out a questionnaire by the deadline (TBD for our spring term matching).
Can I ask for a student from a certain country?
While we cannot guarantee that you would be matched with a student from a particular country, we will consider special requests. All potential hosts will fill out a questionnaire in which they can provide detailed information regarding their interests and expectations. ISSS will use this information as well as the students’ questionnaires to arrange the best matches possible for all involved.
Where do the students come from and how can I learn more?
Our international students are from more than 25 countries, including some U.S. students who live abroad. We also match students who are at Middlebury for a year-long exchange program. Want to find out more about the country that your host student calls home? Check out these great web-based resources!
Downloadable Resources
Last updated August 21, 2023