Friends of International Students Host Program

*Featured photo: Host Lloyd Raymond gardening with his student, Yingcheng Zhuang.

Are you a student or a host with a story or photo to share with us? Please follow this link to submit stories and/or photos here.

Read an Addison Independent feature story about our program.

For Students

• Do you wish to experience life outside Middlebury College?
• Would you like to meet people in the local community and enjoy shared interests?

If so, we invite you to discover more about the FIS Host Program. The students who are eligible to participate in the FIS Host Program include those who hold non-U.S. citizenships, U.S. citizens living abroad, as well as international Exchange students (if you are unsure about your eligibility, please write to us at isss@middlebury.edu). The program matches Middlebury College international students with a host in the Middlebury area and gives our students the chance to have fun off campus, enjoy shared interests, or even cook with their host. The possibilities are endless! Hosts may be individuals, couples, or extended families. Our hope is that you will form a friendship that will last beyond your years 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 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. 

JOIN US! Here are the dates of our upcoming student information sessions on Zoom:
Please check back for dates of upcoming sessions.

Once you have attended an information session and you want to apply to have a host family, you may submit a questionnaire (check back soon for an active link).

When is the next FIS Host Program matching event?

Our next matching event will be during the fall term 2025. You must receive an email invitation from ISSS saying that you’ve been matched with a host to attend the event. 

For Hosts

If you’re interested in exploring a different culture and making a new international friend, come join Middlebury College’s Friends of International Students (FIS) host program! 

Don’t worry, your international student won’t live with you. You’ll have the opportunity to host them on visits to your home or trips around the local area or join them on campus for events. This is a great chance to bond over shared interests, practice a language, or cook together. The possibilities are endless!

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?

Our next matching event will be during the fall term 2025. You must have received an email invitation from ISSS saying that you’ve been matched with a student to attend the event.

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 2025-26? 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 for dates of upcoming 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 a Zoom link.

Once you have attended an information session and you decide to host a student, you may submit a questionnaire (check back soon for an active link). 
 

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 your 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!

• BBC News, Country Profiles
• CIA World Factbook
• Country Reports
• Nations Online Project
• Please inquire at the reference desk at Davis Library on campus to access and print “Culture Grams” which are also detailed country profiles. 

Downloadable Resources

• Host Resource Guide
• 2024-25 Booklist
• Fall 2024 Newsletter
• Spring 2024 Newsletter

Last updated April 4, 2025.