Kenyon's Host Family Program matches international students with families in the local community. Host families and students often continue their relationship through the four years the student is at Kenyon. The family provides a connection to the community and may include the student in holiday celebrations and other gatherings.
Kenyon College and the Center for Global Engagement are thrilled to share that we are welcoming a record number of first year international students to Gambier this August. We are still receiving information and requests from the incoming students, but we know from past experience that many of these students will be interested in connecting with individuals and families in the local community.
BEING A HOST/HOST FAMILY:
- "Host family" is a very broad term: Kenyon welcomes single people and roommates as well as couples (spouses or partners) and families with children. Any faculty and staff members and community families close to campus (within ten miles) are welcome to host a student.
- Incoming students do not stay in their hosts’ homes for the first few days. Instead, students are picked up at the airport by Kenyon shuttles and taken directly to campus. Host families are welcome to meet their student on campus at a prearranged time to help them move into their residence hall.
- Hosts/host families are officially invited to meet with their students, returning students, other host families, and faculty and staff members at an August event organized by the Center for Global Engagement.
- After the opening event, hosts/host families are encouraged to connect with their students frequently throughout the year. Hosts might take students shopping, enjoy a meal together, take them to local events, take a trip to Columbus, or consider including them in social events like family birthdays or holiday celebrations. Typically, hosts and students remain in touch throughout students’ four years at Kenyon and sometimes after graduation.
- The Center for Global Engagement also invites host families to campus for occasional events during the academic year, including Family Weekend, usually around Oct. 20.
If you are interested in applying to be a host or host family, please fill out this form. You may also email Sam Turner at turners@kenyon.edu with any questions.