The Evergreen State College unrolls its host family program for international students this coming spring. It puts elements of the school’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan into action. Local families are encouraged to apply for a carefully screened match with an international college student. With costs rising on all fronts, the school is looking for ways to lower barriers for these eager learners. Families can participate for as short as a weekend or have a student living in their home for a 10-week term or longer.
“These experiences bring together different perspectives of people with different cultures and economic backgrounds. It’s people to people communication,” says Rui Zhao, international student specialist at Evergreen. “We are excited to connect with the local community.”
Making Meaningful Family Connections as a Host Family
Host family programs have existed for a long time, but this is new for Evergreen. It is set up to be flexible to the host’s desires and capabilities. Basically, the host(s) must have a private bedroom for their visiting student. Bathrooms may be a shared space. Perhaps you are interested but reluctant to commit for a term. You could host for a weekend. There would be time to visit favorite sights like the Olympia Farmers Market, take a hike and enjoy meals at home or in a restaurant. Include students in a family holiday or celebration. You can share your favorite parts of living in this community.
“It’s expensive to live here,” says Rui. “It has stopped students from coming. We want to lower that barrier.”
For those eager to host for a longer time period, there are choices here, too. Arrangements can be set up for housing only. You have a guest room and would be happy to put it to use.
Or maybe you would like a more involved relationship with the student. Host families can include the food aspect and enjoy meals together. Hosts are given proportionate subsidies with $700/month towards housing and $500/month towards food. Families that offer hosting are not responsible for the student’s transportation but need to be close to the bus line.
Varied Make-Up of International Students at Evergreen
International students come from across the globe. Students visit from Finland, India, China, South Africa, Colombia, South Korea and Vietnam. Evergreen has partnerships with several campuses that cultivate exchanges, including University of Kyogo and University of Miayazki, which are both in Japan. Roskide University is in Denmark, PUC-Rio in Brazil and HSWT (University of Applied Sciences) in Germany. Students vary in age from 18 to 30 years, with older students usually in the master’s level programs.
Students are required to have fluency in English and a F-1 or G-1 visa. The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign students who are pursing full-time academic study in the U.S. Fees and interviews are required. Students are required to maintain their student status. Limited on-campus or authorized off-campus employment is possible. Tracking compliance with all the requirements is part of Rui’s job as she interacts with the students. G-1 students usually plan for a year of studies in the States.
“We already have these students, though not as many as we wish,” says Brynn Smith, associate director in the Office of International Programs & Studies.
International Students Equal Positive Impacts for Thurston County Community
International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the economy and supported 378,175 jobs in the 2023-24 academic year. For every three international students, one job is created and supported by spending in the higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications and health insurance sectors. Specifically in Washington State, with 23,878 international students impacted 6,645 jobs with revenues of 918 million. For related information, check out NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
As part of its strategic plan, The Evergreen State College intends to increase student enrollment by 1,000 students. International students would be a welcome addition. “Evergreen has a high acceptance rate,” comments Brynn, noting that there is plenty of room for in-state students, out-of-state students, and those from international locations.
Hosting international students for a weekend or a school year offers fun and often life-long impacts. In college in 1970, my husband met his weekend host family in Vienna, Austria. We have lasting friendships with the grown children, and our adult son has been a life-long friend with the grandson of the original host parents. We hosted two young women from Germany during their junior year of high school. Now one of our “German daughters” has a son, who we consider our grandson. We visit back and forth.
We live in a time that calls for greater understanding and awareness. We can all use improved, calm communications with people who are not the same as we are. It’s an opportunity to learn and connect and realize we share many common interests. “Difference is not scary,” says Rui.
If you are curious about becoming a host family, call Rui Zhao at 564.250.5565 or email at rui.zhao@evergreen.edu. You may also call Brynn Smith at 360.867.6421 or email at brynn.smith@evergreen.edu.
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