Apply to be a Virtual Neighbor through the CMU Office of International Education
As part of university-wide efforts to enrich the student experience at Carnegie Mellon, I am proud to share the “Virtual Neighbors” Program for International Students on the Pittsburgh campus.
Virtual Neighbors, sponsored by the Office of International Education (OIE), facilitates contact among people in the CMU community who’d like to get to know our international students. Now in its second year, it is a socially-distant adaptation of the Host Family Program, which many Osher members have been participating in for the last five years. You can apply on the OIE website by filling in a Google form for participants, and signing a participant release.
Get-togethers via Zoom or email take place monthly at mutually-convenient times. Each month, new ice-breaker questions are provided to the group in a slide show. Students say that these slide shows, which feature their opinions about school, family, and observations about American culture, help them feel connected to a group and less alone.
I encourage you to review the website and submit your application as a participant. Feel free to contact Christine Asenjo, International Programs Coordinator, at hostfamily@andrew.cmu.edu if you have further questions. Thank you!
How to apply to be a Non-Student Participant
If you would like to be matched with a Carnegie Mellon University student, please take a few moments to complete the following application process. We urge you to provide us with details that will let us know about your interests and the type of student with whom you feel would be most compatible. We ask you to be flexible with your expectations as we seek the best match for you.
Please submit the following:
- Questionnaire. Complete the Google form questionnaire.
- Participant Release. You may complete the release (PDF) and electronically sign it; or print, sign and scan the form and then email it to hostfamily@andrew.cmu.edu.