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More Open Doors Info for Hosts

During their first year at Brandeis, international students are not only adjusting to new classes and friends, but a new culture. This is where the Open Doors Hosts come in. The students will greatly benefit from this program. Your experience with New England weather, how to dress for it, shopping, entertainment, and anything else related to life around Boston is invaluable to them. In return, you can get to know amazing students from all over the world!

What is the Open Doors Host Program?

The Open Doors Host Program matches participating incoming international undergraduate students with a family or individual in the local community, or a current Brandeis student who serves as a "host" for the first year that the student is at Brandeis. It is our hope that you will so enjoy your relationship with your student, that you will continue to stay in contact after your first year.

Who are the Participants?

Hosts are members of the Brandeis community: upperclassman students, staff, or faculty. The majority of Open Doors hosts have lived in the Brandeis area for at least a year, and are an excellent source of information when making preparations for life at Brandeis. Hosts are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to New England weather, how to dress for it, shopping, entertainment, and anything else related to life around Boston. Open Doors hosts are more than sources of information though. They offer a great opportunity to gain some insight into the U.S. culture.

Students are Brandeis international first-years, coming from a wide range of countries. A first-year could be a transfer student, a student who has participated in the Gateway ESL program at Brandeis, or a brand new student. In the case of transfer students or Gateway students, they have been in the U.S. longer than a brand new student. However, what they all have in common is that it will be their first year in the Brandeis undergraduate program.

Expectations

• After your student receives your name and email over the summer, they will email you. Please make sure you are in contact before the semester begins.

• The commitment is for the student's first year at Brandies, but it is our hope that you will continue to stay in contact with each other. Basically all that's required is your time and interest in your student.

• Orientation is required for all new hosts, so please make every effort to attend. Following Orientation is the Welcome Reception, where your student will be expecting to meet you. If you are unable to attend, communicate with your student to arrange an alternate time to meet or email Emily Stewart (estewart@brandeis.edu) if you need help.

• In order to get the most out of the experience, participants advise inviting one another to get together twice (or more) per semester. As students get busy with their studies and other activities, you may need to be pro-active in initiating getting together. Enjoy getting to know your student!

As hosts, please remember that you are volunteers. Although you may generously decide to do so, you are not expected to provide housing for your student, pick your student up at the airport, drive them around, or invite them home for the holidays. In addition, the program is not meant to be:

• A time for you to proselytize with the intent to convert. If you have any questions about what is or is not acceptable, please contact Emily Stewart at estewart@brandeis.edu.

• An advising service. Note that you are not expected to function as academic advisor or counselors. Again, if your students have questions that you cannot answer, please refer them to the ISSO at isso@brandeis.edu

Host Programming Committee

For interested hosts, they can volunteer to join a host programming committee, which will help plan events for the program.  This is not required, but if you want to be more involved then this is for you!  If you are interested, then indicate so on the sign-up form.