Center for International Education Housing

Host Family Guidelines and Responsibilities

Thank you for your interest in the Center for International Education Housing program. CIE strives to place international students in living and housing arrangements that will give these students an opportunity to practice their English, learn about American culture, and in turn, allow American families to learn about the cultures of the students they host. It is our goal to place international students in homes where they will be treated as part of the family.

Commitment to the CIE Housing program
To fully benefit from the CIE Housing experience, we expect students to stay in your home for the full length of their program. To ensure that both CIE Housing families and students understand the minimum requirements for participating in the CIE Housing program, we ask you to review the following information carefully. We do our best to match you with a student that will be compatible with your lifestyle.

Criminal record certificate
You must obtain a Criminal Record Certificate for each resident age 18 or older in your home. These can be ordered and purchased online from the local police department. For more information visit this website: http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security.php

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
You must have functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Airport pick-up/drop-off
The host family is not responsible for airport pick-up or drop-off. Transportation to and from the airport is arranged by the student or the CIE Housing staff, depending on the program.

Assist student upon her or his arrival
Help your student by familiarizing her or him with your home and the local areas.

Basic guidelines for daily living
You will need to instruct your student on the following:

• Bathroom—How to use the shower or bath, especially if you have a shower curtain. Explain the appropriate length of time for showers or baths. Please provide basic toiletries such as soap, towels and toilet paper.
• Bedroom—How often sheets are to be washed and by whom.
• Laundry—Who does the laundry and how often. Make laundry detergent available and instruct the student on how to operate the washer and dryer if you would like them to do their own laundry.
• Kitchen—How to use the microwave, stove and refrigerator.
• Safety Issues—How to lock the door(s), turn lights off when they leave, and how to use the security system if you have one.
• Schedules—When to take a shower or bath, and what time dinner is.
• Bus route—Families are required to show the student how to ride the bus to/from school.
• Bike route—Families are required to show the student where to ride their bicycle safely to/from school and to local shopping, and to explain the local traffic laws related to bicycles on the road.

Room
You must provide a private room for sleeping, studying and privacy. There should be a bed with linens, adequate storage such as a closet or a dresser, adequate lighting, fire exit/window, and a desk with a chair.

Internet service
Students require Internet access. There is to be no charge to the student for Internet access. Please provide the student with information and instructions to connect to the Internet.

Telephone calls
Each family has their own rules regarding telephone use. Please explain your telephone rules to your student. We encourage families to have students use their cellular phones or telephone cards and not make long-distance calls from the host family's phone. CIE Housing will not be responsible for unpaid phone charges. Long-distance phone calls are to be paid by the student.

Conversation and family activities
Students choose to live with host families in order to learn about American culture and to practice their English. Please include your student in family activities and encourage your student to participate in family conversations. Assist students in learning how to use the English language. Students may ask you to help them with their homework. Please let the student know when the best time for you to help them with their homework is. Please speak clearly and slowly, as students are not used to our accents. Writing things down may aid communication.

House rules
Please establish a clear and moderate list of important house rules (preferably in writing) that all members of your family would be required to follow, and review the rules with your student when your student moves in. Please provide CIE Housing with a copy of your house rules.

Meals
Host shall provide a designated number of meals per day. Meals should be nutritious, well balanced and represent a variety of tastes.

• Breakfast: Food needs to be available to the student. Please explain how students should help themselves.
• Lunch: Food needs to be made available.
• Dinner: Prepared by the host family. Note: When families go out and are not home to prepare dinner, there should be food available for the student.
• Restaurants: From time-to-time, families would like to invite students out for dinner. Please remember that the stipend is to support room and board (food) and you should not ask the student to pay.

Guests
Occasionally students should be able to invite friends over with prior notice and with the host family's approval.

Conflict resolution
Students as well as families are encouraged to contact our office any time they have a question or concern. We are here to help solve any misunderstandings or problems that may arise. Remember to please speak clearly and slowly, as students are not used to our accents. Writing things down may aid communication. If we do not hear from you, we assume that everything is fine. We hope that host families and students have a good experience together. If you have a problem you cannot resolve, please contact us at ciehousing@ucdavis.edu.

We, CIE Housing, assign home placements based on the information gathered from applications and/or interviews. We hope to match students with host families that will provide an enjoyable learning experience for the student and for the host family. A successful placement takes effort from all involved. Both host family and student must make a good-faith effort to make the host arrangement work.

However, if the host family or student feels there is a conflict in placement, then we ask that CIE Housing be contacted immediately for conflict resolution. In most cases, communication and misinterpretations caused by language and cultural differences are the common culprits in host family and student difficulties. Should it be an irreconcilable issue, student or the host family will give the other a two-week, written notice to move out, and the stipend will be prorated and/or refunded.

Length of stay
The program you are committing to is of a specified duration. There is no guarantee that the student will stay this long. If your student does not stay for the full term of the program, they are not required to pay for the time they did not actually live in your home. Student will give you a two-week, written notice, and the last stipend will be prorated.

Damage
CIE Housing will not be responsible for any damages your students may cause. We are here to help mediate between the family and student. Please contact us as soon as you notice any damage. Students should pay for damages before they move out, as it is very difficult to recover any damages after such time.

Hosting can be a wonderful cultural program for your family. Please remember it does take some effort on your part. We ask families to have realistic expectations. We are here to help both families and students make the most of their time together. Please contact us anytime at ciehousing@ucdavis.edu.