The Augustana University International Programs Office (IPO) Friendship Family Program is designed to give a new AU international student a warm and welcoming family contact in Sioux Falls. The Friendship Family makes a commitment to befriend a new student, provide opportunities to have home-cooked meals and/or participate in various cultural or community activities throughout the year. IPO also sponsors several Friendship Family events throughout the year. Friendship Families do not provide lodging.
Friendship Families at AU
Interested Students
American families take many forms, ranging from a home with two parents and children to single adults to more mature adults with grown children who no longer live at home. Regardless of the makeup of the family, they will serve as a great contact and support system students away from campus.
If an international student is interested in exploring the traditions, faiths and global perspectives of American culture with a local family, they should consider being a part of a friendship family and fill out a questionnaire. The information the student provides is confidential and will be used solely for the purpose of appropriately matching international students with families.
Interested Families
Local families can volunteer to be a friendship family for a semester, a year or the duration of a student's career at Augustana. This opportunity allows families to learn about other cultures, languages and traditions as Augustana welcomes international students from around the globe. If a family is interested in providing a "home" away from campus and support to an international student, consider becoming an Augustana Friendship Family.
