International Affairs collaborates with the Friendship Foundation for International Students, the Mills International Center and other organizations to offer a variety of programs to help international students make friends and gain cultural and academic experience while at the University of Oregon.

Friendship Foundation for International Students

The Friendship Foundation for International Students (FFIS) offers friendship programs to international students and scholars including a welcome homestay program, a conversation friend program, an international friend program and a global buddies program. Below is a description of each program and how to sign up. For more information, please email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call, 541-346-1436.

1. Conversation Friends

Conversation Friends is a one-on-one English conversation program which matches international students and scholars with volunteers for weekly conversation. Conversation Friends meet on a regular basis. This program is only available to new international students, spouses and visiting scholars.

2. International Friends

The International Friend program matches international students and scholars with folks in the community to share and learn about each other’s cultures. This is a flexible program which encourages students and volunteers to get together periodically throughout the academic year. Typical get-together ideas include holiday meals, day trips to the coast or mountains, family night, Saturday market, local events and more. This program is available to new international students, spouses and visiting scholars.

3. Global Buddies

The Global Buddies Program matches new international students with UO student volunteers. The purpose of this program is to assist new international students in their first term to adjust to their new life in Eugene and at the University of Oregon. Global Buddies will meet with their students regularly throughout the term by having coffee or lunch together, attending campus and local events, visiting Eugene and helping the student with adjustment issues and questions they might have.

Student Program Request

New FFIS Volunteer Request

Mills International Center

The Mills International Center offers programs and resources including cultural events, weekly international coffee hour, movie nights, and programs that promote relationship building. The Mills International Center is located on the Mezzanine level in the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) at the heart of the University of Oregon campus (E. 13th Avenue and University Street.) For more information, call 541-346-0887.

International Women's Group

This community group meets weekly at the Berean Baptist Church, 1210 Chambers Street in Eugene. This group is free and open to international women and children. The group provides English conversation, cooking demonstrations, crafts, field trips and sharing of one another’s cultures. For more information, call 541-726-1410.

Conversation and Tea

This group meets on Thursday afternoons at Spencer View Community Room, UO Spencer View Housing in Eugene. For more information, call 541-686-1675.

Yamada Language Center

Yamada Language Center has a foreign language exchange database which is set up to allow students to contact each other, to mentor, learn, and practice foreign languages, including English.