The Council for International Programs (CIP) at West Virginia University is seeking host families and professional internships for the fall 2000 semester.

Janice Spleth, Ph.D., professor of French and African literature, is in her first year as director of the program since its transfer last year to the Department of Foreign Languages in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

Spleth said the selection process for the next group of participants has begun, but host families in the area are especially needed. Families must be able to host participants for one month between mid-August and mid-December.

The CIP brings professionals from around the world to WVU for a four-month placement. During that time, participants stay with four different families. This not only allows them to share their culture with many people, but also helps them to gain a broader experience of what Americans aredifferent ethnicity, religions and age groups, Spleth explained.

WVU staff member Anne Levine, who has served as a host for five years, said exchange programs are one important aspect of international education. Aside from the fascinating cuisine she has encountered over the years, Levine cites the friendships and international contacts she has made.

“This [most recent] group was especially good because they were all friends with each other, so families got to know more than just who they had hosted. More people should try being a host because it really is a wonderful experience,”she said.

The participants come from countries such as Columbia and Mali and have careers ranging from law to social work. They spend much of their time volunteering their services, lending their professional knowledge and sharing their culture with Morgantown residents. Activities such as International Night, a CIP fund-raiser, feature dishes from participants’native countries and allow them to interact with many people in the community.

Persons willing to serve as hosts and business owners, agency heads and academic department chairs who can provide job placements for the participants should contact Spleth through the Department of Foreign Languages, P.O. Box 6298, WVU , Morgantown, W.Va. 26506, or call (304) 293-5121, extension 5532. Visit the CIP Web site at:www.as.wvu.edu/forlang/cip/cipprog.htmfor additional information.