Family Cultural Exchange

The VCU Family Cultural Exchange program provides Richmond community members and VCU international students and scholars the opportunity to develop cross-cultural relationships that stimulate curiosity, increase cultural understanding, and provide insight into a world beyond personal perspectives.

How it works

Community volunteer families and international students meet at least once a month to participate in activities such as family dinners, sporting events (baseball games, etc.), local food and music festivals, museums, canoeing, etc. The Global Education Office also coordinates several group events each year, which FCE participants may choose to join or not. 

Getting matched

VCU international students/scholars and Richmond community members sign up to participate via registration form. Once our office receives a family's registration information, all adults living in the home (18 years or older) will be asked to complete a background check via Sterling Background Checks. This background check is good for two years. Individuals must have a clean background check to be eligible to participate in the program. Upon successful passing of the background check, FCE families will be required to complete a 30-minute virtual training session that reviews the details of the program’s guidelines, as well as provides guidance and advice on how to navigate through common obstacles or challenges. FCE family members (all adults living in the home) will be required to sign a Liability and Assumption of Risk form to participate in the program.

International students who sign up for the program will be required to sign the Liability and Assumption of Risk form and complete a 30-minute virtual training session that reviews the details of the program’s guidelines from the perspective of an international student. 

After all of the prerequisite steps have been taken, families are matched with VCU international students!