PARKERSBURG - For students at local colleges, the holiday season is also finals season and after that, they scatter to their homes for the holidays.

Residential colleges like Ohio Valley University in Parkersburg and Marietta College have a number of out-of-town and international students. Some of them remain in the local area for the holidays and the colleges make arrangements for them, but don't have any special programs or activities during the downtime between the fall and spring semesters.

Gerald Cole, associate director of admissions for OVU, said the school treats each case on an individual basis.

The primary service provided by OVU is to help make travel arrangements for those traveling home, whether it is elsewhere in the country or to other countries.

There are some non-local students who stay in the area during the holiday season, Cole said. Some of those stay with fellow students and friends, while others will stay with faculty and staff members.

"We have several faculty and staff members who do open their homes to students," Cole said, "so they won't be alone on campus."

Cole said some holiday celebrations are held at OVU during the season, but most of those are organized by groups at the college, not the college administration itself.

The Student Government Association held its annual holiday party in the week before finals, which began Dec. 12 and concluded Dec. 17.

The winter break at OVU began Dec. 18 and will run through Jan. 11 when student registration is held. The new semester of classes at OVU begins Jan. 12, Cole said.

Christy Burke, director of international programs at Marietta College, said the majority of international students at MC return home or travel in the U.S. during the holiday season.

MC has about 150 international students. Only a few stay in Marietta, but the college does keep the dormitories open for those staying in Marietta, Burke said.

The main support system provided by MC is a shuttle service provided by the college for all students who wish to fly out of Columbus, providing busing between Marietta and Columbus, she said.

Marietta College doesn't have any organized programs or activities at the college, but does have a mentor family program and the students can spend time with those families, Burke said.

The mentor family program runs year-round with activities involving the students and families. It is not a hosting program, so there is no overnight stays, but it is a way for people to make connections, she said.

"It's just a great opportunity for our community to learn about the international students' cultures and for our international students to learn about the Mid-Ohio Valley," Burke said.

More information about the mentor family program is available by calling Burke at (740) 376-4708 or by e-mail at christy.burke@marietta.edu.