The Bennion Center’s Alternative Breaks program is seeking faculty and staff Partners for spring semester weeklong or weekend experiences!

Staff and faculty partners are individuals who assist, support, and empower the student site leader through the duration of planning and implementation of a justice-based community engagement experience around a specific social justice topic in a host community throughout the western United States, which takes place during fall or spring break or on a weekend throughout the semester.

Our staff and faculty partners are important partners as we build these programs and are critical to their success. Their responsibilities include participating in weekly trainings and 1:1 meetings with their co-student leader for the 4-5 months leading up to the break; supporting student leader development by providing assistance and feedback; assisting important aspects of break planning before and during the experience, such as topic education and facilitation, budget management, risk management; and promoting the physical and emotional wellbeing of the students. They are also expected to be fully present during the Alternative Breaks and participate in all of the activities just as all other participants are expected to do. Please note that staff and faculty partners responsibilities may vary slightly depending on the individual relationship between staff and faculty partners and =site leaders.

Time commitment

For spring break, the commitment ranges from late October until early April of the following year (about 7 months).

During those months, Staff/Faculty Partners will be responsible for participating in a mandatory retreat (Nov. 11-13 for spring), attending weekly trainings (about 6 hours a month) and meeting weekly with their student Site Leader (2-4 hours a month). They will also co-plan and co-facilitate pre-departure meetings (3-5 hours the month before departure) for their participants. Occasional one-on-one meetings with Alternative Breaks Staff may also be required. Finally, staff and faculty partners are expected to participate in the experience in its entirely over fall, spring, or weekend breaks and participate in reorientation events upon return to campus.

We are specifically needing staff and faculty partners for the following experiences:

·       Education & Economic Justice

·       Housing Justice

·       Sex & Healthy Relationships

·       Substance Use

·       Urban Environmentalism

Applications for spring staff and faculty partners will be received until all positions are filled.

For more information, please visit our website or contact Alternative Breaks Program coordinator, Grace Hymel.