Staff/faculty partners are an individual who assists, supports and empowers 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 partners are important partners as we build these programs and are critical to their success. Their responsibilities include participating in weekly trainings and one-on-one meetings with their co-student leader for the four to five 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 partner responsibilities may vary slightly depending on the individual relationship between partners and site leaders.

Time commitment

Fall break commitment ranges from mid-July until early November (about five months). Spring break commitment ranges from late October until early April of the following year (about seven months).

During those months, partners will be responsible for participating in a mandatory retreat (Aug. 12-14 for fall and Nov. 11-13 for spring), attending weekly trainings (about six hours a month) and meeting weekly with their student site leader (two to four hours a month). They will also co-plan and co-facilitate pre-departure meetings (three to five hours the month before departure) for their participants. Occasional one-on-one meetings with alternative breaks staff may also be required. Finally, the partner is expected to participate in the experience in its entirety over Fall, Spring or Weekend Breaks and participate in reorientation events upon return to campus.

Applications for fall partners are due on June 15 and applications for spring partners are due on Aug. 15. For more information, please visit our website or contact Alternative Breaks Program Coordinator Grace Hymel.