Participating in Alt. Break is a significant time commitment. Participants must attend all parts of the program in-person for the program dates and times listed below.

• Team Meeting #1: Monday, February 17 | 5:00-7:00 pm | WK 7

• Team Meeting #2: Monday, March 3  | 5:00-7:00 pm | Week 9

• Team Meeting #3: Monday, March 10 | 5:00-7:00 pm | Week 10

• Send-Off: Friday, March 21 | 5:00-7:00 pm | Finals Week

• Trip Dates: Saturday, March 22-Friday, March 28 | Spring Break

• Reorientation: Monday, April 7 | 5:00-7:00 pm | Week 3 *tentative

During Team Meetings, you'll get to know the other 8-10 students on your team and the two student staff co-leaders for your group. You'll learn about the community you'll be traveling to, the program itinerary, and other logistics! The Team Meetings also cover teambuilding and leadership topics such as values and leveraging your strengths and other's strengths in collaborative work. 

The Send-Off is an exciting dinner event where all 3 teams come together the night before leaving! And at Reorientation, everyone will come back together after the traveling program to reconnect, reflect, and take what they've learned from the experience into their lives at OSU and beyond!

Additionally, you will be asked to commit 3-4 hours total outside the times listed above to complete prep tasks including short activities and reviewing background resources (articles, videos, etc.) on the social issues/topics of the community you will travel to if selected. This is intended to help you get more out of the trip experience!

Please let us know if you have any extenuating circumstances that might cause you to be unavailable for certain dates, as exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Corvallis students: $200 sliding-scale (contribute what you can $0-200)

We strive to set a program fee that accurately reflects the value the Alt. Break program offers to student participants, while keeping it accessible. We charge a program fee to recover some of the cost for offering the Alt. Break program, and as an added layer of commitment from participants.

$200 sliding-scale program fee covers the following:

• Transportation from the OSU Corvallis campus to the program location and back
• Lodging in shared/communal housing (ex. Air BnB, hostel, ranch house etc.)
• Food:
  • 6 dinners: 5 prepared by the team and 1 dinner out together
  • Food staples for preparing breakfast, lunch, and travel meals.
  • Note: If participants would like travel meals or want to supplement the staple groceries provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they are responsible for purchasing any additional groceries they may want
• 6-day itinerary of engaging service projects, educational sessions, and reflective activities with community organizations and fellow program participants. The co-leaders work extremely hard to plan and facilitate an engaging, educational, valuable, and fun experience for program participants!
• 3 pre-trip team meetings that give you the opportunity to build connections and learn about the program
• Food provided outside the trips at the Send-Off and Reorientation

How does the $200 sliding-scale program fee work?

Rather than offering program fee waivers that students would need to apply or ask for, we offer the $200 sliding-scale program fee on a "contribute what you can, take what you need" basis. This means students can indicate the amount of the program fee they are able to pay from $0-200, and we will waive the rest, no questions asked. Students do not need to apply or ask for fee waivers or financial assistance, and they do not need to show proof of financial need. This is an honor system where we place trust in the applicant.

We are committed to equity and access. We hope the program fee does not create undue stress due to students' personal circumstances. We believe that no student should be excluded from participating due to financial barriers. What's most important is that the students who are selected to participate are fully committed to the Alt. Break program!

Please note, if you are in a position to contribute the majority or all of the fee, it will help us ensure we can continue offering this flexible sliding-scale program fee into the future to support students who need it most and continue making Alt. Break as accessible as possible!

No payment is due at the time of application. Final payment due dates will be communicated to students who are selected to participate.

Ecampus & Cascades students: $400 ($200 sliding-scale fee + $200 additional fee)

Ecampus & Cascades students are responsible for paying the $400 fee in two parts:

1. $200 sliding-scale fee as described above where they contribute what they can from $0-200
2. $200 additional fee to compensate for not paying the student incidental fee (*see below for further explanation).
   • Ecampus students: If you need assistance paying this additional $200, please reach out to Eddie Rodriguez ([email protected]), Ecampus Student Engagement Program Manager, to request supplemental funding.
   • Cascades students: Unfortunately, we currently do not have supplemental funding to support Cascades students with the additional $200 fee.

*The Alt. Break program is funded by the student incidental fee, which is paid only by Corvallis campus students. This allows us to reduce the Alt. Break program fee for Corvallis campus students to $200 total. Since Ecampus students do not pay the student incidental fee, they are responsible for paying a higher Alt. Break program fee of $400, which represents the full cost for one student to participate in Alt. Break. This includes all transportation, meals, lodging, & activities during the trip, as well as all food and space reservations for meetings before and after the trip.

Expectations

The Alt. Break experience is centered on team building, learning, relational leadership development, inclusivity, and community building. To create the most meaningful experience for yourself, your teammates, and our community partners, we ask that you be engaged to the fullest extent possible throughout the entire program by upholding the following commitments.

• I will attend ALL elements of the Alt. Break program in-person and participate to the best of my ability. This includes:
  • Pre and post-program meetings (Team Meetings, Send-off, & Reorientation)
  • The full itinerary of the traveling program including all service projects, educational sessions, and activities.
  • Showing up on time, being present, and sharing when appropriate.
  • Refraining from use of technology that is not relevant to the sessions. 
  • If extenuating circumstances arise that create a schedule conflict with part of the program, I will make arrangements to make up missed content with my co-leaders. Acceptable reasons for missing a program meeting include classes, labs, medical appointments, and jobs where a participant cannot take leave.

• I will support the mission of Alternative Break as a program that is focused on immersive community-engaged learning experiences centered on personal growth, relational leadership development, community building, and creating social change through service projects, educational sessions, reflection, and team building. This experience is not a vacation or sightseeing experience.
• I agree to take responsibility for my own learning and experience. I agree to ask questions if I don’t understand, participate even if I have done an activity before, and challenge myself to do things outside my “comfort zone” during the experience. I will be open to processing (at my own comfort level) the Alternative Break experience individually and as a group through organized reflection, journaling, and other activities.
• I will practice open-mindedness and explore new and diverse perspectives, opinions, and experiences. I will expect to learn and be challenged.
• I will be flexible and adaptable to changing and unexpected circumstances to the best of my ability.
• I will be respectful of diverse communities, identities, lived experiences, cultural norms, and values (practice cultural humility) that I may experience in communities and/or with members of the Alt. Break team. I will practice empathy, deep listening, and vulnerability and will create an inclusive space for members of my team and community. I will practice social consciousness/mindfulness of others and center care. I will respect the humanity and dignity of all people.
• I commit to being an active contributor to my team and show respect for fellow team members, community partners, and populations with whom I am completing projects. I will do my best to uphold the team/community agreements that my team develops together.
• I will assume best intent and attend to impact: We all make mistakes and this is part of our learning and growing. I am committed to taking accountability for my actions and addressing any impact on others.
• I will serve as a positive role model and representative of Oregon State University, Community Engagement & Leadership (CEL), and myself during this program.
• I agree to take responsibility for personal needs and practice self-care for my own wellbeing including getting enough sleep to participate fully. I agree to let a trip leader know if I am not feeling safe, heard, acknowledged, or anything else that is taking away from my learning experience. We cannot support or make changes if we are not aware of your needs.
• I agree to refrain from using alcohol or non-prescription drugs during the Alternative Break experience. Alcohol and other drugs don’t have a part in what we hope to accomplish.
• I will be responsible for my own actions and behavior and understand and agree to adhere to the OSU Code of Student Conduct. I understand I will be held accountable for actions and behaviors that violate the code of conduct.

• I will respect the property of our lodging site, community partners, and CEL/OSU.
• I understand that to remain a participant, I must sign this Alternative Break Learning Agreement and follow all program guidelines and policies as well as adhere to trip leader instructions during the program. If I fail to uphold this learning agreement (based on the discretion of the trip leaders and Alt. Break Coordinator), I may be asked to leave the program. If I am removed from the program or voluntarily leave the group, I bear the responsibility for arranging and paying for return transportation to campus.
• I agree to adhere to the expectations outlined in the Alt. Break Expectations and Information Related to Domestic Travel & Public Health to support the health, wellbeing, and safety of all participants, staff, and community partners.

A note on personal wellbeing:

Alternative Breaks are often physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging as a result of the immersive nature of the program. The experience is both challenging and rewarding due to long days spent completing service projects and educational sessions, which often require physical labor, dialogues, and reflection activities on social issues over the course of a 5 to 6 day period. Participants are asked and encouraged to take responsibility for their wellbeing during the trip by planning ahead to prepare themselves as best as possible for the experience and making needs known to the team and Alt. Break Leaders so accommodations and plans can be made that account for the needs of all team members. Participants will complete a self-care planning activity to support this process.

Community Engagement & Leadership is committed to supporting the health, well-being, and safety of all participants, staff, and community partners to provide the most meaningful Alt. Break experience possible. Participants are expected to support individual and group wellbeing including reducing the spread of infectious diseases (COVID-19, flu, RSV, etc.).

Public Health Requirements:

While OSU no longer has a COVID-19 Safety & Success Policy in place, some community organizations CEL partners with to offer the Alt. Break program may have requirements/policies for their program (service project, educational session, activity) or site related to COVID-19 and/or public health. To participate, participants are expected to adhere to the policies and requirements of host organizations (ex. showing proof of vaccination, masking, physical distancing, etc.) or participants may work with program leaders to identify accommodations. We will share any updates on additional policies and protocols as soon as they are available and work with students needing accommodations to participate.

⚠️ A note on COVID-19 vaccination:

While OSU no longer has a vaccine requirement in place, some of the community organizations CEL partners with to offer the Alt. Break program may require showing proof of both being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and being “up to date” with COVID-19 vaccination. For this reason, we strongly encourage all participants to 1) Be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine by program departure AND 2) Bring proof of vaccination in order to be able to participate in all of the program’s activities and the full itinerary.

• If a participant is not vaccinated or is unable to show proof of vaccination to a community organization requiring such, they will need to sit out for that session (service project, educational session, or activity) and work with program leaders to identify alternative activities.
• CEL staff will share updates on any requirements or policies with program participants as soon as we are able.
• If you would like to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, you can view vaccine options through Oregon Health Authority’s Safe and Strong website to find a vaccination site near you.
• You can find additional info on vaccines offered at OSU on the Student Health Services Immunizations webpage.

Positive COVID-19 cases:

If a participant tests positive for COVID-19 during the Alternative Break program, we ask that they follow current guidance for preventing spread of respiratory viruses when you’re sick or the most current protocols and guidance in effect at the time of the program.

Protocols for handling potential positive COVID-19 cases during the program will be shared with students who are accepted into the program.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 541-737-3041.

Alt. Break is open to all OSU students (Corvallis, Cascades, & Ecampus)

• Must be a currently enrolled OSU student
• Must be in good university standing (academic and student conduct)

In order to apply and participate, students must do the following:

1. Must attend all parts of the program in-person, including 4 pre-trip meetings before spring break trips and 1 meeting after spring break in-person on the Corvallis campus. In-person attendance at these meetings offers a more engaging experience and directly supports team building.
2. Must travel to the trip location (Yakima, WA; Ashland, OR; or San Francisco, CA) with the team by coming to the Corvallis campus on departure day and return to Corvallis with the team at the end. Teams travel to their location in 12-passenger university vans provided by OSU.

If you have extenuating, unexpected medical, academic, or family/personal circumstances that are out of your control and need to cancel your participation, you may be reimbursed for any expenses that Community Engagement & Leadership can recover. The emergency must arise before the program starts to receive any refund. Students will be asked to provide a signed request for any partial refund that summarizes the extenuating circumstances.

Please communicate any need to cancel as soon as possible so we can work with you. If you or Community Engagement & Leadership is able to identify a replacement participant that meets trip criteria, a full refund may be possible.

If accessibility accommodations are needed in order to participate in the program, please contact us at [email protected] or 541-737-3041.

Please contact us as soon as possible and preferably no less than one month in advance of the program dates due to the immersive nature of the experience.

The Alternative Break program at Oregon State University dates back to 2010. Site locations largely developed out of personal connections and student leader interests in the early years to establish programs in Yakima, Washington (established 2010) and San Francisco, California (established 2012). Additional program locations including Ashland/southern Oregon and Warm Springs, Oregon (established 2013) were developed with a desire to cultivate deeper connections within the state of Oregon, meet known community need, and maintain sites within driving distance of the OSU Corvallis campus. The Warm Springs program was created with the specific intent to maximize the community knowledge and connections within OSU Extension Services across the state and facilitate student exposure to the impact and work of Extension Services. Program expansion is a goal moving forward. Additional program sites may be selected and developed in ways that balance diversifying the social issues/causes examined within the program and existing relationships between the community and OSU.

Interested in receiving academic credit for participating in Alternative Break? If your major, minor, or concentration area requires practicum, internship, experiential learning, or other forms of applied learning we encourage you to contact your academic advisor to explore possibilities within your course of study. You will likely need to provide program learning outcomes and an agenda or itinerary. Alt. Break program leaders can support you in obtaining this information. 

The following academic units have supported Alternative Break credit in the past. Please note that this is NOT a comprehensive or complete list so you are encouraged to talk with your advisor or academic program to explore your specific circumstance.

• College Student Services Administration (CSSA)
  • CSSA students may participate in CEL-related events, including Alternative Break, for internship or project credits with approval from their advisor. Please consult with the CSSA program coordinator for further details. 
• Environmental Sciences and select CEOAS majors
  • Environmental Sciences and other CEOAS majors may be able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please consult with the CEOAS Experiential Learning Coordinator ([email protected]) to explore the possibility.
• Honors College
  • Honors College students can receive credit for Alternative Break or other ongoing service-learning and civic engagement programming through HC 409 Practicum - Civic Engagement. Please contact Kara Goldman, academic advisor, ([email protected]) to learn more. 
• Human Development and Family Sciences
  • Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) majors or minors may be able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please consult with the HDFS internship coordinator ([email protected]) to explore the possibility.
• Leadership Minor
  • Leadership Minor students are able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please connect with your advisor and/or [email protected] to explore this option.
• Political Science
  • Political Science majors or minors may be able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please consult with the Political Science internship coordinator ([email protected]) to explore the possibility.
• Sociology
  • Sociology majors or minors may be able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please consult with the Sociology internship coordinator ([email protected]) to explore the possibility.
• Sustainability Double Degree
  • Sustainability Double degree students are able to receive credit for Alternative Break participation. Please connect with your advisor ([email protected]; [email protected]) to explore this option.