Impact

Join as a Learning Partner for Alternative Spring Break 2019

Penn State Alternative Breaks seeks faculty, staff or graduate assistants for this year's service trips

Penn State students on an alternative spring break trip. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Alternative Breaks (PSAB) is searching for faculty, staff or graduate assistants to serve as Learning Partners for this years’ Spring Break service trips. These trips will occur during the week of March 2 through March 9.

Penn State Alternative Breaks is a function of the Office of Student Activities and led by a student executive board. PSAB has planned 11 spring break trips this year, all focused on connecting Penn State students to social justice issues and service topics that they are passionate about. Each of these trips are led by two student site leaders who have coordinated service, created educational material, and have developed plans to lead students through meaningful dialogues about the greatest issues we face as a society.

Each trip is required to have one or two learning partners, who are full members of the experience, serving alongside students. They serve as professional representatives of the University and are responsible for handling all on-site financial transactions via a Penn State Purchasing Card; driving the University Fleet vehicle, and supporting the student site leaders with logistics, conflict management, navigating emergencies, and creating learning opportunities.  Furthermore, learning partners are encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences related to the social justice topics addressed during the experience. 

Our 11 trips this year will be engaging in disaster relief in Florida; addressing rural poverty in West Virginia; supporting sustainability efforts in North Carolina; learning about Cleveland’s work to revitalize the city; and much more. For a complete list of trip topics (locations not included) please visit alternativebreaks.psu.edu

Those who are interested in becoming a learning partner for spring break can fill out the following interest survey at https://tinyurl.com/PSULearningPartnerForm and PSAB will be in contact to set up a time to answer any questions before partners sign an agreement. For more information contact Matt Barone, assistant director for service and leadership, at mtb22@psu.edu.

Last Updated January 31, 2019