Participant Application
Spring Break: February 21st – February 27th, 2016
Due: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 in VISION Room 346 Student Center with a $25 nonrefundable deposit (cash or check)
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What is an alternative break?
The concept is a fairly simple one. An alternative break program places teams of students in communities to engage in community service and experiential learning.
The communities that host break teams may be near or far- programs may place students as close as their school’s home town or as distant a another country- but one thing they will all have in common is an environment far different from that of a college campus.
Students leave behind the world of books or laboratories and enter communities grappling with issues as varied as food access, environmental issues, housing insecurity, or community health. In doing so, these students are able to contribute to the community through their hard work. Communities benefit from the tangible work completed, while students gain a broader understanding of the world around them. Many students have hailed the experience as fundamentally life changing and the best week they’ve ever had.
VISION Volunteer Center
Eastern Michigan University
734.487.1313 ●
Participant Responsibilities
Pre-Break
●Attend the two large group meetings
●Attend three small group meetings (one meeting a month for December, January, and February). These are necessary to receive site specific information, educational resources, and immerse yourself in group cohesion.
●Send two donation request letters to recipients of your choice
●Participate in MLK Day of Service with your group
●Assist in group efforts for fundraising
During Break
●Fully engage in service and the alternative break’s vision.
●Be aware of the group and strive for group unity.
●Participate in a nightly guided reflection.
●Abide the alcohol and illegal substance policy.
●Take pictures, journal, and blog individually and with your group.
●Create with your group a plan for a post break initiative
Post-Break
●Attend reorientation with your group in March
●Put your post break initiative plan into action during March/April
●Strive for active citizenship. :)
Important DatesApplication Due:
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Large Group Meetings:
1st Meeting (attend one):
Monday, November 9th, 2015 -Student Center 360- 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday, November 10th, 2015 -Student Center 320- 7:00 –9:00 PM
2nd Meeting (attend one):
Monday, January 11th, 2016 - Student Center 360 - 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday, January 12th, 2016 - Student Center 300 - 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Pre-trip Meetings:
Your site leaders will schedule three pre-trip meetings with your group
MLK Day of Service:
Friday, January 16th, 2016
Spring Break:
Sunday, February 21st, 2016 – Saturday, February 27th, 2015
Reorientation:
Wednesday, March 18th, 2016
Issue Focus Options:
Please number from 1-6 your desired issue focus, with 1 being the issue you are most passionate about and 6 being the issue you are least passionate about. Please only use each number once.
Issue Focus / RatingFood Security
Environmental Wellness
Health
LGBT Health
Gender Based Violence
Housing Insecurity
Payment Dates & Information
Payment / Amount / Date
Deposit (with application) / $25 / Wednesday, October 28th, 2015
Payment #1 / $125 / Friday, November 13th, 2015
Payment #2 / $100 / Friday, December 11th, 2015
The total cost per participant is $250.
Why do breaks cost money & what does it cover?
Your payment goes towards covering your food, tools, transportation, and housing for the week, but does not cover the entire cost of the trip. Some of that money is picked up by VISION, because of this it is also important to fundraise.
Why is fundraising important?
As a program, we find it important to keep the cost down for our participants, so we work together fundraising to do so. Your fundraising dollars go towards the VISION ASB fund which helps to keep individual costs at $250. Our Alternative Break trips cost much less than other schools’ trips, and we would like to keep it that way.
Scholarships
Scholarships are now available through Student Government. Students who apply for scholarships are eligible to receive $100 toward the total cost of their Alternative Spring Break trip. If awarded, that money will be given to the EMU Alternative Breaks program to pay on behalf of the student who receives the scholarship.
If awarded, the total due by the participant beyond that covered by the scholarship will be $150. A $25 nonrefundable deposit is still required upon submission of the application. The first payment, due on Friday, November 13th, 2015, will be $75. The second payment, due on Friday, December 11th, 2015, will be $50.
Applications can be found under the “Documents” section on Student Government’s website: , or applications can be found outside of the Student Government office on the third floor of the EMU Student Center. Scholarship applications will be due in the Student Government office, Room 342, by Tuesday, October 28th.
All scholarships will be processed through EMU Student Government, and decisions regarding awards are made by Student Government. Applicants will be notified by EMU Alternative Breaks about scholarship awards no later than Monday, November 9th, 2014.
Name: / EID#:
FirstM.I.Last
Major: / GPA:Gender: / □ Male □ Female □ Trans* □ Other: ______
Race: / □American Indian/Alaskan Native □Black/African American □ Hispanic or Latino(a) □Asian/ Pacific Islander □Middle Eastern□Multiracial □White □I prefer not to respond to this question
Class Standing: / □Freshman □Sophomore □Junior □Senior □Other: ______
**You must be an undergraduate student enrolled through Winter 2016 to participate**
Phone Number: / Email:(Include area code)
Local Street Address: / Apt/Rm #:City: / Zip Code:
T-shirt Size: / □ XS □ S □ M □ L □ XL □ 2X □ Other: ______
Preferred Method of Contact: / □ Call □ Text □ Email
Are you 18 years old or older? / □ Yes □ No
If yes, are you comfortable driving a 9 passenger van? / □ Yes □ No
Are you 21 years old or older? / □ Yes □ No
If yes, are you comfortable driving a 12 passenger van? / □ Yes □ No
Are you an Honors College student interested in the Honors College trip? / □ Yes □ No
Questionnaire
- Have you participated in Alternative Breaks prior to this year? Yes___ No___
If you have, why are you returning this year? If you have not, what attracts you to our Alternative Breaks program?
- Of the social issues that our Alternative Break Program are tackling this year (food security, environmental wellness, health, LGBTQ+ health, gender based violence, or housing insecurity), what are the top choices you would you like to work on during your break and why?
- Please describe your service experience and skill set and how you plan to use those to contribute to your alternative break. Feel free to list any other activities, organizations, community service programs and/or other roles that have brought you closer to your community.
- What do you hope to gain from the alternative breaks experience?
Eastern Michigan University
Alternative Breaks Program
The Drug and Alcohol Policy Guidelines are as follows:
●Students are forbidden from possessing, purchasing and/or consuming alcoholic beverages and/or illegal substances while participating in any part of Alternative Breaks.
●Students traveling on EMU related trips are expected to adhere to University policies as defined by the EMU Student Code of Conduct. A violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action by the university through a referral to Student Conduct and Community Standards
●Should any of these policies be violated, the trip site leaders will immediately enforce disciplinary action. The student in violation of this policy will be responsible for making his or her own arrangements and paying for their trip back home.
I have read and agree to follow this policy while participating in the Alternative Breaks Program.
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Name of Participant (Please Print) Date
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Signature of Participant Signature of Parent (if under 18)