AB Application and Info

Student Participants

No prior AB experience is required to be a student participant. 

Requirements

• Must be a current full-time LMU undergraduate or graduate student
• Must have a 2.0 GPA or higher

Commitments

• Attend AB signature events: Community Welcome Night, Pre-Immersion Meetings, AB Re-Orientation, Post-AB Action, and the Advocacy Teach-in at LMU (Most events will be held Fridays between 3-5 p.m.) 
• Be available for their entire AB immersion
• Be willing to practice simple-living
• Participate and engage in daily reflections
• Abide by LMU's Alcohol-and-Drug-Policies

Applicant Timeline

• Early August: Application Opens on LEO for winter, spring, and summer AB
• Early/Mid-September: Application Due for winter, spring, and summer AB
• August-September: Student participant interviews (rolling)
• Late September/Early October: Decision/deposit due  

Student Leaders

Each AB group has two student leaders (unless otherwise noted). In order to maintain the essence of AB, priority is given to applicants who have previous AB experience. In collaboration with their co-leader, and with guidance and support from their staff advisors and the AB Director, student leaders are responsible for: 

At LMU

• Preparing the materials and activities for their AB group's pre-immersion meetings
• Booking a space for their AB group's pre-immersion meetings
• Leading and facilitating their AB group's pre-immersion meetings
• Serving as the liaison between AB and their AB group
• Communicating reminders/announcements to their AB group
• Proactively seeking feedback and guidance from their staff/faculty advisors
• Other tasks as needed

In Host-State/Country

• Communicating reminders/announcements to their AB group
• Organizing and facilitating reflections every day
• Initiating daily check-ins with their staff/faculty advisors
• Proactively seeking feedback and guidance from their staff/faculty advisors
• Other task as needed

Requirements

• Must be a current full-time LMU undergraduate or graduate student
• Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher

Commitments

• Attend AB signature events: Community Welcome Night, Pre-Immersion Meetings, AB Re-Orientation, Post-AB Action, and the Advocacy Teach-in at LMU (Most events will be held Fridays between 3-5 p.m.) 
• Attend and engage in AB student leader meetings
• Prepare and facilitate their AB group's pre-immersion meetings 
• Be available for their entire AB
• Be willing to practice simple-living
• Prepare and facilitate their AB group's daily reflections
• Abide by LMU's Alcohol-and-Drug-Policies

Applicant Timeline

• Early August: Application Opens on LEO for winter, spring, and summer AB
• Mid-August: Application Due for winter, spring, and summer AB
• Late-August: Student Leader Interviews
• Early September: Decision/Deposit Due

NOTE: Student leaders receive 50 percent off their AB program cost.

Cost and Financial Assistance

CSA strives to make AB inclusive and accessible to participants by covering fifty percent of the overall program costs, while the other fifty percent is due by participants. The subsidized-cost participants pay include roundtrip transportation to host-state/country, housing, three meals a day, in-state/country transportation, and program activities. Additional costs that participants should keep in mind include, but are not limited to, costs needed to obtain or renew a passport, costs for VISAs (if applicable), as well as any additional items participants may wish to purchase on their AB such as snacks, souvenirs, etc. 

AB are subsidized by CSA to off-set the cost for participants to engage in this educational opportunity. If you students believe they are need in of financial assistance, they may submit an AB scholarship application, which is embedded in the AB general application. Eligibility is based on financial need as determined by the information provided on students’ FAFSA and their AB scholarship application. Scholarships are not guaranteed or automatic. If you are provided a scholarship through CSA, students will be notified of next-steps in their AB decision email. 

Staff and Faculty Advisors

Each AB group has one to two staff/faculty advisors (unless otherwise noted). AB staff/faculty advisors' role includes supporting student leaders in their leadership development as well as serving as a liaison to AB and LMU. Please note that serving as an AB advisor is a volunteer opportunity. 

Advisor Requirements

• Must be a full-time LMU exempt staff or faculty
• Must have the support of their supervisor to be away from their office/role, AB signature events (select Fridays between 3-5 p.m. and to be fully present and engaged during the entire AB immersion)

Advisor Commitments

• Attend AB signature events: Community Welcome Night, Pre-Immersion Meetings, AB Re-Orientation, Post-AB Action, and the Advocacy Teach-in at LMU (Most events will be held Fridays between 3-5 p.m.) 
• Attend and engage in AB staff advisor meetings
• Actively provide constructive feedback to student leaders 
• Actively provide guidance and support to student leaders and participants 
• Be fully present and engaged during their entire AB 
• Be willing to practice simple-living 
• Participate and engage in daily reflections
• Abide by LMU's Alcohol-and-Drug-Policies

Additional Information

• Accommodations: When possible, AB staff/faculty advisors are provided their own room (attached bathroom may or may not be included). Applicants will be notified of accommodation arrangements during the interview process. 
• Cost: CSA subsidizes the cost of these AB to be able to support students, staff, and faculty to participate in these experiences. However, there are still additional costs CSA looks to offset when identifying staff and faculty to participate in Alternative Breaks. Before their interview, staff/faculty advisor applicants are asked to confirm if they are able to get funding to support their participation in an AB.
• Driving: Depending on AB locations, staff/faculty advisors may be required to have a driver's license, get van certified, and drive a vehicle. More information provided during the interview process.
• Accommodations: When possible, AB staff/faculty advisors are provided their own room (attached bathroom may or may not be included). Applicants will be notified of accommodation arrangements during the interview process.

Applicant Timeline

• Early August: Application Opens on LEO for winter, spring, and summer AB
• Mid-August: Application Due for winter, spring, and summer AB
• Late-August: Staff/Faculty interviews
• Early September: Decision due

Required Before Submitting an Application:

1. Must sign up for a one-on-one to learn more/get updated about AB
   1. For new applicants and returners
2. Must have the support of their supervisor to be away from their office/role:
   1. For AB signature events (select Fridays between 3-5 p.m.) 
   2. To be fully present and engaged during the entire AB immersion 

Application Process

1. Submit AB Application via LEO 
2. Sign-up for interview
3. Decision notifications released
4. Decision due

Pre-Immersion Meetings
These meetings provide participants with the opportunity to build community as well as learn foundational information about their host-state/country and their AB's social justice focus(es). All pre-immersion meetings are mandatory and conducted in-person (no Zoom-ins allowed). Pre-immersion meetings are prescheduled to select Fridays between 3-5 p.m., and last 1 to 1.5 hours. Exact timeframe to be confirmed by each AB’s student leaders.

Student Leader Meetings (Leaders Only)
These meetings equip student leaders with an in-depth understanding of AB’s mission as well as training and tools to best serve as facilitators and leaders for their groups. These meetings are also used to review pertinent AB information that student leaders are expected to disseminate to their AB groups. All student leader meetings are mandatory and conducted in-person (no Zoom-ins allowed). Student leader meetings are prescheduled to select Fridays between 3-5 p.m., and last 1 to 1.5 hours. Exact timeframe to be confirmed by the AB Director.

Staff/Faculty Advisor Meetings (Advisors Only)
These meetings will provide staff/faculty advisors with an in-depth understanding of AB’s mission as well as their role as advisors. There will be two to three meetings hosted for staff/faculty advisors during the academic year. All staff/faculty advisor meetings are mandatory and conducted in-person (no Zoom-ins allowed). Exact dates to be confirmed by the AB Director at least two weeks in advance. 

Post-AB Action
Upon completion of their AB, participants are required to engage in a post-AB action with their group. The post-AB action serves as an opportunity for groups to advocate for the social justice issues they explored and bring it back to the broader LMU community. Post-AB actions are planned throughout the pre-immersion meetings, solidified in host-state/country, and executed in the Spring semester. In the past, AB groups have hosted poster-presentations at Wellness Wednesday, hosted a two-part event (ex: panel + fundraiser), as well as hosted a photo exhibit in the library – the ideas are endless.

Advocacy Teach-In
The Advocacy Teach-In at LMU is an annual event hosted by CSA that brings LMU students, staff and faculty together for a day-long social justice-oriented learning experience. This student-led event invites participants to gather for a keynote presentation by a community leader doing advocacy work, attend workshops that focus on different social justice issues, and share space and community over lunch.