Bennion Center

Discount Applications are available to reduce barriers of access for students interested in participating on an Alternative Break through a separate application that must be submitted prior to Fall/Spring general application deadline.

Financial support may be available for students who need assistance with experience costs. More information is shared with participants after placement.

Requests are reviewed with the goal of reducing barriers to participation. Support is not tied to FAFSA and may be available to all eligible students regardless of background or circumstance.

AB Discount Applications will be due shortly after students are offered places on an Alternative Breaks experience. Because the application is short and can be completed quickly, students are encouraged to submit their application as soon as they can to ensure they meet our deadlines.

Decisions regarding AB Discount allocations will be made within three days of the application due date. Students will always be informed of their AB Discount status/amount prior to the due date of any payment for their Alternative Breaks experience. This way, students can decide if the discount we offer will be sufficient for them to cover the cost of their break or if they need to seek additional support, withdraw from the experience, etc.

All payments to the Bennion Center will be processed via the University of Utah's online shopping platform. This platform utilizes a standard credit card processing system, allowing students and their given or chosen to families to make payments for their Alternative Breaks using a debit or credit card as they would for any online purchase. While not preferred, alternative payment methods (cash, check, etc.) can be arranged on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions, please email alternativebreaks@utah.edu

While we do set deadline for participants to make their down payments and final payments, we are happy to arrange alternative dates and payment plans with students. As long as the total experience cost is made prior to departure, we can arrange any payment plan a student needs in order to be able to finance their AB experience. Some examples of payment plans can include:

• Making installments toward the total payment: rather than paying the total final payment in one large sum, we can arrange for students to make multiple smaller payments over the course of several weeks (e.g., four payments made every two weeks, rather than one payment due at once).
• Moving the due date of a payment: if a student needs to wait for their next paycheck to be able to make any of their payments for Alternative Breaks, we can easily adjust the deadline for that students to make their payment.
• Incorporating the $100 down payment into the final payment: it can often be difficult to make large expenditures without much prior notice. Since we notify students' of their placement in Alternative Breaks two weeks prior to down payments being due, it may be difficult for every student to make the payment on time. For this reason, some students choose to incorporate the $100 down payment into their final payment cost. (I.e., rather than making a $100 down payment and later making a $300 final payment, some students choose to submit a $400 payment when final payments are due).

Payment plans are set up as unique "products" in the shopping platform and will not be listed with any other Bennion Center payments or products. Each plan will be named using a participant's initials and the semester of their Alternative Break: "JD Payment Plan - Spring 2020."

The timeline for all AB Discount and payment processes will be posted on our Next Steps pages each year.

For many non-resident students seeking Utah residency for tuition purposes, participation in Alternative Breaks does not count as personal out-of-state travel under applicable university/system policy.

Students should confirm their individual situation with the appropriate campus office. Verification of participation may be available upon request.

Additional Campus Resources 

Office of Admissions

Phone: 801-581-8761
Fax: 801-585-7864

Email: residency@utah.edu

USHE R512 Policies and Procedures (R512.5 Section 5.3)

Sleeping arrangements are an important part of the Alternative Breaks experience. Housing plans are designed with participant comfort, communication, and practical needs in mind rather than one-size-fits-all assumptions. Individual preferences and concerns are taken seriously, and planning conversations are part of trip preparation.

Depending on the experience, lodging may include shared homes, hostels, hotels, retreat centers, or other group accommodations. Room layouts, bed types, and privacy levels vary by experience.

Students who would like more information about lodging style, room setup, or sleeping arrangements for a specific experience are encouraged to reach out before applying or before departure.

Sleeping Arrangements

When possible, participants are invited to share roommate or sleeping preferences before assignments are finalized. Considerations may include:

• Sleep schedules
• Noise or light preferences
• Cleanliness / shared space habits
• Privacy needs
• Accessibility needs
• Comfort level with shared spaces
• Other personal considerations

Assignments may be adjusted as needs change throughout the experience.

Some participants may have personal, cultural, religious, trauma-informed, or other reasons for specific housing preferences. Questions or requests are welcome and can be discussed privately with program staff, Site Leaders, or Staff Partners.

All participants will have their own bed/sleeping space. This may include pull-out sofas or air mattresses. Arrangements depending on room availability and individual needs.

All travel on breaks is done in 6-seat passenger vans.

Students who are willing to drive on the break will be asked to complete a driver certification and defensive driving training and must have a current, valid driver’s license. Designated drivers are only permitted to drive for 3 hours at a time, after which they must be switched out with another driver. Students are not required to drive or can request to only drive under certain conditions (ex: no interstate driving).

Drivers are essential to the Alternative Breaks program. Each break needs a minimum of 6 drivers to receive departure approval. We take drivers into consideration when offering break placements to successfully meet our minimum requirement.

Food is an important part of the Alternative Breaks experience and can be a meaningful way participants build connection throughout the experience. Meals are planned with community, care, and participant needs in mind.

Meal Planning & Participation

The Breaks include shared meals or group meal preparation. Participation in meal planning or cooking is always optional, and students can engage at a level that feels comfortable.

Some groups may choose meal approaches that reflect sustainability, budget, or shared preferences. Student comfort and dietary needs remain important parts of those conversations. Students are encouraged to share allergies, dietary restrictions, preferences, or food-related needs during planning so Break leaders can prepare thoughtfully.

What Costs Cover

Program fees are intended to cover core meals and snacks during the experience. Personal purchases outside of planned group meals (such as optional treats or extra snacks) may be the responsibility of the individual participant.

Questions About Food Needs

If food access, allergies, cultural considerations, or dietary needs are a concern, students are encouraged to connect early so options can be explored.

Alternative Breaks experiences can be meaningful, energizing, and rewarding, but they can also be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Travel, group living, reflection, and engagement with complex social issues may affect participants in different ways. Students are encouraged to consider their own wellbeing before, during, and after the experience.

Emotional Readiness

Some Breaks explore topics that may feel heavy, personal, or emotionally challenging. Students are encouraged to review Break themes carefully and reach out with questions about content, expectations, or comfort level before applying.

Energy & Capacity 

Experiences may include full days of service, learning, travel, reflection, and group time. Rest, boundaries, and self-awareness are important parts of participation. Being away from familiar routines, spaces, and support systems can create additional stress. Students may wish to plan ahead for coping strategies, check-ins, and personal needs while traveling.

Conflict & Group Dynamics 

Shared experiences can create moments of disagreement, growth, or interpersonal tension. Student leaders and staff receive training to help support healthy communication and navigate challenges when they arise.

Support Resources 

Students seeking additional support are encouraged to connect with campus wellness or counseling resources before departure or after returning.

Questions About Wellbeing

If mental health, emotional readiness, travel stress, or support needs are a concern, students are encouraged to reach out early for conversation and planning.

Additional Campus Resources

Counseling Center
Phone: 801-581-6826
Make an Appointment
Student Services Building (SSB) 426

Center for Student Wellness
Phone: 801-581-7200
Email: wellness@sa.utah.edu
Student Life Center, Suite 2100

The Bennion Center is committed to ADA accessibility standards in its programming and will work with the University's Center for Disability & Access to best serve students' needs on an individual basis.

It is important to note the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal. Service animals (typically dogs) have been trained to perform specific tasks that a person cannot perform on their own. Service animals are offered protections outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For this reason, service animals are allowed in public spaces where other animals (possibly including emotional support animals) may not be allowed to go.

Alternatively, emotional support animals (ESAs) are not trained in specific tasks, nor are there as many limitations on the types of animals that qualify; dogs, cats, birds, snakes. ESAs are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Service Animals

Service animals are welcome on Alternative Breaks. Fortunately, the regulations set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act require all state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public to allow service animals to accompany their owners in all areas of the facility where the public is generally allowed to go. As the ADA applies to all hotels and similar accommodations as well, all the spaces generally entered on a domestic Alternative Breaks experience must allow service animals to accompany their partners.

That said, the Site Leader and Staff/Faculty Partner of each Alternative Breaks experience will be able to contact each of their community partner organizations, Airbnb/hotel hosts, and other sites to be visited on the break to notify them that the group will be accompanied by the service animal, ask for specifics about how the animal will be accommodated, and to collect any information that the student with the service animal needs to be aware of (the student will need to communicate this need with the leaders of their break).

Additionally, we have offered the following accommodations to students and their service animals in the past. This list is meant to offer examples of accommodations, not an exhaustive list of what we can provide working with individual students and their circumstances:*

• Adequate seating in vehicles to allow the animal to accompany the student
  • Typically, we reserve two 7-passenger minivans for a 12-person team. This has allowed sufficient space for service animals in the past.
• Regular stops on the drive to and from the host community for potty breaks and stretches for the animal
  • Specific needs of the animal and its student partner should be communicated with the leaders of the Alternative Break
• Time away from volunteer projects, as needed for potty breaks
• Adjusted volunteer projects, if necessary
  • It's possible that some volunteer projects may take place at a site or in a space not protected under the provisions of the ADA. If this is the case, Site Leaders and Staff/Faculty Partners are able to work with our community partners to see if they can arrange volunteer projects for the group or a portion of it that are accessible within the physical ability of the participants. This will vary with each organization and the projects may be beyond the control of the Bennion Center.
• Priority in sleeping accommodations in on-site and en-route lodging, as well as in vehicles.
  • Please reference the "Gender & Sexuality" tab above for specifics on our usual lodging types and how we create sleeping arrangements with our groups.
  • Sleeping arrangements in lodging and seating in the vehicles can be arranged to ensure students with allergies or any aversions to animals (trauma-based, cultural, or otherwise) are not asked to share a space with the service animal.
• Time during a pre-departure meeting to address expectations and needs of the animal and its student partner with the Alternative Breaks group
  • The student can present these expectations and needs themselves, if they feel comfortable. They can also communicate the information to their Site Leader and Staff/Faculty Partner for them to relay to the larger group.

*Students will be responsible for supplying all food, medicines, and other supplies that the service animals will need for the duration of the Alternative Break.

Emotional Support Animals

Following University of Utah policies and the suggestions of the CDA, emotional support animals are not allowed on Alternative Breaks at this time. While ESAs do receive some accommodations from different organizations (Airbnb, for example, provides the same protections to ESAs as service animals), they are not protected under the ADA. This means that hotels, nonprofit organizations, and public or government institutions such as universities, parks, etc. are not required to allow ESAs into their public spaces.

Because many of the organizations we work with, hotels we stay at, and spaces we enter on Alternative Breaks will likely not allow the entry of emotional support animals, the Bennion Center cannot guarantee the safety of the animal nor an equitable experience for its student partner. Therefore, ESAs are not allowed on Alternative Breaks experiences under current policies.

Additional Campus Resources

Alternative Breaks recognizes that mobility needs and access preferences vary by person and by experience. Individual planning conversations are encouraged to explore what support may be most helpful for participation.

In coordination with the University’s Center for Disability & Access, support options may include:

• Accessible transportation when available with advance planning
• Lodging with accessible entry and shared spaces
• Route adjustments for travel days, cities, or partner sites
• Activity modifications or alternative participation options when possible
• Sleeping arrangement considerations based on access needs
• Note sharing or alternative participation supports when helpful

Accessibility features may vary by destination, lodging, and community partner spaces. Students with questions are encouraged to reach out early so planning can begin.

Additional Campus Resources

Access needs related to vision vary by person and by experience. Alternative Breaks recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and individual planning conversations are encouraged to explore what support may be most helpful for participation.

Possible support options may include:

• Large-print, audio, or verbal materials
• Group support with navigation in shared spaces
• Use of personal assistive technology
• Adjusted activities when feasible and available
• Service animal planning and accommodations
• Flexible participation in activities involving visual materials

Alternative Breaks works with the University’s Center for Disability & Access to explore reasonable accommodations and individualized support when appropriate.

Additional Campus Resources

Alternative Breaks recognizes that communication access needs vary by person and by experience. Individual planning conversations are encouraged to explore what support may be most helpful for participation.

In coordination with the University’s Center for Disability & Access, support options may include:

• Interpreting services for essential program components when appropriate
• Captioned videos and accessible educational materials
• Written, visual, or alternative communication methods
• Note sharing when helpful
• Seating considerations during travel or group activities
• Adjusted activities when feasible and available
• Use of personal assistive technology

Alternative Breaks encourages shared responsibility for creating inclusive communication and community throughout the experience.

Additional Campus Resources

All Alternative Breaks Site Leaders, Staff/Faculty Partners, Program Manager and other professional staff members are required to report situations or any disclosed instances involving sexual misconduct and discrimination to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO).

All participants are advised that, while many Alternative Breaks groups will agree to keep their conversations and activities private during the week of their AB experience, there are certain conversations that your Site Leader and Staff/Faculty Partner are required to report to OEO. Accordingly, all our leadership receives training on how to compassionately and effectively make a report to OEO and connect students to additional campus resources.

What does a report look like? 

https://sexualassault.utah.edu/reporting/title-ix-on-campus-reporting/

Can I ask my AB leader not to make the report?

Regardless of any group agreements you've made, your Alternative Breaks Site Leader and Staff/Faculty Partner are legally required to report instances of sexual misconduct and discrimination to the University. They should notify you of their status as "mandatory reporters" during your pre-departure meetings. While we are required to report, you are not required to respond to any outreach efforts and can act in your own best interests regarding the support you’d find appropriate.

Should you wish to talk with someone about any experience you may have had with sexual misconduct who can maintain confidentiality (i.e., who is not legally required to report the misconduct to OEO), please connect with one of the confidential counseling resources at the University of Utah listed below.

Additional Campus Resources

Confidential Campus Resources

Unexpected situations can happen while traveling, including illness, injury, transportation issues, lost belongings, or other emergencies. Leaders receive preparation and support resources to mitigate risk and respond appropriately.

Alternative Breaks welcomes international students and recognizes that participation may involve additional planning related to visas, travel documentation, or university processes. Students with questions about eligibility, travel requirements, or approved program participation are encouraged to connect early for guidance and referrals to appropriate campus resources.

Travel can involve different levels of comfort, preparation, or risk depending on a student’s personal circumstances. Alternative Breaks encourages students to consider their individual situation, consult trusted supports, and ask questions early when deciding whether to participate.

Program planning may include:

• Reviewing transportation methods and travel routes
• Discussing documentation or travel-related concerns
• Exploring Break options with fewer barriers
• Connecting students with relevant campus resources
• Clarifying costs and available program discounts

Some experiences may involve additional travel considerations based on location or proximity to borders. Break-specific information will be shared in advance so students can make informed decisions.

Immigration Alternative Break – San Diego

The Immigration Alternative Break to San Diego does not cross the international border into Tijuana. However, some learning sites or community partner activities may involve locations closer to border areas and may present additional travel considerations for some participants.

Students with questions or concerns about travel routes, personal circumstances, documentation, or comfort level are encouraged to connect privately with the Alternative Breaks Program Manager before applying or before departure.

Alternative Breaks works to protect student privacy and, when appropriate, may adjust activities or coordinate alternative options to support safe and meaningful participation.

Break details may evolve based on partner needs, location conditions, and participant planning.

Borders & Belonging Alternative Break – Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Borders & Belonging Alternative Break in Albuquerque may include longer travel days, outdoor activities, and reflective learning connected to place, migration, community, and belonging.

Students are encouraged to review Break details carefully and reach out with questions related to accessibility, comfort level, travel needs, or personal planning before applying or before departure.

Program activities may be adjusted based on partner availability, weather, and group needs.

Additional Campus Resources

Alternative Breaks is a secular, educationally focused program. The program is not affiliated with a specific religious tradition, while recognizing that spirituality and faith can be meaningful parts of many students’ lives.

Students are welcome to maintain personal religious or spiritual practices during the experience when feasible within the Break schedule. This may include prayer, reflection, dietary observances, or attending services during available free time when possible.

Students with specific needs or scheduling considerations are encouraged to connect early so planning can be explored.

Alternative Breaks encourages thoughtful reflection on the roles different organizations, communities, and institutions play in addressing social issues. Students are invited to engage these conversations with curiosity and respect.

Some experiences may collaborate with faith-based community organizations engaged in service or community work. Participation in this experience does not require students to adopt, affirm, or participate in religious practices outside of their own beliefs.

Questions About Religious Practices

Students with questions related to observances, scheduling, comfort level, or other considerations are encouraged to reach out before applying or before departure.

Additional Campus Resources

Alternative Breaks welcomes students with a range of life experiences and responsibilities, including students who are pregnant or parenting. Participation may involve additional planning depending on the destination, itinerary, activity level, and individual needs.

Students who are pregnant are encouraged to consult a healthcare provider and connect early with program staff to review Break details, ask questions, and discuss support options.

Possible planning considerations may include:

• Flexible participation in activities
• Access to restrooms and rest breaks
• Adjusted transportation or walking routes when feasible
• Supportive sleeping arrangements when possible
• Seating considerations during travel
• Meal and snack planning based on individual needs
• Pumping/milk storage support

Students who are parenting may wish to consider travel length, time away from home, and caregiving responsibilities when exploring participation. Shorter or local experiences, such as weekend opportunities, may offer additional flexibility. Only registered University of Utah student participants are eligible to travel, lodge, and otherwise engage in the Alternative Breaks experience.

Questions and individual planning conversations are always welcome.

Additional Campus Resources

Center for Child Care & Family Resources

Phone: 801-585-5897

Email: childcare@sa.utah.edu

Union Rm. 280

No previous skills, training, or prior experience are required to participate in Alternative Breaks. Students are not expected to arrive as experts. Site leaders, staff, and community partners provide guidance, orientation, and support throughout the experience. Alternative Breaks is designed as a space where students can learn new skills, build confidence, and engage in meaningful experiences together.

Depending on the experience, students may gain experience in areas such as:

Community engagement

• Teamwork and communication
• Reflection and dialogue
• Cooking and meal preparation
• Travel readiness
• Outdoor or camping skills
• Problem-solving and adaptability

Comfort Levels & Participation

Students are encouraged to participate in ways that feel safe and manageable. If a student has concerns about a specific activity, planning conversation, or skill expectation, program staff and site leaders are available to help explore options.

Program fees generally cover shared group supplies needed for the experience. Students may still need to bring personal items such as clothing, toiletries, medications, or destination-specific gear.

Camping & Outdoor Experiences

Some experiences may include camping, outdoor lodging, or wilderness environments. When applicable, students receive Break-specific information in advance, and necessary group equipment is typically provided.

Questions About Preparation

Students who are unsure whether an experience is a good match, or who have questions about expectations, are encouraged to reach out before applying or before departure.

Unexpected situations can happen while traveling, including illness, injury, transportation issues, lost belongings, or other emergencies. Leaders receive preparation and support resources to mitigate risk and respond appropriately.