BECOME A STAFF PARTNER
Ready to become a staff partner?
Applications due by Sunday, May 3, 2026 @11:59 PM
2026-2027 Break Themes & Locations
Fall 2026:
Food & Hunger – Seattle, WA (October 11th - 17th)
River Conservation – Boise, ID (October 11th - 17th) NEW!
Disability Advocacy – Denver, CO (October 11th - 17th)
Mass Incarceration – Oakland, CA (October 11th - 17th)
Queer Advocacy – San Francisco, CA (October 11th - 17th)
Immigration – San Diego, CA (October 11th - 17th)
Community Land Stewardship – Moab, UT (October 12th - 16th)
Animal Advocacy – Park City, UT (October 9th - 11th)
Spring 2027:
Shelter & Housing Security – Seattle, WA (March 7th – 13th)
Urban Environmentalism – Portland, OR (March 7th – 13th)
Education Policy – Los Angeles, CA (March 7th – 13th)
Marine Conservation – San Diego, CA (March 7th – 13th)
Sex & Healthy Relationships – Las Vegas, NV (March 7th – 13th)
Boarders and Belonging- Albuquerque, NM (March 7th – 13th) NEW!
Community Health – St. George, UT (March 8th – 12th) NEW!
Refugee Rights & Resettlement – Salt Lake City, UT (March 5th – 7th)
What Do Staff Partners Do?
As a staff partner, you will spend 4-6 months planning an immersive, community engagement experience for ten University of Utah students around a topic you’re passionate about. Staff partners are current U of U staff or faculty who are paired with a student leader help plan and facilitate a week, 5-day, or weekend break.
Staff partners mentor and assist student leaders as they reach out to community partners, create education and reflection pieces, and plan activities. Staff partners are also responsible for applying for a travel purchasing card (t-card), budget, meal planning, and emergency support.
Please note that staff partner positions are volunteer, however, we work with your office to ensure you do not have to use your paid leave to participate in the program, weekly trainings, or the leadership retreat.
Why Be A Staff Partner?
- One-on-one mentorship experience with a student
- Participation, travel, and cost of AB experience is free
- Meet and network with staff and faculty around campus
- Immerse yourself in a social or environmental topic you are interested
- Recruit students to your program or college
- Co-facilitate an immersive student learning experience
What We Look For in Staff Partners:
- Interest and excitment about ethical community engagement.
- Self motivation and willingness to learn about our program.
- Enthusiasm about break topics and fostering exceptional education and experiential opportunities in host communities.
- Ability to mentor and advise students to accomplish their vision and goals as they create their break
- Willingness to co faciltate education and reflection pieces to a group of 10 students
- Strong communication, organization, and an eye for logistics
Requirements:
- Must be able to drive a 6-passenger University issued minivan throughout the duration of the break
- Must be able to attend all trainings (Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30 PM).
- Must be over the age of 18
- Must be a currently employed with the University of Utah and able to apply for an individual T-Card
Required Commitments:
- Week of July 30th: 2-3 hours Pre- Retreat Training(to be scheduled based on the leadership team's availability)
- Saturday & Sunday, August 14th-16th, 9-4pm Leadership Retreat on-campus and off-site
- Wednesday, August 26th - Wednesday, October 21st: Recurring Weekly Training (held each Wednesday from 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm in the Union)
- Wednesday, August 20th - Wednesday, October 15th: Weekly 1:1 with Site Leader and office hour in the Bennion Center
- Friday, October 9th - Sunday, October 11th: Weekend Breaks
- Sunday, October 11th - Saturday, October 17th: Weeklong Break (only for weeklong site leaders)
- Monday October 12th- Fridat, October 16th: 5 day Break
- Friday, November 6th, 3:45 - 6:00 pm: ReOrientation Celebration Event
Spring 2027 Staff Partners:
- Week of October 26th: 2-3 hours Pre- Retreat Training (to be scheduled based on the leadership team's availability)
- Friday-Sunday, November 13th- 15th. Spring Leadership Retreat on-campus and off-site
- Wednesday, January 13th - Wednesday, March 24th: Recurring Weekly Training (held each Wednesday from 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm in the Union)
- Wednesday, January 13th - Wednesday, March 24th: Weekly 1:1 with Staff Partner and office hour in the Bennion Center
- Friday, March 12th - Sunday, March 14th: Weekend Breaks (only for weekend site leader)
- Sunday, March 14th - Saturday, March 20th: Weeklong Break (only for weeklong site leaders)
- Friday, March 15th- Friday, March 19th: 5-day break
- Friday, April 2nd, 3:45 - 6:00 pm: ReOrientation Celebration
Responsibilities of a Staff Partner
- Support and mentor student leader
- Risk management & policy enforcement
- Budget tracking
- Meal planning/meal prep & clean-up schedule
- Room/van assignments
- Can take on pieces of CP outreach, education, reflection, etc.
Responsibilities of Both Site Leader and Staff Partner
- Community Partner Research
- Education search/prep
- Logistics Prep
- ReOrientation Event
- Trainings
- 1:1 Meetings
Responsibilities of Student Site Leaders:
- Creation of vision for the experience and itinerary
- Primary contact for community partners
- Primary contact for participants
- Designing holistic education curriculumn (education and reflection activities)
- Creation of pre-departure packets
- Organization and execution of pre-departure meetings
- Completion of transition document
- Social media support
- Recruitment of AB participants for all AB experiences (tabling for at least 2 events)
- Weekly office hour in the Bennion Center