Alternative Break Program Project Components

What the Program Provides You

To participate in the Alternative Break Program (ABP), project leaders must sign an agreement form to ensure they will adhere to a series of expectations.

Funding

The ABP travel grant soley covers travel expenses (domestic and international flights, which the ABP must purchase directly from airlines) for eligible project team members. Grant amounts vary depending on application evaluation. Team members must also contribute a non-refundable contribution ($100 for international travel and $50 for domestic travel), which can be applied towards overall flight costs upon purchase. Teams must comply with Columbia travel and financial policies. 

Training

The ABP provides three mandatory trainings for project team members. These trainings occur during the spring semester and emphasize themes such as identity and cultural humility, project development and team management. 

Project Support

Based on feedback from preliminary proposals, the ABP staff provides support in a variety of ways. Frequent check-in meetings are held with team members of the ABP-supported projects. Each check-in meeting is to ensure the team is on target with project development, including fundraising, community partner communication and team preparations among others.

Community

The ABP seeks to foster community among each year's project cohort, as well as past cohorts. At trainings and events, such as the Gala, the cohort interacts and learns from the other projects, sharing ideas and experiences relevant to civic engagement. 

Alternative Break Program

Visit

515 Alfred Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Call: 212-854-1371

Monday–Friday
9:00 a.m.–5:00p.m.