Thank you for your interest in the School of Information’s 2011 Alternative Spring Break Program. The student application period closed on Friday, January 21, 2011 at NOON. Please check back for updates on the 2012 program.
This 13th year of SI ASB promises to be as exciting and rewarding as ever, and we’re glad you are considering spending your Spring Break week working in a service scenario at a nonprofit, governmental, cultural, or education organization.
Before you complete the SI ASB Application Form below, please review the following information. If you have any questions, please contact the SI ASB Coordinator, Kelly Kowatch at kkowatch@umich.edu.
The SI ASB 2011 Application Period will open on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 and will close on Friday, January 21, 2011 at NOON. Submit your completed applications by Friday, January 21, 2011, Noon. Please also attach a copy of your resume before hitting the submit button.
SI ASB Mission
The mission of the Alternative Spring Break Program is to place interested and motivated School of Information students, during the week of Spring Break, in professional work environments where they can take part in the following:
- Gain practical job experience and learn new skills;
- Develop leadership skills as information professionals;
- Provide a service to an organization, institution or community;
- Create professional partnerships; and
- Pursue their fields of interest.
Participants do not receive course credit for this experience, though many find the work experience and networking opportunities very valuable, with some continuing their work in summer internships.
Lodging and Transportation Information
Students going to New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. travel in groups in rental cars or by public transportation provided by the School of Information. Students going to Detroit travel in groups and are provided with gas cards to cover travel expenses.
Information regarding the accommodations can be found below:
New York: Columbus Circle Hostel
(212) 247-7676
120 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023
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Washington D.C.: Hotel Harrington - Washington, D.C.
(202) 628-8140
436 11th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004-1398
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Chicago: Hostelling International Chicago
(312) 360-0300
24 East Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605
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Detroit: Students who are matched with a project in Detroit have the option to stay in their home for the week of spring break or be placed in a home stay or dormitory-style accommodation in the city of Detroit. If you are interested in either of these options, please indicate so as part of your application.
SI ASB Participant Commitments
Each SI ASB participant agrees to the following:
- Prior to SI ASB
- After being matched to an SI ASB project, update your Statement of Interest to be tailored to your matched organization and project
- Complete all requested logistical information on time, including submitting your travel information to the UM Travel Registry
- Attend a mandatory SI ASB meeting prior to departure
- During SI ASB
- Work all five days of Spring Break week, approximately 40 hours.
- Represent the SI ASB Program, the School of Information and the University of Michigan by acting responsibly, respectfully, and professionally in all places, with all people, at all times.
- Contact your SI ASB City Coordinator with regard to work-related problems and concerns.
- Understand that the SI ASB program is one that requires a degree of flexibility and understanding when projects or work situations evolve from that of the original posting.
- When you return from SI-ASB:
- Participate in the Post-ASB Reflective Session
- Submit a slide with a summary and picture of your experience
- Submit to reflective blog posts
- Complete the post-ASB survey and enter comments to the website about your experience
SI ASB 2011 Specifics
Costs: Expenses for transportation to and from and lodging in the host cities are funded through fund raising and SI support. A $25 contribution is expected from SI ASB participants. Participants are responsible for food, local transportation, sight-seeing and all other personal costs.
Host Cities: Chicago, Detroit, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
Travel: Rental cars/vans, 4-6 people per vehicle. (Estimated driving times: NYC - 10.5 hours; Chicago - 5 hours; D.C. - 9 hours); Detroit - 45 minutes. Students traveling to Detroit can travel daily from their homes using their own vehicles (car pooling is preferred) and will be provided with a stipend for travel expenses or can be placed in accommodations in Detroit.
Lodging: Participants will share rooms in hostels (2-5 people per room) with in-suite bathrooms, with the exception of Detroit participants, who will be placed in home stays or in dormitory-style accommodations, if preferred. Common spaces, wi-fi, and cooking facilities are available at all of the hostels.
Student-Project Matching Criteria: In the participant selection and project matching process, the following criteria will be used for matching students to projects that are in high demand:
- Second year students who have not participated in ASB
- Active ASB Committee Members
- First year – Second semester students
- First year – First term students
- Second year students who have participated in ASB
- Informatics students who are in their third or fourth year at UM
Quality of application will also be highly considered in matching students to projects. Questions should be answered completely, and in a thoughtful manner with personal, professional, and service-oriented goals, and motivation for participation in the program clearly expressed.
All Detroit projects that are preferenced will be matched. Also students that indicate that they will be a car coordinator will be more highly considered in the matching process.
Decisions on participation will be made by Kelly Kowatch in consultation with Joanna Kroll and Judy Lawson.
Requirements: Participants must be in good academic standing to participate (minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA). Participants who have completed at least one term at SI and who have not yet participated in SI ASB will be given priority for selection and matching to sites.
SI ASB 2011 Application Form
This form must be completed by all participants and be on file in the SI Career Development Office prior to participation in the Alternative Spring Break 2011 Program. This information will be shared with no entity outside of the SI ASB program.
Submit this completed document by Friday, January 21, 2011, Noon. Please also attach a copy of your resume. SI ASB participants will be notified of their acceptance and matched to an organization and project within a week of their application submission.
***Please note that by submitting this application, you are committing to participating in SI ASB 2011. Please do not apply to participate if you are not fully committed to going as you may be taking away an opportunity from a fellow student. Also, note that expenses incurred from dropping out or untimely communication about alternative travel arrangements will be borne by the applicant.***