Eastern Oregon University > Summer Bridge at Eastern Oregon University > Alternative Spring Break > Alternative Spring Break Goals

Alternative Spring Break Goals

A collaboration between Summer Bridge, the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and the Outdoor Adventure Program, Alternative Spring Break seeks to increase student success and retention through multiple overlapping measures:

  • Scaffolding varied, culturally-relevant opportunities to apply and strengthen foundational academic skills (primarily reading, writing, critical thinking, presenting, and working effectively in small groups) 
  • Building a thick network of students, peer mentors, staff, and faculty, fostering students’ sense of belonging, agency, and resilience in the face of academic and other challenges
  • Familiarizing students with diverse disciplines, career possibilities, and people who apply and create different kinds of knowledge in different fields
  • Drawing intentional connections between home, community, and higher ed, encouraging students to see themselves and their communities in the university
  • Introducing students to real-world contexts in which they can develop soft skills associated with teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and flexibility and examine the root causes of complex social issues through experiential education and civic engagement 
  • Increasing faculty and staff knowledge of students’ diverse experiences, strengths, goals, and needs, building institutional capacity and commitment to student success
  • Allowing students to “bank” two credits prior to the start of spring term, providing more flexibility to take a lower course load if needed to be academically successful spring term, or to take a higher overall number of course credits in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid and athletics and remain on track toward timely graduation

The program also provides an opportunity to further train Summer Bridge student mentors and engage students otherwise unable to leave campus over spring break. 

For more information, contact Dr. Cori Brewster, Summer Bridge Director and Professor of English/Writing at cbrewste@eou.edu