Our Mission
The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program exposes students to complex social and cultural issues through community visits, experiential learning, direct service, group discussion, readings, and reflection activities. The program's vision is to transform students into advocates of social change on issues affecting our communities.
Alternative Spring Break Programs Components
The three main components include:
- a Winter Quarter pre-break academic component (1-unit course)
- the Spring Break trip service learning component
- a Spring Quarter post-break reflection component
These three components are designed to build the knowledge and capacity of students to make a real difference.
Our Impact
Transforming students into advocates of social change.
ASB esteems itself as "the week that lasts a lifetime." Past trips have inspired many students to continue their involvement with the particular social/cultural issues they explored on the trip. Student groups have been formed, majors changed, and new careers discovered.
To hear about the impact of ASB in students' own words, see the testimonials highlighted on our website.
Recognition
Stanford's ASB Program has been nationally recognized with awards from BreakAway, the national alternative break organization. The Stanford ASB program has been honored as the "Alternative Spring Break Program of the Year" at the national alternative break conference as well as the "Curriculum Based Alternative Break of the Year."
At Stanford, ASB was acknowledged for its efforts to introduce students to community service with a Lyons Service Award in 1998. In 2002, ASB was again recognized for its contributions by an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Dean of Students. In 2007, ASB celebrated its 20th anniversary.
In the News
Alternative Spring Break has been featured extensively in the campus press, including the Stanford Daily and Stanford Report. Also visit us on Facebook.
Articles about ASB
- 2010.03.30 Stanford Daily: Breaking Point
- 2009.04.01 Stanford Daily: Students help out in Big Easy
- 2007.04.26 Stanford Daily: ASB trips designed for long-term impact
- 2007.01.09 Stanford Daily: Spring Break: Senor Frogs or service learning?
- 2006.11.09 Stanford Daily: For spring break, more students choose service
- 2004.11.18 Stanford Daily: Project hopes to improve foster children’s education
- 2004.11.07 Stanford Daily: Alternative Spring Break offers more programs
- 2004.04.27 Stanford Daily: Asian Americans honored for contributions to University
- 2004.03.10 Stanford Daily: This sure ain't Cabo: Students participate in Alternative Spring Break
- 2003.04.03 Stanford Daily: ASB sends students to serve over break
- 2002.10.07 Stanford Daily: Stanford ranked #1 for service learning
- 2002.05.23 Stanford Daily: Awards recognize students
- 2002.05.10 Stanford Daily: ASB trips cover new ground
- 2002.04.17 Stanford Report: Student, two recent alumni win prestigious Soros fellowships
- 2002.04.15 Stanford Daily: Water, water everywhere
- 2002.04.03 Stanford Report: Students forgo the beach, spend spring break volunteering, learning
- 2001.11.16 Stanford Daily: ASB program combines exploration with service
- 1999.01.13 Stanford Report: Haas Center links classrooms to communities with service projects
- 1998.02.25 Stanford Report: HIV/AIDS Alternative Spring Break receives Wyatt Award
- 1997.06.18 Stanford Report: Paul Kim wins Sterling Award for volunteer service
About Alternative Spring Break
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a Voluntary Student Organization (VSO) at Stanford University and maintains close ties with the Haas Center for Public Service. ASB receives funding from the ASSU Special Fee. Stanford's ASB is a Break Away Chapter Program.
