BreakAways

Upcoming BreakAways

2026 BREAKAWAYS

The application deadline is November 1, 2025
Remember, ALL IC students can receive a one-time $1,000 BreakAway coupon for a trip of your choice.
If you are applying for an international BreakAway, you need a valid passport. If you don't have a passport, you need to apply for a passport (or renew one that expires before December 2026) by November 1, 2025.
There are also some additional funding sources for students who travel to a country where the language is spoken that they are studying or where strong financial need is demonstrated. Those awards are usually $500 or less. HOWEVER, there is one BreakAway award (The William Curry Award) is about $2,000! Qualifications: never traveled outside of the U.S. and demonstrated financial need. See the cost section below for more information and the link to the funding application.
Also remember to leave room in your spring semester course schedule for one academic credit associated with the BreakAway course!

Crossroads and Cultures in Spain

Tentative Dates: May 4-17, 2026

Led by Professors Steven Gardner (Global Studies, Spanish), Jenny Barker-Devine (History), and Kelly Dagan (Sociology)

Crossroads of Cultures in Spain offers students an immersive experience in Spanish history, immigration, and cultural identity through academic engagement, cultural site visits, and hands-on learning. As an important bridge between cultures and continents, Spain offers valuable insights for students across multiple disciplines. Understanding Spain will enhance participants/ knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world, one of the largest linguistic communities alongside English, Arabic, and Chinese. By exploring contemporary Spanish society through the lens of its history, participants will gain a deeper understanding of Spain's role as a crossroad between Africa and Europe, as well as between Latin America and Europe. Madrid, a major economic hub, is home to a diverse population, with many residents originating from other parts of Spain or different countries. In contrast, Pamplona, located in northern Spain, has only recently begun experiencing a significant influx of immigrants. However, as a key stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, Pamplona has long served as a meeting point for travelers journeying to Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of Apostle James the Greater are supposedly held.

In Pamplona, the group will be hosted by the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), a partner institution of Illinois College. In Madrid, the group will be hosted by Tandem, a Spanish language and culture educational institute that has provided opportunities for IC students since 2004. Tandem will also provide a visit to Toledo, the home of the Spanish crown before the capital was moved to Madrid.

Credit: 1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost: $3,630 ($2,630 if using your one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule

$500 by December 5, 2025
$3,130 on your spring semester invoice ($2,130 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/27140

England: Culture and Conquest

Tentative Dates: May 5 - 17, 2026

Led by Professors Adam Porter (Religion) and Nancy Taylor Porter (Theater)

England — a place of Roman soldiers, ambitious monarchs fortressed in their castles and palaces, towering cathedrals, woodland fairies, mystical Stonehenge, and extraordinary authors. This BreakAway will focus on London, the heart of the British Empire while also including day trips through the beautiful countryside to Bath and Salisbury Cathedral/Stonehenge. We will visit many sites that are symbols of British culture and power, attend a play at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, sample the eclectic, international fare of a world-class city, and enjoy a "high tea." Throughout our journey, we will compare and contrast English and American histories and cultures.

Credit: 1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost: $3,250 ($2,250 with one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule

$500 deposit by December 5, 2025
$2,750 placed on your spring semester invoice ($1,750 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/31298

The Sankofa Journey: Rediscovering History, Memory, and Culture in Accra, Ghana

Tentative Dates: May 4 -13, 2026

Led by Professor Brittney Yancy (History and African American Studies) and Squire Prince (Asst Director of Student Engagement and Belonging)

This BreakAway invites Illinois College students to learn about the enduring legacy of one of the most important West African nations, Ghana. The Sankofa Journey is a 10-day immersive experience that makes the pilgrimage from the United States to Ghana. The Sankofa Journey Breakaway aims to explore the history and culture of Ghana, particularly in the capital of Accra and along the Atlantic coastal region. It will examine the intersection of history, economics, politics, education, and culture. Students will learn about Ghana’s slave trade past and reflect on how the memory of hard history manifests in public spaces–monuments, museums, and landmarks. While visiting these historic institutions and sites, students will learn how they shape the economic and cultural landscapes of Ghana. By visiting these institutions–universities, historical sites, and political institutions–students will gain an understanding and reflect on the complexities of Ghana’s reconstruction and growth into a modern, thriving nation.

Credit: 1 credit course in spring semester

Estimated Cost: $2,900 ($1,900 if using one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule:

$500 by December 5, 2025
$2,400 placed on your spring semester invoice ($1,400 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/28072

Views of Japan

Tentative Dates: May 5 - 20, 2026

Led by Professor Gwendolyn Gillson (Asian Studies) and Abhishek Nanavati (Asian Studies Visiting Fellow)

Have you ever watched anime, read about samurai, or gamed on a Playstation? Then join us to explore the culture, history, and world of Japan! We’ll go to a digital art museum from a Japanese art collective, watch sumo champions wrestle in the National Stadium, relax and eat a feast at a traditional Japanese inn, and travel around the country to experience Japan’s past, present, and visions for the future. In addition, you’ll be able to connect with students from Ritsumeikan University and Kanazawa University, our sister schools. Our trip will go west to east across the main island: Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Tokyo. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

Credit: 1 credit course spring semester

Cost: $3,980 ($2,980 if using one-time BreakAway "coupon")

Payment Schedule:

$500 by December 5, 2025
$3,480 added to your spring semester invoice ($2,480 if using College BreakAway coupon)

Study Abroad app link to more information and application -

studyabroad-ic-edu.via-trm.com/program_brochure/27312

How to Apply

Interested in going on a BreakAway? Go to the Study Abroad app on the SSO page and in the Explore Programs page, select the "Faculty/Teacher led" option in the Program Type filter. This will bring up all the BreakAways being offered. You can then click on the ones you are interested in to find out more about that BreakAway. You can look at the course information, travel itinerary, and cost. The Upcoming BreakAways page on Connect2 also has short descriptions with links at the end that take you directly to the Study Abroad portal and the information related to that BreakAway. Once you decide which one you are interested in, you can click the "Apply Now" button. After applying for a BreakAway, it will give you the option to select a second choice without completing a second application.

Three items that are required to complete a BreakAway application:

An application essay - this is your opportunity to tell the leaders why you are interested in this BreakAway - it can be an academic reason (relates well to your major), a professional reason, or a personal reason. Or a combination! In some cases, leaders have more applicants than they can take and they will use the essay to determine who to select for their program.
Proof of a passport or passport application (for international BreakAways) or of a valid state ID (for domestic BreakAways).
Conduct reference from Student Life - you need to list reslife@ic.edu. If you have had serious conduct issues, it could prevent you from being able to participate in a BreakAway program.

If you need to apply for a passport (or renew your passport - please renew if your passport will expire within six months of your travel dates), this is what you need to do:

(1) Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/apply-in-person.html

(2) If this is your first ever passport, you must apply in person and provide proof of citizenship, which is normally your birth certificate. Locally, the only place you can apply is at the Morgan County Courthouse in downtown Jacksonville during week day work hours.

Funding a BreakAway

Illinois College provides every student with a $1,000 grant (think of it like a "coupon"!) to use for one BreakAway trip because the College believes that these experiences are valuable for helping students gain a broader global perspective. To claim this "coupon", there is a box to select on the BreakAway application itself. You do NOT need to complete the funding application below to receive the BreakAway "coupon".

We understand that the remaining cost, which can range from $1,000 - $3,000 depending on the location and length of trip, is still a financial challenge. There is additional funding for students who demonstrate financial need (based on information from SFS). The Curry International BreakAway Award may cover the full cost of a BreakAway. All students who apply for additional funding will be considered for the Curry Award (only one student per year selected). Those not selected for the Curry award will be considered for up to $500 of additional aid based on either (1) financial need as verified by SFS or (2) 200-level language study if traveling to a destination where that language is studied. Students may apply for additional funding for a BreakAway using the link below. The application deadline is November 1st, which is the same deadline for BreakAway applications. You will be notified within a week of the deadline about the decision for additional funding, which will allow you to make a final decision on whether you can financially afford to commit to a BreakAway.

2025-26 Graduate READY Experiential Learning Funding Application

Please note the following when completing the application

(1) If you are taking a 200-level language class in a language that is spoken in one of the countries you are visiting, you may be able to receive a language stipend of up to $500. Make sure to check the box indicating this on the funding application.

(2) If you are applying for funding based on financial need, in your application essay, make sure to include the following

Explanation of financial need - state how much you need to make this experience possible and how you plan to pay the remaining cost. Do not expect to receive funds to cover the full cost of the BreakAway.

For both reasons (language study or financial need), you should explain why you think this particular BreakAway experience will complement your area of study or help you grow as an individual.

If you have any questions regarding the application or what to include in your essay, please contact us in the Office of Global Programming. We are here to assist you!

For Faculty- BreakAway Proposals and Policies

Mission and Overview

The BreakAway program is an academic program that "offers students the opportunity to explore the nation and the world through brief educational travel experiences" (IC Faculty, 14 October 2002).

Illinois College typically offers four-five BreakAways each year during academic breaks - semester break, spring break, or the start of summer break. BreakAways can be either domestic or international and range from one to three weeks in duration. Students receive 1-3 hours of academic credit, depending on the course content and length of the BreakAway.

Proposing a BreakAway

To propose a BreakAway for the subsequent academic year (August - July), faculty should complete the BreakAway Proposal form and submit it along with the materials listed below by March 15th.

an explanation of the specific learning objectives of the BreakAway proposed and how those will be assessed. Please also explain (with specific examples when possible) how this trip will fulfill each of the above stated overall learning objectives of the BreakAway Program; (see Section Four for additional information)
a description of the BreakAway, including a detailed timetable/itinerary (If applicable, indicate how many miles of walking, biking, etc. will be covered each day.)
details on the pre-travel course, including student assignments, such as readings, activities, papers, etc. (Note: If this BreakAway is approved, you will be asked to submit a syllabus.)

Decisions by the SABA committee will be announced by April 1st.

Please see the full BreakAway Policies document for additional information on Faculty Leaders Eligibility, Proposal Selection Criteria, Leader responsibilities and compensation, and other important considerations.