Halftime - a program which BC students traditionally attend during their sophomore, junior, or senior year, gives students a chance to step away from campus to reflect on where they have been, where they are, and where they are going
Format
- Audience: Mostly sophomores, one program for seniors
- When: Halftime retreats run for 3 days (from Friday dinner until mid-day Sunday).
- Frequency: Five Halftime retreats offered in August (2 retreats), October, February and March.
- Approximate Number of Participants: 25-40 participants
- Focus of Retreat: Participants focus on the “3 Key Questions”: What brings me joy? What am I good at? & Who does the world need me to be? Participants turn their attention to themes related to the integration of academic, social, and spiritual aspects of their lives.
- Other Participants: 8 student leaders and 9 faculty/staff members attend each Halftime and are asked to help student leaders facilitate small group sessions and share very brief stories from their own vocational paths during the weekend.
Funding & Operations
The program is now fully funded by Boston College’s Center for Student Formation.
- External Support: Boston College originally received a grant from the Lilly Foundation.
- Operations: A typical Halftime costs approximately $15,000. This amount covers the use of the retreat center, meals and lodging, travel and operating costs for a group of 60 people for three full days.
- Other Roles: BC’s Center for Student Formation oversees the program. The full time Assistant Director for Student Formation and a part time (20 hours) graduate assistant coordinate all aspects of the Halftime retreats (though these positions are not dedicated to this program). These staff members work with the Director for Student Formation in the recruitment and training of 50 student leaders and 45 faculty & staff to produce the retreats.