California university paying students $75 to avoid travel during spring break Published Mrak Hall, administrative center of UC Davis, Davis, California. Taken February 11, 2015. DAVIS, Calif. - The University of California, Davis is offering students $75 to be used for "staycations" to encourage them to avoid nonessential travel during spring break. Students who choose to stay home during the March 22-26 break will get the money in gift cards. Student response has been "awesome," the university said in statement. "The idea behind this was to provide a positive incentive for students to follow public health guidance," Sheri Atkinson, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, told the Los Angeles Times.