Introduction To Bonner
- 1. Introduction to Bonner “Access to Education, Opportunity to Serve”
- 2. The Bonner Foundation: Facts Founded by: Corella and Bertrum F. Bonner Foundation Source of Wealth: Real Estate, Construction, and Investments Located: Princeton, New Jersey Established: 1989 Foundation Focus: Anti-Poverty Major Program Focus: Bonner Scholar Program, Bonner Leader Program and Local Anti-Hunger Initiatives Total amount of funds committed to Higher Education: $200 M Foundation Motto: Access To Education, Opportunity to Serve Number of Bonner Scholars and Leaders Annually: 2,500 Alumni of the Bonner Program: 10,000+
- 3. The Bonner Program: Integrated Approach Access to Education Create a culture of service Change the count
- 4. The Bonner Program: Reinforcing Goals Students To afford college students an opportunity to use their energy, talents, and leadership skills to engage in community service while providing developmental and financial support. Campus To challenge and strengthen a “culture of service” in which the school’s teaching, research, and service mission are integrated and every student, faculty, and staff is encouraged to serve. Community To facilitate greater cooperation and communication between the campus and the community by channeling the energies and talents of college students faculty, and staff to help address the challenges and opportunities of a local community. Higher Education To form a consortium of diverse higher education institutions sharing a common commitment to service and to serve as a successful model to other institutions which are interested in starting service-based scholarship programs.
- 5. The Bonner Program: Six Common Commitments Diversity: Respect the many different dimensions of diversity in our public lives. Civic Engagement: Participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service. Community Building: Establish and sustain a vibrant community of place, personal relationships and common interests. Social Justice: Advocate for fairness, impartiality and equality while addressing systemic social and environmental issues. International Perspective: Develop international understanding that enables Bonners to participate successfully in a global society. Spiritual Exploration: Explore personal beliefs while respecting the spiritual practices of others.
- 6. The Bonner Program: The Five E’s Student Development Model Expertise: Integrate service passions with academic endeavor & career exploration (team leader/ specialist) Example: Serve as project leader at local agencies and recruit & train new volunteers (project coordinator) Experience: focus placement on a particular issue and/or organization (regular volunteer) Exploration: orientation, multiple service sites, immersion experiences (occasional volunteer) Expectation: students are selected, prepared, and filled with expectation.
- 7. Student Development & Training: Training and Skill Development Personal Skills Leadership Skills Professional Skills Active listening Balance/boundaries Communication Decision making Organization Planning Reflection/Time management Goal setting Conflict resolution Delegation Planning Public speaking Running a meeting Teamwork Working with diverse groups Budgeting Evaluation/research Event planning Fundraising Grant writing Marketing / public relations Mediation Networking Public education / advocacy Volunteer management
- 8. Cornerstone Activities Each class will have a unique activity in which they will help plan and decide! Freshman: First Year Trip Sophomores: Sophomore Exchange Juniors: Junior Leadership Seniors: Senior Presentations of Learning
- 9. Student Development: First Year Trip The Basics: Full immersion—service, culture, learning—for the class of students in a new place and context Build around deeper themes (e.g., poverty, global) that also connect to home context Have the key elements planned in advance—housing, service project, transportation, reflection, intentional learning Tips: Involve students in pre-trip learning and planning Teamwork, community building, and resolving conflicts are a part of an effective trip Connect service with policy or broader analysis Use resources: Bonner Partners (found online) can be actively involved Co-Curricular Implementation guide—section on Trip In Good Form samples Recipe for Change
- 10. Student Development: Second Year Exchange The Basics: Team up with one or more campuses and design full immersion—service, learning, analysis—building on First Year Trip Spark students’ knowledge and interest in the student service movement Learn unique and best elements about each other’s campus and Bonner Program Tips: Involve Congress or student leaders in planning Can be a sophomore class project Design activities that emphasize cross-campus and big vision learning Use resources: Second Year Exchange Guide, under Useful Documents (online) In Good Form samples All Bonner Service Event option (at SLI)
- 11. Student Development: Third-Year Leadership The Basics: Third-year students need structured options for leadership—project coordinator roles, Congress, Student Leadership Team Juniors can design and implement a campus-wide project (through class meetings) Third-year should communicate higher expectations for students’ skills and leadership Tips: Third-years can play many roles in mentoring and leading peers Take advantage of national networking opportunities (conferences, Congress) See Wiki for examples of leadership opportunities: WidenerPSC Wiki Use resources: Utilize available funding, like Jr/Sr Leadership Fund or innovation grants Project Coordinator guide Congress webpages, Facebook, Student Best Practices
- 12. Student Development: Senior Presentation of Learning The Basics: Seniors create innovative presentations that represent their internalization of the Bonner experience Structured guidelines encourage students to articulate their service and developmental journey Presentations generate inspiration and energy for other Bonners, community, and campus Tips: Build planning into Senior Class Meetings or even a Retreat Build delivery into Awards Ceremony and campus-wide programming Integrate family and partners Use resources: Guidelines and modules in Vocation Implementation Guide In Good Form examples Student Essays and other reflections