The Bonner Program: Overview

1. The Bonner Program:Overview “Access to Education, Opportunity to Serve” A program of: The Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation 10 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 924-6663 • (609) 683-4626 fax For more information, please visit our website at www.bonner.org

2. Bonner Foundation Mission Through sustained partnerships of colleges and congregations the Bonner Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and communities by helping meet the basic needs of nutrition and educational opportunity.

3. History • Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation • Incorporated in the late 1980s • Crisis Ministry Program • Supports Congregationally-affiliated hunger relief initiatives (approximately $650,000 per year) • Bonner Scholar Program • Piloted at Berea College in 1990-91 • Currently 1500 students on 27 campuses in 12 states • More than 3000 Bonner Scholar alumni • Bonner Leader Program • Piloted in mid-1990s in New Jersey • Currently 1000+ students on 45+ campuses

4. Facts at a Glance • Working with 68 colleges and universities in 20 states • Engaging 2,500 students through 27 Bonner Scholar and 41 Bonner Leader Programs • We’ve given $120 million to campus programs over the past 15 years • Each year, students are cumulatively providing 700,000 hours of service Tennessee Carson-Newman College Maryville College Rhodes College Tusculum College Virginia Appalachian School of Law Bluefield College Emory and Henry College Ferrum College Lynchburg College Southwest Virginia Community College University of Richmond Washington and Lee University Washington Central Washington University NW Learning & Achievement Group Whitworth College West Virginia Concord College West Virginia Wesleyan Wheeling Jesuit University Alaska University of Alaska, Anchorage California California State University Los Angeles Pepperdine University Saint Mary’s College of California Sonoma State University University of California Berkeley University of California Davis University of California Los Angeles University of California Santa Cruz University of Southern California Florida Jacksonville University Stetson University Georgia Berry College Morehouse College Spelman College Idaho Brigham Young University Idaho State University University of Idaho Indiana DePauw University Earlham College Kansas Washburn University Kentucky Berea College Centre College Lindsay Wilson College Union College University of Louisville Maryland Hood College Missouri College of the Ozarks North Carolina Davidson College Guilford College Lees McRae College Mars Hill College Pfeiffer University Warren Wilson College New Jersey Middlesex County College Rider University The College of New Jersey Ohio Antioch College Defiance College Oberlin College University of Dayton Oregon Portland State University Pennsylvania Allegheny College Dickinson College Juniata College Messiah College Waynesburg College West Chester University South Carolina Converse College Wofford College

5. Bonner Program 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.

6. The Common Commitments Civic Engagement:Participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service. International Perspective:Develop international understandingthat enables Bonner Scholars to participate successfully in a global society. 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. Diversity: Respect the many different dimensions of diversity in our public lives. Spiritual Exploration:Explore personal beliefs while respecting the spiritual practices of others.

7. Key Program Features • Team-based Program • Multi-year program with 10-100 Bonner Scholars/Leaders per campus (5-25 per class) • Coordinated by an on-campus director and coordinator • Partnered with site supervisors at each community agency • Community Outreach • 10 hour per week plus full-time summers (summer optional for BLP based on funding availability) • 80% Direct service, 20% Training and Enrichment • Students select where they want to serve • Students also serve as service project leaders • Student Development • Supported through regular training and enrichment activities • Increased expectations each year in the program

8. Financial Structure Bonner Scholar • 4 year model • 10 hrs/wk school year • 2-3 summer service internships • Bonner Foundation pays student stipend • Bonner Foundation supports other program costs (service trips, community fund, etc.) • Bonner Leader • 2-4 year model • 10 hrs/wk school year • maybe summer • Institutional work-study or scholarships pay for student stipends • Institution or grants supports other program costs (service trips, trainings, etc.) vs.

9. Bonner AmeriCorps Option • AmeriCorps Education Awards • 2 YR 900 hr term = $2,362.50 Ed Award • 1 YR 450 hr term = $1,250.00 Ed Award • 1 YR 300 hr term = $1,000.00 Ed. Award • Campus request slots from Bonner Foundation

10. Implementation Areas Community Impact Campus Infrastructure Student Development

11. Community Partnership Model

12. Comprehensive Placement Process • High quality community partnerships • Community Learning Agreement • Logging service & training hours • Reporting service accomplishments • End-of-Semester Student Reflections • One-on-one individual coaching by Bonner staff

13. Student Development Approach Our student development approach offers students a journey including opportunities to develop: • Experience • Skills • Values • Knowledge

14. A Comprehensive Program • Retreats & community building events • 10 hours of service weekly during the academic year (300 hour total) • At least one full-time summer of service • Intensive training and enrichment activities, including meetings • Consistent reflection • Advising and mentorship • Increasing levels of leadership and responsibility, in service and on campus • Integrating the Common Commitments

15. Supported by Sustained Activities Over Two to Four Years Each Year • Selection • Orientation • First Year Service Trip • Second Year Service Exchange • Recommitment Exercise • Junior Enrichment Project • Summer Service • Final (Senior) Presentation of Learning • Placement/ Community Learning Agreement (each semester) • Weekly to Monthly meetings by class • Monthly meetings with all Bonners • One-on-one interviews each semester • Reapply

16. Building in Skill Development

17. Pulling It Together: Developmental Roadmap (5 E’s) Expertise Academic linkages (Service-learning, CBR, minor, major & certificates) Example Experience Through Service (Developmental placements, learning through action) Exploration Co-Curricular Activities (Training & Enrichment, Reflection, and Advising) Expectation

18. Through Service: Increasing Leadership Expertise - specialist Culminating project or capstone; Academic connection; Future-focused Placements evolve to offer increasing complexity and responsibility Example - team leader/coordinator Continued development of focus; demonstrated knowledge and skill as project coordinator Possible third summer (abroad or career connection) Experience - regular volunteer Development of greater focus; commitment to one agency and type of placement; Exchange; Summer in a new area Exploration - occasional volunteer Exposure to the neighborhood, agencies, issue areas and types of placements; Service Trip; Summer in the hometown Expectation Prior experience in “service” including in one’s family

19. Through Co-Curricular: Intentional Skill Support Expertise Academic Research Career planning & vocation Evaluation Networking Public Speaking Skills for lifelong involvement Training and enrichment opportunities support students to develop skills Example Academic Connection Leading inquiry & reflection Personal and civic values Project coordination Resource development Experience Critical thinking Diversity awareness Group dynamics & communication Project planning Introduction to social issues/civics Exploration Community knowledge Personal exploration & reflection Setting goals Time management Expectation Introduction to Bonner Work ethic & professionalism

20. Through Academics: Knowledge and Analysis Expertise Enhancing the rigor of students’ knowledge development and learning Internships Capstones Example Coursework (varying orders): • As in “experience” level • International • Internships Experience Coursework (varying orders): • Poverty • Politics & policy • Issue related (education, arts, race, etc.) & service learning Exploration Lead-In Course Expectation

21. Foundation Resources • Networking • Bonner Program consortium of 70+ schools • 130+ Bonner Partner Organizations • Web/Print • 50+ Planned Co-curricular Training Modules • Handbooks & Implementation Guides • Meetings/Training • Director & Coordinators • Bonner Congress • Summer Leadership Institute • Bonner Web-Based Reporting System • Assessment • Collaborative Fundraising (AmeriCorps Ed Awards, FIPSE, etc.) • Foundation staff campus visits