These slides were developed to accompany the Bonner Recruitment and Selection Webinar, which provided effective strategies to recruit and select a committed, diverse, and representative cohort of Bonner students. Created by Samantha Ha, Program Associate at the Bonner Foundation. The Webinar took place on January 24, 2018.

1. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION
SENIOR INTERN WEBINAR SERIES

2. INTRODUCTIONS
• NAME
• WHY IS THIS WEBINAR TOPIC
RELEVANT TO YOU?

3. GOALS AGENDA
Participant Takeaways:
Strategies and
techniques to recruit a
diverse, committed, and
representative cohort of
Bonners
Template materials to
adapt for Bonner
applications and
interviews
1. Selection Criteria
2. Recruitment
Strategies
3. Application and
Interview Process
4. Resources and
Template Material
5. Upcoming Webinars

4. SELECTION
CRITERIA

5. COMMUNITY SERVICE
REQUIREMENTS
• Demonstrates an ethic of service and willingness
to serve
• Held a role with significant responsibility at home,
in church, at school, or in the community

6. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
• Bonner Scholar Programs
• At least 85% of the incoming class must have
parental contribution below $10,000
• No more than 15% of the incoming class may
have a parental contribution above $10,000
• Bonner Leader Programs
• At least 75% of the incoming class must qualify
for Federal Work Study

7. DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
• Achieve gender balance that exists at the
institution
• Seek to increase ethnic or racial diversity of the
incoming class as compared to the institution as a
whole

8. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
• Meet academic admissions requirements of the
institution
• No standard GPA requirement; up to each Bonner
program’s discretion
• Demonstrate commitment to bridging academics
and service

9. EFFECTIVE
RECRUITMENT
STRATEGIES

10. PARTNER WITH ADMISSIONS
• First line of recruitment
• At least yearly presentation with Admissions team
• Describes the Bonner Program, its model, financial
benefits, leadership and service opportunities,
community building
• Be a part of Admissions events - open houses,
accepted students day
• Collect and share stories
• Tap into the application data collection

11. PARTNER WITH FINANCIAL AID
• At least a yearly check-in with Financial Aid
• Financial Aid staff key plays in determining financial eligibility
of incoming students
• Assist also in identifying candidates if a spot opens up in the
middle of the year
• Communicate financial aid benefits and package for Bonners
• Ensures that scholarship funds are credited to Bonners’
accounts on campus

12. ACTIVE RECRUITMENT
• Local high schools
• After-school programs
• College access programs
• Organizations that target first-generation college
students
• Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Appeal to parents - Resource centers

13. LEVERAGE THE TALENT OF
CURRENT BONNERS
• Bonners can each be tasked with going to their old
high school, church, community organizations, or
service groups
• Outreach at community organizations where they
serve
• Host prospective applicants on campus

14. ENSURE ACCURATE MARKETING
• Campus website, mailed out materials,
advertisements, videos, etc.
• Clearly defined benefits and expectations
• Visually appealing
• Representative of the students
• Easily found: Is it under both “Civic Engagement”
and “Financial Aid”?

20. RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES
Students with
High Financial
Need
Recruiting Male
Students
Recruiting
Minority Students
• High need
students may
not think they
can attend
Bonner
schools
• Unaware of
Bonner
program
• Careful
presentation
of program
• Asking male
Bonner
students to be
a part of
outreach and
recruitment
• Representative
recruiting
materials
• Intentional
outreach to
minority churches,
schools, and orgs
in the community
• Collaborate with
Office of
Multicultural
Affairs

21. APPLICATION
AND
INTERVIEW
PROCESS

22. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION
COMMITTEE
• Bonner staff
• Bonner students
• Community partners
• Campus staff
• Faculty
• Alumni

23. SAMPLE TIMELINE
Outreach/
Publish
application
deadlines
Send
electronic
solicitation
after FAFSA
deadline
(usually 2/1)
Use a late
application
deadline
Respond
quickly after
the
deadline to
notify of
interviews
Mail
notification
of award
Fall/Jan Feb
Early
March
Late
March
Early
April

24. BONNER APPLICATIONS
• Application accessibility: electronic submission & downloadable
file
• Five components:
• Information about the Bonner Program
• Applicant’s Personal Information
• Short Answer Questions
• Letters of Recommendation
• Analysis

25. BONNER APPLICATION
ROADMAP Link to Roadmap

30. BONNER INTERVIEWS
• Often on-campus interviews, though Skype interviews are
also common
• On-campus interview components
• Bonner/Community Partner/Campus Information Session
• Personal interview
• Financial aid session for parents
• Group process
• Interaction with Bonners

31. PERSONAL INTERVIEW
Questions generally fall within nine themes:
• Bonner Program Fit
• Relationship Building / Teamwork
• Social Justice / Public Policy
• Time Management
• Willingness to Work with Diverse Individuals
• Leadership
• Personal Reflection / Open-Minded to Growth
• Ethic of Service
• Commitment to Campus

32. BONNER INTERVIEW DATABASE
TOOL Link to Database Tool

33. FINANCIAL AID SESSION
• Include staff from financial aid office if possible (to field other
questions beyond Bonner)
• Explain “Meeting Total Educational Need” (Bonner Scholar)
• Bonner Scholarship
• Subsidized Loan Caps (generally $5,000/year)
• Education Award ($2000 at the end of four years)
• Expected Family Contribution (FAFSA)
• Summer Earnings/Lodging
• Explain Scholarship, Federal Work Study, or AmeriCorps (Bonner
Leader)

34. OPTIONAL GROUP PROCESS
• Four corners activity
• Scenario-Based Discussion
• Challenges that Bonners face (e.g. disrespectful
volunteer at your site, unprofessional language)
• Crafting an Ideas to Action Project
• Interactive discussion based on an article or TedTalk

35. INTERACTION WITH BONNERS
• Social, informal hang out time with current Bonners
• Lunch
• In-between other interview day activities
• Overnight hosts
• Campus tour
• Service shadowing

36. RESOURCES
AND
TEMPLATE
MATERIALS

37. BONNER WIKI
Link to Recruitment & Selection Wiki Page

38. BONNER APPLICATION
ROADMAP Link to Roadmap

39. BONNER INTERVIEW DATABASE
TOOL Link to Database Tool

40. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION
WORKSHEET
Link to Recruitment and Selection Worksheets

41. UPCOMING
WEBINARS

42. UPCOMING WEBINARS
September
2017
October
2017
January
2018
February
2018
Starting
Strong:
Senior Intern
Role and
Resources
Running
Effective
Meetings
Bonner
Recruitment
& Selection
What’s Next:
Post Bonner
Careers
Link to Webinars page

43. QUESTIONS?
SAM HA,
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
SAM@BONNER.ORG
609-924-6663