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8 Bonner Cornerstone Activities for Cohorts

The document outlines the Bonner Program's activities and structure, including orientation, first-year trips, second-year exchanges, capstone projects, and one-on-one mentoring. It emphasizes community building, personal exploration, and academic integration, with specific examples from various colleges. Additionally, it provides a framework for program assessments and improvements, aimed at enhancing students' service and leadership skills throughout their college experience.

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Bonner Cornerstones Activities
What We’ll Cover • Orientation (30) • First Year Trip (20) • Second Year Exchange (5) • Capstone Projects & Presentations of Learning (20) • Advising: One on-One Meetings (5)
Orientation
Sense of place - campus and community Personal Exploration Bonner Program Expectations Inspiration Sense of Bonner Community Sets foundation for success by building community among students and staff Orientation
Welcoming and support-building Establish the Spirit of your Program & the National Network Requirements, Processes, Rules Confirm decision of being a Bonner, set personal aspirations and identity Locations, demographics, Community Partners and their missions Essential (Bonner) campus knowledge Community Building Bonner Program: the Big Picture Bonner Program: Goals & Expectations Getting to Know: Yourself Getting to Know: the Community Getting to Know: the College Orientation Agenda
Community Building • Maryville College - Meal times (virtual breakfast), Bowling Night • Berry College - Icebreakers, Meal Teams, Game Night, Pool Party • Siena College - Icebreakers & Various Social Activities • University of Rutgers @ Camden - Cards Promoting Humanity (tailored to their Bonner Program and Campus), Get-To-Know- YouWelcome Activities (Find Someone and Preferences game)
Bonner Program: Big-Picture & Expectations • Maryville College - Logistics, Handbook and Rules, BWBRS training • Berry College - Program Overview with Reflection and creative activity around the Common Commitments • Siena College - “Program Time” Sessions for different levels • Show the History Video on www.bonner.org
Get to Know: The College & Community • University of Rutgers - Camden - Annual Review of Service Partners • Maryville College - Bike Tour of Community, Service Projects • Berry College - Town Scavenger Hunt, Campus Tour, Community Partners Tour & Brunch • Siena College - Service Projects, free-time around the town • TCNJ - Tour of Trenton (use Google) and Service Partners, Professor McGreevey Lecture on Trenton - Changes in the Urban Centers and Effects of Suburbanization
Get to Know: Yourself & Others • University of Rutgers - Camden - “What’s Your Passion?,” and Goal-Setting Activity • Maryville College - Leadership Compass • Berry College - River Stories / Identity Circles, Personal Reflection activities • Siena College - Reflection Sessions, other training workshops
Training Modules • Review Program History and Structure • Introduce History of Town/City Serving • Tour Town/City • Community Asset Mapping • River Stories • Identity Circles • Vulnerability and Leadership • Leadership Compass • Introduction to Communication & Active Listening • Conflict Resolution • Service Based Reflection • Exploring Diversity - Step to the Line • Time Management • Project Management • Bonner 101 and BWBRS 101 • Alumni Panel
Online Orientation • Slides • Games • Activities • Facilitation Guides • All of which you can use in online formats!
• Established Programs: What does your program currently do? What are the strengths and challenges? What are some ways to improve the experience? • New or Exploring Programs: What ideas do you have? What are potential challenges and ways to overcome? What are realistic strategies for year one? Small Group Discussion
First Year Trip
First Year Trip • 2-7 day cohort experience for fresh and new Bonners or done remotely • Pick a distinctive place • Delve into place or an issue - like poverty or immigration 33% 17% 17% 17% 17% Service or Action (i.e., Research) Culture & History Community and Team Building Education, Reflection & Discussion with Community Experts Engage Developmentally with New Organizations & Issues
Examples • Emory & Henry in rural Virginia visited New York City to learn about poverty in both rural and urban contexts. • Rider in New Jersey visited Boston and served with City Year Corps Members, and met with other campuses and nonprofits • Maryville in Tennessee connected with course on Civil Rights Movement and visited with organizations in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Southern Georgia.
• Established Programs: What does your program currently do? What are the strengths and challenges? What are some ways to improve the experience? • New or Exploring Programs: What ideas do you have? What are potential challenges and ways to overcome? What are realistic strategies for year one? Small Group Discussion
Second Year Exchange
Second Year Exchange • Cohort experience for sophomores that exposes them to national movement • Pair up with 1 or more other Bonner Programs or other schools • Delve deeper into an issue - integrate activism and advocacy • Can be a conference (in person or remote)
Rollins, Stetson, University of Tampa Students participating in “The Privilege Walk” activity The Everglades Discussion: Environmental Sustainability The Everglades
• Established Programs: What does your program currently do? What are the strengths and challenges? What are some ways to improve the experience? • New or Exploring Programs: What ideas do you have? What are potential challenges and ways to overcome? What are realistic strategies for year one? Small Group Discussion
Capstone Projects Capacity-Building & Social Action
Junior/Senior Year • Bonner Capstones engage students in an individual or team project • It has a clearly defined community purpose for a partner or constituency (involving an advisor). • It allows the student to integrate academic and experiential learning. • It involves a staff or faculty mentor (who can provide structure, help, feedback, and support. This may or may not involve credit).
Presentation of Learning
Senior Presentations of Learning • An integration reflection across four years of experience • An inspiring presentation to one’s cohort, campus, and community • A high-impact practice in which a student articulates her or his journey and learning • Can be linked with assessment
First Year Written Reflections • Identity and place: Let’s talk about experiences in service in which you learned about place and thought about your identity and the identities of others different from your own. What have you learned? • Recognizing Solutions: Let’s talk about issues you have begun to find a passion for addressing. What strategies and solutions have you learned? What courses and other college experiences have meshed with these interests?
Fourth Year Written Reflections • Leaving a legacy: Let’s talk about the evolution of your work in service and community engagement. What are the most meaningful contributions and impacts you believe you’ve helped to make? How will or has your capstone project allowed you to integrate your identity, learning, service, and long-term interests? • Civically-engaged Lives: As you reflect on your whole Bonner experience, what impact do you think it has had on you? How has the experience clarified or shaped your own personal values or aspirations? What are your hopes for how you carry forward this learning after graduation?
• University of Richmond's POL occurs over four separate nights in late March and early April, each night having a social issue focus so that concepts raised and discussed align. • Wofford College hosts a POL Banquet Program for their seniors-profiling each graduating Bonner • The University of the South - Sewanee requires seniors to create and develop a Digital Story for their Senior Presentation of Learning. Senior Presentation of Learning
• Established Programs: What does your program currently do? What are the strengths and challenges? What are some ways to improve the experience? • New or Exploring Programs: What ideas do you have? What are potential challenges and ways to overcome? What are realistic strategies for year one? Small Group Discussion
One-on-One Meetings
One-on-One Meetings • Chance to discuss the student’s service placement, goals and objectives, academics, personal development, and reflection • Allow Bonner staff to support students on a personal level that matches the student’s stage of development • Opportunity to become aware of concerns or issues • Opportunity to show gratitude for a students' place and contributions to the program
Why One-on-One meeting? • Build trust and respect with students • A personal experience for each student • Emphasize importance of service and accountability • Recognize good work privately (and publicly) • Get to know students and support their growth • Help students integrate learning across Bonner and college experiences
One-on-One Benchmarks • Meeting is benchmark within a program • Programs have at least two formal one- on-one meetings with students annually (per semester) • Consider documentation and tracking • Prepare with a knowledge of the available campus resources (mental health, academic support, etc.)
Common Challenges & Strategies • To prepare, have straightforward plan or form • Students can discuss 1) service performance, 2) program participation, 3) training and learning, 4) participation in campus community • May want to schedule one-on-one meetings over two weeks or more • Expand circle of mentors • Involve relevant campus staff/faculty to help meet with the Bonner students • Chaplain, Career Development staff, Student Life staff, DEI staff, faculty members, and others
• Established Programs: What does your program currently do? What are the strengths and challenges? What are some ways to improve the experience? • New or Exploring Programs: What ideas do you have? What are potential challenges and ways to overcome? What are realistic strategies for year one? Small Group Discussion
What questions do you have? To Do Checklist in Handbook