STUDENT DEVELOPMENTThe Bonner Model and What It Can Mean to You

One goal of the Bonner Program is to provide each student with the opportunity to grow and reach their

potential — developing the knowledge, skills, and habits to make a difference in communities during and after college.

Each program is expected to intentionally support students in their development — through meaningful service placements, training & enrichment activities, and reflection.

What can this mean for you? What issues are you passionate about and why?

EXPECTATIONStudents with an ethic to serve are selected.

EXPLOREStudents immerse in communities & learn from new experiences on and off campus.

EXPERIENCEStudents deepen their commitment & learning in service—and about social change.

EXAMPLEStudents become an example to others, leading in community settings

EXCELLENCEStudents engage at high levels, on and off campus, culminating their experience with a capstone.

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: IN SERVICEWhat Your Work in the Communities Can Look Like

Student development happens at the core in students’ service work — where they learn and do, applying their

talents in ways that benefit the community. Each student’s placement should evolve over time.

Share what your work at your site has looked like. What could it look like in the coming year (or two)? How could it be expanded or more challenging?

EXPECTATIONSelection or Freshman Orientation may include service.

EXPLOREStudents may participate in one-time or short-term projects, visit different sites, shadow veterans, and try things out.OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEER

EXPERIENCEStudents forge a regular position at a site, beginning to learn about the context and issues.REGULAR VOLUNTEER

EXAMPLEStudents lead teams of volunteers or coordinate projects.PROJECT/TEAM COORDINATOR

EXCELLENCEStudents do special projects, taking on more sophisticated roles that might involve advocacy, policy, planning.SPECIALIST

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: CORNERSTONESWhat your trips and projects can look like?

Student development should also be happening in Bonner Meetings, activities, and reflections. Cornerstone

activities are intentional opportunities for students to have ‘teachable moments‘ — before, during, and after these activities.

What can your Bonner class focus on this year? How can you initiate and carry out a project (or more than one) that will have an impact on you and the broader campus / community?

EXPECTATIONFaculty & partner involvement

EXPLOREFIRST YEAR TRIP: SERVE AS A CLASS IN A NEW CONTEXT

EXPERIENCESECOND YEAR EXCHANGE: PARTNER WITH ANOTHER BONNER PROGRAM WITH INTENTIONAL LEARNING

EXAMPLEJUNIOR YEAR LEADERSHIP: PLAN AND LEAD A PROJECT THAT BUILDS ON FIRST TWO YEARS (INTERNATIONAL TRIP, CAMPUS-WIDE)

EXCELLENCEDO A CAPSTONE-LEVEL PROJECT AND PREPARE A SENIOR PRESENTATION THAT CAPTURES YOUR DEVELOPMENT & JOURNEY

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: TRAININGWhat your meetings and reflections can look like?

Student development should also be happening through planned trainings,

courses, and other opportunities to learn the skills and knowledge you need to be most effective.

What skills and knowledge do you need to be most effective? Map what you have learned and what you’d like to learn or enhance?

EXPLORESKILLS:

KNOWLEDGE:

EXPERIENCESKILLS:

KNOWLEDGE:

EXAMPLESKILLS:

KNOWLEDGE:

EXCELLENCESKILLS:

KNOWLEDGE:

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT: ROADMAPHow can you map these skills and knowledge areas into your program?

KNOWLEDGE

Place-based KnowledgeIssue-based KnowledgePovertyPublic Policy/PoliticsLocal to global

COMMON COMMITMENTSDiversity

Social Justice

International Perspective

Civic Engagement

Community Building

Spiritual Exploration

PERSONAL SKILLS

Active listeningBalanceCommunicationDecision MakingPlanningReflectionTime managementSetting goals

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

DelegationDiversityFacilitation/MediationHandling conflictsPublic speakingRunning meetingsTeamworkVolunteer management

PROFESSIONAL SKILLSBudgetingEvaluationEvent planningFundraisingGrant writingMarketing/public relationsNetworkingPublic education/advocacyResearch

Your Roadmap: please discuss with Bonner staff and peers.

YOUR PROFILE: • Name• Background• Most important qualities

YOUR PASSIONS: • What are they?• How do they connect to service or the community?• How do they connect to college or your studies?

YOUR SERVICE:• Imagine your role over the next 1-2 years...sketch it out. Discuss this with others (how you might translate

that to your placement.)

YOUR DEVELOPMENT:• What abilities or skills do you want to most graduate having developed and applied? Sketch out a few skills and knowledge areas.

Your Bonner Program’s Expectations:

GIVEN THE BIGGER IDEA, WHAT SHOULD BE THE CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR ANY STUDENT IN THE PROGRAM?• Beyond hours...

ACCOUNTABILITY: • What should be the characteristics of an accountability plan? Letʼs sketch it out.

STUDENT’S ROLES:• How can and should peers be involved in the accountability plan?

CONSTITUTION/COVENANT:• Your ideas about a document or written expectations?• Your ideas about next steps with a process?