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Bonner Senior Interns

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Goals and Purpose Discernment 

The Bonner Senior Intern is the highest culminating leadership role for students in a Bonner Program and is typically occupied by a senior in your Bonner Program.

The role of the Senior Intern is to assist in the program management of a campus’ Bonner Program. They have a demonstrated a deep commitment to the Bonner Program and an interest in its programming. Helping lead and manage the Bonner Program is the student’s main site. While many Bonner Programs have one senior intern, many others have incorporated two or even three given the number of Bonner students they support. You can have multiple senior interns that can serve specific roles or a small number with a multitude of roles. Regardless, it is important to take into consideration the size of your program relative to the number of student interns. The Bonner Foundation encourages one intern per fifteen students. Campuses often hire their senior intern as a summer intern prior to assuming the role in the Fall. 

Considering the Purpose of the Bonner Senior Intern Role

It is important to discern for your program and its vision, what tasks and projects would be the most beneficial for your intern to complete throughout the year. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the strengths and goals of the student leader as you begin to establish this important student leadership role. Below are questions that are important to reflect on continuously:

• Where do you need the most programmatic and administrative support? What could you delegate?
• Where is student voice missing in your programming?
• What campus wide goals could this student be of value in furthering?
• What are the strengths and talents of this student (and how might s/he grow)?
• How are you taking into consideration the diversity of your student leadership?

Considering the Structure of the Senior Intern Role

The structure is the next step after determining the purpose of the senior intern role. What standards, guidelines, and processes must be established to foster sustainability and address contingencies?

• Recommended: 1 intern per 15 students
• Serves as Bonner Placement (8-10 hours per week)
• 1 year position/internship
• Some schools hire their senior interns on as summer interns prior to the beginning of their term
• Suggested for seniors (could also apply to juniors)
• Culminating leadership role meant for past:
• Congress Representatives
• BLT members 
• Can still serve in service placement

Considering the Roles and Responsibilities of the Senior Intern Role

After determining the purpose and structure of your senior intern position, the next task is to establish the actionable steps that your student leader will complete throughout the year in order to fulfill the vision. Below are examples of senior intern responsibilities:

• Work with Academic Connections
• Help organize and facilitate new Bonner Orientation
• Recruitment of new Bonner students 
• Help to collect Community Learning Agreements 
• Track and manage hours/ BWBRS
• Aid in disciplinary processes
• Foster strong relationships with Congress and Congress Representatives
• Reach out to the Bonner Network regularly
• Facilitate and supervise meetings
• Delegate tasks fairly amongst Bonner participants
• Manage Bonner events 
• Foster good relationship with the Foundation
• Foster good relationships with your Community Partners
• Help manage community partnerships and service placements for Bonners (I.e.: make site visits, manage communication with partners, manage  project coordinators)

Bonner Senior Oath

 I pledge to do my best to lead and serve my peers in the Bonner Program. I promise to inspire my peers to commit to their service and the Bonner Program. I will educate and empower my fellow Bonners to be the change. I, a Bonner Intern, understand that my role is significant not only to my peers, but to the entire program. 

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