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Bonner Orientation
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Guide to Planning Bonner Orientation
Effectively planning your Bonner Orientation creates an environment for new Bonner students to be welcomed and exposed to the critical components of the Bonner Program. It is good to keep the following things in mind when planning:
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Create an agenda.
- Keep in mind the basic needs (food, hygiene, and housing) of your Bonners, as you plan the Orientation.
- Reserve rooms, vans, and office site locations in a timely fashion.
- If your orientation is held before the semester starts, work with other campus departments for permission to arrive on campus early. Some campuses allow for new students to move directly into their residence halls for the year during Bonner Orientation.
- Schedule appointments for visits and ask outside presenters in a timely fashion.
- Involve upper-class students in planning and/or leading activities. Some campuses have upper-class students entirely responsible (with guidance as to content).
- During orientation, try to model effective practices that you will expect of Bonner students, such as starting and ending on time, avoiding situations where only one or a few people are doing all the talking, and modeling respect and active listening.
Orientation Components
Normally it is a good idea to provide background on how the program got started and significant events in the program’s development. Program history, traditions, and culture should be presented in a positive manner. The goal is to develop a sense of pride about the program’s past accomplishments and future possibilities. Well presented, a program history will reinforce the decision that joining the Bonner Program was a great choice.
Team and Community Building
- activities that provide new Bonners with an opportunity to meet each other, form relationships, celebrate involvement, have fun, etc…
Orientation is the time when new friendships are beginning and the spirit of the Bonner group emerges. During orientation you should begin to build a team of people who will support each other throughout their years as Bonner Scholars/Leaders. Any orientation activity that will help Bonners know each other better will strengthen this team, but given the focus of the Program, consider organizing a group service activity. Many campuses set aside an afternoon to work on a Habitat for Humanity project, plant flowers at a local nursing home, or paint a playground. Participating in service as a group will help Bonners understand that community service can be an individual activity and a group endeavor.
Find ways to help new students develop “ownership” of the program. With the Bonners, brainstorm specific goals and projects the group would like to accomplish. Set deadlines for these goals and discuss ways of evaluating progress. Let the students draw up their own calendar for the year’s activities. Together, write a Bonner “mission statement” for the year.
Orientation to the National Bonner Program and Network
Introduction to Bonner Program Guidelines
- How the Bonner scholarship award fits in their financial aid package and how the funds are allocated for the school year and summer service components
- Community Service requirements for the school year and summer
- Warnings, probation, and dismissal policies and procedures
- Rules of conduct
- Reporting procedures
- Governance structure
- BWBRS
Orientation and Introduction to your Campus Structure
Orientation to the College and Transition Support
Take time during orientation to familiarize the Bonners with your campus. The sooner they feel comfortable with their surroundings, the easier it will be for the Bonners to focus on the program.
Make sure the students know their campus backwards and forwards. Tour the school with the purpose of showing students where important places are, such as the civic engagement center, the financial aid office, student government office, the Dean of Students office, the Chaplain’s office, and the office of the Bonner Scholars Program.
Introduce the Bonners to all college administrators and faculty involved in the program. These meetings are important for the Bonners because they give the students a sense of the school’s support behind the program. The meetings are also beneficial for the staff, in enabling them to begin perceiving “Bonner Scholars/Leaders” as individual men and women. It is a good idea to hold a reception with the Bonners and the college President. Also meet with all staff members who served on the selection committee. Ask the financial aid officer to speak to the group and explain the details of financial aid, especially Bonner Scholar allocations.
One of the coordinator’s most important tasks, beginning in orientation and throughout a student's first year, is to help students become adjusted to their service work. Work to alleviate fears that students may have about not having enough time for both school work and the Bonner Scholars Program. Hold workshops, training, and discussions on time management and study skills. In addition, meet individually with each Bonner Scholar and assist them in developing a personal time schedule. Reviewing any academic and discipline requirements the college may have for participation in the program may also help dispel any unrealistic worries the students may have. Encourage the Bonners to openly discuss their concerns about meeting the academic challenges of college. Inform them now, before any problems occur, of the resources available on campus to help with academic, personal, and professional growth.
Orientation and Introduction to the Surrounding Communities
Much of the Bonner Scholars’ education will occur off-campus in the community surrounding the school. It is important that Bonners see themselves as citizens of this larger community, working together in service with its members. Before any person can work in service with a community, he or she must first come to know it — its people, geography, economy, politics, and most important, its needs.
You should provide students with background on the community. Start with a map, local papers, and the history of the town or city. Discuss with students the political issues important to the area. Tell them the name of the mayor. It is amazing how many college students live in a town for four years without knowing the name of their mayor. Suggest that the Bonner Scholars register to vote in their new community.
Take a tour: walk through the community immediately surrounding the college. Encourage the Bonner Scholars to explore the rest of the community on their own by bike or by foot.
Most importantly, educate the Bonners about the needs and assets of the community. On a map, plot the social service agencies, schools, soup kitchens where school service programs exist, the service sites where the Bonners will work. Visit service sites, and meet with agency representatives, staff, and volunteers with whom students will be working. Provide demographic facts: what is the senior citizen population, the population of children under the poverty level? Try not to forget that every town and city with needs also has gifts. Invite community members, such as government officials, the elementary school principal, or a life-long citizen, to speak to the Bonners about not only the community’s problems, but also its resources, talents, traditions, and folklore.
Personal and Cultural Awareness
- Activities that provide Bonners with a chance to consider their own and others’ identity and issues of class, age, race, ethnicity, and gender that may be important to functioning as a healthy, diverse community
An opportunity for Personal Reflection
- time to think about the commitment
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set personal goals
- reflect on aspirations
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