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Bonner Student Impact Survey
Overview | Guides | Campus Examples | Documents to Download
Published Articles (Peer Reviewed Journals) about the Bonner Program
The results of the various surveys are found below. The following papers and power point presentation represent the findings of Cheryl Keen, Senior Research Fellow for the Bonner Foundation, and Kelly Hall, Director of Planning, Research, and Grants, Clark State Community College after reviewing these Bonner Surveys.
Articles & Presentations
Student Impact Survey and Other Reports
In 1998 the Bonner Foundation embarked on the process of designing and implementing annual student surveys to gather information from Bonner Scholar Program students about their experiences and learning. A few years later, the Foundation worked with outside consultants and redesigned the survey, which is now referred to as the Student Impact Survey. The Student Impact Survey is given to first year and senior students across the Foundation’s national network of 65 institutions every spring to examine Bonner students' experiences with the program, and their perspectives on community engagement, community partnerships, civic identity, diversity, academic integration etc. Some campuses have used the content of these documents to devise their own annual surveys. If you plan to do so, we encourage you to contact the Bonner Foundation.
Findings from 2020
In Summer 2021, the Foundation used survey data from the 2020 Student Impact Survey and interviews with recent graduates who completed capstone projects to inform two research briefs.
- Research Brief 1 - Capstone Projects: How to Use Capstone Projects to Increase Student Success
- This research brief is intended to help programs and staff members across the network better understand how to use capstone projects to increase student success. From interviews with students, the Foundation research team showcased how sustainable, relationship focused, and student growth oriented projects contribute to meaningful capstone experiences that build capacity at the community partner level and enhance student success.
- Research Brief 2 - Bonner Program: A Framework for Student, Community, and Institutional Success
- This research brief highlights the ways that Bonner serves as a framework for student, community, and institutional success. Through the Student Impact Survey and interviews with recent graduates, the Foundation was able to bring in both quantitative and qualitative data on the impact Bonner has on student’s awareness of a social issue, practical or leadership skills, personal growth, and relationships, and how a four-year co-curricular model of engagement has the potential to transform students, communities, and institutions.
Findings from 2018-2020
Through 2017-2018, the Bonner Foundation developed, piloted, tested, and refined a new Student Impact Survey. In Spring 2019, first year and senior students across the national network participated in the survey. In February 2020, the Bonner Foundation released a new report:
Findings from 2018 Pilot Study on Student Success
In 2018, the Foundation conducted a pilot study to examine the effects of participation in the Bonner Program on students’ term-based Grade Point Average (GPA), degree GPA, credit hours, retention, time to degree, and degree completion. We involved seven institutions with established Bonner Scholar and Leader Programs who were willing to provide seven years of institution-wide data. Our aim was to examine if there were any differences in these key progression outcomes between students involved in the Bonner Program and peers who did not participate in the program. Through this small-scale study, we found that participation in the Bonner Program contributed to positive impacts on students’ persistence, retention, completion, and even GPA. Click on the link below to view the report:
Findings from 2018-2020
Incoming Student Survey
This survey sought to clarify the profiles of incoming students on each campus, including demographics, past service experience, intended developmental areas, and the outlook and expectations of students. It is a helpful survey for creating a baseline about students at the beginning of the program.
Midpoint Impact Survey
The Midpoint Survey gauges impact of the first two years of Bonner participation, including the summer of service experience, while yielding a view of the program from those who are in the midst of their Bonner involvement.
Graduating Senior Student Impact Survey
Gathers data on the full four-year impact of the program. This survey focuses both on impact and introduces questions regarding outlook and plans beyond college.
Bonner Alumni Survey
The Bonner Alumni Survey evolved from a series of focus groups with alumni aimed at generating a set of survey questions grounded in alumni experience. The survey is available on this website.
- Alumni Survey
- In 2010, 3304 Bonner alumni from 1990-2009 were surveyed to understand more about the influence of their Bonner experiences on their civic engagement and a whole host of questions. Drs. Julie Hatcher and Cheryl Keen designed the survey. We received responses from 1066 alumni, or 32%. Professor Dan Richard of North Florida University and his graduate research methods class has been analyzing the results and have arrived at some firm conclusions.
- In the summer of 2010 a preliminary report and fuller report was made based on an alumni survey of the classes from 1990-2010.