• Expectation - the phase before entering university
• Exploration - the first year (freshman year)
• Experience - the second year (sophomore year)
• Example - the third year (junior year)
• Expertise - the fourth year (senior year)

Common Commitments 

The Common Commitments represent the range of interests and passions of Bonner students. The Bonner program aims to provide students with opportunities to engage in these key areas, whether it be through service, academics, or experiential learning. The Bonners are committed to:

  Diversity - we respect and embrace the many dimensions of diversity

Social Justice - we advocate for fairness, impartiality, and equality while addressing systemic social and environmental issues

International Perspective - we develop international understanding that enables us to participate successfully in a global society

Civic Engagement - we participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service

Community Building - we establish and sustain a vibrant community of place, personal relationships, and common interests

Spiritual Exploration - we explore personal beliefs while respecting the spiritual beliefs of others  

Time Commitment

Students are asked to commit 10 hours each week to community service activities and 240 hours per summer (only 2 summers of service are mandatory). It is this intensity of the commitment, the four-year nature of the Bonner Program, and the large number of students involved on each campus that makes the program both distinctive and transformative.

Financial Matters

The Bonner Program’s mission is Access to Education, Opportunity to Serve. The scholarship serves students who have high financial need and a commitment to service. It is designed to heighten students’ overall education by affording these students an opportunity to engage in sustained community service work during their four years of undergraduate education. The program helps the students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make their service meaningful and lasting.

In order to maintain their scholarship, students are encouraged to serve while studying abroad or engage in a summer of international service.  This is why Bonners, if they choose to serve abroad, must still complete and report their ongoing service in order to receive continued support. Service is tracked in an online system with required hour logs. Hour logs will be addressed in the next section of this guide.