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The College of New Jersey

Page history last edited by Madeline Bell 9 years, 10 months ago

CAMPUS NAME AND ADDRESS


The College of New Jersey |  2000 Pennington Road  |  Ewing, NJ 08628-0718  |   www.tcnj.edu

 

CAMPUS AT A GLANCE (brief description)


The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ is currently ranked one of the 75 “Most Competitive” schools in the nation by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the #1 Public Institution and Fourth Overall School in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report. TCNJ was also awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 2006 – an honor shared by less than 10% of colleges and universities nationally. Finally, TCNJ was named as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review.

 

 

KEY FACTS


Location: TCNJ is located in Ewing and adjacent to Trenton, the state capital. It is also approximately one hour away from Philadelphia, New York and the Jersey Shore. It is also 15 minutes away from the Bonner Foundation in Princeton.

 

Enrollment: 6,200 Students

 

Other Interesting Facts:  Former TCNJ and NBA Player, Greg Grant, is a Bonner partner.  Greg runs the Academic Sports Academy in Trenton. Three of the Bonner Center's employees are Bonner Scholar alumni and three alumni are now working for our community partners.

 

 

BONNER PROGRAM AT A GLANCE


Name of Campus-Wide Center: The Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement

Relevant website: http://bonner.pages.tcnj.edu

 

Type of Program: Bonner Community Scholars and Community Engaged Learning Initiatives

Year Started: 2004

Bonner Program website: Same as above

 

Number of Bonner Community Scholars: 96

Number of Bonners Community Scholars in NJBLP/AmeriCorps positions: 2 Full Time Members; 15 New Jersey Minimum time Members; 38 National Education Award Members

Active in Learn & Serve CBR: No

Active in FIPSE Civic Ed Certficate/Minor:  No

 

 

KEY CONTACTS


President: Barbara Gitenstein

 

Staff

  • Patrick Donohue, Assistant Provost for Community Engaged Learning & Partnerships
  • Paula Figueroa-Vega – Director
  • Amy Loprinzi – Senior Coordinator of Finance & Business Services
  • Heather Camp – Senior Program Director 
  • Brittany Aydelotte – Senior Program Coordinator
  • Madeline Bell – Program Coordinator
  • Karina Lopez – Program Coordinator
  • Michael Nordquist - Program Coordinator 
  • Natasha Perez – Program Coordinator
  • Ryan Pilarski, Program Assistant, FT AmeriCorps Member
  • Ryan Dawson, Program Assistant, FT AmeriCorps Member  

 

Bonner Congress Representatives:

  • Jack Baldwin

 

MORE ABOUT US (our partners, trips, structure, best or unique practices)


Bonners at TCNJ are organized into 17 site-based teams that cover a range of topics--including urban education, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, the environment, hunger, child welfare, homelessness and youth development. These teams provide the infrastructure for the Bonners to not only transform themselves and their partner organizations through service--but also the larger campus community. Each year, for example, Bonners mobilize all 1,400 first year students who must satisfy their civic engagement graduation requirement.

 

The Bonner Scholars mobilize the First Year students via a co-curricular and curricular track. It begins in August when Bonners organize 25 floor meetings with students in the co-curricular track. Through a democratic process, each floor is divided into three issue-focused teams (e.g. hunger) and connected to a date during the academic year. On that date, the relevant Bonner team (e.g. Trenton Area Soup Kitchen) guides the students via a day of learning-serving-and reflecting. They also look for regular "B Vols," students who will come a few hours a week or month consistently.

 

Rising Senior Bonner interns work over the summer with the staff to organize the curricular track and projects. This summer, for example, they are helping to shape projects for nearly 40 first year seminar courses. To view a list of current Freshman Seminar Program courses, click here. The majority of these projects will benefit the Bonner Scholar Team sites. Upper level Bonners from those teams or a small group of Senior Interns will "staff" those projects during the fall; working closely with the faculty member to execute the original plan, help guide and supervise the students in the field, and respond to unexpected challenges or opportunities.

 

This First Year Community Engaged Learning project and work supplements the weekly service activities that the Bonners complete throughout the year. These activities are captured in Site Plans that are developed with community partners in August. They capture the major goals and objectives of the team as well as clarify its leadership or management structure. Each team is co-led by a Student and Community Leader--but a staff member acts as the Site Manager, who provides assistance and direction as needed.  He or she also acts as the one-on-one advisor for the students on his or her team.

 

In addition, TCNJ Bonners are involved in supporting three additional capacity building and community education projects on a regular basis. Each team typically works on an issue brief that responds to a question posed by their community partner.  In addition, a few teams organize a Critical Issue Forum. In the past, forums have focused on genocide in the Sudan, the urban-suburban achievement gap, homelessness, hunger and immigration. Finally, Bonners help shape and manage upper level community engaged learning classes (e.g. Cost Accounting)--as part of the "CEL 2" Imitative.

 

Finally, Scholars now participate in two to four trips each year to provide them with a national and international perspective. For years, they have worked on Hurricane Relief projects in New Orleans. This is a required trip for first year students and many upper class Bonners join them. A delegation of rising seniors and staff also visited Nicaragua this summer, where they participated in a Witness for Peace program. The group met with a number of non-profit organizations and also explored how they might set up a long-term relationship with one neighborhood and center in Managua, the capital.

 

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Education Divison

Academic Sports Academy and Hedgepeth/Williams School - K-8 (Trenton, NJ)

Bonner Scholars at this site help staff the after-school program – teaching classes, helping students complete their homework, organizing community service projects, creating art programs–and more. Website: http://www.ggrant94ftinc.com/ACAD.htm

Isles YouthBuild - High School (Trenton, NJ)

Isles Youthbuild provides an alternative education and youth development experience to 18-25 year old residents, most of whom were previously out of school. Located near the Battle Monument and the Henry J. Austin Health Clinic, YouthBuild offers high school classes, GED classes, life-skills sessions, personal counseling, construction skills training and much more.

Shiloh Baptist Community Development Corporation – Community Development  (Trenton, NJ)
Bonner Scholars help facilitate weekly mentoring and tutoring programs with Shiloh CDC, as well as strive to mobilize upper level (CEL II) business and engineering courses to redevelop a significant portion of the city, which includes some of the most historically significant African-American buildings in Trenton. Website: http://shilohcdc.org/.

Trenton Central High School – High School (Trenton, NJ)

A team of Bonner Scholars are placed on TCHS  and engage in tutoring and mentoring activities. In addition, they mobilize other volunteers and TCNJ professors to help TCHS students succeed in their academic and personal lives. Website: http://sites.google.com/site/tchswebtest/

Youth Development Institute at Hedgepeth/Williams School – K-8 (Trenton, NJ)

During this academic year, Bonner Scholars are running the Youth Development Institute. The program includes the participation of TCNJ students and professors. Bonner Scholars also develop life-skills workshops that are taught through sports, such as Hoops Skills and Track Academics. And finally, Bonner Scholars host 6th grade students monthly at the College in reading and writing enrichment projects. Website: http://www.trenton.k12.nj.us/hedgepeth/

 

Environment Division

Fernbrook Farms – Environment (Chesterfield, NJ)
The Bonner Center has formed a partnership with Fernbrook Farms, a for-profit and not-for-profit organization that provides youth in inner-city areas, such as Trenton, educational opportunities to learn about the importance of the environment, sustainability and health. Bonner Scholars will work with Fernbrook to develop opportunities for youth in Trenton, as well as build up the capacity of the not-for-profit portion of the Farms.
President’s Climate Commitment Committee – Environment (Ewing, NJ)
Bonner Scholars work with the President’s Climate Committee to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality for our campus. Students develop campus-wide projects including recycling initiatives, Reduce for Good Use campaigns and a tree mapping project.
Sustainable Jersey – Environment (Ewing, NJ)
The Bonner Environmental Team has forged a new partnership with the statewide Sustainable Jersey Program. The goal is to create a greener world in our towns and on our campus. The team will mobilize other students and together work on range of projects, including forestry inventories, dorm conservation contests, energy audits, community gardens; they will also teach urban youth environmental lessons.
TCNJ Community Garden - Environment (Ewing, NJ)
Constructed by Bonners and volunteers in April 2010, the team maintains the TCNJ Demonstration Garden – weeding, watering and planting fresh fruits and vegetables. This community garden provides food for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen as well as a space to build community and educate urban youth.

 

Health & Human Services Division

Henry J. Austin Health Clinic – Health (Trenton, NJ)

Bonner Scholars in the nursing program and others interested in public health now have the chance to work at the Henry J. Austin Health Clinic. Located near the Battle Monument and the Isles Youthbuild site, students and staff address a variety of needs. The clinic, for example, wants to organize opportunities for patients with specific health problems (e.g. diabetes) and create opportunities for them to participate in an ongoing education and prevention program. Students also work with the Trenton Asthma Project and Isles, Inc.

Visitation Home – Developmental Disabilities (Hamilton, NJ)

Visitation Home is a non-profit, faith-based, shared living community for developmentally disabled adults and their assistants. Bonner Scholars assist the residents of this home complete their daily chores and responsibilities. They also provide life-skills lessons, lead education and art projects, and occasionally complete beautification projects. Website: http://www.visitationhome.org/

El Centro de Recursos Para Familias – Immigration (Trenton, NJ)

Bonner Scholars teach three levels of basic language/pre-ESL classes twice a week to families in an effort for them to achieve self-sufficiency and confidence in their language skills. Website: https://cctrenton.powweb.com/fdca/index6.html

 

Juvenile Justice & Prisoner Reentry Division

A Better Way – Prisoner Reentry (Trenton, NJ)

A Better Way is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization in Trenton dedicated to helping men and women returning from prison get their lives back on track. Bonner Scholars work with program participants on their job-readiness skills, GED preparation and other skills to help them successfully transition back into the community and establish stability in their lives.

Mercer County Correctional Center - Prisoner Reentry (Lambertville, NJ)

Mercer County Correctional Facility is a short-term jail facility that confines both men and women with Minimum, Medium, and Maximum-security classifications. Bonner Scholars and TCNJ classes work with inmates to further develop their skills to prepare for the GED, help with legal research and the use of LexisNexis, and conduct philosophical conversations through Socrates Cafe. Website: http://www.state.nj.us/counties/mercer/departments/corrections/.

PEI Kids – Juvenile Justice (Mercer County, NJ)

Bonner Scholars work alongside PEI staff and help deliver a life-skills curriculum to juvenile offenders.  They also develop and organize additional enrichment and educational projects. Website: http://www.peikids.org/

 

Self-Sufficiency Division

Habitat for Humanity – Housing (Trenton, NJ)

Besides providing assistance towards the building of homes in the area, Bonner Scholars are also working on marketing and outreach projects for Habitat for Humanity. They also lead resource development activities. Website: http://www.habitatnj.org

Rescue Mission – Homelessness (Trenton, NJ)
In an effort to build the capacity of the Mission and its customer base, Bonners are developing and implementing components of a Marketing Plan, which includes a google ad-word campaign and a patron survey for patrons.  They are also conducting research to identify new grant opportunities. Website: http://www.rescuemissionoftrenton.org/index.php

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen – Hunger (Trenton, NJ)

Bonner Scholars regularly serve on the food line, as well as tutor GED students. They are also help register patrons into the food stamp program, staff the pantry, and organize various drives as well as enrichment programs. Website: http://www.trentonsoupkitchen.org

The Wall – Homelessness (Ewing, NJ)

Entering its second year, the Wall is a newspaper that is produced for and with the homeless. This is a major collaborative effort that involves journalism professors, journalism students, volunteers and a few community partners (including the Mercer Alliance, TASK, and the Rescue Mission). Bonner Scholars fill the top management positions and Alliance staff members are the publishers, helping with the weekly supervisory tasks as well.

 

 

Student Leadership Planning:


Click here for Congress Leadership Plans:

TCNJ Congress Action Planning

 

 

ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES


2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 

 

2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 

 

2010-2011 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

 

2009-2010 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES  

 

2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 

 

2012-2013 Special Initiatives


Bonner Community Scholars Corps: The Bonner Community Scholars are a diverse group of over 90 students who share a common desire and commitment: to work as part of a team of students, staff, and community members to improve the quality of life in Trenton and the local area. Each student is a member of one of eighteen site-based teams that serve in the Trenton area. Bonner Community Scholars also help coordinate and lead the CEL program at TCNJ by mobilizing First Year Students to serve at their community organization sites.

 

Bonner VISTA: The Center leads a team of 20 VISTA members who are focused on various anti-poverty projects. Locally, Bonner secured VISTA members for twelve community partners, as well as five members who serve at the Bonner Institute on campus. The Bonner Institute VISTA members are engaged in several projects focused on building the capacity of organizations through a comprehensive needs assessment process. VISTA members then connect resources on TCNJ's campus, such as student interns, faculty, classes, Bonner Scholars, and more to build up the non-profit organization.

 

Bonner Volunteers: Students who get involved in Bonner Institute work are given the chance to apply to be a Bonner Volunteer. Bonner Volunteers agree to join a team of Scholars and help a community partner at least once a week. When the Institute obtains external grant funds, such as AmeriCorps positions, Bonner Volunteers who spend a year serving at a community partner site are given the chance to apply to join the Scholars Corps.

 

Center for Prisoner Outreach and Education: Bonner Institute staff members co-direct the Institute for Prisoner Teaching and Outreach (IPTO) in conjunction with Professor Celia Chazelle and the History Department. The goal of the IPTO is to create opportunities for inmates to obtain two- or four-year degrees through collaboration with other local colleges. Approximately TCNJ 60 students volunteer at two prisons each year through the Center.

 

Advanced Community Engaged Learning: The Institute integrates the needs of its community partners into 15-20 upper-level courses or independent studies across several academic departments at the College. It is also currently working to create one Advanced CEL course within each department in two schools: Humanities & Social Sciences and Arts & Communication. The Institute has an ongoing relationship with the Marketing and Accounting programs in the School of Business to create Advanced CEL courses for students in those disciplines as well. Nursing and Education students already complete Advanced CEL experiences via their regular course work, which include field experience and clinic work. The Institute is working closely with the College towards the goal of establishing Advanced across all the schools at TCNJ.

 

Critical Issue Forums and Policy Options: The Institute patricipates in and helps organize two to four issue-based forums on an annual basis. In the past, forums focused on Wrongful Convictions, Hunger, Human Trafficking, Genocide in the Sudan, and Prisoner Reentry. The Institute also produces issue briefs and model program briefs to inform community partners and help them decide how to address a particular problem or challenge. These briefs are added to an interactive website PolicyOptions.org.

 

First Year Community Engaged Learning: Bonner Institute staff and students, in collaboration with faculty and community partners mobilize over 1,400 First Year students each year as they complete their Community Engaged Learning (CEL) graduation requirement. Approximately 50 percent participate in class-based projects that are linked to academic learning objectives. The remaining students participate in CEL Days, which include mini lessons on a targeted social problem and citizenship, direct service, and a reflection session.

 

Summer Bonner Fellows: During the summer, rising high school juniors and seniors come to campus for two- week terms and live the life of a Bonner. They take a college course, work on at a non-profit site with Bonners, return to campus and participate in reflection, enrichment and social activities, and live in the dormitories.

 

Sustainable Jersey/PC 3: Bonner staff and students have re-structured its environmental team, allowing it to work directly with four municipalities, as part of the Sustainability Institute’s grant from the Geraldine Dodge Foundation. This team completes tasks to help each town earn credits towards a bronze or gold certification. They are also advancing the college’s President’s Climate Commitment Committee goals by working on various on-campus projects.

 

TrentonWorks: The TCNJ Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement has formed a partnership with the Trenton Downtown Association to create a hub and lab in the very heart of the city. The primary role of the Bonner Institute is to develop and deliver a broad range of programs at this location and substantially increase the level of activity downtown. The Bonner Institute will run programming out of the office in the evening hours including ESL classes, small business workshops, a leaders and innovators speaker series, and art and artist workshops. The Bonner Institute will also host an innovation lab in the downtown office under the direction of Celestine Chukumba, Ph.D. on a weekly basis to try and foster the creation of new businesses that could start in Trenton.

 

Trenton Prevention Policy Board: The Institute is the lead facilitator for the Trenton Prevention Policy Board, a grassroots effort aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency and promoting positive youth development. Supported by the Attorney General’s Office of Community Justice, the Bonner Institute provides staff, academic partners, and students to support the board. 50 to 60 local stakeholders gather together to share their knowledge about programs, services, and best practices in order to make informed recommendations to municipal, county, and state officials. The Institute has also supported the implementation of several recommendations by the Board. The Attorney General’s Office has extended its funding for the initiative for an additional two years.

 

The Wall: Bonner Scholars and staff work with the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen to produce a paper for and with the homeless. This paper is created every semester and provides opportunities for classes and academic interns to learn while providing this service. The paper promotes and spreads awareness about the issue of homelessness in our communities, informs the homeless about services, and offers them a space to share their voice and talents. 

 

 

PHOTOS


 

 

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