2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Please add narrative text that responds to the questions in the four categories below.

Implementation of Student Development

What was the structure and content for the implementation of the developmental model this year?  In particular, please share (no more than one page text needed):

• The Structure for training, courses, & meetings
• Cornerstone Activities including First Year Trip, Second Year Exchange, Third Year (and beyond) Leadership Roles, and Senior Capstone & Presentation of Learning
• Roles of Student Leaders in integration of the Serve 2.0 initiative (e.g., developing and using web-based tools for service)

The structure for trainings this year was for each session to be "interactive" for student participants. The overall goal for these trainings was to provide students with practical experience, tools, and skills to be effective volunteers.   Sessions were determined based on the student's academic course study year and volunteer experience.  Topics included Personal Exploration, Managing Groups, and Sustainability among others.

With regard to Courses, Leaders were provided a developmental model for their academic year that included Course recommendations.  Fore example, First-year Bonner Leaders were strongly encouraged to enroll in Emerging Peer Leadership 101 while third-year Bonner Leaders were encouraged to take Community Psychology.  These courses provided students with a theory base and general understanding of individuals, groups, and communities and how they interact and intersect with one another.  Given the appropriate language and definition base, students were then able to communicate with regard to interpersonal, national, and global social justice issues within the academic realm and professional realms.  Continued efforts to have these courses highlight Pfeiffer's "common commitments," and "leadership development skills" were maintained throughout the 2008-2009 academic year.

Integration of the Developmental Model took place during the 2008-2009 academic year and Weekly Reflection meetings were instituted at the beginning of the year.  Classes met as a group each week and the focus of these sessions included issue-based meetings, volunteer capacity building trainings, and all scholar reflection meetings, which allowed for Leaders to interact with each other and share best practices.  These meetings included special guest speakers and interactive sessions that were student-led.  The transition to weekly in-person reflection meetings for Bonner Leaders and Staff was challenging and students exhibited difficulty in scheduling weekly hour-long meetings with course and extracurricular work.  After much consideration and research by the Francis Center, the Pfeiffer Engage Service Blog was launched by Bonner Congress and Senior Intern representatives to provide a space for student reflections and trainings.  This use of this web-based tool provided space for social justice dialogue between students and a more efficient means for students to remain engaged in service, considering their complex and busy schedules.  Continued efforts to customize Reflection meetings will continue next year.

Cornerstone activities included our first annual Bonner Service Exchange, First Year Service Trip, and Capstone Presentations.  In February 2009 under the student leadership of our Bonner Senior Intern and Bonner Congress Representatives, Pfeiffer University coordinated with Davidson College to host a service exchange.  Twelve Pfeiffer Bonner Leaders traveled to Davidson College and completed over 120 hours of service at the Carolina Raptor Center, Uptown Shelter, Crisis Assistance Center, and Sarah’s House.  Student participants assisted with renovation projects, art activities with youth, clothing closet sorting, and food pantry organizing. Pfeiffer and Davidson Bonners interacted as a group and in teams to successfully complete service activities within their interests and the event culminated with a group reflection activity facilitated by the Bonner studnet coordinators from each University.  Participants enjoyed the opportunity to interact with Bonner students from different schools and this event offered the opportunity to re-energize their service interests by visiting alternate sites.  With the success of the Exchange, Pfeiffer looks forward to hosting an area Bonner School during the 2009-2010 year.  

The 2008-2009 first-year trip took place in Washington, DC and Bonner Leaders were able to apply both theory and practice throughout this weeklong service experience in the nation’s capital.  Prior to the Trip students attended two pre-service orientations, one of which, provided them detailed background information on the racial, social, and economic dynamics of DC.  They were also given information on the projects they would be assisting with.  In all, students were provided the opportunity to learn and serve in the area of domestic poverty, domestic youth development, and international crisis reporting.  Community partners for these activities included the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, and Community Family Life Services.  Our host campus was America University's Washington Semester Program.  Faculty representatives from the University provided attendees with vital information and a theory basis for the historic and current dynamics of service in DC.  Student then participated in direct activities ranging from assisting in a local food pantry and clothing closet, completing minor repairs to a transitional shelter and assisting with after-school program activities for inner city elementary youth.  Students enjoyed gaining information about undergraduate and graduate course studies that would better prepare them for service and engaging in service in an urban setting.  Third-year and beyond Leadership Roles were integrated in the first-year trip and second year exchange as junior and senior Bonners led in the student coordination of these events.  These students also coordinated and facilitated reflection activities, coordinated emphasis week events and retreat activities.

Our final cornerstone activity included capstone presentations by our Bonner Leader Alum and AmeriCorps VISTA Susannah Bales and Bonner Senior Intern Andrea Chiz.  With the President, Academic Provost, Faculty, and Staff members in attendance presenters highlighted their year of service and future plans.

In an effort to synthesize and enhance service efforts the integration of social media tools was introduced throughout the 2008-2009 academic year.  Fall 2008 included the launch of the Francis Center’s Facebook page, managed by Bonner Leaders and a Service Blog, managed by our Bonner Senior Intern.  In Spring 2009 the Francis Center Wiki was launched in an effort to provide ongoing updates related to service initiatives, tracking forms, service scholar updates, and other notices.  Bonner Leaders designed, managed, and updated these web-based tools to allow for more outreach to the campus, to increase marketing efforts, and to increase recruiting and awareness efforts.  Following the launch of these tools, additional Bonner Leaders instituted the use of wiki’s and blogs in the coordination of their service initiatives related to youth in conflict countries and college access attainment for first generation and minority students.

Implementation of Community Partnerships

Please share a summary of your work with community partners, highlighting your work regarding  (no more than one page text needed):

•  Arrangement and management of community partnerships and placements (orientation, site visits, meetings, strategic planning)
•  How partners were engaged as co-educators, including academic linkages, courses, and student advising
• Partnerships managed through site-based or issue-oriented teams, as well as other issue-based organizing undertaken
• Capacity building initiatives for community partners (such as workshops, policy research, or resource development)

Pfeiffer University’s work with Community Partners is managed by our AmeriCorps VISTA.  The role of the VISTA was to work as the Community Outreach Coordinator and serve as the liaison between community partners and the University community.  With a database of over 60 Partners the incoming VISTA for 2008-2009 contacted each community partner, prior to classes resuming.  A site visit was coordinated to allow for the VISTA to gain a more in-depth perspective of the service environment, population served, and issue area as it relates to the local community.  Following the site visit a Community Partner Breakfast was coordinated by the Francis Center, to then invite service partners to campus to learn about the service expectations, resources available to enhance civic engagement efforts, and opportunities to connect with Bonner Leaders as these students were researching site opportunities.  Over 15 partners participated in the Breakfast and the success of this Breakfast resulted in the re-affiliation of Albemarle High School as a community partner and site for the Francis Centers Serve 2.0 initiative. 

In serving as co-educators our Community Partners were invited to participate in our 2008-2009 emphasis weeks to raise awareness on local social and economic issues and to train students on how to be effective in addressing these issues through their volunteerism.  2008 Campus Week of Dialogue events included the United Way of Charlotte Crisis Hotline, Rowan County Human Society, and NC Voters for Animal Welfare as co-educators for discussions pertaining to Domestic Violence and Animal Rights.  2009 Servant Leadership Week events included NC Senate Offices and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nations as co-educators for workshops around politics and service and American Indian issues. 

This year the Francis Center had one site based team: Albemarle High School.  As a serve 2.0 initiative the Francis Center designed and launched the College Access, NC program aimed around the issue of higher education attainment for first-year and minority students.

Due to last minute changes, capacity-building projects did not occur.  However, as this programming has been deemed vital following year-ending site evaluations, Pfeiffer has added this programming as a priority in the 2009-2010 academic year.  The Community Partner Breakfast has been expanded to a Community Partner Seminar to provide training and skills development for partners.  Additional workshops will be scheduled with two taking place per semester and one during the summer.

Campus-Wide Culture and Infrastructure 

Please describe key activities and structures related to the development of campus-wide infrastructure and the role of the Bonner Program in enhancing (or being enhanced by) campus-wide culture and participation in service.  In particular, share  (no more than one page text needed):

• Key activities for faculty engagement and academic connections.  In particular, note any connections to curricular offerings that are linked to the Bonner Program.
• Key relationships and activities involving other departments or divisions on campus (for example for recruitment, student wellness or retention, financial aid, and so on).
• Unique initiatives (such as events, assessment, or strategic planning) that have enhanced institutionalization of service and civic engagement on campus.

Continued efforts were made to maintain campus institutional links and involvement in service and service-learning.    The Center continued to work in collaboration with the School of Education, Marriage and Family Therapy Programs, First –Year Seminars, Child Psychology classes and others.  With the implementation of the Development Model, each Bonner Leader class was strongly encouraged to enroll in one or more courses that compliment the themes and focus areas in their development process.  These courses ranged from Emerging Peer Leadership to Conflict Transformation.  Even further, with many classes incorporating service components inassignments, Leaders were encouraged to complete their service within their academic majors to allow more of a synthesis between their course studies and service interests.  

With regard to key relationships and activities involving other departments, the Francis Center continues to work closely with the Admissions and Financial Aid office to recruit students and retain participants through scholarship and work-study opportunities.  Each Spring and Summer the Center coordinates with Admissions to identify promising freshmen who would benefit and contribute to the Bonner Program.  After enrollment, the Francis Center works closely with Financial Aid in the Fall on the community partner work-study program.  This service work-study program grew tremendously this year as more Leaders opted to have their service site linked as a work-study site.  Bonner Leaders also continued to work closely with Student Development to incorporate social justice awareness programs such as movies and forums to raise awareness on local and national issues.  The Francis Center continued to collaborate with the Athletics Department as student-athlete Bonner Leaders coordinated service projects that catered to the rigorous schedules of their teammates. 

Unique initiatives that added to the fabric of servant leadership at Pfeiffer included the enhancement of the Francis Center’s Emphasis Weeks to be more inclusive of academic studies and faculty expertise.  Bonner Leaders coordinated Campus Week of Dialogue, Servant Leadership Week and MLK Challenge and from these events the campus community was inspired.   The launch of a business club with a focus in financial literacy and microenterprise development are being considered, policy research and journalism in the area of animal rights is being pursued, a microfinance colloquium is being hosted.  From Servant Leadership Week events, Child Psychology classes are writing letters to youth in conflict countries, and many other initiatives are being coordinated in growing the realm of civic engagement at Pfeiffer.

Serve 2.0 

Please highlight your key activities related to the integration of web-based tools as they are connected to the design, management, and outreach for service.  In particular, share  (no more than one page text needed):

• Link to your campus-wide service center or Bonner Program wiki ,web-site, or Ning site. Please explain how it’s most used and by whom.
• Your integration with other social media tools (such as the Bonner Network Forum/Ning, Twitter, YouTube, the Bonner Video Project, PolicyOptions Wiki, or others)

In an effort to synthesize and enhance service efforts the integration of social media tools was introduced throughout the 2008-2009 academic year.  Fall 2008 included the launch of the Francis Center’s Facebook page, managed by Bonner Leaders and a Service Blog, managed by our Bonner Senior Intern.  In Spring 2009 the Francis Center Wiki was launched in an effort to provide ongoing updates related to service initiatives, tracking forms, service scholar updates, and other notices.  Bonner Leaders designed, managed, and updated these web-based tools to allow for more outreach to the campus, to increase marketing efforts, and to increase recruiting and awareness efforts.  Following the launch of these tools, additional Bonner Leaders instituted the use of wiki’s and blogs in the coordination of their service initiatives related to youth in conflict countries and college access attainment for first generation and minority students.  A Bonner Leader Program video was also created by the Bonner Congress Representative to highlighted Pfeiffer's unique Bonner service efforts and programming.  Links to each are listed below:

Pfeiffer's Voice Heard Service Blog: http://pfeiffersvoiceheard.blogspot.com/

Service Center Wiki:  http://pfeifferengage.wikispaces.com/

Bonner Leader Video: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=506889249421&subj=1504452597&oid=41356808920 

Campus Issue Profiles

Add links to your completed or draft campus issue profiles here:

•  http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Education+-+High+School+-+Pfeiffer+University