Rider University
Our Commitments
What We Do
Civic Engagement
Participate intentionally as a citizen in the
democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service.
Social Justice
Advocate for fairness, impartiality, and equality while addressing systemic social and environmental issues.
Community Building
Establish and sustain a vibrant
community personal relationships and common interests.
International Perspective
Develop international understanding that enables individuals to participate successfully and sensitively in a global society.
Spiritual Exploration
Explore personal beliefs and value
systems while respecting the spiritual and personal beliefs/practices of others.
Diversity
Respect and engage the many different dimensions of diversity in our public lives.
The Five E's
Expectation
Bonner Programs intentionally recruit and accept students who show an interest in and commitment to community service and engagement. Students' commitment to service may be shown in many ways, including being a caregiver to others in one's family or community.
Explore
First-year students (and new Bonners) are intentionally exposed to and involved in a variety of service sites and activities, which helps them to then identity their passions and make a commitment to a particular place (community), site, and issue areas. Generally by a few weeks or a month into the program, the student has solidified a position for the rest of the first year.  On the training and education side, Bonners often participate in weekly trainings and first-year seminars (often linked to place).
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Experience
Second-year students begin to focus on developing more skill and knowledge within their given place (community), site, and issue areas.  Because students can return to that place/site over multiple semesters and years, they begin to understand more deeply the mission, operations, and programs of a particular agency and to develop greater understanding of community issues. This approach also offers agencies consistent and reliable support to help run and manage their programs, developing partner capacity and impact.
Example
By the third year, Bonner students are expected to and in fact do take on expanded leadership roles and responsibilities both on campus and in their communities. For many, this initiative translates into leadership positions in the community (for example, leading one's site based team or designing and coordinating a project) or on campus (for example, in campus-wide initiatives, undergraduate research assignments such as CBR or policy research, or program leadership roles).
Expertise
By the fourth year (if not sooner), Bonner Scholars and Leaders work on a capstone-level project, often in the site where they have served for multiple years or sometimes to coordinate networking and change initiatives across sites. Students are encouraged to and often integrate their academic pursuits and career interests with their service activities. For example, sociology majors become involved in research projects, English majors write annual reports, and communications majors assist with agencies' public relations. A culminating public presentation provides students with an opportunity to reflect on and share their entire developmental journey, learning, and accomplishments with peers, faculty, partners, and family.
