sli workshop 2009
TRANSCRIPT
What brought you to this What brought you to this workshop?workshop?
Besides the fact that Derek and I are attractive individuals?
•Started in 1991
•60 Students
•Academic Affairs Division
•Carson-Newman Bonner Center for Service Learning & Civic Engagement
Carson-Newman College Carson-Newman College Bonner Scholars ProgramBonner Scholars Program
Trouble at Mossy CreekTrouble at Mossy Creek
•2006-07 School Year
• (Fall) Much-Loved Administrative Assistant Dies of Cancer
• (Spring) Much-Loved Bonner Director Unexpectedly Resigns
• (Late Spring) We learn our program is in danger of losing funding
• (Late Spring) New Director is appointed and sees a need to make changes
•2007-08 School Year
• (Fall) Major program changes are implemented
•Several Students resign
•Overall low moral among students
•We still may lose funding without program improvement
•Students feel like their voices are not being heard
Some Transition ChallengesSome Transition Challenges
Lack of consensus among student leadership on changes
Lack of communication between Staff & Students
Lack of understanding from Staff about student situation.
Failure to explain desperate situation of program without a “Crisis” mentality.
Lack of clear vision for the program among leadership & students.
Difficulty approaching students for input…
Why might it be so hard to Why might it be so hard to gather student input?gather student input?
“Is my idea not good enough?”
“Why can’t we just do it the way we have always done it?”
“When we, as administrators, are constantly learning ourselves how to do this work, how can we discern good ideas from unwise ones?”
Other reasons? Eh?
Desired Outcomes of Student Desired Outcomes of Student InputInput
Students feel more invested in the program
Better decisions are made with input from other individuals.
Administrators get ideas we may not have thought of otherwise (trust me on this one).
Happy students…..
Others?
The Carson-Newman Bonner The Carson-Newman Bonner BLT ModelBLT Model
BLT= Bonner Leadership Team
Meets bi-weekly at predetermined time
Chaired by Coordinator
Discusses a number of different topics chosen by Coordinator Anything from handbook revisions to disciplinary plans to
All-Bonner meeting agendas….
Who is on the BLT?Who is on the BLT?
Bonner Center Staff (Director, Associate Director, Scholars Coordinator, Administrative Assistant)
Senior Intern(s)
Congress Reps 2 total
1 rising sophomore, 1 rising Junior
Class Reps 2 per class
1 appointed 1 voted by students Coordinator never reveals which is which to avoid drama
TermsTerms
The BLT makes recommendations to the Coordinator understanding that Staff ultimately make the final decision.
Congress Reps roll-off after 2 SLIs and 2 Fall Congress Meetings
Class Reps term limits are currently being discussed….
Some BLT Projects 08-09Some BLT Projects 08-09
Read Applications and helped select new Bonners
Organized and Facilitated bi-weekly Class-Based meetings with their peers.
Facilitated Fall Retreat Program Visioning Exercise
Revamped Program policy on Training & Enrichment
Instituted the “Bonner Buddy” program where older Bonners Mentor incoming Bonners.
Planned and helped facilitate Bonner Visitation Day for possible recruits
Organized events for visit from Wayne Meisel in April
Helped program transition from monthly to weekly meetings
Some Strong Outcomes of Some Strong Outcomes of our first BLT Yearour first BLT Year
Augmented Overall Student Involvement
Students now have a way to be represented in major program decisions.
Students feel a better sense of unity across all four classes
Built program “morale” in general in the midst of a tough transition
Program changes have been driven by the students while Administrators still have freedom to make final call
We still like each other…
Questions? Comments? Questions? Comments? Discussion?Discussion?
Matt Bryant CheneyBonner Scholars CoordinatorCarson-Newman [email protected] , (865) 471-4315
Derek VoilesCarson-Newman Bonner Summer [email protected], (865) 471-3594