Student Leader Resources

About Bonner Congress

Basic Responsibilities of a Congress Representative:

• Represent your Bonner Program to the Bonner Foundation and the Bonner Foundation to your Bonner Program
• Serve on one of four Action Teams
  • Academic Connections
  • Common Commitments
  • Networking
  • Student Voice in Campus Service
• Serve as a role model for fellow Bonners
• Serve at least a two-year term
• Meet twice per year with the Bonner Foundation Staff
  • June: Summer Leadership Institute
  • November: Fall Bonner Congress Meeting
• Maintain an open line of communication with your Program Director and/or Coordinator

Role of Representatives:
Congress Representatives represent students’ ideas and concerns to the Foundation and also represent the Foundation’s ideas and concerns to fellow peers. They provide input on old and new policies, give critical feedback concerning programs and help to organize possible regional activities.

Representatives act as:

1. Liaisons to the Bonner Foundation
2. Links between Bonner schools
3. Representatives of the Student Perspective

Qualities of Representatives:
Representatives must be individuals who can represent the vision, ideals and actions of the Bonner Program, and who, in turn, can help shape and articulate the Foundation’s policy and direction. Representatives should be students who have had at least one year of experience in the Bonner Program.

Commitment of Representatives:
Each school is invited to have two Bonner Congress Representatives who serve two-year terms each. Representatives are elected or appointed in alternating years to create continuity and ease the transition into the role.

Representative Handbook:
The Bonner Congress Representative Handbook is available on the Bonner Website (http://www.bonner.org).