| Guide for Recruiting
& Selecting Bonner Scholars
Ideally, recruitment of Bonner Scholars is integrated into
the regular admission process at Bonner schools so that the
Bonner scholarship can be used as a recruitment and yield
tool. For a detailed discussion of how Bonner recruitment
and the college's admission process can be coordinated, consult
the Bonner Scholars
Program Rules and the Bonner
Director's Handbook.
Recruitment Tips
by Jerri Arnold-Cook, College of
the Ozarks
During the spring and summer of 2003, I
conducted a formal evaluation of the College of the Ozarks
Bonner Community Service Program new student recruitment methods.
The evaluation included reviewing literature on recruitment
techniques, factors affecting college choice, and marketing
studies focused on "Generation Y."
A recruitment program
and all materials should be:
- based upon and consistent with your college mission and
program goals
- based upon and consistent with Bonner Foundation mission
and program goals
- clear and concise to ensure that applicants understand
what the program is and what each program participant's
responsibilities are
- personalized
- targeted to students who meet the Bonner Foundation selection
criteria
- targeted to student who indicate an interest in service,
community involvement, and leadership positions
- timed to recruit students who are prepared to make decisions
and begin thinking about college
- include a variety of media, for example print and internet
Additional tips that could be helpful:
- In the majority of traditional college-aged students,
ages 18-22 years of age, parents still play a vital role
in college choice, so it is important that equal emphasis
be placed on written communication as well as web communications.
- Members of Generation Y tend to be relationship-oriented,
so it is better that recruitment programs be more personalized.
For example,
- Use a simple mail merge function and make sure that
letters are sent with the potential applicants' names.
- Call, email, or send a postcard to students who apply
acknowledging that you have received their applications
and let them know when they will hear from you next.
Include how they can call or email you for information.
- If you require letters of recommendation, call, email,
or send a postcard to let students know you have received
them.
- If your school is an ACT testing site, contact the appropriate
office to see if you can have a table with information set
up outside the testing area, near the entrance to the building,
or near the restrooms.
Summary of Bonner Scholarship Benefits for Prospective Students:
A Bonner Scholar's "full documented need" will be met by the school based on the institution's published "total cost of attendance." A school's total cost of attendance includes both "direct costs" (i.e., tuition, room, board and fees) and "indirect costs" (i.e., living expenses, books, and travel).
The Federal Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) establishes a student's documented need and determines what an individual is able to pay for that academic year. Students are expected to pay the school the amount determined by the FAFSA. The remaining costs will be met through a number of sources including institutional, federal, state and outside grants.
Bonner Scholars may also be packaged with student loans. However, the total amount of loans with which a school can package a Bonner Scholar over four years is limited to the federal loan limit of the Stafford subsidized loans ($19,000). Currently, this means that most Bonner Scholars will be expected to take out approximately $4,500 in subsidized loans each academic year.
Because Bonner Scholars have such a significant service expectation (140 hours per semester), a Bonner Scholar is not expected to work or earn money during the school year. The Bonner Foundation provides each student with $2,500 annually during the school year in recognition of his or her school year service. Students may be awarded Federal Work-Study, but those hours must be tied to the service expectation and served concurrently with their Bonner Scholar service hours.
Each Bonner Scholar receives $5,000 to support two full-time summer service internships that are at least 280 hours over seven weeks. These are planned by the students and approved by the Bonner Director.
Bonner Scholars who successfully complete the Bonner Program and graduate from college receive $2,000 to reduce their student loans or to pay for future educational opportunities.
Bonner Scholar Programs also receive additional Bonner Foundation funds to support service trips and enrichment activities for Bonner Scholars.
It should be noted that this financial aid policy for Bonner Scholars represents significant commitment on the part of the participating colleges and universities. At many institutions, the Bonner Scholar financial aid award policy is one of the most generous they offer.
Campus Examples:
The following schools have provided information about their
schools' Bonner recruitment strategy.
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