Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement

FYE CEL Program: Democracy in Action

CEL Floor Meetings

The CEL Program Program now begins during Welcome Week. All First Year (FY) students listen to a "kickoff" or keynote address that begins to clarify the values of TCNJ and why it is important for all of us to contribute our talents to the local community. In August, Stacey Holland (Board President and CEO of the Philadelphia Youth Network), helped educate and inspire the class of 2011.

After the keynote, Bonner Community Scholar students hold "civic engagement floor meetings" for all 25 groups of residents. Each floor identifies their top three issue choices (e.g. hunger, homelessness, the environment). A second round of voting produces 3 smaller groups that are linked to one issue and 3 possible dates from the Bonner Center's CEL Calendar.

After the Welcome Week meetings, Bonner students and staff look at all the results and make the final assignments. FY students are notified of their date approximately 1 week later. In some cases, Center staff need to add new dates and form new community partnerships in order to accomodate the interests of the students.

Prior to their CEL Day, Bonner Scholars and Peer Advisors reach out to residents to confirm their attendance and answer questions they might have about their event.

Students who are enrolled in FSP courses with a CEL component do not participate in the civic engagement floor meetings during Welcome Week. After the keynote, a separate meeting is held and they eventually learn more about their project during the first week of classes. Commuters are also invited to campus to review their options and make their selections at this time.

If you have any other questions or wish to volunteer, please contact the Bonner Center at bonner@tcnj.edu, or (609)771-2548.