TCNJ Leading the way in student civic engagement

Last month, it was reported widely that number of college students volunteering is on the rise nationally. TCNJ's Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement is leading the College's efforts to further this altruistic trend.

The Bonner Center is affiliated with the Bonner Foundation, a national service organization that sustains partnerships with colleges and congregations across the country. It seeks to use service as a catalyst to improve the lives of individuals and benefit communities.

TCNJ's Bonner Center hosted the national organization’s Student Congress Fall Meeting in October, where representatives from over 75 colleges and universities across the country collaborated at TCNJ, attending workshops, giving presentations, and planning initiatives.

Additionally, TCNJ's Bonner Center hosted its first community engagement day last month, sending a team of student volunteers to the 21st annual Fall Beach Sweep at Sandy Hook. Those students, who are part of the same Freshman Seminar, spent the day cleaning the beach and planting dune grass to help preserve one of New Jersey’s most prized treasures.

As part of TCNJ's First-Year Experience, students are required to engage in such community service activities. The Bonner Center has stepped in to help students satisfy those requirements through special community-engaged learning days.

By mobilizing small communities of students from every floor in the freshmen dorms, 18 different service events have been arranged to allow students to learn, serve, and reflect together. The events will focus on a range of themes, including the environment, homelessness, and diversity issues.

Each event has four main components: learning, hands-on service, reflection, and visions for future service

"Our whole goal with our community engagement days is to create positive and productive experiences for students, so they’re inspired to continue to volunteer," said Pat Donohue, the Bonner Center’s director of community-engaged learning.