My daughter joined the Bonner leader program and the amount of time she works and goes to meetings is interfering with her class work. The college program is very disorganized and does not run efficiently as it should . They wait to last minute for details about trips and meetings and expects her not to miss any. I am concerned about her grades . my main objective and her priority is her college work not the Bonner leader program. she have been advised if she quits it is a bad thing., also she will have to pay for upcoming projects or trips if she quits . how can they do this legally? what suggestions or tips to resolve this issue…this federal work study program does not pay for tuition it is spending money for her and necessities she needs at school.
She needs to discuss her concerns with the coordinator at her college/university, and with the head of the financial aid office. She will want to find out whether or not she will still qualify for federal work study money, and if she will be guaranteed a federal work study job on campus that will allow her to earn as much as she has been earning with the Bonner program.
Both of mine were Bonner Leaders (not to be confused with Bonner Scholars) and paid for nothing, no trips. Meetings had a fixed schedule (Monday eves?,) and there were many service opportunities, which they generally selected by semester or for a full academic year. Service was roughly about 3pm+, back by dinner. Not much different than going to a club meeting, sports practice or another EC. OR, fitting in a work study job, which could be 10 hours/week. Anything on a weekend (other than a quarterly (?) meeting) was by choice and the sort of activity open to anyone (like Habitat.)
Thing is, we’re convinced BL is what directly led to post grad opportunities for both of mine. I guess it’s possible her college program is disorganized, but I’d just try to learn more, see if it’s them or more that the service is uncomfortable.
If your D quits, what projects or trips? She’d no longer be on the team.
Never heard of it- Googled it and came up with various private college’s websites. Your D’s future depends on her learning the material for her major, ie getting the grades, not an obscure program. The bottom line is that if it interferes with college she needs to drop it. The vast majority of college students and colleges will not be involved in it and will do fine. Priorities- academics, especially if the college’s program is poorly run.