Social justice is one of Oberlin's core values. Each year, more than 1,000 students participate in service programs. Some of these programs combine service with learning through credit-bearing classes that incorporate a service component.

The campus clearinghouse for these projects is the Bonner Center for Service and Learning, whose staff maintains contacts with more than 100 community organizations, schools, and government agencies and develops programs, projects, and other opportunities that encourage meaningful student engagement. Students also initiate outreach programs themselves.

The Bonner Center

The Oberlin College Bonner Center for Service and Learning works in partnership with the surrounding community to link students with educational service opportunities. Community service, advocacy, grassroots organizing and applied research are the norm at Oberlin, where each year over 55 percent of Oberlin undergraduate students do some form of curricular or co-curricular community service.

The Bonner Center for Service and Learning (BCSL) encourages all students to become involved in community efforts in the Oberlinian belief that intellectual inquiry and community involvement reinforce and enrich one another.

To support Oberlin's mission of "preparing students for intelligent and useful response to the present and future demands of society," the Bonner Center for Service and Learning:

1. Develops programs that combine community involvement with intellectual and artistic pursuits
2. Links students with community organizations in need of volunteers
3. Sponsors events and conferences designed to enhance College and community interaction.

 

Bonner Center for Service and Learning Programs

Our programs serve the diverse interests of our student, faculty, and community partners. They include:

• Community Service Work-Study Program
• America Reads
• Community Service Resource Center
• Community Based Learning Courses
• Americorps Learning & Labor
• Bonner Scholars Program

Contact the Bonner Center for Service and Learning for more information by e-mail to csl@oberlin.edu or by telephone at 440-775-8055.