Unique program Opportunities
As you begin your Macalester career, it is important to remember that some of the most important educational opportunities take place outside the classroom. The descriptions below and their related links detail information about pre-orientation co-curricular opportunities for first-year students.
Bonner Community Scholar Program: From business, to government, and non-profit management the world needs courageous leadership inspired by service. The Bonner Program is a four-year civic engagement centered program providing academic support, leadership programming, community involvement opportunities and a social network. Fifteen first-year students are admitted each year with at least half the students being first-generation college students. Bonner students nationwide are changing lives, transforming communities and making an impact. The Macalester Civic Engagement Center invites you to apply! Note: the program begins with a required pre-orientation retreat, and students chosen for the Bonner Programs cannot participate in pre-orientation MacWard Bound trips. For the application and more information go to http://www.macalester.edu/cec/programs/bonner.html.
Applications should be received no later than June 26th.
Emerging Leaders Program: Congratulations on your admission to Macalester and your decision to attend Mac this fall. Macalester’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) will begin in September and meet each week for 70-minute sessions throughout the fall semester. You are encouraged to consider applying for this exciting and challenging program.
The objectives of the Emerging Leaders Program are to:
- Explore perspectives and definitions of leadership and their translation into citizenship.
- Promote awareness of individual strengths and their impact on self and others.
- Increase sensitivity to significant community, societal and multicultural issues.
- Enhance leadership qualities and competencies for participants.
- Offer a forum to dialogue on the significance & current emphasis on leadership
development within higher education.
Participants accepted to ELP are expected to commit to:
- Attend and engage in the sessions.
- Maintain and exhibit an open mind regarding the information & experience.
- Provide honest feedback on the program, speakers, and overall experience.
If you submit an application, you'll be agreeing to a commitment to attend the designated sessions and follow through with associated responsibilities. If you are unable to honor these commitments, you may become ineligible to participate in the program.
Space in ELP is limited to 30 students. To be considered for this program you must complete the ELP application available here
Lives of Commitment: A program that engages a select group of first-year students in an integrated practice of community service and active reflection on social justice and ethical or religious commitments. Throughout the year, each student will spend 3 hours each week as part of a small group at one of six nonprofit organizations that engage immigrant and refugee or childhood education issues. One distinguishing aspect of this program is the time spent in dialogue with other participants about one’s own commitments. Note: The program begins with a required pre-orientation urban retreat for students (August 31-September 3). Students chosen for Lives of Commitment cannot participate in pre-orientation MacWard Bound trips. For more information about click http://www.macalester.edu/lilly/loc
and to complete an application, click here
Applications should be received no later than June 26th.
MacWard Bound Outdoor Adventure Program: August 28-September 2, 2009: The mission of MacWard Bound is to provide group experiences in which new students will experience supportive community, open communication, relationship building and teamwork in an experiential outdoor environment. MacWard Bound offers professionally guided Outward Bound and Wilderness Inquiry adventure trips for all skill levels. An upperclass Macalester student will accompany each group to provide mentorship and share their Macalester perspectives with first year students. Trip destinations include the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Superior National Hiking Trail.For more information, visit http://www.macalester.edu/campusprograms/MacWardBound.html, or you may fill out an application here
Applications should be received no later than June 26th.
Pluralism & Unity Program: Now entering its ninth year, the Pluralism & Unity Program is designed to give first-year students an opportunity to build strong and effective relationships within and across racial and cultural backgrounds. The program aims to create a community of people who are committed to exploring issues of race, culture, and identity, and working to end racism in a global context. As you know, Macalester’s commitment to multiculturalism and internationalism are two of its strengths and core values. This program is an excellent opportunity to be part of what makes Macalester so special: students, faculty, and staff from many different parts of the United States and the world; the various cultural backgrounds that each person brings; and the college’s location in a major metropolitan area in the Midwest of the United States.
Pluralism & Unity Program: Letter and Description | Application
The deadline for returning completed applications is Friday, June 26, 2009.