About Bethel College
Introduction
Affiliated with the Missionary Church, Bethel College is a Christian community of learners dedicated to building lives of commitment for leadership in the church and the world. Welcoming approximately 2,000 students to campus each year, Bethel offers majors in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The college is seeking a president who will advance campus strengths such as quality academics, outstanding chapel experiences and warm, personal relationships. The successful candidate should be a visionary leader, effective administrator and committed evangelical Christian.
Defining Qualities of Bethel College
Bethel is a Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Bethel is a strong, progressive and dynamic regional campus. Few colleges have experienced Bethel’s pace of progress and excitement since 1990. Here is a brief summary of Bethel’s progress in the last two decades:
ACADEMIC excellence
Bethel is a challenging academic community with a gifted faculty and a strong student body. Several
academic programs, including nursing, education, business and music, have achieved accreditation
in their respective fields. Bethel has an emerging nontraditional adult degree completion program.
Students are challenged in and out of the classroom by professors dedicated to teaching and
mentoring. Many Bethel professors are well-published and present papers at their respective
disciplinary conferences.
SPIRITUAL vibrancy
Bethel is deeply committed to growing Christian disciples. Vital worship in our chapel program is the
spiritual center of campus life. Bethel students invest themselves in serving the community and the
world. Bethel task force teams serve in places such as Romania, Ecuador, Jamaica, Venezuela and
South Africa.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FINE ARTS AND STUDENT MEDIA
Bethel offers state-of-the-art visual arts studios, vibrant theater, a digital media lab equipped with the
latest technology, and a student-run Bethel College radio station and web-based publications. Bethel’s
strong music department has National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accreditation and a
nationally known artist in residence with more than 20 books published.
FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
Between 1992 and 2012 building projects include the following:
- Major Science Building addition
- Nursing wing
- Addition to and renovation of Dining Commons
- Eleven apartment-style residence facilities
- 210-bed residence hall
- Chapel/Fine Arts Center
- A second Athletic Center
- A five-floor Academic/Technology Center
ENROLLMENT GROWTH
Bethel has grown from 550 students in 1989 to almost 2,000 in the fall of 2012.
ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The Bethel Pilots are perennial NAIA Division II and NCCAA national contenders with more than 29 national championships in the past 16 years in 18 sports. Approximately 290 students are involved in athletics at Bethel.
