Endowment $77 million Acceptance rate 70% (2015) Mascot Bison Founded 1840 | Established 1840 Students 1,030 (910 full-time) Undergraduate tuition and fees 26,496 USD (2016) Founder Alexander Campbell Phone +1 304-829-7000 | |
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Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) President Rev. Dr. Tamara Rodenberg (January 2016 - ) Notable alumni Similar West Liberty University, Waynesburg University, Washington & Jefferson College, Alderson Broaddus University, Marshall University Profiles | ||
Bethany College is a private, liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840 by Alexander Campbell of the Restoration Movement, who gained support by the Virginia legislature, Bethany College is the oldest institution of higher education in West Virginia.
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Location
Bethany's 1,300-acre campus is located in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, situated on the hilly Allegheny Plateau. Wheeling, West Virginia; Washington, Pennsylvania; and Steubenville, Ohio, are each about half an hour away. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a 50-minute drive from campus.
History
A liberal arts college, Bethany was chartered on March 2, 1840, by the Virginia legislature and given "all degree-granting powers" of the University of Virginia. West Virginia's secession from Virginia on June 20, 1863, recognized existing Virginia charters; Bethany College continues to operate under the Virginia charter today.
It was founded by Alexander Campbell, a minister in the Restoration Movement who provided the land and funds for the first building and served as the first president. Bethany has been a four-year private liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), since its inception. This religious body, of which Campbell was one of the principal founders, continues to support and encourage the college but exercises no sectarian control. An early center of coeducation, Bethany has admitted women since the 1880s.
The college's roots stem from the Buffalo Seminary, a center for advancement to further education, founded in 1818 by Campbell. Sessions were first held in his mansion in Bethany, home of Alexander Campbell and his father Thomas Campbell. It is located less than a mile away from the College's present location.
The college is the birthplace of Delta Tau Delta, an international social fraternity founded in 1858.
During World War II, Bethany was one of 131 colleges nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered students a path to a Navy commission.
A number of campus buildings are contributing resources to the Bethany Historic District. The Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Pendleton Heights was listed in 1975 and the Delta Tau Delta Founders House in 1979.
Fields of study
Bethany College offers a wide selection of studies, awarding Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees in more than 25 fields. If a major does not appeal to a student, Bethany offers students the opportunity to design their own major through the Interdisciplinary program. Bethany also offers Dual Majors, which is a combination of two majors.
Majors
Interdisciplinary Majors
Dual Majors
Minors
Athletics
Bethany is NCAA Division III recognized and is a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Its mascot is the Bison, and its colors are green and white.
Bethany offers a variety of men's sports, including:
Bethany also offers the following women's sports:
The men's soccer team won the NCAA National Championship in 1994. The Bison defeated Johns Hopkins University 1-0 in double overtime for their first and only NCAA title. In doing so, Bethany College became the smallest college in the United States to win an NCAA championship. The winning goal was scored by Pat Ricci and was assisted by Steve Lindquist. Malleh Sallah was named the NCAA Goalkeeper of the Year and a 1st Team All-American. The team was coached by John Cunningham who led the team from 1968-2001 and never had a losing record.
Greek life
Fraternities and sororities constitute important social groups for upperclass-men and -women on campus. Members of the five social fraternities and three sororities constitute approximately forty percent of the student body. Representatives from each serve on agencies which coordinate fraternal affairs and activities.
Social fraternities represented are Delta Tau Delta (which was founded at Bethany in 1858), Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Nu. Sororities are Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Mu, and Zeta Tau Alpha.
The co-ed national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega was granted a charter at Bethany in 2004. Members of Alpha Phi Omega are permitted to join social fraternities or sororities.