Type Private, coeducational Affiliation Missionary Church President Dr. Gregg Chenoweth Total enrollment 2,152 (2010) Phone +1 574-807-7000 Founded 1947 | Established 1947 Endowment $7.8 million Undergraduate tuition and fees 25,830 USD (2015) Acceptance rate 70.5% (2014) Graduation rate 67.2% (2014) | |
Motto With Christ at the Helm Address 1001 Bethel Cir, Mishawaka, IN 46545, USA Notable alumni Justin Masterson, Eric Stults, Joel Runyon, Timothy Wesco, Eric Carpenter Similar Grace College and Theo, Huntington University, Taylor University, University of Saint Francis, Indiana Wesleyan University Profiles | ||
Bethel College, a Christian liberal arts college located in Mishawaka, Indiana, United States was established in 1947 and is affiliated with the evangelical Christian Missionary Church.
Contents
History
Mennonite Brethren in Christ (MBC) founder Daniel Brenneman first called for a training institute in 1893. Then, for many years, J. A. Huffman pressed the case for a Christian liberal arts college, even suggesting the name Bethel, meaning “house of God.” Formal church approval finally came in 1944, and land was purchased in Mishawaka, Indiana during 1946 under the leadership of Q. J. Everest, Seth Rohrer, and Warren Manges. Twenty-seven-year-old Woodrow I. Goodman (1947–1959) was appointed the first president, at that time the youngest in the United States.
Bethel College opened in the fall of 1947 with ninety-four students. During that same year, the MBC became the United Missionary Church. The Administration Building was completed in 1951, the first of many projects dependent upon sacrificial giving and volunteer labor.
Bethel established some 11 academic programs during its first decade, capped by the Teacher Education Program in 1955. Intercollegiate athletic programs were approved in 1958, with the first intercollegiate basketball game played in 1959.
On March 31, 1971, President Ray P. Pannabecker (1959–1974) and Dean Wayne J. Gerber welcomed North Central Association accreditation. Bethel College grew steadily until it reached an enrollment of about 500.
Bethel College continued moving forward under the presidencies of Albert J. Beutler (1974–1981), James A. Bennett (1982–1988), and Walter L. Weldy (interim 1988-1989). Among the more notable additions and innovations were the adult programs, the division of nursing, and the Otis Bowen Library, which anchored a new architectural style. In 1986, the baseball team won the first of what are now some 35 team national championships.
Bethel experienced a renaissance under the presidency of Norman V. Bridges (1989–2004). A dynamic team of administrators, repeated record enrollments, greatly expanded curricular offerings, the hiring of nationally known scholars, an aggressive, aesthetically attractive plan of campus development, and notable periods of spiritual renewal have helped make Bethel College a school of choice for many from the region.
In addition to a burgeoning traditional student body, adult and graduate degree programs have helped fuel the growth of the college. With new majors in Sign Language Interpreting, Environmental Biology, Criminal Justice, Philosophy, and Spanish complementing traditional strengths in Music, Theatre, Religion, Business, and the service professions, Bethel College increasingly reflects a national and international student body. The college also participates in a broad range of study abroad programs and annually sends out dozens of Task Force ministry teams around the world.
Dr. Steven R. Cramer (2004-2013) served as the sixth president of Bethel College. During his presidency enrollment continued to climb to more than 2,100 students, as Bethel continued to rise in its ranking of the Midwest’s Best Baccalaureate Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Bethel study abroad offerings were expanded; the music department received NASM accreditation; and the campus became more intentional in its multi-ethnic programming. Cramer worked to secure the long-term financial future of Bethel during a period of national economic crisis.
The college was able to move forward with multiple building projects, including the Pannabecker Math and Science Laboratories, a new west campus entrance and a renovated Helm, the Lodge residence hall, a renovated Dining Commons, and an enlarged College Bookstore/ Coffee shop. The campus borders were also expanded with the purchase of approximately 13 acres to the south. There were several firsts during this time, such as the appointment of the first two female vice presidents, the launch of online degree programs, the visit from a sitting U.S. President (George W. Bush), and hosting the Missionary Church General Conference. In February 2011, the campus was once again touched by a profound spiritual revival.
In 2006, Bethel College was reorganized on a university model, divided into seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Business & Social Sciences, Education, Nursing, Religion & Philosophy, Adult Studies, and Graduate Studies. In 2013, these schools were reorganized and consolidated into two divisions: Arts & Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences while the School of Nursing was retained. Dr. Gregg Chenoweth was as the new president in 2013.
Campus
A $6.9 million addition to the Middleton Hall of Science is just one in a long string of major construction and landscaping projects since the early 1990s, including Founders' Village Apartments, the Middleton wing for Nursing, an enlarged Dining Commons, the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center, Wiekamp Athletic Center, Shiloh Prayer Chapel, the campus ponds and waterfall, Morey Soccer Field, Taylor Memorial Chapel, Jenkins Stadium, Sailor Residential Center, Miller/Moore Academic Center, and Sufficient Grounds Cafe and Campus Store. Several more projects are on the horizon. The nursing program at Grace College is one of several emerging extension centers for Bethel.
Organization and administration
Bethel is a part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges. Bethel is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The institution also has specialized accreditation by The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
Currently, Bethel is organized into three academic areas: Division of Arts & Sciences; Division of Humanities & Social Sciences; School of Nursing. Additionally, there are four graduate programs administered in conjunction with the schools through the Office of Adult and Graduate Studies.
There are approximately 2000 students distributed across these programs. About 1300 are traditional students pursuing bachelor's degrees right after high school. 650 are adult students who take classes on evenings and weekends which lead to bachelors or associate degrees. 250 are enrolled in graduate programs. The Bethel College faculty is composed of about 115 full-time members.
Academic profile
Bethel College offers undergraduate, graduate and adult degree programs across the spectrum of disciplines that characterizes American higher education at small colleges. The traditional academic majors include a substantial general education component which is typical of most liberal arts institutions. With some variation by major program, these students take courses in history, literature, philosophy, fine arts, communication (oral and written), psychology, sociology, science, mathematics, physical education, and foreign language. Furthermore, because of the college's identification with Christianity, all students take courses in Bible (Old and New Testament) and an introductory theology course. These general education courses provide a broad background across the disciplines upon which more depth is pursued in a major (or majors).
Athletics
Bethel College teams are known as the Pilots. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) (NAIA Division II for basketball), the college competes in the Crossroads League, (formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference). The Pilots also compete as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Basketball, baseball, and softball games are broadcast by the Regional Radio Sports Network.
The Pilots offer eight men's sports, nine women's sports, and two coed sports:
The most recent sports added were men's rugby, women's lacrosse, and coed drumline. These additions were announced in October 2014 and began competing in the 2015-16 school year.
Athletic Accomplishments
(List is current through the 2015-16 school year).
In addition to athletic competition, Bethel College encourages athletes to undertake short-term missionary work. Over 45 short term missions trips/task force teams have been taken by teams within the athletic department.