Bethel University (Minnesota) Explained

Bethel University
Image Upright:0.9
Former Names:Baptist Union Theological Seminary (1871–1931)[1]
Bethel Junior College (1931–1947)
Bethel College and Seminary (1947–2004)
Type:Private university
Religious Affiliation:Converge
President:Ross Allen
Endowment:$39.5 million (2021)[2]
Budget:$145.3 million (2016)[3]
Academic Staff:544
Students:6,532[4]
Undergrad:2,800
City:Arden Hills
State:Minnesota
Country:United States
Campus:Suburban
Sporting Affiliations:NCAA Division III
MIAC
Colors:Navy blue and Vegas Gold
Sports Nickname:Royals
Mascot:Roy the Lion

Bethel University is a private Baptist Christian university and seminary in Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1871 as a seminary and is affiliated with Converge. The university enrolls 5,600 students in undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs.[5] [6] Its main campus is situated on about 290 acres on the east side of Lake Valentine just south of Interstate 694.

History

Bethel University has its origins in the Baptist Theological Union's Swedish Seminary (Baptist Union Theological Seminary), which was founded by Swedish Baptist pastor John Alexis Edgren in Chicago, Illinois in 1871.[7] [8] Edgren was a former mariner and Civil War veteran originally from Ostana, Sweden, and founded the school as a place for Swedish Baptists to enter the ministry. Edgren was pastor of the First Swedish Baptist Church of Chicago and worked with the Baptist Theological Union to found the seminary. The first woman, Elizabeth Johnson, matriculated in 1879. The school moved several times, first from Morgan Park, Illinois, to St. Paul, Minnesota, then to Stomsburg, Nebraska, and then back to Morgan Park in 1888.[9] In 1914, the Baptist General Conference has become the school's main partner.[10] The seminary merged with Bethel Academy and relocated its campus to Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1931, the Academy became Bethel Junior College. The addition of a four-year liberal arts college program created Bethel College and Seminary in 1947.[10] The school relocated from St. Paul to Arden Hills, Minnesota in 1972. In 2004, the institution changed its name to Bethel University.[11]

Academics

The university offers degree programs through four different schools. The College of Arts and Sciences is its traditional undergraduate program, Bethel offers bachelor's degrees in 106 majors and emphases of study, 43 minors, and 11 pre-professional programs. The College of Adults & Professional Studies offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and a number of certificate programs. Through its graduate school, Bethel offers ten master's degrees, including a physician assistant program, as well as a doctorate in educational leadership. Bethel also offers a number of graduate certificate programs and licenses.

Seminary

The school's seminary, called Bethel Theological Seminary, is located primarily on the Arden Hills campus. It also has a location in San Diego and offers a number of fully online programs.[12] It offers Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees, along with several Master of Arts (MA) and certificate programs.[13]

Accreditations

Bethel has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1959.[14] Its nursing program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.[15] Bethel's business program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.[16] [17]

Arden Hills campus

Academic buildings

There are six main academic buildings located at the center of Bethel University's main campus in Arden Hills, Minnesota. They run from southwest to northeast and are connected on the first three floors by weather-protected skyways and tunnels.

Starting from the Southwest and running to the Northeast, the buildings are as follows (with abbreviations in parentheses): Benson Great Hall and Lundquist Community Life Center (CLC), Barnes Academic Center (BAC), Brushaber Commons (BC), Clauson Fine Arts Center (CC), Hagstrom Student Services Center (HC), and Robertson Physical Education Center (RC).

On-campus housing

Freshman residences

There are four freshman residence halls on campus. Three—Bodien Hall, Getsch Hall, and Edgren Hall—encircle a cul-de-sac just south of the academic buildings, informally known as Freshman Hill.[18] The fourth, Nelson Hall, is the largest of the freshman residences, and located nearby on the north side of the academic buildings. It is the oldest building on Bethel University's current campus in Arden Hills.[19]

Residences for returning students

Two residence halls, Arden Village and Lissner Hall, mostly house returning students. North Village, a collection of five buildings formerly used as housing for seminary students, houses returning students and offers a full kitchen in every suite. It is located at the far north end of the campus. Heritage Hall, opened in 1999, is a suite-style residence hall, housing juniors and seniors. Students enrolling after Fall 2019 must be 21 years of age prior to September 1 to live off-campus with the exception of those who commute from their parents' home.

Brushaber Commons

The Brushaber Commons, a $30 million, 106,000-square foot student commons area, opened in 2009.[20] The Brushaber Commons is named after retired Bethel President George K. Brushaber.[21] In addition to serving as a gathering point for students, the commons includes a dining center, coffee shop, restaurant, campus store, office space, public meeting areas, and an admissions center.

Benson Great Hall

Benson Great Hall, Bethel's performing arts center, is a 1,700-seat concert hall with a 4,000-pipe Blackinton organ located in the center of the Lundquist Community Life Center. This hall houses worship services, theatre productions, and can be rented by outside performers.[22] Benson Hall has hosted a variety of events in the past, providing a venue for Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra,[23] a location for high school graduations, and the 2018 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration.[24] Benson Great Hall offers a green room, backstage dressing rooms and bathrooms, custom sound dampening, lighting, and set design for special events.[24]

Student life

The university hymn is O God of Bethel, by Whose Hand by Philip Doddridge. A morning prayer chapel service is offered each class day, as well as vespers on Sunday evenings, but attendance is no longer mandatory.[25]

Covenant for Life Together

All full-time students in the College of Arts and Sciences are expected to abide by the Covenant for Life Together. The Covenant is a lifestyle agreement that focuses on living a life of faith and personal morality. The Covenant emphasizes a respect for all persons and ethnic traditions and requires students to refrain from any sort of extramarital sex, homosexuality, pornography, gambling, illegal drugs, and tobacco in any form.[26]

Under the Covenant for Life Together, students in the College of Arts and Sciences were initially prohibited from dancing or consuming alcohol year-round, but the rules were eventually relaxed to allow alcohol consumption when classes are not in session. Alcohol consumption by full-time students in the College of Arts and Sciences is still prohibited during the academic year.[27]

Publications

Bethel University has a student news publication, The Clarion, which is printed during the school year and distributed on campus as well as online.[28]

Affiliation

It is affiliated with Converge.[29]

Athletics

The Bethel University athletic teams are known as the Royals. The university competes at the NCAA Division III level in 18 intercollegiate sports and is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).[30]

Women's

Men's

Facilities

Notable alumni

Undergraduate

Seminary alumni

Notable current and former faculty

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History . bethel.edu . Bethel University . 7 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Bethel University. 2022-05-13. College Confidential. en.
  3. Web site: Kennedy. Patrick. Minnesota Nonprofit 100. StarTribune News. Minneapolis StarTribune. 16 December 2017.
  4. Web site: Annual Report. Office of the President, Bethel University . November 1, 2013.
  5. Web site: US News Bethel University. November 27, 2018.
  6. Web site: Bethel at a Glance. December 11, 2017. May 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230530011430/https://www.bethel.edu/about/bethel-glance/. dead.
  7. William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 65
  8. Web site: Bethel Seminary | Bethel University.
  9. Adolf Olson, Seventy-five Years: A History of Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1871-1946, (Conference Press: 1946) 9-33
  10. Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 74
  11. News: Erlandson . Henry . Alumnus Ross Allen named Bethel University's president-elect . February 27, 2020 . 2022-05-13. Star Tribune.
  12. Web site: Locations. 27 April 2012.
  13. Web site: St. Paul Programs. 27 April 2012.
  14. Web site: Higher Learning Commission - Accreditations - Bethel University. November 23, 2018. Higher Learning Commission. November 23, 2018.
  15. Web site: Approved Professional Nursing Programs. Minnesota Board of Nursing. en. 2018-11-23.
  16. Web site: Undergraduate Business Department Receives International Accreditation Bethel University. www.bethel.edu. 2020-01-08.
  17. Web site: Bethel University - Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. www.acbsp.org. 2020-01-08.
  18. Web site: Residences Halls - Bethel University. December 12, 2017.
  19. Web site: Nelson Hall - Bethel University. December 12, 2017.
  20. News: Bethel University, George K. Brushaber Commons - WoodWorks. WoodWorks. 2017-12-12. en-US.
  21. News: Bethel honors North Oaks couple. Writer. Stephen HardingStaff. Press Publications. 2017-12-12. en.
  22. Web site: Benson Great Hall - Bethel University. December 12, 2017.
  23. Web site: Venues -Concerts & Tickets - The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. content.thespco.org. 2018-11-27.
  24. Web site: Performances Bethel University. www.bethel.edu. 2018-11-27.
  25. Web site: Worship Experience . . Bethel University . 30 May 2022.
  26. Web site: Covenant for Life Together - Bethel University . December 12, 2017.
  27. Web site: Covenant Changes. https://web.archive.org/web/20120415012349/http://www.bethel.edu/covenant-changes/. 15 April 2012 . dead . 27 April 2012.
  28. News: About . 2015-10-14. The Clarion . 2017-12-12 . en-US.
  29. Bethel University, Church Relations, bethel.edu, USA, accessed November 2, 2023
  30. Web site: Bethel University Quick Facts. athletics.bethel.edu. en. 2017-12-12.
  31. Web site: Bethel University Arena. athletics.bethel.edu. en. 2017-12-12.
  32. Web site: Hargis Park. athletics.bethel.edu. en. 2017-12-12.
  33. Web site: Robertson Center Gym. athletics.bethel.edu. en. 2017-12-12.
  34. Web site: Royal Stadium. athletics.bethel.edu. en. 2017-12-12.
  35. Web site: Anderson, Chad - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  36. News: Meet the Translators - NIV Bible. NIV Bible. 2018-11-23. en-US.
  37. Web site: Hayden, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  38. News: Abby and Brittany Hensel, conjoined 22-year-old twins, get their own reality TV series – Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel, 22, will be featured in their own new reality series, TLC's 'Abby and Brittany,' as they graduate college together and seek a first job.. Murray. Rheana. 9 August 2012. New York Daily News. 10 August 2012.
  39. News: Biography. 2012-12-11. Congressman Randy Hultgren. 2017-12-12. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320021039/https://hultgren.house.gov/about-randy/full-biography. 2018-03-20. dead.
  40. Web site: Jessup, Randy - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  41. Web site: Johnson, Mark - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  42. Web site: Johnson, Sheldon - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  43. News: Mega mission: Neshannock native leads Minnesota's largest church. News. Renee Gendreau New Castle. New Castle News. 2017-12-12. en.
  44. Web site: Bethel Alum Jeff Nelson Announced MLB All-Star Game Umpire -. athletics.bethel.edu. 9 July 2014 . en. 2017-12-12.
  45. News: Doug Ohlson, Painter of Vivid Abstracts, Dies at 73 – Obituary. Smith. Roberta. 23 July 2010. NY Times. 27 April 2012.
  46. Web site: Pawlentys Discuss Faith and Politics. Finsaas. Nicole. April 19, 2012. December 11, 2017.
  47. Web site: Linda Runbeck (R) 38A - Minnesota House of Representatives. www.house.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  48. Web site: Wolf, Pam - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.leg.state.mn.us. en. 2017-12-12.
  49. Web site: Leith Anderson. December 18, 2017.
  50. News: Greg Boyd - Greg Boyd - ReKnew. Greg Boyd - ReKnew. 2017-12-12. en-US.
  51. Web site: SBL Publications. www.sbl-site.org. 2017-12-12.
  52. News: Obituary: Professor, nonprofit leader Alvera Mickelsen blended feminism and Christian teaching. Painter. Kristen Leigh. 2016-07-20. Star Tribune. 2016-08-06.
  53. Web site: Grudem . Wayne . What's Systematic Theology and Why Bother? . The Gospel Coalition. 16 June 2017 .
  54. News: John Piper, emeritus - Bethlehem College and Seminary. Bethlehem College and Seminary. 2017-12-12. en-US.

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