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Bethel University (Minnesota)

Coordinates:45°3′30″N93°9′45″W/ 45.05833°N 93.16250°W/45.05833; -93.16250
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For other places with the same name, seeBethel University (disambiguation).
Bethel University
Former names
Baptist Union Theological Seminary (1871–1931)[1]
Bethel Junior College (1931–1947)
Bethel College and Seminary (1947–2004)
TypePrivate university
Established1871;153 years ago(1871)
Religious affiliation
Converge
Academic affiliations
Endowment$39.5 million (2021)[2]
Budget$145.3 million (2016)[3]
PresidentRoss Allen
Academic staff
544
Students6,532[4]
Undergraduates2,800
Location
Arden Hills
,
Minnesota
,
United States
CampusSuburban
ColorsNavy blueandVegas Gold
NicknameRoyals
Sporting affiliations
NCAADivision III
MIAC
MascotRoy the Lion
Websitewww.bethel.edu

Bethel Universityis aprivateChristianuniversity andseminaryinArden Hills,Minnesota,United States. It was founded in 1871 as a seminary and is affiliated withConverge.The university enrolls 5,600 students inundergraduate,graduate,andseminaryprograms.[5][6]Its main campus is situated on about 290 acres on the east side of Lake Valentine just south ofInterstate 694.[5]

History[edit]

Bethel University has its origins in theBaptist Theological Union's Swedish Seminary (Baptist Union Theological Seminary), which was founded by SwedishBaptistpastorJohn Alexis EdgreninChicago,Illinoisin 1871.[7]In 1914, theBaptist General Conferencehas become the school's main partner.[8]The seminary merged withBethel Academyand relocated its campus toSaint Paul, Minnesota.In 1931, the Academy becameBethel Junior College.The addition of a four-year liberal arts college program createdBethel College and Seminaryin 1947.[8]The school relocated from St. Paul toArden Hills, Minnesotain 1972. In 2004, the institution changed its name toBethel University.[9]

Academics[edit]

The university offers degree programs through four different schools. The College of Arts and Sciences is its traditional undergraduate program, Bethel offersbachelor's degreesin 106majorsand emphases of study, 43minors,and 11 pre-professional programs. The College of Adults & Professional Studies offersassociate degrees,bachelor's degrees,and a number of certificate programs. Through itsgraduate school,Bethel offers tenmaster's degrees,including aphysician assistantprogram, as well as adoctoratein educational leadership. Bethel also offers a number of graduate certificate programs and licenses.[6]

The school's seminary, calledBethel Theological Seminary,is located primarily on the Arden Hills campus. It also has a location inSan Diegoand offers a number of fully online programs.[10]It offersMaster of Divinity(M.Div.) andDoctor of Ministry(D.Min.) degrees, along with severalMaster of Arts(MA) and certificate programs.[11]

Accreditations[edit]

Bethel has been accredited by theHigher Learning Commissionsince 1959.[12]Its nursing program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.[13]Bethel's business program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.[14][15]

Arden Hills campus[edit]

The main entrance to Bethel University, located offOld Snelling AvenueinArden Hills.

Academic buildings[edit]

There are six main academic buildings located at the center of Bethel University's main campus inArden 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[edit]

Freshman residences[edit]

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.[16]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.[17]

Residences for returning students[edit]

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.[16]

Brushaber Commons[edit]

Commons Building in 2010

The Brushaber Commons, a $30 million, 106,000-square foot student commons area, opened in 2009.[18]The Brushaber Commons is named after retired Bethel President George K. Brushaber.[19]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[edit]

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.[20]Benson Hall has hosted a variety of events in the past, providing a venue for Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra,[21]a location for high school graduations, and the 2018 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration.[22]Benson Great Hall offers a green room, backstage dressing rooms and bathrooms, custom sound dampening, lighting, and set design for special events.[22]

Student life[edit]

The universityhymnisO God of Bethel, by Whose HandbyPhilip Doddridge.A morning prayer chapel service is offered each class day, as well asvesperson Sunday evenings, but attendance is no longer mandatory.[23]

Covenant for Life Together[edit]

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.[24]

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.[25]

Publications[edit]

Bethel University has a student news publication,The Clarion,which is printed during the school year and distributed on campus as well as online.[26]

Affiliation[edit]

It is affiliated withConverge.[27]

Athletics[edit]

The Bethel University athletic teams are known as the Royals. The university competes at theNCAA Division IIIlevel in 18 intercollegiate sports and is a member of theMinnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference(MIAC).[28]

Facilities[edit]

  • Bethel University Arenais located at theNational Sports CenterinBlaine, Minnesotaand has been the home of men's and women's hockey teams since 2007.[29]
  • Hargis Park,the home field of the Bethel University baseball team, opened in the spring of 2000. It features an entirely turf field, an outdoor turf batting cage, two clay bullpen mounds, major league length dugouts, press box, and inning-by-inning scoreboard in left field and capacity to over 500 spectators.[30]
  • Ona Orth Athletic Complexopened for play in the fall of 2003 and is home to Bethel's tennis, softball, and soccer teams. The facility includes a fast-pitch softball park, six tennis courts, and a soccer practice/game field with branded team building.[30]
  • Robertson Center Gymnasiumhas been the home of Bethel basketball and volleyball since 1972.[31]
  • Royal Stadium,the home of Bethel's football team, was built in 1995 and renovated in 2001.[32]

Notable alumni[edit]

Undergraduate[edit]

Seminary[edit]

Notable current and former faculty[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"History".bethel.edu.Bethel University.Retrieved7 January2023.
  2. ^"Bethel University".College Confidential.Retrieved2022-05-13.
  3. ^Kennedy, Patrick."Minnesota Nonprofit 100".StarTribune News.Minneapolis StarTribune.Retrieved16 December2017.
  4. ^"Annual Report".Office of the President, Bethel University.RetrievedNovember 1,2013.
  5. ^ab"US News | Bethel University".November 27, 2018.
  6. ^ab"Bethel at a Glance".Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2023.RetrievedDecember 11,2017.
  7. ^William H. Brackney,Historical Dictionary of the Baptists,Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 65
  8. ^abRandall Herbert Balmer,Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition,Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 74
  9. ^Erlandson, Henry (February 27, 2020)."Alumnus Ross Allen named Bethel University's president-elect".Star Tribune.Retrieved2022-05-13.
  10. ^"Locations".Retrieved27 April2012.
  11. ^"St. Paul Programs".Retrieved27 April2012.
  12. ^"Higher Learning Commission - Accreditations - Bethel University".Higher Learning Commission.November 23, 2018.RetrievedNovember 23,2018.
  13. ^"Approved Professional Nursing Programs".Minnesota Board of Nursing.Retrieved2018-11-23.
  14. ^"Undergraduate Business Department Receives International Accreditation | Bethel University".www.bethel.edu.Retrieved2020-01-08.
  15. ^"Bethel University - Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs".www.acbsp.org.Retrieved2020-01-08.
  16. ^ab"Residences Halls - Bethel University".RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  17. ^"Nelson Hall - Bethel University".RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  18. ^"Bethel University, George K. Brushaber Commons - WoodWorks".WoodWorks.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  19. ^Writer, Stephen HardingStaff."Bethel honors North Oaks couple".Press Publications.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  20. ^"Benson Great Hall - Bethel University".RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  21. ^"Venues -Concerts & Tickets - The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra".content.thespco.org.Retrieved2018-11-27.
  22. ^ab"Performances | Bethel University".www.bethel.edu.Retrieved2018-11-27.
  23. ^"Worship Experience".Bethel University.Retrieved30 May2022.
  24. ^"Covenant for Life Together - Bethel University".RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  25. ^"Covenant Changes".Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2012.Retrieved27 April2012.
  26. ^"About".The Clarion.2015-10-14.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  27. ^Bethel University,Church Relations,bethel.edu, USA, accessed November 2, 2023
  28. ^"Bethel University Quick Facts".athletics.bethel.edu.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  29. ^"Bethel University Arena".athletics.bethel.edu.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  30. ^ab"Hargis Park".athletics.bethel.edu.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  31. ^"Robertson Center Gym".athletics.bethel.edu.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  32. ^"Royal Stadium".athletics.bethel.edu.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  33. ^"Anderson, Chad - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  34. ^"Meet the Translators - NIV Bible".NIV Bible.Retrieved2018-11-23.
  35. ^"Hayden, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  36. ^Murray, Rheana (9 August 2012)."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".New York Daily News.Retrieved10 August2012.
  37. ^"Biography".Congressman Randy Hultgren.2012-12-11. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-03-20.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  38. ^"Jessup, Randy - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  39. ^"Johnson, Mark - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  40. ^"Johnson, Sheldon - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  41. ^News, Renee Gendreau New Castle."Mega mission: Neshannock native leads Minnesota's largest church".New Castle News.Retrieved2017-12-12.{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)
  42. ^"Bethel Alum Jeff Nelson Announced MLB All-Star Game Umpire -".athletics.bethel.edu.9 July 2014.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  43. ^Smith, Roberta (23 July 2010)."Doug Ohlson, Painter of Vivid Abstracts, Dies at 73 – Obituary".NY Times.Retrieved27 April2012.
  44. ^Finsaas, Nicole (April 19, 2012)."Pawlentys Discuss Faith and Politics".RetrievedDecember 11,2017.
  45. ^"Linda Runbeck (R) 38A - Minnesota House of Representatives".www.house.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  46. ^"Wolf, Pam - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".www.leg.state.mn.us.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  47. ^"Leith Anderson".RetrievedDecember 18,2017.
  48. ^"Greg Boyd - Greg Boyd - ReKnew".Greg Boyd - ReKnew.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  49. ^"SBL Publications".www.sbl-site.org.Retrieved2017-12-12.
  50. ^Painter, Kristen Leigh (2016-07-20)."Obituary: Professor, nonprofit leader Alvera Mickelsen blended feminism and Christian teaching".Star Tribune.Retrieved2016-08-06.
  51. ^Grudem, Wayne (16 June 2017)."What's Systematic Theology and Why Bother?".The Gospel Coalition.
  52. ^"John Piper, emeritus - Bethlehem College and Seminary".Bethlehem College and Seminary.Retrieved2017-12-12.

External links[edit]

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