Bethel College (Indiana)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007)
For other places with the same name, see Bethel College.
Bethel College
Image:BethelCollegeIndianaLogoStack.jpg
Motto: Forward, With Christ at the Helm
Established: 1947
Type: Private, Evangelical Christian
Endowment: $7.8 million[1]
President: Dr. Steven R. Cramer
Students: 1,964
Undergraduates: 2,000+
Postgraduates: 120+
Location: Mishawaka, IN, USA
Campus: suburban: 75 acres (0.30 km²)
Athletics:
18 NAIA teams,
The Pilots
Affiliations: Missionary Church
Website: www.BethelCollege.edu

Bethel College is a liberal arts institution located in South Bend (Mishawaka), Indiana. It was established in 1947 by a Mennonite group which was one of the founding members of the Missionary Church. Bethel College continues to be affiliated with the Missionary Church.

Contents

[edit] Academics

Bethel College offers undergraduate, graduate and adult degree programs through the School of Religion and Philosophy, the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business & Social Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Nursing and the School of Graduate and Adult Studies. More than 75% of the faculty hold a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their field and work closely with students in the classroom and on research projects. The undergraduate student to teacher ratio is 14:1 and the average class size is 16. Among the notable faculty is Dr. John Haas. The College community informally recognizes his contribution to the campus by celebrating John Haas Day (April 19).

[edit] Notable alumni

  • Jacob Bawa, former Nigerian ambassador to Italy
  • William Hossler, current President of the Missionary Church
  • John Moran, former President of the Missionary Church
  • Eric Stults, pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Justin Masterson, pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization

[edit] Guest speakers

President George W. Bush held a political fundraiser on the campus of Bethel College (February 2006) for then Congressman Chris Chocola. Other notable speakers to visit the Bethel College campus include Alvin Plantinga, Richard Swinburne, Dallas Willard, William Lane Craig, and Jerry Jenkins, among others.

[edit] Facility development

Since 1992 Bethel College has undergone several major building projects including:

  • Four apartment style residence halls
  • 210-bed residence hall
  • Chapel/Fine Arts Center
  • Wiekamp Athletic Center
  • Jenkins Stadium renovations, including new press box & runs-by-inning scoreboard
  • Five story Academic/Technology Center
  • Six apartment units
  • Expanded exercise facilities
  • Sufficient Grounds Coffee House
  • Bookstore

Recently, Bethel College purchased land adjacent to the south end of the campus for future building endeavors.

Bethel College is currently building a $6.5 million expansion to the Middleton Hall of Science to offer more classrooms and labs.

[edit] Athletics

Bethel College offers 17 sports, as well as cheerleading and competes in the Mid-Central Conference of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division 1 (basketball division 2) as well as the National Christian College Athletic Association.

[edit] Sports

[edit] Philosophy towards sports

Bethel College's philosophy concerning sports is as follows: "We celebrate the true spirit of sport. The true spirit that binds Bethel athletes is their devotion to sport and learning, faith in God, and commitment to serving the larger world around them."

The Pilots' athletic accomplishments:

  • NCCAA National Sports Ministries Award
  • 125 Academic All-Americans
  • 200 All-Americans
  • 22 national team championships
  • 25 national Coach of the Year awards

In addition to athletic competition, Bethel College encourages athletes to undertake short-term missionary work. To date, 30 missions trips have been taken by athletic groups.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. 1 endowment  America's Best Colleges 2006. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved on January 19, 2006.
v • d • e
Mid-Central College Conference (NAIA)