Around Campus – Fall 2015

Dr. William Abraham addresses staff, faculty and Missionary Church pastors at the ReDiscover session held during faculty retreat on campus.

ReDiscover Series Continues
On Aug. 11, Bethel professors, along with about 20 Missionary Church pastors, joined together with distinguished scholar Dr. William Abraham to reflect on theological identity. Abraham, who is the Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, explored how a Wesleyan perspective on sanctification informs and shapes how professors approach the art of teaching. It was all part of ReDiscover, a three-year series sponsored by Bethel College. Learn more at BethelCollege.edu/ReDiscover.

Best-Selling Author Visits Campus
Tim Elmore, Ph.D., visited Bethel in September to speak in chapel and provide training for faculty and staff. Elmore is a leading authority on understanding the next generation and preparing tomorrow’s leaders today. He is a best-selling author, international speaker, and president of Growing Leaders, a nonprofit that helps develop emerging leaders under the philosophy that each child is born with leadership qualities.

Diversity Speaker Series to Begin
Judith (Gooden) Davis ’04, an alumna and member of the Bethel College Board of Trustees, and her husband, Ernest, are funding a new speaker series with the goal of equipping students with actionable information that will empower them to advocatefor diversity and inclusion. Davis values the impact of the Bethel chapel speakers she heard as a student, and continues to see their imprint as she goes about her work at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, where she was recently promoted to the position of divisional vice president of clinical operations, government programs. The first event for the series will be held in the fall semester.

Nursing, Music Programs Reaccredited
Both the Bethel College nursing and music programs have been reaccredited by third party commissions in their respective fields, recognizing each program as having achieved the high standards in teaching and learning required by each commission. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing has reaccredited the master’s in nursing program at Bethel College, with a follow-up visit planned for fall 2020. The National Association of Schools of Music has granted a renewal of membership to Bethel College for seven years, reaccrediting the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (General, General/Choral, General/Choral/Instrumental, Instrumental) and Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance.

Bethel Partners with Hubbard Hill
Bethel’s Center for Professional Development (formerly the Center for Customized Training) is now partnering with Hubbard Hill Estates Retirement Community to provide certified nurse aide (CNA) training. The training can be completed in as little as five weeks. Courses are taught by Bethel College faculty in state-ofthe-art facilities at Hubbard Hill in Elkhart, Ind. The program is designed to prepare students to take the nurse aide competency evaluation to become a CNA in the state of Indiana. For more information and to apply, visit BethelCollege.edu/CNA.

Kinesiology Department Recognized by National Association
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has accepted Bethel’s kinesiology program as a Recognized Strength and Conditioning Program. The NSCA is the world’s leading membership organization for elite strength coaches, personal trainers and dedicated researchers and educators. This distinction is given to educational programs that have met specific criteria recommended by the NSCA.

Bethel Hosts Summer of Service
In June, Bethel hosted area junior high and high school students as part of the annual Summer of Service (SOS) student weekend. More than 600 student and adult volunteers from 31 local churches participated in the four-day, three-night, serviceoriented event. Volunteers stayed in Bethel’s residence halls and, between service projects, gathered in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center for worship, teaching, prayer, group discussion and devotions. Students served at about 100 worksites throughout the area on Friday and Saturday, providing carwashes, helping at nonprofit organizations, working on home beautification projects for community members and doing a variety of other projects.

Bethel Holds Summer Institute for Teachers
Bethel’s Education Department hosted its annual Summer Institute for Teachers, June 15-17. Participants had the opportunity to earn up to 18 professional growth points or three graduate credits. “The Summer Institute is designed to be highly interactive and engaging, allowing teachers to share new ideas and learn from each other,” says Kristie Cerling, Ed.D., program director for education. Topics included Technology Playground, Growing Achievement through Student Engagement and Rigor through Relevance.

President Chenoweth meets with Congresswoman Jaci Walorski during a jobs fair held on campus.

Congresswoman Hosts Job Fair at Bethel
President Gregg Chenoweth, Ph.D., welcomed Congresswoman Jackie Walorski to Bethel’s campus on April 8. Walorski hosted a jobs fair in the Wiekamp Athletic Center, offering 1,000 jobs from more than 50 employers.

Bethel Recognized as a Top Tier College for 12th Consecutive Year
Bethel College stood firm as 19th on the list of the Midwest’s Best Baccalaureate Colleges in “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News Media Group for the third year in a row. The 2016 edition marks the 12th consecutive year that Bethel has been named a top tier college. Bethel is also positioned highly in several important specific sections: fourth for graduation rate and 10th for freshman to sophomore retention. Learn more at USNews.com/Colleges.

Bethel Named College of Distinction
Bethel College is one of just eight Indiana colleges to be selected as a 2015 College of Distinction, and one of 58 schools in the nation to be named a Christian College of Distinction. This honor is given to colleges and universities that excel in the Four Distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes. To learn more about the online guide, visit CollegesOfDistinction.com.

Bethel Ranked No. 16 by Washington Monthly
Washington Monthly has ranked Bethel College No. 16 of 403 in the Midwest on their 2015 list of the “Best Bang for the Buck Colleges.” This exclusive list rates colleges that are doing the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. View the full list at bit.ly/collegeguide2015.

Servant Leadership Award winners for 2015 include (back row, left to right: Michelle Harper’15 and Taylor (Smigigelski) Nicoletti ’16; and (front row, left to right) Ben Bulgrien ’15 and Katie Holdren 16.

Servant Leaders Awarded
Four students were honored with the prestigious President’s Servant Leadership Award in chapel last spring. Established in 2003, the award recognizes students, nominated by peers, faculty and staff, who are leaders in the areasof ministry and community service. Each award comes with a $1,000 scholarship, with $750 going to the student and $250 going to the charity of his/her choice.

Stay up to date on campus news at BethelCollege.edu/News.