Campus News – Fall 2016

Bethel Starts Record Label, Releases First Album
In the spring, Bethel announced the creation of a record label, HCM (Helm Christian Media) Records, and music publishing company, Bethel College (IN) Publishing. Both are an extension of Bethel’s Worship Arts major and are designed to support recording projects that will prepare students for professional leadership in church worship, Christian music and the creative arts.

On April 12, HCM Records released its first project, Anchor in the Undertow, featuring original songs written and recorded by Bethel students in the Worship Arts program. The album was produced by Billy Smiley, a five-time Grammy-nominated and 26-time Dove-nominated artist, producer and songwriter, based out of Nashville, Tenn. The songs were recorded at Dark Horse Recording Studios and the Playground Studios in Nashville by Bill Whittington, an award-winning engineer who has worked with Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Tim McGraw, Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans and many others. For more information and to purchase the album, visit HCMRecords.org.

Bethel Partners with School City of Mishawaka to Start
Kindergarten Lab Classroom  
In August, Bethel and School City of Mishawaka opened a new kindergarten lab classroom on Bethel’s campus. Students from Bethel’s elementary education and transition to teaching programs will work in the lab to complete field experience and earn class credit. Kindergarten students will benefit from the low student-to-adult ratio, which will allow for individualized guidance and special attention to the learning styles and needs of each student. The lab is located in the Miller/Moore Academic Center and a new playground and fencing were installed to accommodate the class.

Bethel Hosts Summer Institute for Teachers
Bethel’s Education Department hosted its annual Summer Institute for Teachers, June 20-22. Participants had the opportunity to earn up to 18 professional growth points or three graduate credits. Topics included “Improving Schools: What Works?,” “Brain-Based Strategies for Growing Grit and Academic Achievement,” and “Strength-Based Strategies for Student Engagement.”

Campus Prayer Garden Dedicated
A dedication ceremony was held in September to celebrate the completion of a prayer garden on Bethel’s campus. The garden was made possible through funds raised by the classes of 2016 and 1966, combined with gifts from Bethel’s 2016 Online Giving Day. The combined class gift is a tradition for Bethel alumni and a way to connect graduates from across the decades.

Pastors Pray Over Campus
On Friday, Aug. 26, local pastors visited campus for a prayer walk, chapel and lunch, hosted by President Gregg Chenoweth, Ph.D., and Director of Church Relations Keith Koteskey. Pastors walked campus in the morning and prayed for Bethel students, faculty and staff as they prepared to begin a new academic year.

BIG Room Ribbon Cutting Held
On May 3, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Bethel Innovation Gateway (BIG), a room on campus designed to encourage problem-solving and spur creativity. Special speakers included Dick Pfeil, entrepreneur and founder of the Pfeil Innovation Center in South Bend, the Rev. Joe Wenger, superintendent of the North Central District of the Missionary Church, and Joshua Gregory ’01, financial advisor at Korhorn Financial Group and chair of Bethel’s alumni board.

President’s Service Award Recipients Honored
Four students were honored with Bethel’s prestigious President’s Servant Leadership Award in chapel in the spring. Established in 2003, the award recognizes students, nominated by peers, faculty and staff, who are leaders in the areas of 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. Award winners for 2016 include (pictured from left to right): Kyle Busse ’17, Alissa Bremer ’16, Angel Hedglin ’16 and Anthony Houston ’16.

ReDiscover Series Continues
The ReDiscover series continued this year with a focus on the theme of grace, addressing the ways in which a uniquely Wesleyan perspective on grace informs the work of pastors and professors. Speakers included Brian Shelton, Ph.D., provost of Tocoa Falls College, who led the first session during faculty retreat on Aug. 16, and Kevin Mannoia, Ph.D., professor of ministry and chaplain at Azusa Pacific University, who led the session on Sept. 29. For more information on these events and full speaker bios, visit BethelCollege.edu/ReDiscover.

Judith Davis Diversity Speaker Series Continues
In September, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted Jameel McGee and Andrew Collins as part of the Judith Davis Diversity Speaker Series. Collins is a former Benton Harbor police officer who has formed an unlikely friendship with McGee, a man he wrongfully sent to prison. Both men also shared their story in chapel.

New Spanish-Assisted Degree Launched
In May, Bethel’s Adult & Graduate Studies office launched a Hispanic Initiative, offering bilingual adults a new option for obtaining a college degree. To our knowledge, the Spanish-assisted business degree is the only one of its kind in the United States. It is geared toward Hispanic adults who have the ability to earn a college degree, but have stayed out of the classroom due to language barriers. When students begin the program, classes will be taught by Spanish-speaking professors and class discussions and assignments will be more in Spanish than in English. As students approach the completion of their degree, classes and assignments will be in English. All curriculum will be identical to what is taught in Bethel’s current business program. The pilot program is being funded through a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, along with a $5,000 gift from a private donor. According to the latest census data, 15 percent of the Elkhart County population is Hispanic, with a total Latino population of about 29,000. Bethel hopes to eventually expand the program into St. Joseph County, and become a model to start Spanish-assisted degrees throughout the state and the country.

Center for Professional Development Expands Offerings
Bethel’s Center for Professional Development continues to expand the education and training opportunities available for the surrounding community. Following the continued success of the Hospitality & Tourism two-week training program, now offered quarterly on Bethel’s campus, the Center launched a collaborative Building Trades program in April. This program is designed to address the skilled trades gap in Indiana and is offered in partnership with WorkOne and local unions and employers. The Center also provided one-day workshops for local hospitality and tourism professionals on the topics of crowd/workplace safety and how to help prevent human trafficking.

Bethel Named a College of Distinction for Sixth Year in a Row
Bethel College is one of nine Indiana colleges to be recognized as a 2016 College of Distinction, and one of 59 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. Colleges of Distinction is a nationally recognized web-based guide that provides students, counselors and parents with information about colleges and universities that take a holistic approach to admissions, consistently excel in providing undergraduate education and have a truly national reputation. To learn more about the online guide, visit CollegesOfDistinction.com.

Bethel Recognized as a Best College for Economics Majors
Zippa, a career resource for new graduates, has named Bethel College one of the “10 Best Colleges for Economics Majors in Indiana.” Out of 162 schools, Bethel ranked number seven on the list, which also included Purdue University, University of Notre Dame and Indiana University. Schools were evaluated in three categories: career results, economics emphasis and school performance. The rankings are based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.