Bethel University Community Impact Report

Community Impact Report | 2 BethelUniversity.edu BETHEL UNIVERSITY GREETINGS! As Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Bethel University since July 2019, I am so grateful for God's leading, His calling and the opportunity to serve. I came to Bethel with more than 30 years of professional fundraising experience in the region. I also have a personal connection to Christian Higher Education, having graduated from Asbury University, and my wife, Connie, is a graduate of Bethel's adult programs. This is an exciting time for Bethel University! I am building on the momentum of new initiatives including the Field Scholar Program, a low- or no-debt path through Bethel, made possible through community partnerships, and the on- ground Computer Science program, which is housed in two new donor-funded labs constructed in the summer of 2019. Bethel offers life-changing education to individuals who impact and benefit our Michiana community, as well as the state of Indiana, as students and graduates. In fact, 70% of Bethel graduates stay in the state after graduation. As a proud member of Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), Bethel University is one of 30 committed collaborators, working with businesses, nonprofits, and local and state agencies to ensure we offer the most relevant academic programs possible for all students and for the Hoosier workforce. Bethel and other ICI institutions are fueling Indiana’s economy and ensuring a strong future for the state, both through the impact of real dollars spent today and by the educated workforce we create. These 30 institutions have one purpose — to make life better for all of us. When Bethel College became Bethel University on May 6, 2019, we began talking more about four key attributes that define us. These include strong academics, spiritual formation, mentoring and relationships. As Bethel University, we remain focused on our mission, to impact the world through Christ-centered graduates, and we steadfastly hold to our motto: With Christ at the Helm. When you support Bethel University’s most critical needs, you make an immediate impact with far-reaching results for our community and beyond. Through generous gifts, you can change lives, be part of something bigger and help build committed leaders to serve our communities, the Church and the world. Sincerely, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bethel University Letter from Matt Lentsch, MPA, CFRE, Vice President for Insititutional Advancement