Year in Review

January

Bethel University receives its largest single estate gift, a $3 million gift from the estate of Eunice Singfeldt.

February

Bethel University’s four-year graduation rate—an important indicator of the value of a private college education—remains high at 63%, higher than most Minnesota colleges.

March

Bethel University's women's basketball team is selected to the 64-team NCAA Tournament as an at-large entrant.

Bethel Seminary announces a tuition reset. Tuition for master’s degree programs for the 2015-16 academic year will be $495 per credit hour, which represents about a 12% decrease in per credit hour price for full-time seminary students compared to 2014-2015.

Bethel names William O. Washington as vice president for student life for the College of Arts & Sciences.

April

Bethel University’s Forensics Team finishes up a successful spring semester with several team awards and national championships.

Bethel’s baseball and softball teams are each crowned MIAC Champions.

May

A Bethel mathematics team earns a spot in the top 10“Outstanding Winners” in the 2015 Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP) Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM).

The Board of Trustees approves that Pine Tree Center be renamed Anderson Center to honor  Board of Trustee member, long-time donor, and Bethel friend Rollie Anderson and his wife, Barbara.

Bethel University President Jay Barnes appoints Mark Miles as senior vice president for university advancement.

Bethel University celebrates the commencement of 1,038 graduating students: 540 from the College of Arts & Sciences; 325 from the College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School; and 173 from Bethel Seminary, including graduates in St. Paul, San Diego, and from Bethel Seminary of the East.

June

The Bethel Wind Symphony returns from a 12-day tour to South Korea.

July

An eight-person cast performs The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! During Bethel Theatre’s summer musical.

August

Conductor-in-residence and conductor of the Bethel University Orchestra Lynda Bradley-Vacco passes away after a battle with breast cancer.

Bethel University announces Carmen Shields as the new chief marketing officer.

September

Headshots for the Bethel Royals football team receive significant media recognition from ESPN to local WCCO.

October

Bethel Seminary announces degree program changes, effective fall 2016, to reduce cost and time to completion for four degrees.

Bethel community members celebrate the grand openings of the Cultural Connection Center (CCC) and the Wellness Center.

November

Bethel’s volleyball team advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in team history.

December

Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department Stacey Hunter Hecht passes away on December 9 after a battle with breast cancer.

The inaugural graduating class for Bethel’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) program reports a 100% passing rate for the national PA certification exam.