Bethel Investor: Winter 2014

Winter 2014 | www.bethel.edu

Bethel Investor News for Donors to Bethel University

the changing landscape of higher education Building a Better Bethel

Bethel University is a leader in Christian higher education. But like many colleges and universities we have faced financial challenges the past few years.

As a tuition-driven institution, minor changes in enrollment patterns, along with

changing demographics and student interests as well as the economic downturn, can have a big impact on our budget. As a result, I asked my Cabinet to look into strategic ways to cut costs and increase revenue.

We call this process “Program Prioritization and Review.”

I want to make it clear that, despite the challenges we are facing, Bethel University will be here, successfully educating men and women to lead and serve in the name of Christ, for

“We began to see our situation as an opportunity to plan strategically for the future—and to create a better Bethel” generations to come.

While facing immediate budget shortfalls, we began to see our situation as an opportunity to plan strategically for the future—and to create a better Bethel—by evaluating programs, departments, and university functions to determine what services are essential to the university’s mission and how they can be accomplished most effectively and efficiently. The Program Prioriti-

zation and Review process has resulted in reductions in work force, staff reassignments, and changes to various academic programs in all schools.

These changes are necessary as we strive to be faithful stewards of our resources and to do right by students, staff, faculty, alumni, investors, and friends. And part of that means making hard but wise decisions today to build sus-

Bethel Fund.

Please visit bethel.edu/ offices/president/projects/ prioritization-review/ general-faq for FAQs. In gratitude and service,

Jay Barnes tainable strategies and ensure a strong institution well into the future.

We invite your prayers and partnership. Please pray that we fix our eyes on God and praise Him for His provision and faithfulness. And please consider sharing your blessings by investing in Bethel students through a gift to the

Your Investments are Hard at Work

86% OF ALUMNI ARE ACTIVE IN A FAITH COMMUNITY

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40% percentage of Vespers attendees who are not Bethel students, making this a powerful outreach opportunity

national ranking for study abroad (75% of undergrads study abroad)

Invest locally.

Impact globally.

When you invest in Bethel students, you impact the world.

Invest in Bethel students today. Visit bethel.edu/giving to donate, or use the enclosed envelope.

New Degree Program in Nurse-Midwifery Bethel’s Graduate School will launch a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery in fall 2014. The online program is four semesters long and includes three face-to-face residencies taught by Bethel University nursing professors. Thirty students—who must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing—will be admitted to each cohort. The master’s program will prepare them to practice as nurse-midwives and to continue for a doctoral

degree if they desire. Bethel’s program is distinct in its emphasis on holistic care from a Christian perspective. “Nursemidwifery is very much about holistic care, a focus in all our Bethel nursing programs,” explains Diane Dahl, associate dean for the College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School.

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2013/november/ nurse-midwife to read more.

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Leave a Legacy

Be part of Bethel’s mission by choosing from many unique planned giving options, including some gifts that pay you or provide tax deductions. From setting up a charitable gift annuity to transferring a paid-up life insurance policy, we’ll help you meet your goals while you support current and future Bethel students.

What’s in a Brand?

In the last issue of the Investor, you saw how our Bethel brand has evolved in look, tone, photography, colors, and personality. The final aspect of our rebranding efforts involved creating a new logo, shown here. The goal was to develop a more cohesive and unified logo that represents all of our schools— Bethel Seminary, the College of Adult & Professional Studies, the Graduate School, and the College of Arts & Sciences. After months of research and talking to many stakeholders—including staff, faculty, Board of Trustee members, alumni, investors, and students—about what our visual identity should reflect, we narrowed our choices to this unanimously popular version. The familiar Bethel blue and gold remain. We added a torch: along with strong spiritual ties, light

has been used as a symbol of education. We added a crest, which adds to the academic and traditional feel of the icon as a whole and connects back to our Swedish roots. And we added the “1871” banner to represent our heritage and strength.

Michael Vedders, director of web and creative services, led the branding project. He says, “Our brand communicates the essence of who we are. While our core values and mission never change, it’s important to look at our image and messages, and talk to our community about the things that make Bethel unique, so we can all effectively tell the Bethel story. It’s been 10 years since we last examined our brand, so it was a good time for this project. Ultimately, it’s an investment in the future.”

Physics Department Awarded Three National Science Foundation Grants Three Bethel physics professors have received a total of more than $625,000 in National Science Foundation (NSF) grants in the past year. For a university like Bethel to receive two grants in one year is unusual, but three is truly remarkable, says Dick Peterson, university professor of physics emeritus. And he should know—he served a twoyear appointment as an NSF program director. “The three NSF grants...represent an

extraordinary achievement in the current funding climate...” he explains. “Going three for three with NSF proposals within one year for a small STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)department may be unique in the U.S.” Visit cas.bethel.edu/academics/departments/physics/ research for more information about Bethel’s physics research programs or the NanoLab.

Creative Gifts include:

• Memorial and Tribute Gifts • Non-Cash Gifts • Scholarships • Securities

For more information, visit bethel.edu/giving/ creative-giving. Or contact Dan Wiersum, associate vice president for planned giving and certified specialist in planned giving at 651.635.8052 (800.255.8706, ext. 8052) or d-wiersum@bethel.edu.

Survey of Young Alumni Shows Encouraging Results In 2012, Bethel University surveyed Bethel traditional undergrad alumni who graduated in 2011, 2007, and 2002.

Questions covered graduates’ experience at Bethel as well as their personal, spiritual, and working lives since graduation.

The results are encouraging, showing that these respondents are experiencing relatively low unemployment, high job satisfaction, and a high level of satisfaction with how Bethel prepared them for their job.

“In surveying our one, five, and 10 year CAS graduates we continue to find that a high percentage of them believe Bethel succeeded in preparing them for their vocation, equipped them to make a significant difference in their community, and instilled in them a passion for their faith in Jesus Christ. The surveys continue to affirm that a Bethel

education enables students to become adventurous, engaged, and faithful Christ-followers making a difference in the world for Christ,” says Ralph Gustafson, vice president for constituent relations.

In addition, reported divorce rates of 1.2% for five-year alumni and 2.3% for 10-year alumni are significantly lower than the national average.

Grads also reported a high rate of volunteerism, with 64% of one-year, 68% of five-year, and 78% of 10-year alums indicating that they volunteer their time to a religious group or organization, compared to 50% nationally. And, they attend church at more than twice (77%) the national average for their generation.

Thanks to all Bethel investors for sustaining Bethel students’ holistic education and for preparing men and women who are serving Christ in communities around the world.

In Memoriam Jim Spickelmier, ’63, S’68

James (Jim) Spickelmier died on September 25 at age 72, and with his passing, Bethel University lost a humble leader, an engaging fundraiser, and a devoted chronicler of the history of both Bethel University and the Baptist General Conference (BGC), now Converge Worldwide.

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2013/october/jim-spickelmier to read more about Spickelmier’s life.

Bethel Foundation As of October 31, 2013, Bethel’s endowment was $39.2 million and total assets under management were $134.9 million. For more information about opportunities available through the Bethel Foundation, contact Angella Hjelle, Bethel Foundation executive director, at a-hjelle@bethel.edu or 651.635.1001.

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bethel investor

Make a Gift to Bethel from Your IRA through 2013 Congress has re-authorized legislation that allows you to make charitable gifts from your IRA accounts during 2013 without incurring federal income tax on the withdrawal. This IRA rollover provides you with an excellent opportunity to make a gift during your lifetime from an asset that would be subject to multiple levels of taxation if it remained in your taxable estate.

To qualify: • You must be age 70½ or older at the time of gift.

• Transfers must be made directly from a traditional IRA account by your IRA administrator to Bethel University. Funds that are withdrawn by you and then contributed do NOT qualify. Gifts from 401(k), 403(b), SEP, and other plans do not qualify.

• Your IRA administrator may make the check payable to Bethel University and mail the check to you. But the check must be postmarked by December 31, 2013.

• Gifts must be outright. Distributions to donor-advised funds or life-income arrangements, such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities, are not permitted.

Benefits – qualified charitable distributions: • Can total up to $100,000 (if your spouse has a separate IRA

account, you can each contribute up to $100,000 per tax year); • Are not included in your gross income for federal income tax purposes on your IRS Form 1040 (no charitable deduction is available, however).

Alumnus of the Year Serves People of Honduras Jay Substad ’88 was named Bethel’s 2013 College of Arts & Sciences Alumnus of the Year.

Substad, along with three others, founded Agua Viva, a non-profit organization committed to bringing clean water and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ—the Living Water— with the people of Honduras.

In 2010, he began partnering with Bethel to prepare

students to serve on spring missions trips to the area. His approach to serving is “if we make ourselves available, He’ll use us,” and “God doesn’t care about our abilities; He cares about our availability.”

Visit bethel.edu/news/ articles/2013/october/alumsubstad to read more about Substad and Agua Viva.

Example: John has $500,000 in an IRA and he also wants to contribute $20,000 to Bethel University. He can authorize the administrator of his IRA to transfer $20,000 to Bethel University and $5,000 to himself. The $20,000 distributed to Bethel University will not be subject to federal tax and will be counted toward his annual minimum required distribution.

A sample letter of instruction that you can send to your plan provider is available from Dan Wiersum, associate vice president for planned giving and certified specialist in planned giving.

Please feel free to contact him at 651.635.8052 (800.255.8706, ext.

8052) or d-wiersum@bethel.edu.

This publication is intended to provide general gift planning information.

Bethel University is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax, or investment advice, and this publication should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift. Copyright © 2013, PlannedGiving.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

Active Learning

This fall, Bethel opened its first Student Centered Active Learning Environment for Undergraduate Programs (SCALE -UP). The brand new room features five flat screen monitors, centralized outlets and projection connectors, movable seating, and writable whiteboard walls, allowing for interactive learning and more collaboration within groups.

Welcome Center Dedicated The Roberta Mann Benson Welcome Center was recently dedicated, honoring the support of longtime Bethel friends Don and Roberta Benson. The Welcome Center provides an attractive, friendly, and functional space that enhances the welcome experience of prospective students and their families—and the entire Bethel community. “The Benson name is a familiar one at Bethel,” says President Jay Barnes. “The Benson Great Hall is among our most important spaces to welcome people for worship, celebrations, and the arts. It is fitting that the Roberta Mann Benson Welcome Center shares the lobby of the Lundquist Community Life Center with the Donald E. Benson Great Hall. Don and Roberta in their gracious and generous ways have helped connect community friends and potential students to Bethel.”

The Bethel Foundation has a strong governing board made up of highly accomplished professionals who are passionate about Bethel’s mission. They bring a wealth of experience in their fields of expertise, ranging from executive leadership to financial management and legal services. The current Board of Governors gathered in November for a board meeting. Pictured: (Front, left to right) Cedric Long, Dean Junkans, Laura McKnight, Donald Benson (Chair), Mark Orgel, Leslie Chapman, Steven Landberg.

(Back, left to right) David Sundet, Andrea Schilling, Michael Brocker, Rollie Anderson, Tim Doten, Chris Shaw, Wade Anderson. Not pictured: Alan Bergstrom, Linda Goodwin, Kim Milbrandt, Randy Monson, Peter Rekstad, Harold Wiens.

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bethel investor

2nd annual

grandparents day A day just for students and their grandparents to connect on campus.

Photo by Barry Howell

Friday, April 11, 2014 bethel.edu/parents/events/grandparents-day

Homecoming ’13: Something for Everyone Soggy weather conditions couldn’t dampen the mood of Bethel’s Homecoming 2013.

Bethel alumni, friends, and students connected through a variety of festivities on campus October 4-6New this year were Friday’s free family movie night showing of Monsters University, and Saturday evening’s Royal Celebration, an entertaining recap of Bethel’s past, present, and future. Visit bethel.edu/news/articles/2013/october/ homecoming for a recap, and save the date for Homecoming 2014: October 3-5.

– Jay Substad, Alumnus of the Year Page 3 – Bethel’s Brand Page 3 – Impact of Your Gifts Page 1 – Changing Landscape of Higher Education Page 1

In This Issue:

Address Service Requested

3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55112-6999

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Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Twin Cities MN Permit No 899

calendar of events December 1-20 Mary Temple, Olson Gallery 1-20 Megan Vossler, Johnson Gallery 11 Chapel; Christmas Celebration 13 Chapel; CDC Christmas Celebration 15 Ernie Haase and Signature Sound Christmas Concert 20 CAS Mid-Year Commencement 21 CAPS/GS Winter Commencement January XX Transfer of Memories?

13 Convocation: “Faithful Science” series 10 Impact: Senior High Student Discipleship Conference February 3 Spring semester begins 7-March 14 Julie Allen, Olson Gallery 10 Stephen Self, organ 14 Ignite: Junior High Student Discipleship Conference

March 7 Bethel Chamber Orchestra Spring Concert 15-23 Bethel Wind Symphony Spring Tour 15-23 Bethel Choir Spring Tour 28 Bethel Wind Symphony Home Concert 29 Bethel Choir Home Concert Visit bethel.edu/events for the complete calendar of events.

Office of Development Bruce W. Anderson ’74, Executive Development and University Relations Officer Phone: 651.635.8050 Email: development@bethel.edu Website: bethel.edu/giving Editor: Tricia Theurer Designer: Thomas Vukelich ’82

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