Spring 2014 | www.bethel.edu
BETHEL PARENT A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
Bethel Purchases Pine Tree Property in Arden Hills
Bethel Student Satisfaction Ranks High Last fall, Bethel undergrad students participated in the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, which measures students’ satisfaction and what they deem important. The survey compares Bethel’s results with those from national four-year colleges, as well as schools in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) that participated. HIGHLIGHTS: • Compared to students in the national four-year private college pool, Bethel students were significantly more satisfied in 73 of the 79 areas surveyed. • Bethel student satisfaction ratings were also significantly higher on 40 of the 79 areas compared to the CCCU composite. The CCCU group is typically a rigorous comparison group on satisfaction ratings. • Most of the highest importance and satisfaction ratings for Bethel students were related to faculty and academics. • Compared to CCCU students, Bethel students were significantly more satisfied with many aspects of student life (e.g., residence halls, Welcome Week, athletic programs, etc.), food services, and safety and security. • Compared to 2011, there were significant increases in satisfaction with the institution’s commitment to students with disabilities and safety and security. • Financial aid and academic reputation were the two highest rated reasons for enrolling at Bethel. n
Parent Volunteers Wanted for Spring Banquet One of Bethel’s enduring traditions is the Spring Banquet, which takes place right before final exams. Students dress up and enjoy a meal and program together. Parents play a significant role, and we need your help! This year’s banquet will be held on Saturday, May 17. We ask parent volunteers to help with set-up, serving, and clean-up, all while enjoying the company of other parents and socializing with the students who are celebrating a successful year. Once the students are served, we invite you to sit down and enjoy dinner as our guests. Interested in volunteering at the Spring Banquet? Visit bethel.edu/parents/ events/spring-banquet to register and learn more. n
In mid-December, a generous donor helped Bethel University purchase a 200,000-square-foot building at 2 Pine Tree Drive in Arden Hills, Minn., a little more than one mile from Bethel’s main campus. The purchase addresses many of the needs identified in Bethel’s Campus Master Plan at a dramatically lower cost than new construction. The additional space will help Bethel better meet the needs of students and growing programs, and support the launch of strategic new programs. Visit bethel. edu/news/articles/2014/february/pine-tree to read the full story. n
Campus Master Plan 2.0 In 2011 and 2012, Bethel spent several months developing a Campus Master Plan. Since then, much has changed. The primary purpose of the Campus Master Plan 2.0 project is to re-imagine how to meet our space needs as Bethel moves into the future, particularly in light of the Pine Tree property. A steering committee representing all areas of the university—including parents—is preparing several scenarios for how the space could be used at the college complex, the seminary complex, and the Pine Tree building. The group will present the scenarios to the Bethel community for feedback before providing recommendations to the Bethel University Board of Trustees at their meeting in May. Look for updates this summer. n
Disability Services The Office of Disability Resources and Services supports the ongoing development of an accessible university that embraces and celebrates diversity. It ensures that those with disability—including students—have equal access and opportunity to the university and its programs.Visit bethel. edu/offices/disability to check out their redesigned website. n
Study Abroad 75% of Bethel students study abroad during their college years; many of them do so in spring of their sophomore year. It’s never too early to think about this great opportunity that is a hallmark of a Bethel education. Bethel offers more than 30 semester, summer, and interim study abroad and off-campus program opportunities for undergrads. It’s a way that students can engage with the world face-to-face, whether they travel halfway around the globe or stay right here in the Twin Cities community. Visit cas.bethel.edu/ academics/study-abroad to learn more. n
New Programs! Undergrad • Gender Studies Minor • Graphic Design Major/Minor
Help Your Student Prepare for Their Career Want to help your child prepare well for a future career? A summer job or internship can be more than a paycheck. If these options are approached strategically, your child can maximize summer opportunities to build skills, explore career fields, and build connections (i.e., networking) that can lead to career opportunities. A college degree is important, but employers also value an applicant’s experiences and skills. In a competitive economy, summer jobs and internships provide necessary experiences. Challenge your student to seek a summer position that will help prepare for his or her career. STEPS TO GETTING STARTED • Start early. A résumé full of relevant experiences during freshman and sophomore year is helpful as your son or daughter looks toward a summer internship after junior year. • Encourage your student to carefully consider what he or she wants to do after graduation and develop a realistic plan to achieve those goals. Is your child heading to medical school? They should consider volunteering or shadowing in the healthcare field. • Build relationships. Informational interviews are easy and an excellent way for your student to learn and get advice from professionals. • Meet one on one with a career specialist in the Office of Career Development and Calling. They believe that meeting with a career specialist in person is the best way for students to get the customized help they need with career counseling, résumé writing, networking and job search skills, mock interviews, and more! Students can call 651.638.6460 to schedule an appointment. Parents: visit bethel.edu/offices/career-development/parents to learn more about how you can support your child in this process. n
OFFICE OF ALUMNI AND PARENT SERVICES 3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55112-6999
Thanks to Your Valentine’s Gifts, Grants Enrich Classroom Experience Thanks to the 500+ parents who ordered Valentine’s gifts for their sons and daughters, the Faculty Grant program raised more than $3,400 to help provide grants to faculty members so they can stay on the cutting edge of their professions and enrich academic instruction in the classroom. Grants are used for projects, conferences, equipment, and technology. In addition, students appreciated being remembered by their parents! One faculty member who was blessed by your generous gifts is Megan Flynn, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology. She used the grant funds to compensate families (youth and their primary caregiver) for participating in an intensive assessment. The benefits of the study were many. Perhaps most importantly, the grant benefited her students: being able to work closely with the data collections for this study gave them handson exposure to a largescale research study. n
Students Love Bethel’s Food Service! Bethel’s food service provider, Sodexo, ranked among the top 25 sites across the company’s campus services division in a satisfaction survey taken by students last fall.
Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Twin Cities MN Permit No 899
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ded e e N ers quet e t lun Ban e o V ent Spring s Insid r a P for il eta D –
Dates to Remember Jazz in the Great Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 2
CAS Baccalaureate Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 23
Classics in the Great Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 9
CAS Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 24
Last Day of Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 16
1st Session of Summer Classes Begins . . . . . . . . . . . . June 2
Spring Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 17
Bethel Golf Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 23
Final Exams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 19, 20, 22, 23 (Please don’t schedule family vacations on these days.)
Visit bethel.edu/events/calendar for more information about events.
Study Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 21 CAS Nurses Pinning Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 23 Senior/Parent Commencement Banquet . . . . . . . . . May 23
Office of Alumni and Parent Services 651.638.6462 (800.255.8706, ext. 6462) parents@bethel.edu bethel.edu/parents