Faithful Campaign 2022-2025

Bethany University Admissions students on campus

People. Purpose. Place.

A three-year investment strategy of $6.5M would provide stimulus income to make necessary changes while building up enrollment and tuition income. After the three-year investment, tuition income would be sufficient to sustain the work moving forward.

“I have sensed a call to be faithful in our work at Bethel University. We are focused on securing Bethel’s future to bring hope to a new generation.”

President Barbara Bellefeuille, Ed.D

The STRENGTHENING Strategy

Faithful to our PEOPLE

Faculty and staff are like branches and students are our leaves. We will care for our faculty and staff by giving overdue raises. We will care for our  students by enhancing their spaces and attracting and retaining a more diverse population.

Faithful to our PLACE

The bark of a tree is often touched first! It also reflects the health of a tree. Bethel’s facilities are like bark. To improve and maintain our park-like campus, we will upgrade select student facilities to compete well in attracting and retaining students.

Faithful to our PURPOSE

Just as the roots of a tree nourish it and give it stability, we will “feed” our roots by being unquestionably Christ-centered. Bethel will strengthen our relationship with the Missionary Church as well as other Christian churches in Michiana.

The TENACIOUS Solution

Increase Tuition Income Through Enrollment

We intend to accomplish this through:

  • Increasing Missionary Church students
  • Increasing Bethel’s diverse student population
  • Retaining more students through increased community care and upgrading student spaces
  • Increasing the Adult and Graduate Studies population
  • Adding new or revising existing programs (creating partnerships)
  • Investing in marketing to focus and strengthen recruitment
  • Attracting and retaining quality, missional faculty and staff (prioritizing diversity)
$1.5 Million Investment in PEOPLE and PURPOSE

3-year Investment in Marketing – $400,000

  • Position dedicated to Enrollment and Brand Marketing, Budget for increased advertising

3-year Investment Campus Spiritual Leadership – $300,000

  • Position dedicated to community care and guidance for students, faculty, staff and community

3-year Investment in Intercultural Engagement – $300,000

  • Position/office dedicated to bringing guidance and supporting intercultural engagement work

3-year Investment in New or Upgraded Academic Programs – $500,000

  • Supporting new programs and majors that will attract future students to our Christ-centered education, and reshaping and refreshing current
    majors to improve outcomes
$5 Million Investment in our PLACE

Needs within this area may include:

Renovation of Shupe and Oakwood, Freshman Women’s and Men’s Residence Halls

  • Repairing and modernizing these historic buildings while continuing to provide traditional, welcoming spaces for lifelong friendships to grow and flourish

Delayed Maintenance

  • New HVAC system in Miller-Moore Academic Center
  • Roof and window repair in Huffman Administration Building

Road Improvements

  • Resurfacing roads around campus
  • Repairing access to Lehman Family Training Center

The FAITHFUL Future

FAITHFULNESS first, FLOURISHING follows

We press on with great hope, focused on the PEOPLE, PURPOSE and PLACE of Bethel. We know that faithfulness will lead to sustainable flourishing where more students are educated, nurtured and mentored, so that they can go on and impact their communities for Christ. We look to a future where our spaces and programs attract and retain students; where our salaries attract and retain top talent; and where our place is protected for future generations. Please join us in making sure our culture is impacted by future Bethel alumni!

Letter from the President

Faithful. It’s a word that has been at the forefront of my mind throughout my presidency. I have sensed, over and over, a call to be faithful in our work at Bethel University.

As we celebrate 75+ years and look to the next 75, we are focused on securing Bethel’s future to bring hope to a new generation. Predictive data shows that this new generation includes fewer students born in 2008, which will impact college enrollment by 2026. It also includes a larger proportion of students of color, changing attitudes toward religion, and an increased need for emotional support.

In response to these anticipated challenges, Bethel University aspires to raise $6.5 million in support of our people, our place and our purpose. Rather than focusing on building new buildings and starting new programs, this is a time to strengthen who we are and deeply reinforce what we are already doing.

The Faithful Campaign uses the analogy of a tree to help visualize this concept. The roots represent our purpose and mission, which will grow stronger as they are nurtured. Branches and leaves represent our faculty and staff, who need to be cared for and well-staffed to support the new generation of students. The bark represents our campus, which needs upkeep and maintenance to remain healthy.

The cabinet and the trustees see this as a season of faithful reinforcement. We need to be ready for the new generation of students coming to Bethel. I feel called to reinforce and strengthen Bethel for what will surely be strong, culture-shifting headwinds coming our way.

These are exciting and important days for Bethel, but to move forward we need your continued, faithful support. On behalf of Bethel University and its students, thank you for sharing our vision, for your strong, persistent prayers, and for your legacy of generous financial support.

Gratefully,
Barbara K. Bellefeuille, Ed.D.
President