News

With the end of Bethel College’s fiscal year this past July came the end of one capital campaign — and the start of preparations for the next.“Engage the Future was an unexpectedly long but successful campaign in a number of ways,” said Pam Tieszen, Bethel vice president for institutional advancement.In early 2019, Bethel launched Engage the Future, a $20 million campaign under the direction of Tieszen’s predecessor, Brad Kohlman.At the time, President Jon Gering, Bethel board members, consultants and the administrative cabinet identified key areas for college growth, including: recruiting students; improving the student experience on campus; enhancing academic offerings; and increasing technological capacity, among others.The campaign included growing the Annual Fund (nonrestricted funds) by $4.7 million; academic program enhancements in the form of two new majors, Software Development and Health and Human Performance, an endowed chair in economics ($1.5 million), and a half-million endowment in biology; and technology upgrades in the form of major infrastructure for improved internet access and performance across campus, as well as classroom “smart” upgrades.Among additional improvements to campus facilities were upgrades to the Mabee Observatory, and construction of the softball building and the Thresher Stadium locker room and viewing suite.Some of these projects were envisioned in the original campaign, while others developed as it went along.