BETHEL UNIVERSITY

CULTURAL AUDIT

MIKE IRVIN | WILL RUCKEL | ALANA ZBAREN

HISTORY• Timeline:

1871 – Bethel Seminary founded by John Alexis Edgren in Chicago, IL with 1 student. Called “Baptist Union Theological Seminary”

1884 – Seminary moves to St. Paul and is renamed “The Swedish American Bible Seminary”

1905 – Bethel Academy opens in Minneapolis

1914 – Seminary and Bethel Academy merge into one entity in St. Paul to become Bethel Academy and Theological Seminary

1947 – Bethel College launches a 4-year program

1972 – Bethel College and seminary open on Arden Hills campus

1989 – Graduate schools begin

2004 – Changes name to Bethel University

INDIVIDUAL ACTORS• Founders: Seminary

1871 | John Alexis Edgren

1889 – 1922 | Carl Gustaf Lagergren: Longest serving Dean

1925 – 1948 | Karl J. Karlson: Dean of Americanization of the Seminary

1964 – 1984 | Gordon G. Johnson: Dean: Accreditation + New Campus Move

1994 – Present | Leland V. Eliason: Dean + Provost – Expansion and Growth

“Measure our performance by what God accomplishes through our graduates after they have been prepared at Bethel to out into the world to serve” –John Alexis Edgren, 1871

INDIVIDUAL ACTORS• Founders: Presidents of Bethel University

1914 | G. Arvid Hagstrom: First president of combined schools

1941 | Henry C. Wingblade: Name changed to Bethel College & Seminary

1954 | Carl H. Lundquist: Move to Arden Hills and accreditation

1982 | George K. Brushaber: College to University

2008 | Jay H. Barnes: Current growth and holistic view

Jay Barnes

TANGIBLE CULTURE• Finding meaning in roots, community and spiritual grounding

• Values face-to-face education in a physical location

• Believes older systems/technology can effectively demonstrate values and knowledge

• Re-emphasis basic on standards and quality we fall back on in the event of post-modern issues

• Collective, not only individual, victories are celebrated

• Symbols often represent important statements about the values of the institution

• Slower growth due to reliance on values and pre-modern characteristics – don’t questions the status quo

INSTITUTIONAL VALUES• Bethel University: Mission Statement

• http://www.bethel.edu/

• Three Pillars:

• Rigorous academics

• Vibrant campus life

• Christ-centered spirituality

• Do students live out the mission of Bethel?

• Bethel University: Values – Become whole and holy persons

• Christ-followers

• Character-builders

• Learners

• Truth-Seekers

• World-changers

• Reconcilers

• Salt and Light

RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS• Spiritual Life: http://www.bethel.edu/

• Bethel Seminary: http://seminary.bethel.edu/

• Religious Presence at Bethel University

BENEFACTORS• Giving

• http://www.bethel.edu/giving/

• Bethel Fund

• Projects

• Creative Giving

• Ona Orth

• Bethel Investor

• Diversity + Reconciliation

• http://www.bethel.edu/about/diversity

• Covenant

• Employment

• Equality Ride (2006)

SOCIAL ATTITUDES

ACADEMICS • Undergraduate

• Adult Undergraduate

• Graduate

• Seminary

PERSONNEL• Administration Organizational Chart

PERSONNEL• Faculty

• Staff

• Student Life

• Anti Racism & Reconciliation

• Campus Ministry Administration

Curitss DeYoung Angela Shannon Michael Holmes

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: STUDENT CULTURE• Student Culture

• White

• Middle class

• Midwestern

• Secluded + Sheltered

• Fake + Lacks Authenticity

• Christian Values + “God Talk” + Faith

• Clean campus – no alcohol

• Academics + Activities

• Sense of Community + Open + Friendly

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: STUDENT SUB CULTURES

• Student Sub Cultures• Anti-Covenant

• Party Crowd (Drinking + Smoking + Drugs)

• Academics

• Multicultural Student Groups

• Music

• Husband + Wife

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: SOCIALIZATION• Socialization

• Welcome Week

• Student Actives

• Vespers + RIOT

• Homecoming

• NIKDAG/GADKIN

• Roommate Roulette

• Broomball + Intramurals

• Choir

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: COMMUNICATION• Communication + Information

• Face to Face

• Email

• Bible Study + Church

• Telephone (land line)

• Cell phone

• Instant Messages

• Prayer

• Letters + Cards + Notes

ARTIFACTS: BETHEL LANGUAGE

ARTIFACTS: BETHEL ALUMNI LANGUAGE

ARTIFACTS: ARCHITECTURE• Architecture

• 5 Main Education Buildings

• 9 Residence Halls

• Brushaber Commons: Student Center

• Benson Great Hall: Performances

• Scandia Baptist Church - 1857

ARTIFACTS: CEREMONIES + RITUALS• Welcome Week

• Homecoming

• Chapel x 2 Week

• Prayer

• Festival of Christmas

ARTIFACTS: MYTHS + STORIES• Myths | Legends | Stories

• Ring by Spring

• “MRS” Degree

ARTIFACTS: SYMBOLS + GESTURES• Symbols | Gestures

• Pray First: Student passion for prayer

• Dress

• School spirit

• God Talk

• Pray First

http://www.bethel.edu/spiritual-life/

PERCEPTIONS?

QUESTIONS?