Bethany Lutheran College
| Motto | "ΕΝΟΣ ΕΣΤΙΝ ΧΡΕΙΑ" or One Thing Needful |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1927 |
| Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Synod |
| Endowment | $43,614,000 (as of 2014)[1] |
| President | Gene Pfeifer |
Academic staff | 75 (35 adjunct) |
| Students | 600 undergraduate |
| Location | , , 44°09′59″N 93°59′27″W / 44.16638°N 93.99087°W |
| Campus | Medium city, 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Colors | Red and white (athletics also uses black) |
| Mascot | Viking |
| Website | www |
Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private residential liberal arts college in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1927, BLC is a Christian coeducational college operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The campus overlooks the Minnesota River valley in a community of 53,000.
History
Bethany Ladies College opened in 1911 with 44 students and a faculty of four. In 1927, the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (now known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod) purchased the campus for dual use as both a high school (Bethany Lutheran High School; closed in 1969) and junior college (Bethany Lutheran College). In 1946 Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (BLTS) began as a department of the college; in 1975 it became a separate institution.[citation needed]
In 2001 Bethany awarded its first baccalaureate degrees, completing a five-year transition from its 74-year history as a junior college.[citation needed]
Timeline
- 1911: Bethany Ladies College opens
- 1927: Norwegian Synod purchases college
- 1946: Seminary opens
- 1969: High school closes
- 1999: Baccalaureate programs begin
- 2001: First BA degrees granted
Licensures, certifications, and pre-professional programs
- Secondary Education
- Communication Arts and Literature (5–12)
- Social Studies (5–12)
- Visual Arts (K-12)
- Coaching Certificate
- Pre-Professional
- Dentistry
- Engineering
- Law
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Seminary
- Veterinary
Extracurriculars
Students have the opportunity to participate in various activities on campus.
- Choir
- Drama
- Intramural Athletics
- Music
- Scholastic Leadership Society
- Speech/Forensics
- Student Activities Committee
- Student Leadership Institute
- Student Publications and Communications
- BLC Studios
- Fidelis (Yearbook)
- Inkwell (Student literary magazine)
- The Scroll (Campus newspaper)
- Student Senate
Athletics
The Vikings are members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division III. The school offers the following sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men and women's cross country, men and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, volleyball and men's and women's track & field.[citation needed]
Presidents
| Number | Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rev. Holden Olsen | 1927–1929 | |
| 2 | Rev. Walter E. Buszin | 1929–1930 | interim |
| 3 | Rev. Dr. Sigurd Christian Ylvisaker | 1930–1950 | |
| 4 | Rev. Dr. Bjarne Wollan Teigen | 1950–1970 | |
| 5 | Rev. Raymond Branstad | 1970–1977 | |
| 6 | Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg | 1977–1978 | interim |
| 7 | Prof. Norman Holte | 1978–1982 | |
| 8 | Dr. Marvin G. Meyer | 1982–2002 | |
| 9 | Dr. Dan R. Bruss | 2003–2015 | |
| 10 | Dr. Gene Pfeifer | 2015– |
Notable graduates
- 1949 – Marvin Schwan, founder of the Schwan Food Company.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Chronicle of Higher Education Sortable Endowments table by Fiscal Year 2013–2014". NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. January 29, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/12/obituaries/marvin-m-schwan-64-builder-of-a-billion-dollar-food-empire.html Marvin Schwan's Obituary in the New York Times
External links
- Liberal arts colleges in Minnesota
- Lutheran universities and colleges
- Educational institutions established in 1927
- Education in Blue Earth County, Minnesota
- Education in Nicollet County, Minnesota
- Education in Le Sueur County, Minnesota
- Mankato, Minnesota
- 1927 establishments in Minnesota
- Private universities and colleges in Minnesota