MISHAWAKA — Bethel College President Gregg A. Chenoweth, Ph.D., announced that on May 6, 2019, the institution will begin operating under a new name, Bethel University.

The decision for the name change was made by Bethel’s Board of Trustees at their spring 2018 meeting.

Randy Lehman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a Bethel graduate, says that this was not a new topic for the board; it was discussed at great length about 15 years ago. This January, the Board convened for strategic planning and to cast a vision for Bethel’s future. In the midst of that discussion, the name change topic was revisited and board members began to wonder if the time was right.

“Bethel’s student composition and academic offerings have changed since we first opened our doors in 1947,” said Lehman. “Enrollment now includes about one in eight graduate students, about one in 10 online students, and about one in 12 students born outside the United States. When you look at peer institutions across the country who have a similar composition, ‘university’ is the category in which we fit.”

Lehman also noted that, as Bethel looks to expand graduate and online programs, the institution wants to remove any barriers to understanding the depth and quality of Bethel’s academic experience that future students might encounter.

In making the decision, the board took into consideration four months of research that included focus groups of alumni, current and prospective students, faculty, staff, donors and community members; conversations with other institutions who had made the change from college to university; an audit of campus branding to determine the impact of the change; and a survey to about 20,000 Bethel constituents. This research informed the unanimous decision to make the change to university, as well as the choice of the final name. Several options were considered, and Bethel University received the support of a large majority of those surveyed.

“Bethel alumni and friends should know that, although the name is changing, Bethel’s mission is not,” said Lehman. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide a Christ-centered education that equips leaders to make a Kingdom impact in the church and the world. We will continue to have a community atmosphere where relationships and spiritual formation are at the core of the student experience.”

A committee of Bethel leadership has been appointed to oversee all aspect of the transition. The institution’s logo and seal will be updated, but the mascot, motto and school colors will stay the same. Bethel will begin operating as Bethel University on May 6, 2019, with signage changes happening throughout the spring semester. The new marks will begin showing up this fall, as the institution builds excitement for the change through giveaways and announcements.