Bethany Lutheran College

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, becoming a separate institution in 1975. [ 2 ] The high school closed in 1969. In 2001, Bethany awarded its first Bachelor of Arts degrees. [ 2 ] This was followed by nursing baccalaureate degrees in 2019. Presidents Holden Olsen (1927–1929) Walter E. Buszin (interim) (1929–1930) Sigurd Christian Ylvisaker (1930–1950) Bjarne Wollan Teigen (1950–1970) Raymond Branstad (1970–1977) Theodore A. Aaberg (1977–1978) Norman Holte (1978–1982) Marvin G. Meyer (1982–2002) Dan R. Bruss (2003–2015) Gene Pfeifer (2015–present)

Bethany Lutheran College is governed by a 12-member Board of Regents. The college's president serves as an advisory member on that board. Old Main, built in 1911 Trinity Chapel

As of 2024, the college will offer 30 majors, 22 minors, a paralegal certification, and 7 pre-professional programs. All of its undergraduate programs culminate in a Bachelor of Arts degree, except for the nursing program, which leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. [ 3 ] In 2021, BLC begin offering a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. According to the college, graduates of this 60 credit program "are eligible to become National Certified Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC)". [ 4 ] While this program is based on the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, it is not accredited. Accreditation Bethany Lutheran College has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1974. [ 5 ] Its nursing program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education since 2018. [ 6 ] BLC's education licensure programs are approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). [ 7 ] While the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is based on standards from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, [ 8 ] it is not accredited. [ 9 ]

Aerial view of campus Bethany Lutheran College is made up of 15 buildings. Classes are held primarily in five buildings: Meyer Hall, Honsey Hall, Tweit Hall, the Sports and Fitness Center, and the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. Many student services are housed in Old Main, including the cafeteria. There are four stand-alone residence halls, and the top three floors of Old Main house an additional residence hall (Anderson Hall). In addition, the campus houses a library, a chapel, the Bethany Activity Center and an advancement building.