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Bethany College is Advancing to University Status!
Posted: December 15, 2004
At their official meeting of February 5th, 2004 the Board of Trustees of Bethany College directed the President to study the feasibility of advancing the status of Bethany from "College" to "University" with a fact-finding report which was presented at their Meeting of May 7, 2004. Subsequently, on September 23, 2004, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to advance the College to University status.
A Presidential Advisory Committee, comprised of members from every sphere of the Bethany family, was appointed under the direction of Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Richard Israel. This Advisory Committee has been charged with recommending possible names for the University, colors, mascot and general image.
Within the marketplace, prospective students generally perceive more favorably the status of University than just a College. College is a nomenclature that is now common with two year institutions and programs that exist within the larger framework of Universities. Consequently colleges are often viewed as a portion of the whole. In many other countries the word college refers to secondary education: High School or sometimes even primary education.
Recently, the Miami Herald stated:
"Guess which image is more appealing to 21st-century teenagers? George Dehne & Associates, a consulting firm, found that two-thirds of prospective students said they planned to enroll in a public or private university, not college. Dehne found that universities were more highly regarded than colleges by employers and graduate schools and more likely to be credited with having better students, a better social life, greater diversity of students, greater prestige and stronger science programs." [12/13/04]
Our competition within the marketplace have also moved in this direction, California Lutheran University, Biola University, Azusa Pacific University, Concordia University, Point Loma University, Fresno Pacific University, California Baptist University, Vanguard University & others have recognized and appreciated the nomenclature of University within their name.
In fact, in the past 10 years, according to Higher Education Publications, Inc. in Arlington, Va., 161 U.S. colleges have advanced from College to University!
Reasons institutions have moved from college to university status:
- Reorganization of the institution
- Additions of majors, departments and programs to institution
- Expansion of market, from national or regional to international targets
- A new era of the institution
- Gain prestige or reputation among the academic world
- Attractiveness to international students
- Competition
- Increase donations
- Increase web presence
- Enrollment Increase
The State of California has no stated requirements in terms of enrollment, size, physical plant, faculty, library, and/or budget, in order to change status from "college" to "university." The only restriction in changing status is that a college cannot adopt an already copyrighted name.
A university education infers that your undergraduate experience took place in an environment with graduate students and adult learners. For many, this surmises a certain richness or texture of learning.
For others, a university education means greater prestige. It supposes higher quality, a more substantial program of courses, and a richer environment. For many, attending a university simply sounds better.
The reality is that Bethany will continue to offer a high quality academic program in an environment that includes graduate students and adult learners, while at the same time remaining firmly anchored in its spiritual mission of Preparing Leaders for the Church and Society.
As the Lord leads, Bethany College's greatest days are just ahead! So, rejoice and pray for your College-soon to be University!
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