Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Located in Lindsborg, Kansas, Bethany is a small, private college that provides students personal attention within a caring community. The student body is highly engaged in learning both inside and outside the classroom. All students are encouraged to explore and deepen their own faith, as they find and follow their paths in the world. Bethany College offers students the opportunity to study and live on a campus located in one of the Midwest’s most distinctive communities. Lindsborg is a friendly college town and is unlike most other towns in that it has taken deliberate steps to retain and enhance a rich cultural tradition. It is known especially for its art and music and also for the renewed emphasis on Lindsborg’s Scandinavian heritage. WhitePeacockExterior (1) Lindsborg abounds with artists’ studios art galleries, craft shops, import gift shops, and other attractions, including the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery on the Bethany Campus. The McPherson County Old Mill Museum historical complex offers a rich vision of pioneer life on the plains of central Kansas. The Bethany Oratorio Society, since its first performances in 1882 has brought together campus and community for widely-acclaimed performances of Handel’s Messiah each Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The Lindsborg community also receives great recognition for its biennial Svensk Hyllningsfest held in conjunction with the college’s homecoming in odd-numbered years and yearly Midsummer’s and Lucia festivals. This provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the Scandinavian-American heritage of the region. The academic quality of Bethany College has been widely recognized. Bethany boasts an extremely strong faculty and excellent educational and recreational resources. Students who attend Bethany College can enjoy the Swedish culture that Lindsborg has to offer. Although the town is small, there is always an event, either on campus or in town that students have the opportunity to attend. The campus calendar is chock-full of activities such as intramurals, lectures, theatre productions, concerts, Student Activities Board sponsored events and entertainers, and many other events. ChapelCloseups (7)Because we are a College of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, (ELCA) you will find, at Bethany, people who are open to expressing their spirituality and faith a place that is safe and welcoming to explore your faith and opportunities to live a life of service. Bethany provides each student opportunities for spiritual development by attending chapel participating in campus ministry groups and Lift High the Cross. The Varenhorst Center for Discovery, Reflection and Vocation also gives all Bethany students an opportunity to participate in Peer Ministry. Every student receives a basic introduction to peer ministry while student leaders and peer ministers receive a deeper more intense training. Opportunities for spiritual growth occur all across campus and in conversations with the Campus Pastor, peers, and the faculty and staff of Bethany. Along with spiritual organizations there are thirty other organizations and opportunities that students can participate in from academic discipline honor societies to fraternities and sororities; from service opportunities to writing for the student newspaper. Lindsborg also has the advantage of being approximately one hour from Kansas’ largest city, Wichita; within one hour from the city of Hutchinson, and about 15 minutes from Salina, all of which offer many options for dining, shopping, and entertainment. Lindsborg is near the intersection of two major interstate highways, I-70 and I-135. From Lindsborg, Kansas City is 200 miles, Denver is 475 miles, Dallas is 450 miles, Minneapolis-St. Paul are 600 miles, and Chicago is 700 miles away. A scheduled air carrier serves the Salina airport only fifteen minutes from the campus. Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is 75 miles south of Lindsborg. General aviation may use the airport at McPherson, 14 miles south, or at Salina. Amtrack provides passenger train service at Newton, 45 miles to the south. These guiding principles were adopted by the Bethany College Board of Directors in October 2008. Mission The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Values All people who share in the Bethany Experience are united by our core values of Integrity, Hospitality, Community, Servant Leadership, and Sustainability. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends experience and practice these values which are at the heart of Bethany. Integrity Integrity is both personal and communal as we seek knowledge, strive for understanding, and carry out Bethany’s mission. As we aspire to excellence in all that we do, we remain faithful to Bethany’s identity and our calling to “inspired learning and informed faith.” Hospitality Hospitality encompasses the genuine care, grace, and generosity that is shared among all those who come in contact with Bethany. Recognizing that each person is a child of God, all who enter Bethany’s community learn to live more gratefully and faithfully. Community Community is formed at Bethany as we bring our diverse gifts and talents together for our common mission and purpose. Because we care deeply about one another, share a sense of personal and social responsibility, and seek to communicate openly and honestly, our relationships are marked by mutual respect, forgiveness, and trust. Servant Leadership Leadership that is grounded in service liberates all who work and study at Bethany to be skilled, empathic listeners; to develop problem-solving skills; and to embrace the challenge of guiding others. As we seek to be servants first, our motivation for leadership grows out of our commitment to the common good. Sustainability Sustainability is our stewardship of all aspects of the Bethany community both now and for future generations. Bethany’s policies, campus, and people are attuned to the judicious use of resources in order to care for all of God’s creation. Promise At Bethany College, we value individuals and believe in community. We know every human being is worthwhile, can make valuable contributions in the world, and is responsible for doing so. Working together in service to one another builds character, deepens relationships, improves our quality of life, and brings meaning to life. If you choose to join the Bethany community as a student, you can expect: Personal attention within a caring community; Active learning and meaningful practical experience – in and beyond the classroom; An educational experience that prepares you for a life and career of consequence; To be an active participant in your own education and in the life of the college; To be a part in something bigger than yourself.