Bethany Shares Remaining Q&A from Oct. 1 Alumni Town Hall

1. What makes this “pivot/rebuilding” different than with previous administrations?
Our efforts are grounded in best practices and built upon a strategic plan that has the full support of the college and broader community. There are key performance indicators associated with each aspect of our strategy that are being monitored frequently by the board.

2. What support services do we have in place to help with student retention and the change of our student population? DEI, academic services, etc.
A variety of services are available to support student retention and ensure students who matriculate to Bethany College persist. These efforts are paying off with our most recent freshmen-to-sophomore retention rate being nearly 10% higher than just a few years ago. The services and forms of support are diverse and broad. For example, faculty and staff participate in an early alert system to assess students who may be experiencing academic difficulty, coaches and the staff in the McCann Learning Center run weekly study tables and tutoring sessions, our business office and financial aid office review students with balances so we can address any changes to family income, the list goes on. Hopefully these provide a few examples of what is a robust plan around student retention.

3. What are some examples of small liberal arts colleges, religious or secular, that are excelling right now? What are they doing differently? 
There are many examples of small liberal arts colleges who are thriving. In many instances these institutions are highly selective with strong endowments – such as Denison University in Granville, Ohio, or Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. In other instances, some small liberal arts colleges have been extremely successful growing enrollment by animating their strong faith-based missions, such as Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., or Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. Still, other successful small liberal arts colleges have sustained growing enrollments through strategic partnerships and evolving their academic offerings to include graduate degrees and certificates and offering online programs. Schools such as Campbellsville University in Ky. have had excellent outcomes in this regard.

4. As a former RZ who dealt with young women’s need for reproductive health, what are we doing, given the limited access to services, to ensure that women in need, or pregnant, have the support and access to services?
Our students have access to two full-time nurses and a full-time counselor, as well as a physician who is on campus weekly.

5. Is there any consideration to a Building Preservation Program where students could learn to restore historical structures?
While we are giving ample consideration to preserving Bethany’s infrastructure and historic buildings, there are no current plans for a a specific academic program in historic preservation.

6. Is “Origins of Modern Western Thought” still part of the core curriculum? If not, why?
The current core curriculum includes options for: Origins of Western Thought I: The Ancient World, Origins of Western Thought II: The Middle Ages and Renaissance, Origins of Western Thought III: The Modern Age.

7. If I am a prospective student doing a college search. what is Bethany’s point of differentiation from other small colleges in the tri-state area? (Brand, again)
There is no question Bethany College is the greatest value in that students will not find a private liberal arts education anywhere else at a less expensive net cost. As for other points of distinction, the rural setting, though not for everyone, is clearly attractive to a certain population. Beyond these, Bethany has quite a bit of work to do on this very subject, which is why we are revising the curriculum, adding new programs, and executing a number of strategic partnerships that illustrate to a prospective student that we have something unique to offer.

8. What is the average debt students are graduating with?
According to US News, the average student loan debt for US college students is approximately $30,000. According to the Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the median college debt for a student graduating from Bethany College is $27,000.