In August of 1996, Bethel College & Seminary became a Minnesota not-for-profit corporation, an action coinciding with a reorganization of the Baptist General Conference, an Illinois corporation of which Bethel had long been a department. They are “twin” corporations. In 2004, the institution adopted the name Bethel University. The Bethel Corporation is governed by a board of trustees who, with the exception of two representatives of the district executive ministers’ council, are elected or confirmed by delegates from the churches of the Baptist General Conference/Converge Worldwide. Bethel’s President and the President of the Baptist General Conference/Converge Worldwide are ex officio members. The board meets three times a year, and its duties include the following:

1. Appoint or remove the President and other officers and administrative officials of the Corporation in accordance with these Bylaws. To cause the appointment of administration and faculty personnel as required for the effective operation of the educational institutions and to assure that the teaching staff is composed of avowedly Christian men and women whose lifestyle comports with the standards of this Corporation and who are doctrinally sound and whose position is consistent with the Affirmation of Faith.
2. To assure that the instruction given is of such quality as to meet the requirements of accredited schools, and that the teaching is, in word and spirit, in harmony with the Holy Scriptures.
3. To approve degrees upon recommendation of the faculty.
4. To prepare annual budgets to be reported to the delegates at the biennial assembly of the Corporation.
5. To administer and invest its funds and other property for the furtherance of the work of the Corporation.
6. To establish ways and means for securing funds as required for the operation of the educational purposes of the Corporation and to authorize officers and agents of the Corporation to accept gifts for the Corporation.
7. To submit to each biennial assembly of the Corporation a statement of income and expense and assets and liabilities.
8. To authorize the construction of new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings.
9. To authorize the sale and purchase of land, buildings or major equipment for the use of the Corporation.
10. To authorize any changes in tuition and fees.
11. To authorize the incurring of debts by the Corporation and securing thereof by mortgage and pledge of real and personal property, tangible and intangible.
12. To nominate to the biennial assembly of the Corporation a candidate for election to the position of President and candidates for confirmation as the chief academic officers of the institution and full-time teachers in the Seminary. Vacancies in any of the above named positions shall be filled temporarily by the Board of Trustees.
13. To authorize the creation of new, or discontinuance of existing schools within the university.
14. Such other duties as are normally and regularly performed by the board of similar institutions.

At its meetings, the board seeks to act only upon matters of policy, leaving the details of administration to its employed personnel. The authority of the board rests in the board as a whole, not in individual members. All reports for the campus are brought to the board by the President or designated associates.

Three faculty members represent the faculties at regular meetings of the Board of Trustees. These representatives serve primarily as resource personnel who enable the trustees to hear and to test out representative faculty opinion in the general board meetings and particularly in the board committees. In order to be fully prepared for this participation the faculty representatives receive agendas and relevant materials before the meetings. They are expected to report on board action and discussion to their respective faculties.

In a similar way, student representatives also are invited to participate in board meetings.

The Board of Trustees organizes itself annually into several standing committees, in addition to the Executive Committee described below, to give in-depth attention to the many dimensions of the work of the university. In addition, it creates ad hoc committees to carry out short-term assignments.

Executive Committee

The chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, and assistant secretary of the board and such other members of the board that may be appointed by the board comprise the Executive Committee. It meets several times throughout the year. The primary function of the Executive Committee is to act on behalf of the board between regular meetings of the board. The committee at all times is subject to the direction of the board and possesses its authority only in matters that cannot await the next regular meeting of the board for action and in matters delegated to it by the board. All decisions made by the Executive Committee are reported to the board for ratification at its next regular meeting.

Office of the Provost