LINDSBORG -- Bethany College has announced the recipients of the Presidential Strategic Planning Grants for the 20-21 academic year. The recipients were selected by the Presidential Strategic Planning Grant Committee. “I am proud to honor the recipients of the 2020 Presidential Strategic Planning Grant competition. The purpose of the grants is to spur innovation on campus that compliment our mission, vision, and values. I am certain that with successful data, many of the winning ideas will become permanent programs at Bethany,” said President Elizabeth Mauch.Professor Ed Pogue - CREO program. Professor Pogue will implement a PTC CREO program for the Department of Art and Digital Media. The department is pursuing the possibility of bringing computer aided design as an academic program to Bethany College beginning in spring 2021. PTC CREO came highly recommended by industry leaders, especially within the agricultural based manufacturing divisions. Student utilization of this software allows our incoming students flexibility and increased potential for career placement after college within the region.Dr. Mary Beth Harris - Ascension Program. The Ascension Program was originally piloted the summer of 2019. The Ascension Program is a seventeen day summer intensive program that combines academic skill building with community building to support conditionally admitted students as they make the transition from high school to college.Melissa Blake - Future Swedes! Program. The Future Swedes! Program is being developed with the purpose of connecting middle/high school students to Bethany College. The program will bring students on campus to participate in summer camps. Camps are planned to begin during the spring/summer of 2021.Dean of Athletics Laura Moreno and Professor Ed Pogue - Esports Program. E sports is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Esports teams are co-ed and feature players for a variety of different video games, such as Fortnite, Overwatch, and League of Legends. Bethany College and the Department of Athletics plan to launch an Esports program in the fall of 2021. In addition to Esports as an athletic program, Esports is a growing field of expertise and a new degree option at many colleges and universities. Bethany College plans to introduce an Esports Management major in 2022-23.Christi Wicks - BQ111 Student-Athletics Course. Bethany academics, athletics, and Student Success are collaborating in the fall of 2020 to create a specialized first-year core experience course targeted at groups of at-risk student athletes. The purpose of the course is to build connections with faculty members and athletic department representatives with the mission of retaining higher numbers of student-athletes after their first year at Bethany.Professor Heather Morris and Dr. Mark McDonald - 3D Anatomy Learning Platform. A digital 3D system will allow any courses engaged in the study of anatomy unlimited access to real anatomy and active learning resources. This program will directly benefit 200 students a year.

Bethany announces strategic planning grant recipients