News Archive

Bethel College President Jon C. Gering, Ph.D., has informed the college community of a change in the color-coded campus procedures for COVID-19.

On July 10, Harvey County Health Department officials, in consultation with Public Health Officer Doyle Detweiler, M.D., identified community spread of COVID-19 in Harvey County.

Gering emphasized that the community spread is not on the Bethel campus.

“Community spread” means area individuals have been infected with COVID-19 who are not sure how or where they became infected.

The Office of Student Life has communicated updated information about student arrivals for the start of the fall 2020 semester.

Samuel Haynes, vice president of student life and dean of students, sent an e-mail to all new and continuing students in which he identified “hotspots” for COVID-19 infection that will require anyone traveling from there to quarantine for two weeks. 

After a recent announcement that the 2020 fall semester will begin with in-person classes, President Jon Gering has now shared more information about the college’s plans.

“Our academic calendar originally identified Aug. 19 as the start date for classes,” he said. “We have examined other calendar options with earlier start dates.

President Jon C. Gering, Ph.D., has begun to outline Bethel’s plan for the fall semester.

"We are planning for in-person classes in fall 2020,” he said.

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education database, the majority of the nation’s colleges and universities are taking this approach.

During a May 4 online meeting with college employees, Gering recognized the significant effect that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on higher education.

Kauffman Museum is closed to the public but still offering education to that same public on the topic at the front of everyone’s minds.

“Science Behind the News: Viruses” is a new pop-up exhibit at Kauffman Museum that is mounted outside the front entrance (the building is at the corner of Main and 27th Streets in North Newton, across from the Bethel campus).

Developed by the New York Hall of Science, the exhibit offers informative and understandable education about the novel coronavirus identified in late 2019, and most commonly known as COVID-19.