Bethel University Unveils Vision 2030

A year-long process involving students, faculty, staff and community members charts the University’s course for the years ahead.

MCKENZIE, Tenn. — Bethel University recently announced Vision 2030, a comprehensive strategic plan that sets a confident path toward a season of growth and prosperity while reaffirming the University’s identity as an inclusive Christian community committed to student success.

Vision 2030 is the product of a year-long, campus-wide effort that brought together faculty, staff, students and community members. Through a series of listening and planning sessions led by Bethel President, Dr. Perry Moulds, and facilitated by Dr. Bob Fisher, President Emeritus of Belmont University, the process produced a refreshed mission, a new vision and five core values that reflect who Bethel is and who it aspires to be.

“Vision 2030 is more than a plan. It is a shared promise to our students and a reflection of Bethel at its best,” said Dr. Perry Moulds, President of Bethel University. “Our community came together with energy and honesty, and what they created gives us a clear and exciting path toward real prosperity for the University. I could not be more proud of what we built together.”

A Mission, Vision and Values Shaped by the Bethel Community

Vision 2030 is anchored by a refreshed mission, a new vision and five core values that will guide the University’s decisions and culture in the years ahead.

Mission: Bethel University is an inclusive Christian community dedicated to equipping individuals for a life of service through academic, spiritual, social and experiential learning to go forth and transform the world.

The mission speaks to who Bethel is and what it does. It defines the University as an inclusive Christian community that values every person and prepares students to lead lives of service. Both commitments matter deeply at Bethel: students grow best when they are known and valued, and an education grounded in faith and service equips graduates to strengthen the communities and workplaces they enter.

Vision: Bethel University will be a leader in student-centered education through innovative academics, character formation and life skills development.

The vision sets Bethel’s sights higher. Building on a tradition of student-centeredness and academic innovation, the University aims to lead in two areas that set its graduates apart: character formation and life skills development. Character formation shapes students who succeed in their careers and strengthen their communities. Life skills prepare them to thrive in everyday life, long after they leave campus.

Values: Vision 2030 is anchored by five values, each carrying its own meaning for the Bethel community:

• Faith — Our faith is the foundation of our University and at the core of all that we do.
• Integrity — We hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty, accountability, and trustworthiness.
• Inquiry — We believe the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong endeavor that begins with curiosity, deepens into understanding, and matures into wisdom.
• Compassion — Our community cares deeply about one another and treats each other accordingly.
• Respect — We are committed to a campus culture where every person is treated with dignity and is engaged with openness and goodwill.

Five Strategic Priorities

Vision 2030 is organized around five strategic priorities, each supported by specific goals:

1. Show Faithfulness to Our Christian Character and Commitment to Student Formation. Deepen spiritual life programming, strengthen Convocation and University Chapel, and weave character development and practical life skills throughout the student experience.
2. Strive to Attract, Retain and Graduate Outstanding Students. Grow and strengthen the student body through targeted recruitment, intentional retention strategies, expanded academic pathways and a robust First-Year Experience.
3. Ensure Long-Term Sustainability by Growing Revenue and Stewarding Resources Responsibly. Streamline University processes, make strategic investments, build a unified budget aligned with institutional priorities and develop new revenue streams through philanthropy and grants.
4. Invest in Grounds and Facilities to Create an Environment Where All Can Thrive. Improve residence halls, modernize academic and athletic facilities, beautify campus grounds and complete construction of the Whosoever Will Worship Center.
5. Embody a One Bethel Culture in All We Do. Foster open communication, cultivate collaboration across colleges, invest in employees and champion a shared commitment to student success across every department.

The full Vision 2030 plan, including the complete set of goals under each priority, is available at bethelu.edu/vision2030.

In the months ahead, Bethel will turn its five priorities into the specific initiatives, projects and investments that will shape our future students’ experience. “The Board of Trustees enthusiastically approved Vision 2030 because it reflects the voices of the entire Bethel family,” said Nancy Bean, Chair of the Bethel University Board of Trustees. “This is a clear and unifying roadmap for our future, and it positions Bethel to grow and thrive for generations of students to come.”

About Bethel University

Founded in 1842, Bethel University has spent nearly 185 years helping students turn their talents into purpose. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, within two hours of both Nashville and Memphis, Bethel is a Christian community of nearly 3,000 students from 33 states and 41 countries. The University’s mission is to equip individuals for a life of service through academic, spiritual, social and experiential learning to go forth and transform the world. With 52 undergraduate programs and nine graduate programs, Bethel aims to be a leader in student-centered education through innovative academics, character formation and life skills development. For more information, visit bethelu.edu.