A liberal arts approach to the curriculum has been questioned at Bethany over the past few years. In this concluding episode, VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey, and Dean of Faculty and Professor of Mathematics Julie Kjeer share with President Pfeifer the work they’ve been doing with the faculty to ensure that Bethany’s identity as a Confessional Lutheran liberal arts college continues to flourish. They offer their insight into what they’ve learned over the past few years and the direction they believe the faculty’s efforts need to be focused in the years ahead.

Professor of English Lars Johnson, Professor of Education Carrie Pfeifer, and Dean of Faculty and Professor of Mathematics Julie Kjeer share with President Pfeifer their definitions of the liberal arts at Bethany and how the tenets of a liberal arts education continue to be embedded into the curriculum and their teaching today.

Director of Nursing Deb Matzke-Lewis and Assistant Professor of Theatre Emily Kimball share with President Pfeifer and VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey their definitions of the liberal arts at Bethany and how the tenets of a liberal arts education continue to be embedded into the curriculum and their teaching today. The professors describe a unique partnership between their departments to help bring real-life human interaction into nursing simulations. Link to “Real Life Roles: Theatre, nursing collaborate for simulation” in Bethany Magazine.

Professor of Chemistry Eric Woller, Associate Professor of Spanish John Gunderson, and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Lucas Seehafer share with President Pfeifer their definitions of the liberal arts at Bethany and how the tenets of a liberal arts education continue to be embedded into the curriculum and their teaching today. They also share personal insight into how society’s demands for vocational readiness are served well through Bethany’s liberal arts approach.

Professor Emeritus Erling Teigen and Professor Andy Overn join President Pfeifer and VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey to share their insights into Bethany’s development as a four-year baccalaureate college from 1996 to 2001, including their perceptions regarding the development of the faculty’s “Common Understanding” document. Link to BLC Faculty Handbook, Section 8: Liberal Arts Education, Our Common Understanding.

Professor Emeritus Erling Teigen joins President Pfeifer and VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey to review the history of the academic program at Bethany since its inception in 1911 as a Ladies College and since 1927 as a co-educational high school and junior college. Teigen offers his insight into how the academic program was described at Bethany over the years. Link to Philosophy and Objectives of the College document.

Professor Emeritus Erling Teigen joins President Pfeifer and VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey to offer a definition of a liberal arts education and to provide a brief history of its development. He then offers his assessment of the liberal arts in higher education today. Link to “Liberal Arts Education at Bethany Lutheran College by Erling T. Teigen, Prof. Emeritus, Bethany Lutheran College.”

President Pfeifer explains the purpose for the podcast series about the Liberal Arts at Bethany, and highlights the upcoming episodes. Link to podcast outline.