Bethel Reinstates Theatre Arts Minor and Media Production Major

The Cabinet leadership team at Bethel University announced this week that it will reinstate a theatre arts minor and a media production major. As part of university-wide plan to create a more sustainable financial model for Bethel, program and positions cuts—including the theatre department and the media production major—were originally announced in September. 

Faculty in those programs had 30 days to meet with the provost and president to discuss “the missional impact of the decisions; and propose alternative methods to achieve final financial or strategic goals,” according to the Faculty Handbook.

Faculty from the theatre and communication studies departments met with President Jay Barnes and Provost Deb Harless to discuss and review their proposed alternative methods to achieve the financial savings without completely eliminating the theatre and media production programs. As a result, Cabinet voted to accept their creative proposals and reinstate a theatre arts minor and a media production major. 

“We appreciate the dedication and creative thinking put forward by our faculty to help us find different solutions that allow us to offer these programs and maintain the same cost savings needed for Bethel,” says Barnes.