COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Bethel University

Because Bethel University is committed to the health and safety of its students, staff, and faculty, we have developed a response plan to COVID-19, a strain of the coronavirus. While there are no reported cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota at this time and relatively few in the United States, we will continue to monitor the news closely. 

In accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), a Bethel team led by Provost Deb Harless and Special Assistant to the President John Addleman is meeting weekly to track developments and plan accordingly to ensure the safety of our community if the situation changes. 

As part of this plan, we are actively working with our students who are studying abroad in higher-risk areas to ensure their health and wellbeing. We will also monitor any possible future cases of COVID-19 among the Bethel population and notify the community appropriately. Should there be a need to cancel any classes or events, the decision will be made by the emergency management team in coordination with government officials, and community members will receive a notification via the Bethel Alert system.

We recognize that some Bethel students or employees may have travel plans during spring break. We encourage all travelers to follow the CDC’s travel recommendations and suggestions for prevention. 

At this time, there are no other adjustments to the day-to-day operation of the university. We will continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC and MDH and provide updates as more information becomes.

Questions about Bethel’s response plan can be directed to Interim Director of Communication and Director of Marketing Tim Hammer.