Student Life

Intercultural Programs and Services

We're Here to Help. . .

Terrence Galbreath Program Coordinator for Intercultural Programs and Services 651.638.6384 terrence-galbreath@bethel.edu
Carol Chang Associate Dean for International Student Services and Programs 651.638.6161 c-chang@bethel.edu
Edwinna Johnson Associate Dean for International Student Services and Programs 651.638.6832 e-johnson@bethel.edu

Multicultural Student Advising

The Office of Intercultural Programs and Services promotes cultural and ethnic diversity, and advises students of color on matters of academics, career planning, and social, personal, and financial issues. It advises the students of color, international students, Asian Christian Fellowship of Bethel and United Cultures of Bethel, (UCB, multicultural student association) in planning and coordinating cultural and social events such as Asian American Awareness Week, Black History Month activities, cultural diversity retreats, multicultural chapels and social activities such as quarterly gatherings of students of color (potlucks) and other activities outside the Bethel community.

Ethnic Church Relations

Bethel encourages students to find a local church body with which they can be involved in a meaningful way. The Office of Intercultural Programs and Services works closely with many ethnic and bicultural churches in the Twin Cities and encourages students to visit these historical churches. A list of these churches is available in Bethel's Roster.

International Student Advising

The Office of Intercultural Programs and Services assists international students in their adjustment to study at Bethel University. It prepares orientation for international students at the beginning of the academic year and provides social and academic support for students and assists them in dealing with immigration issues. Carol Chang serves as the international student adviser. She handles information on immigration, work permits, and temporary status, and serves as a liaison between the student and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Please note: On some occasions the international student adviser may not be able to respond to inquiries or requests immediately. Should this occur, please feel free to contact the local office of the USCIS with your concerns and questions. The address and phone numbers are found in the blue pages of the telephone directory and are listed below.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: District Office
St. Paul District
2901 Metro Drive, Suite 100
Bloomington, MN 55425
: Office hours: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday
National Customer Service Center: 800.375.5283
Appointments must be made online at: http://infopass.uscis.gov/
Further information is available at: http://uscis.gov/

Clubs and Organizations

Asian Christian Fellowship (ACF)
Asian Christian Fellowship is a student-led organization dedicated to supporting and assisting Asian students in their Christian lives, along with celebrating the diversity of Asian culture. Staff Advisor Carol Chang describes ACF as "a support group for students." Approximately 15 Asian students attend the bi-weekly ACF meetings, coming together for games, devotions, Bible studies, and to plan chapels and Asian heritage celebrations. The group also occasionally hosts off-campus activities and speakers.

MuKappa
As one missionary kid (MK) at Bethel said, "You know you're an MK when you can't answer the question `Where are you from?'. . .when you speak as an authority on airline travel. . .when you have a time zone map next to your television." Most MKs know the struggle of trying to explain where they are from, repeating what countries their parents live in, and counting the number of times they've moved. MuKappa allows MKs to join with others who have been raised outside of the United States and find support in the transitions to college and U.S. life. Game nights, dinners, retreats, and a range of other activities are held every few weeks, including celebrations for seasonal holidays such as Christmas and Easter.

United Cultures of Bethel (UCB)
A support network for students of color, UCB meets on alternate Thursdays to provide opportunities for fellowship and planning activities on world cultures for the entire Bethel community. Petra Wonders, a 2001 graduate, appreciated the way cultural differences were celebrated through UCB and the fact that as a European-American she felt welcome in the group. "UCB is not about people being numbers or faces to fill racial quotas," she said. Instead, it is about being part of the body of Christ in which "we are all different, but we all need each other. That's really powerful."

Bethel Community Council (BCC)
A committee of faculty and staff with student representation, the BCC meets monthly to address issues related to Bethel's growing commitment to racial reconciliation and ethnic diversity. The BCC functions as "the conscience of the college when it comes to ethnic and race relations," said Donna Johnson, Pastor of Twin Cities Outreach and BCC member. The group serves as a liaison for groups interested in racial reconciliation and cultural diversity and plans campus events designed to enhance awareness of the biblical foundation for racial reconciliation.