Bethel’s spring semester enrollment, and in particular the retention percentage, showed numbers worth celebrating, especially in a pandemic.

Enrollment numbers become official on the 20th day of classes, which was Feb. 8 for spring 2022.

The report showed an official count of 449, the second highest spring number in a decade.

Equally important: the retention rate for all students is 93.2% (fall 2021 to spring 2022), and 89.9% for first-time freshmen, both of which are above average overall.

A big move happened on the Bethel College campus July 28.

Two departments – admissions and advancement/alumni – switched places between Leisy House, on the corner of 24th Street and College Ave., and the suite on the west side of the Administration Building’s 2nd level.

Six admissions staff (plus their summer student worker) moved into the Ad Building while seven advancement and alumni personnel began setting up a new home in Leisy House.

Heidi Hoskinson began Feb. 22 as vice president for enrollment management, which reflects a reorganization to emphasize student retention equal in importance to recruitment.

Her position on Bethel’s administrative cabinet fills that occupied previously by the vice president for admissions (most recently Andy Johnson, with Eric Preheim serving as interim director for admissions since Aug. 5, 2020).