Academic Catalog 2025-2026

Housing

Residence Halls

Living in the residence halls at Bethel University is an integral part of students’ educational experience. The intent of living among peers and in the residence halls is to help individuals develop their full potential in all areas of life. As students seek to become whole and holy people, Bethel understands learning opportunities do not just happen in the classroom. At Bethel, the residence hall is more than a place to sleep and study; it is a place to connect with people, which is one of the most significant aspects of the college experience. It is in the residences that social, spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual life blend together as in no other campus environment. This is also where students put their independent living skills into practice through real-life learning opportunities. BUILD staff partner with Student Life to create a safe and encouraging environment for the students in the BUILD program. 

2025-2026 Housing

  1. Nelson, Edgren, Getsch, and Bodien - Residence halls for first-year students 
    1. To maintain intentional integration in the residence halls, rooms for students in the BUILD program are located throughout the residence hall, not all on the same floor or side of the hall with neighbors, next to and directly across from students in BUILD, who are not in BUILD, unless an accessible housing option is needed.
    2. Students in BUILD have roommate(s) in BUILD.
    3. Students are assigned a double room, unless an accessible housing option is needed and approved through the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS).
    4. Housing Mentors for first-year students also live in Nelson, Edgren, Getsch, and Bodien.

  2. Danielson, Turnwall, Widen & Wingblade, North Village - Apartments for second-year students: https://www.bethel.edu/undergrad/student-life/residence-life/halls/north-village

    1. Apartment living experience provides transition to the next level of independence.
    2. Housing Mentors for second-year students also live in apartments in Widen and Danielson.
    3. Students in BUILD have roommate(s) in BUILD, and request who they would like as their roommates.
    4. To maintain intentional integration in the residence halls, rooms for students in the BUILD program are located throughout the residence hall, not all on the same floor or side of the hall with neighbors, next to and directly across from students in BUILD, who are not students in BUILD, unless an accessible housing option is needed.

Each year the housing arrangements are re-evaluated by Student Life and BUILD staff to determine which residential living options will best meet the needs of students for the following academic year, but are subject to change without notice based on enrollment, staffing and housing availability, and other considerations. 

Residential Support Systems in Place

  • Housing Mentors: Housing Mentors live near students in BUILD and help develop life skills that transition students to living more independently. This includes self-care, home management (laundry, cleaning, etc.), weekly meal planning and preparation including grocery shopping, and social/community participation. Housing mentors provide encouragement, verbal reminders, modeling and coaching, but do not provide any direct cares or personal care assistance, and do not make decisions for students. Housing Mentors are on-duty weeknights from 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. and on the weekends from 7:00 p.m. on Friday until 7:00 a.m. Monday.
  • Assistant Residential Supervisor: The Assistant Residential Supervisor (ARS) is on-duty 20 hours per week primarily between the hours of 4:00-7:00 p.m to help support students in transitioning from the academic day to evening events. The ARS provides homework help and connection activities in the BUILD Office and have dinner with students each weeknight that they are on-duty. The ARS lives and works in the residence halls where students in BUILD also live. The ARS assists the BUILD Residential Supervisors (BRS) with housing mentor training, answering the BUILD On-Call phone, events including the Bethel Student Government (BSG) Unified Sports Club practices and competitions, and student follow-up as assigned.
  • Residential Supervisors: The residential supervisors are professional staff who live on campus. Residential supervisors rotate evenings and weekends on-call (weeknights from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. and weekends 4:00 p.m. Friday until 8:00 a.m. Monday), as well as days when there are no classes when students are still on campus. Residential supervisors provide oversight for the residential components of the BUILD program including fostering an educational learning community focused on helping students to learn the importance of being whole and holy by teaching BUILD courses related to the development of independent living skills, spiritual formation and community engagement while also providing individual support for students with independent living skills/goals, and having a presence on campus to create a safe living environment for students in the BUILD program. Additional responsibilities include supervising BUILD housing mentors, assisting with community and student development as well as following up on student care and concerns or conflict management, and administrative duties including coaching BSG Unified Sports Club sports. Students in the BUILD program can reach the residential supervisors at any time during their on-call hours. 
  • Resident Assistants: Resident Assistants (RA) live in the residence halls near students. Their role is to develop relationships with students in order to walk alongside them as they learn about themselves, their relationship with Christ, and the Bethel community. RAs plan social and educational programming, advertise events, facilitate requesting repairs for residence hall rooms, address behavioral issues, and respond to emergencies. 
  • BUILD Professional Staff: The BUILD Office is open from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on days when classes are held. During these hours BUILD professional staff are available to help answer the on-call phone, answer questions, and navigate situations when students call or visit the BUILD Office to ask for support.

Residential Life

Roommates and housing placements are assigned by BUILD and residence life staff for the first year based information gathered from students and families throughout the application and interview process, any housing accommodations approved through the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS), and room availability. Following the BUILD program guidelines and following the CAS Student Life residential processes, students request specific roommates for the second year of the BUILD program and BUILD and residence life staff approve requests and assign roommates and housing placements based information gathered from students and families, staff observations, any housing accommodations approved through OARS, and room availability.  To facilitate parents/guardians talking with students about this important decision, roommate selection will be discussed during PLP meetings prior to spring semester. 

Parents/guardians who have comments, questions, or want to share information regarding residential life should contact the BUILD program (651-635-8799 build-program@bethel.edu). This allows BUILD staff to communicate the information to the appropriate individuals and follow-up with the parents/guardians. The role of housing mentors, as described in the BUILD Student Mentors section of this handbook, does not include direct communication with parents/guardians.

On occasion a rooming situation may become a barrier to a successful college experience for one or both of the roommates. In these situations, BUILD staff supports students in working through issues to come to a resolution. If the concerns persist, parents/guardians will be notified, and students will have the opportunity to request a room change at the end of the semester in accordance with Student Life residential processes. In the event of a medical need for an individual room or other housing accommodation, students may work with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services to request the needed accommodations at any time and do not need to wait until the end of the semester.

When students’ behavior rises to the level of concerns resulting in a written warning, behavioral agreement, or notice of behavioral probation, parents/guardians are notified by the student and will have their Residential Supervisor or another BUILD staff member involved in the student care and concerns process for support.

Students are encouraged by BUILD staff and student mentors to make healthy living choices. Encouragement from family members is also helpful as students transition to making daily living decisions independently.  

Students are encouraged to engage in Bethel Activities, Recreational Sports, Club Sports, and NCAA sports. Interests should be discussed during a PLP meeting and students can work with their Residential Supervisor or other BUILD staff for support in getting connected to activities of interest. See the Bethel Events, Recreational and Club Sports, and NCAA Athletic Teams sections for more details. Managing medications and prescriptions is a critical part of learning to be independent. 

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