Bemidji State University

Deputy Hall in 1919, Bemidji State University BSU was founded in 1919 and opened under the name "Bemidji State Normal School". The first president, Manfred Deputy, was appointed to run the new institution, [ 5 ] and the first class consisted of 38 students. The name was changed to "Bemidji State Teachers College" in 1921, then shortened to "Bemidji State College" in 1957. In 1975, it took its current name, Bemidji State University. [ 6 ] During the 1998–99 academic year, the Board of Trustees recommended changing the name of the university to Minnesota State University–Bemidji, to reflect a change toward unification within the newly formed Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System after other larger institutions had done so. Prominent vocal and written opposition from students, alumni , and local Bemidji residents forced the board to withdraw the recommendation to change the name. Current enrollment [ when? ] is about 5,300, with students from 44 US states and 40 countries. Presidents Faith Hensrud was named Bemidji State University's eleventh president on April 20, 2016, and took office on July 1, 2016. She previously worked at the University of Wisconsin-Superior , having served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs since 2012. [ 7 ] On August 13, 2021, Hensrud announced she would retire effective June 30, 2022. [ 8 ] There have been twelve presidents in the history of Bemidji State University. [ 9 ] More information President, Years of service ... President Years of service 1 Manfred W. Deputy 1919–1938 2 C.R. Sattgast 1938–1964 3 Harry F. Bangsberg 1964–1967 4 R.D. Decker 1968–1980 5 Rebecca Stafford 1980–1982 6 Lowell Gillett 1982–1990 7 Leslie Duly 1990–1993 8 M. James Bensen 1994–2001 9 Jon E. Quistgaard 2001–2010 10 Richard Hanson 2010–2016 11 Faith Hensrud 2016–2022 12 John Hoffman 2022–present [ 10 ] Close

Deputy Hall in 2024 Bemidji State University offers 47 different areas of study. [ 11 ] Many courses are available online. BSU offers the only BFA in professional and creative writing in the Minnesota State system. The program includes a minor and certificates in electronic writing, consisting of courses in weblogs , wikis , web content writing, web design , digital rhetoric, and teaching writing with technology. Another unique program at Bemidji State University is the Indigenous Sustainability Studies degree; this is the only such program in the United States. [ 12 ] Bemidji State also has a 96% rate of social work majors passing their licensing exams compared to the 76% rate for the entire state. In addition, Sattgast Hall is home to a number of natural sciences programs and pre-professional studies. Quick facts Academic rankings, Master's ... Academic rankings Master's Washington Monthly [ 13 ] 455 Regional U.S. News & World Report [ 14 ] 92 National Forbes [ 15 ] RNP Close Bemidji State University accepts approximately 60% of students that apply. They also have an Honors Program which offers classes specific to participating students. Students from their honors program attend regional conferences. [ 16 ] Foreign programs For 16 years BSU has had a relationship with Liaoning University , a university in China . Each year a professor from Liaoning University goes to BSU to teach Chinese and each summer BSU students participate in "Sino-Summer", a month-long visit to China with half of the time spent at Liaoning University and half touring other parts of China including Beijing , Xi'an and Guilin .

More information Race and ethnicity, Total ... Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023 [ 17 ] Race and ethnicity Total White 79% Two or more races 6% American Indian / Alaska Native 5% Hispanic 4% Black 3% Asian 2% International student 2% Economic diversity Low-income [ a ] 31% Affluent [ b ] 69% Close Student government The Bemidji State University Student Association holds weekly meetings where the student senate influences life on campus. The members of the student senate are from a diverse group of students based on a number of factors including their year in school. They are voted in by the students through popular elections. [ 18 ]

Bemidji State University provides over 100 clubs and organizations, both on and off campus. [ 19 ] These clubs include interests in music, art, culture, outdoors, business, engineering, athletics, faith, and select majors and minors for students interested in research. Bemidji State only has two active Greek life organizations on campus, Theta Tau Epsilon fraternity and Delta Theta Kappa sorority. [ 20 ]