Bemidji State University

Bemidji State University

Former names	Bemidji State Normal School; Bemidji State Teachers College; Bemidji State College
Type	Public
Established	1919
Endowment	$10,912,494
President	Faith Hensrud
Provost	Michael Anderson (interim)
Academic staff	246
Students	6,349
Undergraduates	5,912
Postgraduates	437
Location	Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S. 47°28′54″N 94°52′32″W / 47.48175°N 94.87557°W / 47.48175; -94.87557Coordinates: 47°28′54″N 94°52′32″W / 47.48175°N 94.87557°W / 47.48175; -94.87557
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Green and white
Nickname	Beavers
Mascot	Bucky the Beaver
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – WCHA Division II – NSIC
Website	www.bemidjistate.edu

NCAA

Bemidji State University (BSU) is a public state university in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States, located on the shores of Lake Bemidji. Founded as a preparatory institution for teachers in 1919, it provides higher education to north-central Minnesota. It is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

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 and the first class consisted of 38 students. The name was later changed to Bemidji State Teachers College, then shortened to Bemidji State College, and finally in 1975, it was changed to its current name Bemidji State University. During the 1998–1999 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 is about 5,300 students, with students from 44 US states and 40 countries.

Dr. Faith Hensrud was named Bemidji State University's eleventh president on April 20, 2016, and took office on July 1, 2016. Hensrud previously worked at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, having served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs since 2012.

There have been eleven presidents in the 97-year history of Bemidji State University.

Bemidji State University is becoming well known for its programs and conferences in writing. It offers the only BFA in professional and creative writing in the MnSCU system. The program includes a minor and certificates in electronic writing, consisting of courses in weblogs, , web content writing, web design, digital rhetoric, and teaching writing with technology. 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.