Bemidji State University. 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 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. On August 13, 2021, Hensrud announced she would retire effective June 30, 2022.
There have been twelve presidents in the history of Bemidji State University.
== Academics …
