Evangel University

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Evangel University
Established 1955
Type private liberal arts university
President Dr. Robert H. Spence
Location Springfield, Missouri, USA
37°13′15″N 93°15′49″W / 37.22096°N 93.26367°W / 37.22096; -93.26367Coordinates: 37°13′15″N 93°15′49″W / 37.22096°N 93.26367°W / 37.22096; -93.26367
Campus 80 acres (32.4 ha)
Nickname Crusaders
Website http://www.evangel.edu/

Evangel University is a private Christian, liberal arts university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Christian denomination, which is also headquartered in Springfield. The former Evangel College was renamed Evangel University on June 8, 1998. The campus sits on 80 acres (320,000 m2) that were originally part of O'Reilly General Hospital.[1] The first president of Evangel was Klaude Kendrick who served from 1955-1958.[1] Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, father of United States Attorney General John Ashcroft, was president of the university from 1958-1974.[2] Dr. Robert H. Spence is the current president of the university, beginning his leadership in 1974.[1] He is scheduled to retire in May 2014. Dr. Carol Taylor has been named president-elect and chief executive officer of the university and officially began her service at Evangel in July 2013.[3]

Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

National Association of Schools of Music

Council on Social Work Education

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issues teaching certificates to graduates who successfully complete the Teacher Education program.

Academics

Evangel University has 10 academic departments, offering more than 100 programs for undergraduates. There is also a Graduate Studies program and a Professional Studies program. Undergraduate departments include the following:

  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Business
  • Communication
  • Education
  • Humanities
  • Kinesiology
  • Music
  • Science and Technology
  • Social Sciences
  • Theology & Church Ministries

Graduate programs include the following:

  • Education
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Psychology
  • School Counseling
  • Music

In addition, master's and doctoral degrees are offered through Evangel's embedded seminary, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

Student life

Approximately 2,500 students attend Evangel University. They come from all 50 states, and from 20 countries worldwide.[4] There are more than 50 student clubs and organizations at Evangel. Each year more than 80 percent of Evangel students are involved in at least one campus activity outside of athletics and music. Evangel is primarily a residential campus, with most students living in one of six residence halls: Spence Hall, Walther Hall, Scott Hall, Krause Hall, Burgess Hall or Lewis Hall. The Perkin Apartments are available for married student housing.

Athletics

Evangel University teams are known as the Crusaders. The university competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Evangel also has a club-level sport on soccer for men).

History

Evangel College (later University) was founded by the General Council of the Assemblies of God in 1955 as the first national Pentecostal school of arts and sciences.[5] The denomination, led at the time by the Rev. Ralph Riggs, already had several Bible schools and wanted a college where students entering secular fields could study in a Pentecostal, faith-based environment.[6] The college was established on the property of the former O’Reilly General Hospital, which had been established during World War II by the U.S. Army.[7] In its five-year history as an Army hospital, O’Reilly served more than 100,000 patients.[7] After the war, it briefly served as a veteran’s hospital before the Army declared it excess property. The property was acquired by the Assemblies of God in December 1954 for the use of Evangel College. [8] The first day of classes at Evangel was September 1, 1955. There were 87 students.[6] Evangel students lived and went to classes in the O'Reilly barracks for years. The first permanent structure built on campus was the Klaude Kendrick Library in 1963. In the decades since, Evangel has slowly replaced the barracks with permanent structures. The last Army barrack on campus was demolished in 2009. .[9]

Consolidation with Central Bible College & Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

In 2010, the Assemblies of God began an effort to consolidate Evangel University with Central Bible College and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.[10] All three institutions were owned by the Assemblies of God and located in Springfield, Missouri. A resolution for consolidation was passed at the AG’s 2011 General Council in Phoenix, Arizona, following which efforts began to make a formal proposal to the Higher Learning Commission.[10] The consolidation was approved by the Higher Learning Commission in April of 2013, making way for the official launch of the "new" Evangel University in August of 2013. With the HLC's approval, the Assemblies of God also announced that Dr. Carol Taylor, president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, had been named to lead the consolidated university.[11] Dr. Taylor is an alumnus of Evangel University and AGTS. She has a doctorate from Florida State University. In addition to her tenure as Vanguard's president, Taylor has served as vice provost for undergraduate education at Biola University and spent 12 years in executive management at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey.[12]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "EU Klaude Kendrick Library". Retrieved 27 March 2009. 
  2. ↑ "AG News". 1 February 1995. Retrieved 30 August 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Dr. Carol Taylor Chosen to Lead Consolidated Evangel University". Assemblies of God News. Assemblies of God. Retrieved 28 May 2013. 
  4. ↑ http://www.evangel.edu/About/index.asp
  5. ↑ "The Assemblies of God: Our Heritage in Perspective". Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "History". Evangel University. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Glenn, Michael. "O'Reilly General Hospital of Springfield, Missouri". The Springfield-Greene County Library. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  8. ↑ Glenn, Michael. "About O'Reilly: A Brief Introduction". O'Reilly General Hospital of Springfield, Missouri. Retrieved 13 November 2012. 
  9. ↑ "History Video". Retrieved 14 November 2012. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Assemblies of God Consolidation Update". Assemblies of God. Retrieved 16 November 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Evangel Consolidation Approved". Springfield News-Leader. Gannet. Retrieved 28 May 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Dr. Carol Taylor Chosen to Lead Consolidated Evangel University". Assemblies of God News. Assemblies of God. Retrieved 28 May 2013. 

External links

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