:Evangel University

{{Short description|Christian university in Springfield, Missouri, US}}

{{redirect|Evangel College|the school in Hong Kong|Evangel College (Hong Kong)}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Evangel University

| image = Evangel University logo.svg

| image_size = 250

| former_name = Evangel College (1955–1998)

| motto = "Your Calling. Our Passion."

| type = Private university

| religious_affiliation = Assemblies of God

| established = {{start date and age|1955}}

| president = Mike Rakes

| chancellor =

| city = Springfield, Missouri

| country = U.S.

| students = 2,112{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=evangel+university&s=all&id=177339|title = College Navigator - Evangel University}}

| undergrad = 1,631

| faculty = 100{{Cite web|url=https://www.evangel.edu/about/about-evangel|title = About}}

| colors = Maroon and gray{{cite book |title=Evangel Valor Brand Guide |url=https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/j/2/o8bsc391qunvdn/Evangel_Valor_Brand_Guide.pdf |accessdate=August 29, 2022}}
{{college color boxes|Evangel Valor}}

| sports_nickname = Valor

| athletics_affiliations = NAIA – KCAC

| campus = {{convert|80|acre|ha|1}}

| website = {{URL|www.evangel.edu}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|37.22096|-93.26367|type:edu_region:US-MO|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

}}

Evangel University is a private Christian university and seminary in Springfield, Missouri, United States. It is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Christian denomination, which is also headquartered in Springfield. The campus sits on {{convert|80|acre|ha|abbr=off}} that were originally part of O'Reilly General Hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.evangel.edu/Library/Archives/FoundingOfEvangel.asp |title=EU Klaude Kendrick Library|access-date=27 March 2009}}

History

Evangel College (later University) was founded by the General Council of the Assemblies of God on September 1, 1955, as the first national Pentecostal school of arts and sciences.{{cite web |title=Evangel University History |url=https://www.evangel.edu/about/university-overview/history/#:~:text=Evangel%20University%2C%20the%20first%20Pentecostal,life's%20calling%20could%20be%20discovered. |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=August 17, 2023 |website= |publisher=}} The denomination, led at the time by Ralph Riggs, already had several Bible schools, and wanted a college where students entering secular fields could study in a Pentecostal, faith-based environment.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.evangel.edu/about/history/|publisher=Evangel University|access-date=13 November 2012}}

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.{{cite web|last=Glenn|first=Michael|title=O'Reilly General Hospital of Springfield, Missouri|url=http://thelibrary.org/lochist/oreilly/intro.cfm|publisher=The Springfield-Greene County Library|access-date=13 November 2012}} In its five-year history as an Army hospital, O'Reilly served more than 100,000 patients. 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.

{{cite web|last=Glenn|first=Michael|title=About O'Reilly: A Brief Introduction|url=http://thelibrary.org/lochist/oreilly/intro.cfm|work=O'Reilly General Hospital of Springfield, Missouri|access-date=13 November 2012}} The first day of classes at Evangel was September 1, 1955. There were 87 students.

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.{{cite web|title=History Video|url=http://www.evangel.edu/about/history/|access-date=14 November 2012}}

=Consolidation=

In 2010, the Assemblies of God began an effort to consolidate Evangel University with Central Bible College and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.{{cite web|title=Assemblies of God Consolidation Update|url=http://ag.org/top/consolidation/faq.cfm|publisher=Assemblies of God|access-date=16 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123073432/http://ag.org/top/consolidation/faq.cfm|archive-date=23 January 2013|url-status=dead}} All three institutions were owned by the Assemblies of God and located in Springfield, Missouri. A resolution for consolidation was passed at the Assembly of God's 2011 General Council in Phoenix, Arizona, following which efforts began to make a formal proposal to the Higher Learning Commission.

The consolidation was approved by the Higher Learning Commission in April 2013, making way for the official launch of the "new" Evangel University in August 2013. With the Higher Learning Commission's approval, the Assemblies of God also announced that Carol Taylor, president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, had been named to lead the consolidated university.{{cite news|url=http://sbj.net/stories/evangel-consolidation-approved,17446|title=Evangel Consolidation Approved|date=16 April 2013|work=SBJ Business Authority|publisher=SBJ Staff|access-date=3 December 2018}} Taylor is an alumnus of Evangel University and the Assembly of God Theological Seminary. Mike Rakes{{Cite web |title=New President |url=https://www.evangel.edu/president/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Evangel University |language=en-US}} became president of Evangel University in 2021.

Academics

Academic departments include Business, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Communication, Education, Humanities, Kinesiology, Music, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Theology and Church Ministries. In addition Evangel offers graduate degrees in social sciences, kinesiology, and education along with master's and doctoral degrees through Evangel's embedded seminary, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=evangel+university&s=all&id=177339#programs|title=College Navigator|website=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=4 December 2018}}

Evangel's School of Theology and Church Ministries was launched in 2013 to prepare students for vocational ministry. The new school was created with the 2013 consolidation of Evangel, Central Bible College, and Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. The three departments within the school are Bible & Theology, Church Ministries, and Intercultural Studies.{{cite web|title=Theology and Church Ministries|url=http://www.evangel.edu/departments/school-of-theology-and-church-ministries/about-the-school/|work=www.evangel.edu|access-date=20 May 2014}}

Accreditation

Evangel University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission,{{cite web|url=http://hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&Itemid=&instid=1428&lang=en|title=Higher Learning Commission|website=hlcommission.org|access-date=15 May 2017}} whose predecessor the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools first accredited Evangel in 1965.

Evangel also has the following specialized/programmatic accreditations:{{cite web|url=https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/evangel-university/academic-life/accreditation/|title=Evangel University Accreditation|date=20 February 2013|access-date=15 May 2017}}

Social Work – Council on Social Work Education
Music – National Association of Schools of Music
Education – Initial Teacher Preparation and Advanced Preparation Levels – National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

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

Student life

In 2009, approximately 2,350 students attended Evangel University from all 50 U.S. states and 20 countries.{{cite web |url=http://www.evangel.edu/About/index.asp |title=Evangel University | the Assemblies of God university of arts, sciences and professions |access-date=2009-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130233101/http://www.evangel.edu/About/index.asp |archive-date=2009-11-30 }} In 2018, the university's gender distribution among students was 55% female and 45% male.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/evangel-university-2463|title=Evangel University Report|website=U. S. News & World Report|access-date=4 December 2018}} There are more than 50 student clubs and organizations at Evangel. Each year more than 80% 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

The Evangel athletic teams are called the Valor. The named was changed from the Crusaders in 2021.{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Elizabeth |title=Evangel Drops Crusader Mascot |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/03/31/evangel-drops-crusader-mascot |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=March 31, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Wyatt D. |title=Evangel University becomes Valor after dropping Crusaders mascot |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2021/09/22/evangel-university-changes-nickname-valor-drops-crusader-mascot-horse-logo/5784833001/ |newspaper=Springfield News-Leader |location=Springfield, Missouri |date=September 22, 2021 |access-date=August 17, 2023 }} The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) from the 1987–88 academic year through the spring of 2023. In February 2022, Evangel accepted an invitation to join in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) for all sports, effective beginning the 2023–24 academic year.{{cite news |title=KCAC to Add Evangel University as 14th Member Institution in 2023 |url=https://www.kcacsports.com/article/7695 |access-date=February 26, 2022 |publisher=Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference |date=February 10, 2022}}

Evangel competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading.{{cite web |url=https://www.evangelathletics.com/landing/index|title=Evangel Athletics |access-date=1 December 2018}}

The university offers club sports such as bass fishing, beach volleyball, bowling, CrossFit and disc golf.[https://evangel.prestosports.com/clubsports Evangel University]

=Facilities=

Ashcroft Center – sports: basketball, volleyball, capacity 1,200{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/ashcroft_center/index|title=Ashcroft Center |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Baseball Complex – capacity 1,000.{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/baseball_complex/index|title=Baseball Complex |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Coryell Field – sports: football, men's and woman's soccer{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/coryell_field/index|title=Coryell Field |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Softball Complex – capacity 1,000{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/softball_complex/index|title=Softball Complex |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Tiger Stadium – sports: football, capacity 4,400{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/tiger_stadium/index|title=Tiger Stadium |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Baseball/Softball Fieldhouse{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/fieldhouse/index|title=Fieldhouse |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Rivercut Golf Course{{cite web |title=Rivercut Golf Course |url=https://parkboardgolf.org/rivercut/ |access-date=1 December 2018}}
Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course{{cite web |url=https://evangel.prestosports.com/facilities/stewart_gc/index|title=Bill and Payne Stesart Golf Course |access-date=1 December 2018}}

Notable alumni

Barry Corey, academic administrator and minister
Derrick Clark, professional football player
Vern Clark, United States Navy Admiral who was 27th Chief of Naval Operations
Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, United States federal judge
Richard Grenell, U.S. Ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence
Tony Dollinger, professional football player
Sara Groves, recording artist and author
Ted Dekker, author
Jonathan Kvanvig, philosopher
Beverly Lewis, author
Kristen Mattio, college basketball coach
Troy Paino, academic administrator
Todd Tiahrt, United States Congressman, R-Kan
George O. Wood,{{Cite web |last=Silliman |first=Daniel |date=2022-01-12 |title=Died: George O. Wood, Who Led the Assemblies of God into Growth |url=https://christianitytoday.com/news/2022/january/death-george-o-wood-assemblies-of-god-growth-doctrine-diver.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=News & Reporting |language=en}} former General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God