Evangel University bucks national trend, reports uptick in freshmen, transfer students

At a time when many higher education institutions, public and private, are struggling with enrollment, Evangel University is growing.

The Springfield-based campus experienced a surge in undergraduate enrollment this fall — 16 percent — due to an increase in freshmen and transfer students.

"It's exciting growth. A rising tide lifts all boats, and I think that is what is happening," said Mike Rakes, entering his second year as Evangel president. "In every area, there is just increase."

Rakes, a long-time pastor with higher education experience, took the job a year ago and charted a plan for growth. It started with taking care of the students who were already on campus, or learning remotely.

"We said we wanted to elevate the student experience and so all of our teams — every team at the university — became focused on doing just that," he said.

There were small changes, like improving customer service or wait times. Others were large, like building Valor basketball courts, adding on-campus amenities, and sprucing up residence halls and the coffee shop.

"Every residence hall has new carpet and the lobbies have 75-inch TVs...so the kids are riding high right now. They're excited, but that was the strategy," Rakes said. "If we can elevate the fun and joy they have outside the classroom we felt that would increase retention, which it did."

Evangel added new club sports and service-learning options with community partners like Convoy of Hope.

Last year, the university's total enrollment was 2,129 including traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and seminary students.

Rakes said total enrollment is up roughly 10 percent overall this fall and 16 percent for new students.

More: Evangel launches club sports including bass fishing, beach volleyball, disc golf

"We've had a large surge in transfer students," Rakes said. "Clarifying our story, and the great story that Evangel is, has helped keep us in the marketplace where students are considering where they're going to finish up their college career."

He said non-traditional students in online and graduate programs are trending up. The university is also seeing a surge in seminary with enrollment running 60 percent ahead of last year's census.

Evangel continues to draw most of its students from the Midwest but pulls from all over the U.S. This year, 11 countries are represented in the student population.

The official enrollment count will occur in early September.

Asked why Evangel is bucking the national enrollment downturn, Rakes said "education alone is not enough" and many students in this generation are looking for a community, family and virtue and character development.

"With Evangel, it's not just about taking classes and going to get a job," Rakes said. "It is about the transformation of their heart into that adulthood, responsibility place."

He said higher education must prepare students for the way jobs will change.

In the past year, Rakes has revamped the university's leadership. He said he plans "100 days at a time" and looks for progress.

He created "work" teams to address challenges and improve the campus including what he calls a "problem-solving ninja team" that swoops in when "a student has a problem or something falls through the cracks" and needs to be addressed quickly.

"Morale is just at an all-time high," he said.

Employees received a 3 percent raise last year, which will be repeated this school year. Full-time employees also received a Christmas bonus.

Rakes said his predecessor Carol Taylor, who retired in late 2020, created an "runway" for many of the changes his administration has been able to put in place.

Under Taylor's leadership, Evangel consolidated with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and absorbed Central Bible College, which no longer exists. The scholarship offerings were revamped and the university improved its alumni outreach.

Evangel has been on the federal "watch list" of higher education institutions with shaky financial stability since the mid-2010s. Rakes said the university is on the right path to come off, which requires progress over time.

"We finished in the black last year and our score is going to be way beyond what is required by the (U.S. Department of Education) when you do the math," he said. "Then, this surge of enrollment, it sets Evangel in a new place.

More: Evangel receives $10M, largest gift ever, from owners of Hobby Lobby, Mardel

Rakes said Evangel is experiencing a "pretty dramatic" increase in fundraising, overall and in its capital campaign.

"I didn't see myself necessarily as a great fundraiser coming in, but I am a great story-teller," he said, adding that he makes a case that there is a need for "Christ-centered higher education."

Rakes said there were 528 new first-time donors to Evangel this past year.

"I'm really proud of that number," he said. "That means people that have not previously given to Evnagel have stepped in to help us. So that's exciting."

The university is also in the silent phase of a $22 million capital campaign that includes an outdoor sports and performance facility.

Rakes said about 55 percent of that amount has been raised, and pledges are still coming in.

"We're moving ahead," he said. "We're going to be breaking ground pretty soon."

Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Evangel bucks national trend, reports uptick in freshmen, transfers