Newsletters
There are many exciting updates taking place within the College of Online Learning! Check out the newsletter below for the latest information.
The Community Relief & Development degree prepares students to deliver humanitarian care based on a foundation of God’s compassion and to apply biblical theology to the practice of humanitarian care. Students learn principles to be effective in a variety of domestic and international settings, including nonprofit leadership, volunteerism, disaster response, holistic self-care, community development, public policy, partnership cultivation, and advocacy. Learn more about the Center for Compassion and degree options.

Steve McMichael is the director of Evangel’s Center for Compassion and serves as the program coordinator for the Bachelor of Science in Community Relief & Development. He is an ordained minister and Registered Nurse and served in Africa for eighteen years prior to joining Evangel in August 2020 as Missionary in Residence. While residing in Africa, he pastored international churches and assisted with pastoral education and developing outreach ministries, including extensive outreaches to migrants and refugees. He is passionate about the local church as Jesus builds and graces it to reach the greater community.

Introducing Paralegal Studies Certificate
This program will assist Adult Studies students who are interested in the paralegal profession by preparing them to meet a legal need in society. Through coursework and study, students will be taught Biblical concepts that will help them pursue a profession in the legal field.
The following courses are eight weeks in length and will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m.
GOVA 280 – Fundamentals of Paralegalism 1 (3 credits)
GOVA 281 – Fundamentals of Paralegalism 2 (3 credits)
GOVA 273 – Intro to American Law 1 (3 credits)
GOVA 274 – Intro to American Law 2 (3 credits)
GOVA 285 – Paralegal Investigation Skills (2 credits)
GOVA 298 – Paralegal Practicum (1 credit)
At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
- Recognize the ethical considerations essential to the paralegal profession and the various legal fields that the profession serves.
- Be capable of performing essential clerical skills including letter writing, proofreading, and correct file management, including electronic filing.
Meet Brent Johnson, graduate enrollment coordinator
Brent Johnson recently joined the College of Adult and Graduate Studies as a graduate enrollment coordinator. He is a graduate of Central Bible College with degrees in Bible and Music and of EU’s Master of Organizational Leadership program. Brent is a current student in the Doctor of Ministry program at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He has a passion for people and is looking forward to helping students interested in graduate programs at EU. Brent may be reached at johnsonb@evangel.edu or at 417-865-2815 ext. 8276.
Best practices for completing your online education
Best practices for completing your online education
Pursuing an online education requires a bit of finesse as you seek to balance work, school, and kids. It requires even more thoughtfulness as you navigate the current situation of social distancing or work from home measures in place. Given these realities, now is a good time to review some important steps one can take to ensure success and progress toward graduation.
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- Use a calendar that works for you! Right now it might be hard to remember what you’re supposed to do and when you’re supposed to get it done. Using a calendar will help you remember the important due dates of assignments. You may prefer either a written calendar or an electronic one. The benefit to an electronic calendar is that you can access it on your phone as well as your computer and even set reminders for yourself. The benefit to a written calendar, such as a wall calendar or binder calendar, is that you can see it at all times if you place it near your work space.
- Plan your work. Make time each day to focus on schoolwork, whether that’s 15 minutes before you start your work day, during your lunch hour, or a time later in the evening after your kids have gone to bed. Your schedule may seem out of rhythm and you may struggle prioritizing your various responsibilities. Making a plan for your schoolwork ensures that you are remain actively engaged and working toward your goals. It also prevents you from waiting until the last moment to complete assignments. Procrastination will only increase your stress. Prioritizing your work will help relieve this pressure. Make a list of the tasks you need to do each day in order to stay on track.
- Set limits and stick to them. As you’re planning your work and making your list, anticipate how much time it will take you to complete each task and then stick to the schedule. This will not only help you be disciplined, but will help create healthy boundaries during this season. Setting time limits allows you to focus on what is in front of you. If you find that you are struggling to stick to your limits, consider reviewing them to ensure they are realistic. If you are having a hard time concentrating on your work, consider taking a break from the book or screen to focus on something else for a brief time. You’ll be able to accomplish more when you are in the right frame of mind to do so. And if you find you are having trouble submitting work on time, be sure to communicate with your instructor immediately. They may be able to develop a plan that will allow you to be more successful.
Tips & Tricks: Course Commons
Have you added a photo of yourself to your profile within Course Commons? Doing so will help your instructor and classmates connect your face with your name. Especially now, this will allow you to feel a little more connected. Setting your preferences helps you to determine how and when you want to receive notifications within your courses, including when assignments are due, when assignments are graded, and when you receive feedback or communication from your instructor and classmates. Many students like to receive text notifications in addition to emails. Access these features by clicking on your account icon in Course Commons, and then click on Settings. To select how you want to be notified for each type of interaction, click on Notifications.
Student Spotlight: Mattie Guillory
Mattie Guillory is a senior at EU, earning her B.S. in General Studies. She is an LPN and has worked as a pediatric private duty nurse. She’s currently employed by Phoenix Home Care and has recently made her way to New Orleans to assist a local hospital’s crisis team as they treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19. She reports they are working over 80 hours a week, with little time for anything else but sleep. Please pray for Mattie and all of our healthcare workers on the front lines of this pandemic.
Chaplain’s Corner
I hope you are loving those around you well during this most unusual and challenging situation. I know many of you are practicing servant leadership with your family and others while continuing to apply yourself to your academic success and learning adventure.
I want to encourage you to take this opportunity to be still and quiet your heart, listen to God, pay more attention to Him than our busy lives usually allow, and seek Him as you focus on His great love amidst this crisis. It is then that you will find hope and joy in this storm.
God provides strength and grace so that when we are weak, we are strong! I know the strain you feel as I have also juggled full time work, family life, and an education schedule and demands. Know that you are setting yourself up to experience more of God’s grace and strength!
I am reminded of this powerful passage of scripture from 2 Corinthians during this season:
“I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
I know many of you are feeling maxed out with work, family, and your education and are just trying to keep it all together, but our desire for you is to not just survive, but to thrive in every area of life and your faith while a student in EU’s Adult and Graduate Studies program.
I am available to support you via life coaching, relationship counseling and coaching, and pastoral counseling. We may communicate by email, phone, or video conference. My email address is morelands@evangel.edu.
Dr. Shawn Moreland
Coordinator of Spiritual Formation for Adult and Graduate Studies
Pearson Smarthinking
Are you struggling with a particular subject? Do you need writing help with an upcoming paper?
Evangel’s partnership with Smarthinking’s online tutoring service allows students to get help whenever and however they need it. Students benefit from on-demand, individual instruction and support in a variety of subject areas. To access these highly qualified professionals, click on the Smarthinking Tutoring Button in Course Commons.
Be sure to check out the short videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL03DnMag3mCbxX9Q9J6C62XUPHGIOeYxw to learn about the options, how to schedule a tutoring session, communicate with tutors, get writing help, and use tutor feedback. Help is literally minutes away! Contact a tutor today!
View the Smarthinking flyer here.
Learn more about the tutoring services provided by Smarthinking here.