Business Spotlight of the Week

The Business Spotlight is sent periodically to announce the achievements, goals, and activities of the Business Department and its students.

Welcome New Students!

We welcome 40 new students as business majors this fall.  They include 4 majors in accounting, 2 in business education, 2 in finance, 22 in management, and 10 in marketing.  Fifteen students are on the baseball, football, volleyball, tennis, and marching band rosters.  Sixteen of the 40 (40%) are transfer students with an average GPA of 3.1.  In addition to the new students, we have had a significant number of current students change to a business major this fall.  As a result, we have 163 business majors this semester, a 4.5% increase over last fall.  Go Business.

Take Advantage of Spiritual Emphasis Week

Spiritual emphasis week is a great opportunity to evaluate how your daily habits reflect on your commitment to grow spiritually. Your vocational calling to business is just as important to God's kingdom as any other calling. Take advantage of this week to develop some deliberate goals and habits that will enhance your daily walk with the Lord.

Who Moved the Furniture?

Diana Papit, wife of adjunct faculty member Mr. Ted Papit, has volunteered her interior design skills to help enhance our office area. She came last Friday morning and took some initial steps by simply rearranging existing furniture and décor items.  She has a concept hanging action photos of our students scanned onto canvas and adding other decor pieces to help provide decor consistency and enhance the professionalism and warmth of our office suite, the lab, and the SIFE office. The business department's student public relations team will provide input and help identify appropriate pictures. We have a limited budget to work with, and really appreciate Diana’s willingness to help us.

Pledge to Improve

Students in each course are encouraged to go to their student portal and complete confidential, on-line course evaluations at the end of each semester.  In the spring, we were "top dog" with an average of 73% of students in business courses completed the surveys!  The average for all courses was 58% and the next highest academic department was 67%.

The business department faculty take your feedback seriously.  We have set three year outcome goals as a department for key areas of the survey.  At the beginning of this semester, each faculty member is evaluating the spring results and reporting his or her strategies for improvement to the department chair.

Accreditation

On August 26, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) approved our application for candidacy status to receive specialized accreditation for our undergraduate business and Master's of Organizational Leadership programs.  This process preparation of an extensive self-assessment and formal visits from representatives of ACBSP.  We anticipate achieving full accreditation in approximately 18 months.

Special Scholarship Award

For the first time, the Springfield Area Human Resources Association (SAHRA) designated a scholarship specifically for an Evangel University student who has shown an interest in human resource management .  Congratulations to Kelly Goncalves, the 2011-12 recipient of this special scholarship.  Applications for the award are received in the spring.

Writing Proficiency Exam

Some of you must take Evangel's writing proficiency exam because you transferred in a composition course or your ACT writing score qualified you to take the writing proficiency exam to help identify the quickest path for you to complete RHET 205 Effective Communication.  You should have been told by your faculty advisor and/or notified by the Humanities Department if you are in this category.  Students who need to take this exam must sign up on the bulletin board outside the Write Place in ABII room 202 about 2 weeks before the tests.  The exam dates are shown below.  You can see a sample proficiency exam at  http://www.evangel.edu/Academics/PaperWriting/ProficiencyTestExample.asp 

·       September 12, 2011 - 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

·       November 14-15, 2011 - 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

·       December 5, 2011 - 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Getting Involved - A Real Plus!

Many of our business majors are involved in sports, music groups, theater, and a variety of student organizations such as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Student Investment Group (SIG), Student Government, CrossWalk, and Chi Alpha Honors Society.   These activities provide excellent opportunities to network and use the business skills you are developing to lead projects and organizations. 

Some students find the need to find regular work opportunities or spot jobs either on or off campus to help fund their education and personal needs.  Working is also an excellent way to apply what you are learning and to develop experience and an excellent work ethic which is greatly valued when you start your career.  Evangel's LifeWorks office provides excellent support if you are looking for part-time work either on or off campus you can go to www.HireEvangel.com  or http://www.evangel.edu/LifeWorks/Career/students.asp

Bernie Dana

Chair, Business Department