Month: January 2016

Four Candidates for Board of Trustees

January 18, 2016 | Campus News

Four candidates have filed for two seats on the East Central College board of trustees.

Appearing on the April 5 ballot will be Cookie Hartbauer Hays, 182 Oak Tree Lane, Union; John M. Witt, 616 Windy Ridge Drive, Washington; Eric Park, 172 Carriage Court, Washington; and Dan Leslie, 478 Quail Point, Labadie.

Both board seats in the April election are from sub-district three which includes all of the Washington School District, excluding that portion located in Boeuf and Lyon Townships. The ECC board consists of six trustees, two each from three sub-districts of the college district. Though trustees file for office by sub-district they are elected by the voters of the district at large.

The terms of Jim Perry and Tom Dill expire in April. College trustees serve six-year terms.

In addition to Perry and Dill, other current trustees include Ann Hartley, Union; Prudence Fink Johnson, Union; Don Kappelmann, New Haven; and Dr. Joe Stroetker, Sullivan.

ECC Observes Black History Month February 26

January 18, 2016 | Campus News

East Central College will mark Black History Month with a free screening of the documentary Banished Friday evening, February 26.

Banished: How Whites Drove Blacks Out of Town in America examines a hidden side of America’s racial history, focusing on examples of primarily white communities rising up to force their African-American neighbors to flee in post-reconstruction America. The incidents took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Indiana between 1886 and 1923. In the documentary, filmmaker Marco Williams follows three African American families who returned to the communities to confront this legacy.

In Forsyth County, Georgia, where a thousand black residents were expelled, the film explores the question of land fraudulently taken, and follows some descendants in their quest to uncover the real story of their family’s land. In Pierce City, Missouri, a man designed his own creative form of reparation — wishing to disinter the remains of his great-grandfather who was buried there before the banishment. In Harrison, Arkansas, home to the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan, a white community struggles with their town’s legacy of hate.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center on ECC’s campus in Union. Guest speakers Dr. Keon Gilbert, assistant professor of behavioral science and health education at St. Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice, and Murray Bishoff, the editor of The Monett Times in southwest Missouri, will introduce the film.

Gilbert has done extensive research in the Faith & For the Sake of All project, which traces the effects of segregation in St. Louis on African Americans’ health and well-being. Bishoff has researched and written about the violent expulsion of African Americans in Pierce City. He will bring a large display he has created that documents the events.

ECC’s Patron of the Arts program provides financial support for the film and lecture series at the college. For more information contact leigh.kolb@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6643.

Auditions Set for Next Theatre Production

January 18, 2016 | Campus News

The East Central College Theatre Department will hold auditions for the final show of the 2015-2016 season Monday, February 29, and Tuesday, March 1.

Auditions for Into The Woods will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Theatre Department located in Hansen Hall at the ECC campus in Union. Directed by Grace Austin with music direction by Colin Healy, this multi Tony Award winning show will be performed April 14-17.

Into The Woods intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests.

Roles are available for up to 18 men and women ages 14 and up. There is also one featured role for a boy between the ages of 9 and 13. Individuals auditioning should prepare one of the audition selections which can be accessed online at www.ecctheatre.com. An accompanist will be provided.

More information, including the show synopsis and character breakdowns, is available at www.ecctheatre.com.

Bauer to Lead Missouri Community College Association

January 15, 2016 | Campus News

Dr. Jon Bauer, president of East Central College in Union, Missouri began his term as chair of the Missouri Community College Association last week.

Bauer succeeds Dr. Ron Chesbrough, president of St. Charles Community College, and will provide leadership for the association as it represents community college interests across the state.

Among these interests are the priorities outlined in the association’s state legislative agenda—equity funding for community colleges, increased funding for all of Missouri’s public colleges and universities, funding for the A+ scholarship program and support for workforce training.

Bauer has been a member of the association’s governing board since he became president of East Central College on July 1, 2012. He is a product of Missouri’s community college system, graduating in 1984 from Jefferson College in Hillsboro.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, an MBA from Fontbonne University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

As president of East Central College, Bauer recently completed work as a member of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) steering committee for the new Blueprint for Higher Education. He also serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

Bauer started at East Central in 1995, as director of public relations. He assumed additional responsibilities in 1999 as the director of college relations. In 2001 he was promoted to dean of enrollment management. He spent one year as dean of ECC’s satellite location in Rolla and served as chief financial officer from 2005 to 2012.

Before joining the ECC staff, Bauer was assistant news director and news director at KLPW Radio. He then went on to serve as editor of the Union Missourian from 1989-1995.

He has served on the boards for Mercy Health East Communities in St. Louis, Mercy Hospital Washington, the Washington Civic Industrial Corporation & 353 Redevelopment Corporation. He is past president of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Washington Public Library Board.

Bauer is also a past board member and current advisory board member for the Franklin County Area United Way. He is past president and Paul Harris Fellow in the Union Rotary Club. Bauer is a past member of the Franklin County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee and the Union Highway 50 committee.

The Missouri Community College Association is a statewide organization through which Missouri’s community colleges work together to advance common agendas. MCCA provides advocacy, education, information, and networking opportunities in service of the state’s 5,700 community college faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees. More about MCCA’s legislative priorities can be viewed on their website at www.mccatoday.org.

Register Now for a Non-Credit Class

January 8, 2016 | Campus News

A variety of non-credit classes will begin in January – featuring everything from computer skills to dance. Fitness classes include Zumba, Yoga plus free classes in archery. In addition to perennial favorites such as digital photography, local history, and conversational Spanish — new offerings include internet security and American Sign Language.

Offerings for children range from Kindermusik for ages newborn to 5, as well as bullying prevention, life skills American Red Cross babysitter training and a computer science class that will involve web page creation and programming.

Several classes are also being offered in the Health Care field. Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medication Technician classes begin in February and Basic Life Support is again being offered for Healthcare Providers.

Complete listing of Community Education classes

Annual Meeting Set for January 28

January 8, 2016 | Campus News

The annual meeting of the East Central College Foundation is scheduled for Thursday, January 28, 2016. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Buescher Hall, Room 238 on the ECC campus in Union.

At the annual meeting, the slate of nominations for the offices of directors of the ECC Foundation board for 2016 will be presented. The oath of office will be administered to the newly elected and returning directors. The Foundation board is composed of 25 individuals from businesses, professions, and community services. Directors take an active role in fundraising and membership activities, finance and investment planning, and supervision of planned gifts and endowments.

Shannon Grus, executive director of the Foundation, will deliver the annual report.

All persons interested in the advancement and growth of East Central College shall be eligible for membership in the Foundation. Members shall have made a $50 value contribution for each Foundation fiscal year or portion thereof. Contributions made within a period of 60 days prior to the commencement of a fiscal year will be considered as payment in full through the following fiscal year period. Members shall receive all services provided to the membership.

Established in 1975, the East Central College Foundation supports the growth and development of East Central College in whatever ways might be beneficial to students, staff, and facilities. It solicits and receives tax-deductible gifts which are managed for the benefit of the college and its students. It is chartered as a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization for educational purposes.

The ECC Foundation provided more than $180,000 in scholarships to more than 150 students this academic year.

For information regarding the ECC Foundation, call 636-584-6506 or email: foundation@eastcentral.edu.

Spring Payment Deadline Extended

January 5, 2016 | Campus News

To assist students who have been impacted by the recent flooding in the area, East Central College will extend the payment deadline for individuals enrolling for the 2016 spring semester.

“While the flood waters have receded, the difficult recovery work is just under way,” stated ECC President Jon Bauer. “We don’t want this unforeseen situation to affect the ability of current or new students to attend class. In an effort to ease some of the financial burden, we will extend the tuition and fee payment deadline to May 6 for all students at all locations.”

Anyone with questions should contact the Student Service Center at 636-584-6588.

Employees Encouraged to Assist in Flood Clean Up

Bauer noted that the communities affected by flooding are those where ECC students and employees live. “As a community partner, the college can play a role in helping residents and businesses get back on their feet,” he said.

“We are encouraging employees to participate in the cleanup,” said Bauer. “While the Union campus was not flooded, our community has suffered from this historic event. This is an opportunity for our employees and students to give back to the community that has been so supportive of us.”

Teams of 5-10 people are needed this week. Volunteers should have a current tetanus vaccination and be prepared with work clothes, boots, and gloves. Individuals or clubs interested in helping should email: jon.bauer@eastcentral.edu and more details will be provided. ECC is working with the Union Community Development Department, which is coordinating the volunteer efforts.

Individuals without a current tetanus vaccination can obtain that at the Franklin County Health Department Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

STUDENTS – PLEASE NOTE

Students who have been impacted by flooding in the area should email jon.bauer@eastcentral.edu. Information will be forwarded to the appropriate staff to provide assistance.