Month: August 2017

Ace Your Semester – Fall Workshop Series for Students

August 31, 2017 | Campus News

The Learning Center is offering a fall semester workshop series for students. These free sessions will take place in the BH 103 computer lab, which is located by the elevator in the Karen S. Weida Student Service Center.

There is no need to RSVP for the workshops. Students just have to show up!

Topics:

Accountability: Take Control of Your Learning
- September 5, 12 p.m.
- October 25, 3:30 p.m.
Working When You Don’t Feel Like It
- September 6, 3:30 p.m.
- October 26, 12 p.m.
Setting SMART Goals
- September 12, 12 p.m.
- November 1, 3:30 p.m.
30 Day Study Challenge (Study Skills)
- September 13, 3:30 p.m.
- November 2, 12 p.m.
Find Your Balance: Managing Stress
- September 20, 3:30 p.m.
- November 9, 12 p.m.

Questions? Contact Erin Anglin or Kristin Milligan.

ECC Awarded Federal Grant for Industrial HVAC Equipment

August 29, 2017 | Campus News

For the second year in a row, the USDA has awarded a Rural Business Development grant to East Central College.

“This is a very competitive grant,” said East Central College President Dr. Jon Bauer, “and we are honored to receive it. We look forward to using the funds to help create more educational and workforce development opportunities in the community.”

The $56,606 USDA grant award will be used to construct an entry level chilled water system to further develop ECC’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program. The bid for the project went to Johnstone Supply in Bridgeton, Missouri.

“Although regular air conditioners are very popular in residential projects,” said HVAC program coordinator David DeArmond, “larger installations like office buildings, hospitals and factories use chilled water systems instead. This purchase will give our students the industrial experience they need to work on these units.”

The entry level chilled water system will be housed in the HVAC lab inside the college’s Business and Industry Center. It will be used in degree and certificate programs.

“The average age of an HVAC employee right now is 55 years old, and the need for a new batch of workers is growing. We can train students on state-of-the-art equipment in two years or less and get them into the workforce,” said DeArmond.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of HVAC workers is projected to grow by 14 percent by 2024, much faster than then average for all occupations. The average salary in the greater St. Louis area is $52,590.

“Employers are constantly knocking at our door looking for qualified workers,” said DeArmond. “They come from more than 50 miles away in some cases.”

Board Approves Tax Levy

Meanwhile, the East Central College Board of Trustees also passed the operating tax levy for 2017 at .37 per one hundred dollars valuation. A proposed debt service levy of .0841 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation for 2017 was also approved.

The tax rate is set to produce revenues of at least $6,392,834 which the operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 shows to be required from the property tax. The debt service levy is set to produce revenues of at least $1,500,000 which is required to meet the debt service of East Central College for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2018.

The tax rates are subject to change based up actions by county boards of equalization, the State Tax Commission, subsequent information, applicable law and certification by the State Auditor.

#InspiringExcellence – Local Artist Headlines Art Gallery Show

August 28, 2017 | Art Campus News

Jenn Brown and Sara Weininger, graduate students at Washington University, are bringing their art exhibit “In Between” to East Central College September 5-29. A reception with the artists will be held September 21 from 5 – 7 p.m.

“We are very excited to have these up and coming artists to our gallery,” said Gallery Coordinator Jennifer Higerd. “Jenn Brown is from the area and a graduate of East Central College. It’s always special to be able to showcase alumni work.”

“East Central College was close to home and affordable,” Brown said. “I actually became an art major by accident, and it changed my entire life. I learned so much while I was there; it made me a better student and a better person. I still consider the ECC art department my home.”

Brown works mostly with metal. Her work for the “In Between” exhibit is self-described as “references to inner-body structure and physical representations of the toll it can take to shut others out.”

Weininger, meanwhile, will focus on drawings and paintings.

“Drawing is both the source and structure for my present work. Awkward dreamlike perspectives are constructed through a physical building up of marks,” explained Sara Weininger.

Both artists are excited to showcase their work at the East Central College Art Gallery. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Brown said. “This is my first major show, so it only seems right that I go home to do it.”

“In Between” will be displayed at the ECC Art Gallery, Hansen Hall, Room 121, 1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union.

ECC Alumna Jenn Brown

Library Fall Book Sale

August 24, 2017 | Campus News

ECC is holding its Library Fall Book Sale on Sept. 5-7 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The sale helps raise funds for college activities and provides affordable reading options for the public.

Rather than paying full price for a used book online, ECC Library Services Director Lisa Farrell encourages students and community members alike to stop by. “We’ve seen many great fiction titles go quickly for 50 cents a paperback and $1.00 for hardbacks, including textbooks – it’s quite a steal.” The cost of each book ranges from 50 cents to one dollar. Sale items range from fiction and non-fiction books, recent magazines, and popular movies.

Cash, check and credit/debit card are all accepted!

Solar Eclipse Awes, Inspires on First Day of Classes

August 21, 2017 | Campus News

Hundreds of people sat in complete silence and eyed the sky as the clock inched closer to 1:15 p.m. on August 21. The anticipation on campus, in Franklin County, across the country and around the world had been building to one moment: the total solar eclipse.

As the moon completely blocked the sun, the East Central College campus erupted in cheers.

“It was like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said ECC freshmen Erin Parker. “I remember talking about it in high school my junior year, but I had almost forgotten about it.”

Parker admits she didn’t know what to expect, and as the sunshine started to turn to darkness, she was visibly awestruck.

“It was just so fun,” she said. “It was an incredible experience.”

Check out the photo gallery on Facebook!

To help celebrate the event, East Central College canceled classes from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. to allow people to watch the eclipse. Food vendors, telescopes and even a bubble machine helped pump the crowd up while they waited for the path of totality to reach campus.

Because of East Central College’s preferable viewing location, Popular Science Magazine teamed up with ECC and the University of Missouri-St. Louis to live stream the event on their Facebook page, which was viewed all over the world more than 110,000 times!

Class Schedule for Eclipse: NO Classes: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

August 15, 2017 | Campus News

In order to let students, faculty and staff experience the solar eclipse, classes at East Central College will be canceled from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Monday, August 21.

Any classes leading up to 11:00 a.m. will let out early. Any classes starting at 2 p.m. will go on as scheduled.

Call 636-584-6500 with any questions.

Eclipse Parking – August 21

August 14, 2017 | Campus News

August 21 is the first day of classes at East Central College! We are excited to welcome students back to campus. This year will be very different, as it falls on the same day as the total solar eclipse happening across the country.

East Central College, as well as most of Franklin County, will be in the direct path of the eclipse. Because of the expected traffic congestion, we are advising students, faculty and staff to allow extra time to get to campus that day.

Classes will be canceled from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in order to allow everyone on campus to experience the once-in-a-lifetime event.

East Central will modify its parking lots to accommodate the expected influx of public visitors to campus, while at the same time allowing parking for our students, faculty and staff. Signs will be posted on campus directing people where to park. Our facilities staff will also help direct traffic.

Click on the map below to find out where to park.

Higher Learning Commission Welcomes Comments on East Central College

August 14, 2017 | Campus News

East Central College is seeking comments from the public about the College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission. The process validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances and resources.

ECC will host an HLC team for an accreditation site visit in the fall. The HLC site visit team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation.

“East Central College has proudly been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1976,” explained ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer. “It is a vigorous process, but it’s an important one. We look forward to hosting representatives from the HLC on campus in October.”

As part of the process, the public, including employees, may submit written, signed comments on HLC’s website at www.hlcommission.org/comment or submit comments to the following address:

Public Comment on East Central College
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411

Accreditation ensures an institution’s academic program meets acceptable levels of quality. Institutions must be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting agency to qualify for participation in federal financial aid programs.

Learn more about East Central College’s accreditation review!

Math Pathways Provide New Options for Students

August 13, 2017 | Campus News

This fall, a change is coming to East Central College. Under the guidance of the Missouri Department of Higher Education, colleges across the state will divide mathematics requirements into different “Math Pathways” that align with students’ programs of study.

“These math pathways will allow students to take a math course that is more relevant to their program of study,” said Dean of Instruction, Ann Boehmer.

At ECC, Statistics, Contemporary Mathematics, College Algebra, and Precalculus will satisfy the general education math requirement for an Associate of Arts degree. For students seeking degrees in a STEM field, an algebraic intensive math, such as College Algebra or the Calculus sequence, will still be required.

“A student in a humanities-related field might be best served by Contemporary Math, which is a mathematical reasoning course,” said Boehmer. “A student in a social science field might find Statistics to best serve them in their program of study.”

The development of new Math Pathways is supported by a growing number of educators nationwide who believe college algebra is not the best math course for many students, depending on the type of degree they are seeking.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education website goes into further detail of why the Math Pathways came about.

“Too often we hear the refrains ‘I’m just not good in math’ and ‘I don’t need math for my career,’” the website states. “Part of our challenge is changing perceptions of mathematics from something to be feared to something essential to one’s success in college and career. To that end, we must focus our attention not only on what is taught but how it is taught. We must align the appropriate mathematical concepts and skills with each program of study and do a better job of teaching those concepts and skills.”

The pathways aren’t being implemented overnight. The process began at ECC in October 2014 when a representative from the math department was asked to assist in the establishment of the Missouri Mathematics Pathways Task Force (MMPT). Since that time, the math department has been working diligently in designing and redesigning courses.

“ECC’s math department has taken the creation of these pathways to heart. Our faculty are aware of our obligation to our stakeholders in both learning competencies and transferability to four-year colleges and universities,” Boehmer said.

Missouri worked with higher education institutions in four other states to create the new math options. Higher education officials believe more math options will help increase college completion rates.

East Central College – Rolla Locations Closed August 15

August 8, 2017 | Campus News ECC Rolla

To help prepare for the new school year and the coming reaccreditation process, East Central College-Rolla will be closed on August 15 for staff in-service. The closing affects ECC Rolla Main, 500 Forum Drive, and ECC Rolla North, 2303 N. Bishop Avenue.

East Central College will host a team from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) October 16-18. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. Accreditation ensures East Central College’s academic program meets acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about the HLC visit!

Normal business hours will resume on August 16 at the college. Students are welcome to call 573-466-4100 with any questions.