Month: March 2018

New Apprenticeship Grant Will Help Businesses Train Area Employees

March 28, 2018 | Campus News

Thanks to a grant from the Missouri Department of Workforce Development, East Central College will be able to help local businesses train dozens of highly-skilled workers through the Missouri Registered Apprenticeship program (MORAP).

ECC’s Center for Workforce Development will receive $239,550 to develop apprenticeship programs with area manufacturers including Aerofil Industries, ATRO Engineering Systems, Clemco Industries, Graphic Packaging, G.H. Tool and Mold, Homeyer Precision and Texwrap Packaging Systems.

MORAP is designed to provide workers with on-the-job training at their current employer, in addition to classroom and hands-on training through one of three ECC programs; Industrial Engineering Technology, Precision Machining or Welding.

“ECC is in the position to provide the state-of-the-art training for our area,” says Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations. “We are fortunate to have the state recognize the importance of retaining and training a vibrant workforce.”

Participants will have the opportunity to complete a certificate or degree at East Central College.

“We’re fortunate to have an opportunity for our employees to sharpen their workforce training skills,” says Karen Dierking, human resources manager at Homeyer Industries in Marthasville, “and having our employees complete their apprenticeship in a short amount of time is important to maintain our workflow and projects.”

Employees in the program will complete classroom and lab work outside normal working hours. As a condition of the grant, each will receive an increase in their compensation once they complete the program.

“Apprenticeships develop a higher performing workforce with the skills our company needs,” says Dave Graves, president of G.H. Tool and Mold in Washington. “We believe our employees will feel valued with this investment in their skills.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, for every dollars spent on apprenticeships, employers receive $1.47 in increased productivity and greater front-line innovation.

The ECC Center for Workforce Development is housed in the Business and Industry Center at East Central College. The Center works with nearly 50 area businesses to develop workforce training programs with business and industry throughout the ECC service region.

The Biggest Falcon Fest Ever on April 3!

March 27, 2018 | Campus News

To help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of East Central College, FalconFest is going BIG! Join in on the fun April 3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Donald Shook Student Center Gym and Cafe Central.

Compete and Win!

Our theme for FalconFest this semester is Go For The Gold!, and it’s all about games, games and more games! Grab a scorecard outside the gym, go inside to play games and win prizes! Each booth will have a different event for students to play – from inflatable games to timed events. At the end of the day, we’ll tally up the scores. The students with the top points will win gift certificates to local restaurants, gas cards and ECC gear! Did we mention we will have a mechanical bull?

Food Frenzy!

Stop by Cafe Central to check out the Food Frenzy! Sugarfire Smoke House, The Barnyard Cafe, Big Boys Grilled Subs and Wings, Imo’s Pizza, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt and Ronnoco Coffee will be on hand serving up food for campus. Additionally, Cafe Central will have specials and the East Central College Faculty Association will host its famous BBQ! As you enjoy the food, stick around for trivia, held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and bingo, held at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Guess what? We’ll have prizes for those too!

Petting Zoo and Rescue Dogs!

We are excited to welcome A Zoo For You as they bring the most adorable, affectionate animals straight to our campus for students, faculty and staff to enjoy! The petting zoo includes a variety of gentle farm animals that are specially raised and socialized to interact with people (weather dependent). FalconFest will also feature the Franklin County Humane Society and some adoptable dogs!

4K TV Giveaway!

Any current student attending FalconFest will be able to enter into a free 4K TV Giveaway! Come find us in the Gym or Cafe Central to put your name in the hat.

Want more entries? Donate items at the Franklin County Humane Society booth for more chances to win!

1 extra entry
- single cans of Hill’s A/D dog food
- single cans of Iams cat food
- washable dog and cat toys
- blankets or quilts
5 extra entries
- rubber-backed rugs (new or in good condition)
- pelleted cat litter
10 extra entries
- bag of Purina Kitten Chow
- bag of Iams Kitten Chow
- bag of Purina Puppy Chow

Taking Care of Loved Ones – Home Care Workshops Starting in April

March 27, 2018 | Campus News

According to the AARP, more than 40 million people give unpaid care to their loved ones in the United States. Caring for a family member or close friend is both important and complicated. It can happen suddenly, with an accident or illness, or it may happen gradually. When the time comes, will you be prepared?

“We know many people are put into a home care role without any formal training,” said Terri Warmack, East Central College Health Careers Outreach Coordinator. “They are entering unfamiliar territory and have lots of questions.”

In April, East Central College will offer Home Care Assistant Workshops through its Center for Workforce Development.

“These are classes designed to help not only paid home health care workers but family members and caregivers,” said Warmack.

Held every Wednesday evening from April 11 – May 16, the classes focus on topics like CPR, first aid, transferring loved ones safely and promoting independence. In cooperation with the East Central College Culinary Department, two of the classes will focus on dietary restrictions and healthy eating habits. Participants will learn how to cook easy, healthy meals in the sessions

The Home Care Assistant Workshops are $40 per class or $200 for all six classes. Contact Terri Warmack to sign up 636-584-6534 or terri.warmack@eastcentral.edu.

Classes are held in the East Central College Training Center located at 1964 Prairie Dell Road in Union.

ECC Spirit Week – April 2-5!

March 26, 2018 | Campus News

To help kick-off the 50^th Anniversary of East Central College, we will be holding a Spirit Week April 2-5! This will be a week to celebrate, have fun and show school spirit for students, faculty and staff!

50^th Anniversary Spirit Week – April 2-5

Monday: Falcon Spirit Day – Get caught wearing ECC gear and win a prize!
Tuesday: Go for the Gold Day – Get into the Falcon Fest spirit and wear your favorite athletic/Olympic gear!
Wednesday: Alma Mater Day – ECC is made up of many people from many places. Show us where you are from!
Thursday: Decades Day – Dress up like your favorite ECC decade – 1968 – 2018!

On April 2, 1968, voters approved the establishment of the Junior College District of East Central Missouri. On September 15, 1969, nearly 17 months later, the first classes were held in temporary facilities at Memorial Auditorium in downtown Union. Today, we are proud to continue our mission as a dynamic entity within the local region, offering excellent educational opportunities and program partnerships between the College, other educational organizations and local business and industry.

Learn more about the 50th Anniversary Celebration!

Register for Classes Early and Win Free Textbooks!

March 26, 2018 | Campus News

One lucky current student who registers for Summer or Fall 2018 classes between March 26 – April 6 will win free* textbooks for next semester!

The course schedule is available March 12 for students to view. You can check it out on the Student Services page under Registration and Student Records.

Enrolling for classes early allows East Central College to better plan for next semester – students should schedule an appointment with their advisor today!

*up to $500

Nominate a Local Teacher for an “Inspirers of Excellence” Award

March 20, 2018 | Campus News

Educators have a profound effect on students in many capacities. However, they aren’t always thanked for their hard work and dedication.

The ECC – NEA “Inspirers of Excellence” award honors teachers in the community who have had an impact on current East Central College Students.

“We want to know what teacher inspired you to become the person you are today,” said ECC-NEA President Sue Henderson. “There are so many talented, hardworking educators in our service area. The Inspirers of Excellence award is one small thing we can do to recognize their dedication.”

Nominations are open until March 30. Please include the teacher’s name, school and include a brief description of how he or she has inspired you. The ECC-NEA will hold a recognition ceremony for the award recipients in May.

Nominate a teacher today!

The Restaurant at Prairie Dell Opens March 27

March 16, 2018 | Campus News

Learning by doing. It’s the approach East Central College Culinary Arts Instructor Mike Palazzola uses with students every day.

“Last year, there was something missing from our culinary classrooms,” Palazzola said, “We needed real life experiences in real time.”

The award-winning chef, along with former culinary instructor Ted Hirschi, came up with a solution – The Restaurant at Prairie Dell. Managed by the East Central College Culinary Arts Program, the limited-run restaurant gave students hands-on experience at running an establishment of their own.

“Students were responsible for scheduling, production, staff management and the handling of revenue,” Palazzola explained. “It was a great opportunity for them to learn processes and standards they will encounter in the hospitality industry.”

“It was an eye-opening experience,” said student Emily Goree. “You got to see your own culinary concepts come to life, in and out of the kitchen. It made all the hard work worth it.”

On March 27, it will open its doors once again to the public. The Restaurant at Prairie Dell will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until April 26. Reservations are required and can be made through michael.palazzola@eastcentral.edu. Seating starts at 11 a.m. and goes in 15 minute intervals until noon.

New this year, along with cash and check, patrons can pay using a credit card.

“Our menu has something for everyone,” said Palazzola, “and our prices are meant to only cover the cost of the food. It’s the cheapest gourmet meal you’ll ever have!”

The Restaurant at Prairie Dell is located at the East Central College Training Center, 1964 Prairie Dell Road in Union.

Join Dr. Bauer for “Coffee with the President”

March 16, 2018 | Campus News

We invite you to join East Central College president, Dr. Jon Bauer, for a relaxing conversation about East Central College.

Enjoy a cup of coffee and refreshments as Dr. Bauer shares an update about ECC and plans for the upcoming year.

You’ll also have the chance to ask him about anything regarding East Central College.

The events will take place from March-June from 7-8 a.m. in a dozen communities throughout the ECC service region. We want to know what you’re thinking! We hope to see you there!

See when he’s visiting your community!

East Central College Kicks Off 50th Anniversary in April!

March 16, 2018 | Campus News

East Central College is excited to begin its 50th Anniversary celebration in 2018!

On April 2, 1968, voters approved the establishment of the Junior College District of East Central Missouri. To help mark the occasion, we are holding several events the week of April 2 – 5.

Check out the 50th Anniversary Event Calendar!

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary, we hope to share memories from the thousands of alumni who have made East Central College such a special place over the years. We are asking the community to share their memories, upload photos and tell us how East Central College changed their lives. We will upload these stories to the website and on social media using #ECC50.

Check out the Share Your Memories page!

Philanthropy and giving back to the community is also a big part of the 50th Anniversary celebration. The 50 Acts of Kindness campaign will help provide students, faculty, staff and alumni the opportunity to become active members of their community and have a lasting, positive impact on society at large.

We are just getting started! Please be sure to visit the 50th Anniversary page often for updates!

East Central College is proud to continue our mission as a dynamic entity within the local region, offering excellent educational opportunities and program partnerships between the College, other educational organizations and local business and industry.

Strengthening Data-Driven Decision Making

March 8, 2018 | Campus News

Coordinating assessment, accreditation, institutional research and planning is the mission of the new Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness. The position was approved by the Board of Trustees at the March 5 meeting, and the college will look to fill the position in the coming weeks.

“Overall institutional effectiveness involves planning for the college’s desired strategies,” said East Central College President Dr. Jon Bauer. “This person will help carry out those plans, establish measures to determine whether those actions are working and analyze data to continue improvement of the college.”

The position was one of the top recommendations of ECC’s Higher Learning Commission Task Force, in response to the college’s Comprehensive Quality Review.

“Our institutional and programmatic accreditors expect to see the institution working in a continuous quality improvement framework,” said Dr. Bauer. “This position supports that mission.”

According to a study by the Association for Higher Education Effectiveness, more colleges across the country are creating similar positions. In 1995, only 43 positions existed. The number jumped to 501 positions in 2015, an increase of more than 1000 percent.

“The ability to measure and demonstrate our effectiveness – institutionally and programmatically – is critically important to the college,” said Dr. Bauer.