Month: February 2022

ECC Students Selected to Show in Art St. Louis Exhibition

February 25, 2022 | Art Campus News

East Central College art students Madison Barbarick and Emily Knoppe will show their works in the 26th annual “Varsity Art” exhibit presented at Art Saint Louis.

Barbarick, Washington, and Knoppe, New Haven, were selected by the ECC Art Department to show at the “Varsity Art XXV,” a multi-media invitational visual art exhibition, from March 4-31.

They have been invited to show their pieces alongside 42 other regional artists at the multi-media exhibition. The artists all are undergrad and grad level art students representing 23 St. Louis regional colleges and universities from Missouri and Illinois.

This year’s exhibit presents works in a variety of media, including ceramics, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and video. The themes represented in this show are representative of contemporary art and trends.

Madison Barbarick

To create “Beauty in Nature” Barbarick applied oil paint as a base and used colored pencil on top.

“I wanted to create a piece that embodied self-love and acceptance,” she said. “I, and most females, struggle with their body image.

“It hurts to see society not represent every body type,” Barbaric added. “We are a part of nature and we deserve to accept ourselves because everything in nature is perfect.”

She further added she is grateful for being selected to exhibit in “Varsity Art XXV.”

“I have been working hard on my art and being selected is very rewarding,” Barbarick commented. “It gives me confidence that I am on the right path.

Barbarick is working toward an Associates in Fine Art degree at ECC and after graduating this May, she plans on transferring to the Kansas City Art Institute.

Emily Knoppe

Knoppe’s piece, titled “Aerial Witchcraft,” is watercolor and acrylic on illustration board.

“What inspired this piece was a connection I made to witches flying on broomsticks, and aerial skateboard tricks,” Knoppe said. “The image popped up in my head of a witch riding her broom like a skateboard, and I just had to create it.”

She drew inspiration from St. Louis architecture.

“The buildings behind the witch are, loosely, based off buildings in the Delmar Loop in St. Louis, to keep her connected to our area in some way,” Knoppe noted. “This piece was a great opportunity for me to flex my creative muscles and make something fun.”

She considers selection to the Art Saint Louis exhibition an honor.

“I’m thankful to my instructors for having faith in me and allowing me to be a part of this,” Knoppe said.

She is working toward an Associate of Fine Arts at ECC, then she will transfer to Webster University to get a Bachelor’s degree in Animation.

Collaboration

This annual exhibit is a collaboration between Art Saint Louis and the participating collegiate institutions, their art faculty, and students.

Art Saint Louis’ Artistic Director works closely with art Professors and faculty at the area’s colleges and universities, inviting the professors to select two outstanding art students to represent their art department and institution in its annual show.

Learn more about the annual exhibit at www.artstlouis.org or on its Facebook page.

Rolla Nursing Student Receives Scholarship

February 22, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College nursing student Tela Connors is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Missouri League for Nursing (MLN).

Connors, of Salem, is studying to be a Registered Nurse and is slated to graduate in May.

She will be recognized at the ninth annual Student Nursing Convention April 6-7 in Osage Beach. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books and supplies.

ECC nursing program instructor Joannie Blakely was Connors’ clinical and course instructor last year. She said Connors received an “exemplary performance award” for her clinical performance.

“She is a true advocate for her patient’s and provides quality safe patient care,” Blakely said. “She will be a great asset to the healthcare system.”

According to Julie Chirban, also an instructor in the college’s nursing program, Connors’ personality and work ethic is very well suited for a nursing career.

“Tela is a confident student with years of health care experience that has enhanced her ability to perform at a high level,” Chirban said.

“She is kind to patients as well as to her co-students. She has gone out of her way to help fellow students during this program, and she is a pleasure to have in class and clinicals,” she added.

“Tela will be a wonderful addition to the nursing profession.”

MLN is a not-for-profit organization established in 1953 to support the delivery of quality health care by nurses and other health care providers through education, collaboration and information.

It is the leading organization for promoting excellent health care through programs designed to meet members and health care professional’s continuing educational needs.

MLN is committed to collaboration and networking with other professional organizations and coalitions across the state. It is one of the top constituent leagues in the nation.

East Central College nursing student Tela Connors has been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Missouri League for Nursing. Pictured, from left, are ECC nursing program instructor Julie Chirban, Connors; and instructors Jon Elias and Joannie Blakely.

Rolla ELA Student Working Hard to Become Citizen

February 21, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Tsiala “Manana” Alaverdashvili began attending English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes in Rolla in 2016.

Her instructor, Jean Craft, said that she studies very hard.

“She studies all the time, especially for the citizenship test. I think she knows all of the answers,” asserts Craft.

In English class, Manana works on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

“(English) speaking and yes, listening, they are very hard things,” she admitted, with a little laugh.

Manana grew up in Gori, Georgia and then moved to Tbilisi with her husband, Ramaz. Georgian is her native language and she also speaks Russian fluently and can read and write German.

While living in Tbilisi, where her husband worked as a physicist, Manana was the principal librarian for 56 branches of libraries. She held this position from 2004 to 2015.

Prior to this, she worked as a kindergarten teacher and held various positions at Tbilisi State University.

Since moving to Rolla in 2016, Manana has also worked to serve those in need. From 2016-2017, she worked with the Salvation Army.

Since March, 2018, Manana has volunteered at the Rolla Mission.

“There are good people at the Mission – friendly people,” expressed Manana.

At the Rolla Mission she helps serve breakfast and lunch. She washes the dishes for 30-35 people and cleans the facility. At times, she helps sort the items that are donated to the Mission.

Manana genuinely cares about the welfare of others.

“As it is known, there are homeless people at the Mission. Some of them have physical or mental disabilities, therefore they need help. I like very much when I am helping people in need.”

“She is a very kind person and makes friends wherever she goes,” Craft said. “It is very easy to like her.”

Manana has two children, a daughter, Elene, who is a Chemist living in Georgia and a son, Bachana, who is a Physics professor living in Santa Clara, Calif.

She has two grandchildren living in Georgia, Andrea who is 7 and Anastasia who is 4. Although she doesn’t get back to visit them, they often see one another remotely online.

Family ties are very important to Manana. One of the things she likes so much about the U.S. is linked to this.

“American people love family. I love the friendly relations in the USA.”

Ramaz, her husband, works at Missouri State University. He is a physicist who works in Science and Technology.

“He is retired but still works,” Manana added.

She noted that her plan is to become an American citizen.

“This is my dream and goal.”

There are those in the world who inspire and support others’ opportunities to grow and transform. Manana is a great example of that kind of consideration.

Learn more about or sign up for the AEL program.

Omir Santos, Former MLB Player, Reflects on ECC Days

February 14, 2022 | Athletics Campus News

In 2001, Omir Santos was the catcher for the last East Central College baseball team to take the field in more than 20 years.

After the 2001 season the ECC baseball field was empty for years to come, but Santos was just beginning his career in professional baseball.

“I was sad when I heard there was no longer baseball at ECC,” said the 40-year-old backstop. “But it is great to hear that baseball is back now.”

In just a few days, a new ECC baseball squad will take the field. The team plays its first game in Harrison, Ark., against North Arkansas College. A home opener at Taco Bell Field had been slated for Feb. 22 at noon, but weather and field conditions could change the date of the first game in Union.

Santos, 40, was recruited in 1999 from his hometown of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, to play baseball at ECC, where he played two seasons.

Santos was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2001 in the 21st round of the MLB draft. He made his way through the minor leagues with the Yankees affiliate club, and then played in the Majors for four different teams.

Santos is one of just two ECC players to play in the Majors. The other player, Tom Henke, was a dominant relief pitcher in the 1980s and 1990s.

Santos moved onto coaching and managing teams after his playing days and in January he was named the manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats, Virginia League Baseball team, an affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

Santos said he is looking into coming to the college to watch a game and show his son around ECC.

All-American Player

Santos attended ECC from 1999-2001, and during his freshman season, he was a key piece of the ECC team winning the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) title.

It was the first and only time in school history that the team won the conference title.

In 2000, Santos was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-Region.

He also garnered NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors after his sophomore season. He led the ECC team in batting average and runs batted in during his second collegiate season.

Santos was named a NJCAA Division 1, third-team All-American after his sophomore season in 2001.

At ECC

Santos said his time at ECC prepared him for the big leagues, and life in general.

“It was a cool experience,” he commented. “If I ever had to do it again, I would pick ECC — they gave me the opportunity to play baseball and go to school.”

“It was the first time that I left the house,” Santos remembered. “My parents were not there and being on my own It made me grow fast — I was cooking, doing laundry, things I was not prepared for.”

He added that ECC gave him his first experience being independent, but also a strong foundation for baseball at the highest level.

“When I first arrived at ECC, I did not know what to do,” Santos said, “but everyone made me feel comfortable.”

He was one of nine ballplayers from Puerto Rico, and there were many more international students attending the college.

“I had the opportunity to meet people from different places and cultures who were all going to school — and I got together with other students who also were far from home, so I was not alone.”

Santos still talks with teammates via social media.

“We keep in touch through Facebook and Instagram messages,” he said. “We don’t talk every day but I still talk with some of the guys.”

Baseball Career

Santos played at the Major League level with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians (now called the Guardians). He made his Major League debut Sept. 5, 2008, with the Baltimore Orioles.

He had a long professional career, 122 major league appearances where he totaled 80 hits, 41 RBI and 7 home runs. Santos was named to the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team in 2009 with the Mets.

Prior to taking the head spot with the Hillcats, Santos worked as the Akron Rubber Ducks bench coach, which also is a Cleveland Guardians affiliate. He resides with his wife Gelitza and two children in Kissimmee, Fla.

Santos owns and runs the Triple Crown Sports Academy, a baseball training facility and travel baseball organization.

Trustees Approve New Monument, Memorial Policy for ECC Campus

February 11, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College Board of Trustees approved a new monument policy Feb. 7, paving the way for a memorial remembering Erastus Brown, who was lynched in 1897.

The new policy comes on the heels of a request be the Franklin County Remembrance Project Coalition to establish a memorial garden on campus for Brown, a black man who was lynched in Union by a mob while he was being held in the county jail 125 years ago.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer consulted the college’s legal counsel following the Remembrance Project Coalition’s request to determine if allowing the Brown memorial would create a precedent, opening the door for other monuments outside the scope of the college’s vision.

“We found that there is a significant amount of case law dealing with monuments and memorials and how they are considered in light of the right to expressive activity on campus,” Bauer said. “A monument becomes government speech within the eyes of the law.

“Approval does not mean that additional requests must be approved or accepted,” he added.

Under the policy, trustees can approve the installation of monuments or memorials on college property with the intent to educate students and the community, honor individuals for service or give meaning to events that help shape ECC or the community.

Policy Details

A request for a monument on the college campus should be in written form and addressed to the college president, who would consider the request within the parameters of policy and decide whether to recommend that trustees approve the request.

The board of trustees would have final approval authority of the request, including where a monument could be located and who would be responsible for funding, installing and maintaining the monument or memorial.

Monuments donated to ECC would be property of the college, with all rights of the donor relinquished.

In addition, the policy states, that the college has full editorial control over all text displayed on a monument or memorial and any associated signs, markers, publications, social media posts or advertisements.

Trustees have sole discretion to remove a monument at any time; and persons memorialized posthumously must have been deceased for at least 10 years.

Erastus Brown

Before his brutal death, Brown was being held in the county jail on charges of attacking a woman. On July 10, 1897, a week after his arrest, he was lynched on the banks of the Bourbeuse River.

In 2019, the Franklin County Remembrance Project Coalition held a memorial ceremony at ECC where Lloyd Klinedinst, with the coalition, shared the story of Brown’s lynching. Klinedinst attended the Feb. 7 trustee meeting, representing the coalition.

During the 2019 memorial ceremony, Klinedinst said Brown left his St. Clair area home to get medicine for his sick child. He allegedly attempted to rob Annie Fehrring, who was walking from a store in the Villa Ridge area.

Klinedinst said Brown admitted to striking Fehrring in the head with a rock with the intent to rob her for money to pay for medicine for his sick child.

One week later, a mob broke into the jail, bound Brown’s arms and legs and placed a rope around his neck. It is alleged that the mob loaded him into a wagon and took him to a tree near a bridge over the Bourbeuse River where he was hanged.

Trustees Approve Slight Tuition Increase

February 9, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The East Central College Board of Trustees on Feb. 7 approved a slight increase in tuition costs beginning in the fall 2022 semester.

There will be a $5 credit hour tuition bump for students who live within the district, outside the district and for international students.

ECC Vice President of Finance and Administration DeAnna Cassat said the increase was determined by a subcommittee of the Budget Advisory Committee focused specifically on tuition, which presented its findings to administrators.

She explained the tuition subcommittee’s focus was on intentional, long-range planning and key factors such as a predicted declines in high school population both nationally and in Missouri were considered.

In addition, gradual tuition increases over larger, less frequent increases are preferred by the subcommittee, administrators and trustees.

“Smaller increases over time are easier for our students than larger sporadic increases,” Cassat commented.

She further explained the tuition subcommittee includes staff and faculty from different departments at the college who collaboratively work together to establish a recommendation.

“It is a very collaborative group that put a lot of work into this decision and provided a lot of data and information,” she said.

ECC ranks in the Top 5 in least costly community colleges among the 14 institutions in Missouri regarding tuition. More than half of the community colleges in the state will raise tuition for the Fall 2022 semester.

Cassat noted that the tuition increase is 4.5 percent, which is lower than the 7 percent nationwide inflation rate.

Tuition and fees also are lower than the amount students receive in A+ funds and Pell grants.

“That is really important to us,” Cassat said. “We want to stay under those thresholds for our students.”

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer added that a full-time student taking 15 credit hours will pay $4,300 in tuition and fees. Students who qualify for Pell grants receive $6,500 in federal aid.

Tuition Tiers

There are three tiers of tuition at ECC. Tier 1 includes most programs, as well as general education classes. Tier 2 consists of classes in culinary arts, industrial maintenance technology, nursing and precision machining programs.

There will be no change to the Tier 3 tuition, which includes health care programs at ECC Rolla, radiological technology, surgical technology and licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs.

The new in-district tuition rates will be $115 per credit hour for Tier 1 classes. In-district rates for Tier 2 classes will be $139 per credit hour.

The cost for dual-credit and dual-enrollment courses in the 2022-23 academic year will be $58 per credit hour, an increase of $3 per hour.

Out-of-district rates will be $161 and $195 per credit hour for Tier 1 and Tier 2, respectively.

The rates per credit hour for out-of-state students will be $235 for Tier 1 and $286 for Tier 2. Tuition for international students will be $241 per credit hour for Tier 1, and $306 per credit hour for Tier 2.

Student Fees

There was a $3 increase per credit hour in student fees also approved by trustees, bringing the total to $30 per credit hour. In addition, there are slight changes in the areas where the fees will be spent. Listed below is the fee breakdown and how it was changed:

• Student Activities $9 per credit hour (previously $8.50).
• Support Services $1 per credit hour (no change).
• Technology $3 per credit hour (no change).
• Facilities $8 per credit hour (no change).
• Security $9 per credit hour (previously $7.50).

College Preparing for Accrediting Body Visit

February 7, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College staff and faculty have been preparing for an important visit this spring from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the college’s accrediting body.

A five-person peer review team with HLC will visit ECC April 11-12 as part of the college’s accreditation, which is a “stamp of approval” that demonstrates the college is deeply committed to educational quality and improvement.

The team will meet with faculty, staff and students, and review the college’s assurance argument, a narrative that makes the case ECC meets the criteria for accreditation.

In preparation for the upcoming visit, the college has been educating employees and students on the importance of accreditation. The team driving the college’s accreditation process are Dr. Robyn Walter, vice president of academic affairs; Dr. Michelle Smith, executive director of institutional effectiveness; and Jennifer Higerd, assistant professor of art and art gallery curator.

“We are already doing good work in meeting our educational commitment to students, and providing educational and cultural opportunities to our communities,” Higerd said.

“During the last year and a half, we’ve been preparing for the HLC visit by compiling examples of this good work – examples we’ll put into our assurance argument.”

Accreditation is a guarantee to the public that an institution is prepared to do its job. It is required for institutions to receive federal funding, including financial aid which is distributed to students.

In addition to funding, accreditation also is an indicator that colleges and universities provide high-quality educational programs, which greatly impacts transfer degrees. Most institutions only accept transfer credits from colleges and universities that are accredited.

“East Central College is proud to be accredited through the HLC and looks forward to a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting the HLC Criteria for Accreditation,” Walter said.

She noted that other academic agencies accredit specific programs, such as culinary, medical assisting, education, and more, HLC accredits the institution as a whole.

“HLC and other regional accrediting agencies are responsible for assuring that entire colleges and universities meet certain standards in terms of their missions, operations, and activities in teaching and student learning, discovery and promotion of knowledge, and service,” Walter added.

ECC first earned accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in 1976. Since that time, the College has maintained a history of accreditation and engagement with the HLC.

The HLC is the accrediting body for ECC and about 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 states that stretch from West Virginia to Arizona. HLC is a private, nonprofit accrediting agency. It is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.

Criteria

The HLC has a set of five criteria that is reviewed during the accreditation process:

The college’s mission
• Integrity —ethical and responsible conduct
• Teaching and learning — quality, resources and support
• Teaching and learning — evaluation and Improvement
• Resources, planning and institutional effectiveness

To promote accreditation and educate ECC employees, students and the community, the college’s accreditation committee has been meeting on campus with faculty, staff and students. In addition, “mock” site reviewers were on campus, Nov. 15-16, 2021, to meet with stakeholders and give the campus community an idea of what to expect during the HLC visit in April.

“In addition to the mock visit, we’ve been preparing with our colleagues through workshops and roundtable discussions, where members of different employee groups share anecdotes and examples of the ways that we all, in our daily work, support and meet HLC’s criteria for accreditation,” Higerd added.