Author: akolb

Early College Programs See Growth in 2019

September 30, 2019 | Campus News

It’s been a year of growth for the East Central College Early College Program. Compared to September of last year, student headcount has increased nearly 23 percent!

“We’re seeing substantial gains in Union, Washington, Owensville, St. Francis Borgia and Cuba,” said Megen Strubberg, Director of Early College Programs. “We also recently partnered with Nichols Career Center in Jefferson City in culinary arts, which is a first.”

More than 540 students are taking advantage of earning college credit in high school in 2019.

“Dual credit is a great way to immerse yourself in the college course in a high school environment,” said Jake McNiel, Washington High School junior. “I previously took college algebra over the summer my sophomore year through the Three for Free program. It was and still is a very good experience for me.”

“We have worked very hard to communicate the benefits of early college programs, including dual credit and dual enrollment classes,” said Strubberg,” especially with regard to Missouri’s CORE 42 initiative, which guarantees credit transfer for general education courses at all public higher education institutions in the state.”

Developing an early college program is part of East Central College’s new strategic plan, SOAR to 2024.

“Our goal is to increase the headcount of our early college students to 660 by 2024,” said Heath Martin, Vice President of Student Development. “We are almost halfway to that goal in the first year, which is very exciting.”

Working and communicating with high schools is key to growing the program.

“Our long-term goal is to work with local districts to create a true Early College Program, which will allow students to graduate high school with a post-secondary credential, up to an associate’s degree,” said Strubberg.

Additionally, East Central College is making it easier financially for high school students to get college credit.

“We will offer the Three for Free program again in 2020, which allows students to take one course tuition free over the summer,” said Martin.

New Online Workforce Training Available for AEL Students

September 23, 2019 | Campus News

Students preparing to pass the High School Equivalency Test through the East Central College Adult Education and Literacy program will now get a new opportunity to strengthen their workforce skills.

“In September, we started offering new, online training programs for our students,” said Alice Whalen, Director of Adult Education and Literacy. “These courses allow students to gain the knowledge needed for high-demand jobs in the area.”

There are currently 15 new online workforce training options, ranging from advanced manufacturing to safety technician to child development associate. Two additional on-site classes, Introduction to MIG Welding and Certified Nursing Assistant, are also available to AEL students.

“The courses are self-paced,” said Whalen. “The classes are a great compliment to our students preparing for the HiSET or learning English as a second language.”

Right now, the classes are not free. However, Whalen says many adult students may be eligible for substantial financial assistance through AEL’s partnerships with the Missouri Job Centers in Rolla and Washington. Scholarships may also be available.

President’s List Announced for Spring 2019 Semester

May 17, 2019 | Campus News

Each semester, East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement.

Upon completion of at least 12 Spring Semester credit hours with a semester grade point average of 3.85 or greater, students are acknowledged on the President’s List. More than 100 students made the list for the Spring 2019 semester!

Vice President’s List Announced for Spring 2019 Semester

May 16, 2019 | Campus News

Each semester, East Central College recognizes students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.

Upon completion of at least 12 semester credit hours with a semester grade point between 3.50 and 3.84, students are acknowledged by placement on the Vice President’s List. For the Spring 2019 semester, there were more than 150 students on the list!

Adult Education and Literacy Program Awarded National Grant

May 15, 2019 | Campus News

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded the East Central College Foundation, working on behalf of the ECC Adult Education and Literacy Program, a $10,000 grant to support its mission in 2019. This local grant award is part of more than $8.3 million in grants awarded to nearly 1,000 schools, nonprofits and organizations across the country.

“Literacy is a problem that very much exists in the East Central College service area,” said AEL Director Alice Whalen. “There are more than 20,000 adults in Franklin, Gasconade, Phelps and Warren Counties without a high school diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE) Certificate.”

The AEL Program will use the grant to support the adult education program and the volunteers who assist students in the classroom. Currently, AEL classes are held in Rolla, Sullivan, Union and Washington during the day. Night classes are held Cuba, Hermann, Montgomery City, Owensville, Pacific, Rolla, St. Clair, St. James, Sullivan, Union and Washington. Additional English Language classes are held in Rolla, Union and Washington.

“Our dedicated staff members and volunteers work tirelessly to help improve a student’s skills in math, reading, writing, social studies and science,” added Whalen. “All classes, books and materials are provided free for students. We aim to create personalized experiences for our students – addressing their specific needs and helping them achieve their personal goals.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $168 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 10 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.

Find out more about the AEL program at www.eastcentral.edu/ael or by calling call 636-584-6533.

Sign Up For ECC Beautification Day on April 26 for Month of Service

April 22, 2019 | Campus News

Make a difference in the month of April and join our cause! We are challenging our campus to participate in at least one service project during the month of April.

East Central College has partnered with several local agencies and community groups to expand volunteer site offerings.

2019 Volunteer Opportunities:

Cedarcrest Manor
Robertsville State Park
Victorian Place of St. Clair
Willow Brooke by Americare
ECC Beautification Day
Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup

Volunteers can sign up here: http://signup.com/go/bXBZNKt

Email Shanee Haynes with any questions.

Discover ECC Rolla! Open House Event April 29

March 24, 2019 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Join us at the Discover ECC! open house event on Monday, April 29 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Rolla-North location, 2303 N. Bishop Avenue. You’ll get the chance to register for Summer and Fall 2019 classes and discover financial aid opportunities.

Future students will also learn about:

College credit options for high school students (dual credit)
Adult Education and Literacy (GED)
Transfer Degrees
Career-Ready Degrees
- Computer Info Systems/Networking
- Education: Teaching and Early Childhood
- Health Information Management
- Medical Assistant
- Nursing: Pre-Licensure
- Nursing: LPN to RN Bridge Program
- Radiologic Technology

Did you know you can enroll at East Central College and Missouri S&T at the same time? Through our Campus Connections program, students have the flexibility to take courses at both institutions at the same time while having access to a larger selection of courses and schedules to better fit their needs. Learn more.

Free food and drink will be available to the first 50 people from O’Doggy’s!

East Central College Nursing Program Named Top 5 in Missouri

March 13, 2019 | Campus News

More than 50 nursing programs were ranked in the state of Missouri, and East Central College landed near the top of the list in 2019!

According to RegisteredNursing.org, East Central College is ranked the fourth-best nursing program in the state. The methodology used for the rankings was based on the NCLEX-RN exam, which is used by all state boards of nursing across the country to help assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure.

The program has even more to be proud of this week. “We recently graduated 17 new registered nurses through the LPN-RN Bridge Program in Rolla,” said Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Nancy Mitchell. “We are happy to announce that pass rates for the licensure exam were 100 percent. It is a huge accomplishment!”

East Central College offers two programs leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. This program prepares students to become registered nurses. The main campus in Union, as well as the Rolla site, offers a complete pre-licensure program (generic) for those interested in becoming a registered nurse. An LPN to RN Bridge program is also available at the Rolla location for LPNs interested in becoming registered nurses.

East Central College Seeking Outstanding Alumni Nominations for 2019

March 6, 2019 | Campus News

The East Central College Alumni Association established the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2002. Since that time, it has set out to recognize alumni who have set an example for ECC graduates by using their college education and serving their community.

To be considered for the Outstanding Alumni Award, nominees must have completed a college credit course at ECC at some point in their educational journey. Attainment of a degree or certificate from ECC is preferred but not required. Nominees must also be looked upon by their peers as leaders in their field, with a demonstrated commitment to the community. Residency within the college district is not required. An explanation of 500 words or less as to why the person is worthy of consideration should accompany the nomination.

Visit www.eastcentral.edu/alumni/ to nominate someone you know!

Selection will be determined by a committee drawn from ECC alumni and the Foundation. Nominations will be accepted through April 5. The 2019 award will be presented at the East Central College commencement ceremony on the Union campus Saturday, May 11.

Past recipients include: 2002-Tanya Voss; 2003-John Griesheimer; 2004-Tom Robertson; 2005-Chris Manhart; 2006-Deborah Koelling; 2007-Tammy Watz and Dr. Frank Miller; 2008-Ken Schmidt; 2009-Chris Stuckenschneider; 2010-Ann Schroeder; 2011-Ted Coburn, 2012-Linda Mahon, 2013-Joseph Purschke, 2014-Amy Wildhaber, 2015-Tony Kreutz, 2016 David Arand, 2017 – Audrey Freitag and 2018 – Ron Unnerstall (pictured).

Summer Learning Academy Offers New Classes in 2019

March 4, 2019 | Campus News

The East Central College Community Education Department is proud to announce new offerings for the 2019 Summer Learning Academy!

“All of our classes are designed with curiosity in mind,” said Program Assistant Bonnie Devine. “We want to encourage personal growth and enable students to develop talents and skills. At the same time, we want them to have fun in the process!”

Five new classes will be added for students to enjoy this summer – including the Newborn/Pediatric Nursing: How to Care for a Baby class. It will be taught by East Central College Nursing Instructor Jessica Van Leer and is designed for children ages 5-8 years old.

“This class is perfect for a child that is expecting a new sibling or just loves babies,” Van Leer explained. “Students will learn about changing diapers, swaddling, how to hold a baby properly, when to call 911 and much more.”

Students can also learn about becoming an EMT or Paramedic this year. In this Summer Learning Academy class, students will explore the differences between an EMT and Paramedic and options within the EMS career field. Each student will become CPR certified by the end of class.

East Central College Art Instructor Jenifer Higerd will lead the Clay Creations for Kids class this summer. Students will explore the possibilities in clay using a variety of forming techniques.

“We are going to have a lot of fun in this class,” said Higerd. “Students will be making a monster-face mug, a garden-ready mini gnome home and stenciled plates.”

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer a new Missourian Mammals and More class, exploring the different animals who call Missouri home. A Readers Theatre class for children 8 to 14 will also be offered. The three-day class will increase reading fluency, expression and comprehension skills and will end with a theatrical performance!

Check out the Summer Learning Academy schedule and sign your student up for classes at www.eastcentral.edu/sla. Parents can also call 636-584-6529 for more information.