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Author: akolb

Study Abroad Opportunities for Students

September 28, 2018 | Campus News

Did you know you can study abroad while at East Central College? It’s true! There are many different trips available to community college students in Missouri, and students who participate in any study abroad program offered by another member college will qualify for in-district tuition!

See the world. Broaden your horizons. Have fun!

Breaking Down Language Barriers to Become a Better Business Manager

September 24, 2018 | Campus News

Ten years ago, Neha Patel moved from India to the United States to help her husband manage a hotel in St. Clair. She had taken English classes in college, but knew she would have to improve her skills in order to interact with customers.

English can be a complicated language for non-native speakers to learn, but Patel didn’t want to give up. She was determined to improve and better serve customers at their hotel.

Her husband knew she was struggling with the language barrier, so he started searching for resources in the area. That’s when he found the East Central College Adult Education and Literacy Program (AEL). He suggested his wife give it a try.

“Our English Language Acquisition classes are designed for people just like Neha,” said AEL Director Alice Whalen. “We provide students with a working knowledge of English in preparation for the workplace and daily living.”

Whalen added that classes are conducted in a small classroom style to allow students the chance to receive individual attention from their instructors and tutors. The classes help students in reading and listening, and even learn American culture. Patel started taking classes in November 2017. In a short amount of time, it is already helping her be a better supervisor at her business.

“This class is really helping me talk to customers politely and respond back to them,” Neha explained. “My instructor is excellent. Even when I studied in my country, I didn’t have a teacher like her. She is helping me a lot.”

The AEL English Language Acquisition course is completely free and has locations in Union, Rolla, Washington and Wright City. Both day and evening times are available. For more information on classes and registration, visit English Language Acquisition or call 636-584-6533.

Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship Established for Nurses at East Central College

July 26, 2018 | Campus News

For the last several years, an area woman has been on a mission – honoring her longtime friend and nursing colleague Peggy Zotta.

“Peggy and I worked together at St. Luke’s side by side, mostly in the Newborn and the Special Care Nurseries,” her friend said. “She was a nurse’s nurse.  Someone you could count on.  Someone you would want taking care of those you loved the very most.”

In 2014, Zotta became terminally ill. Her friend wanted to honor her memory after her passing.

“There is a lot more to nursing than the mechanics and knowledge base.  More even than human touch.  Maybe it’s compassion, an empathy that can enhance healing beyond the physical things we do.  I know it is essential in the very best of us, and Peggy had that gift, that art,” she said.

The friend and her husband set out to establish the Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship for nursing students.  They started their quest at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, and they recently started working with the East Central College Foundation to bring the scholarship to even more students.

“Peggy was aware of the first scholarship before we lost her and was pleased to be honored,” her friend added.  “I think she’d be even more tickled about this one.  I’m excited about how many students may benefit!”

The friend and her husband donate $40,000 annually to help students in need at East Central College.

“I want this scholarship to be part of her legacy,” she explained, “something to honor her, who she was, the lives she touched.  I am privileged to be able to help a deserving student – glad to be able to give back.  I never imagined, working all those years, that the money I had put aside for retirement would end up giving back to the profession that I love.”

The Peggy Zotta Memorial Scholarship at East Central College will be available for any student with great need but especially for those who often fall through the cracks or who have no other means for pursuing their goals. It will be available for the 2018-2019 school year.

Join Us at RegFest July 17!

June 27, 2018 | Campus News

East Central College is excited to host RegFest once again in 2018! RegFest is a chance for potential students to talk with admissions representatives about programs, start the enrollment process, learn how to pay for college, and register for fall classes. This is an open event for the community – no appointment required!

Join us on July 17 from 3 – 7 p.m. in Union, 1964 Prairie Dell Road, or Rolla, 500 Forum Drive, for free Jimmy John’s, door prizes, and concert ticket giveaways! We are happy to have KSHE-95 and New Country 92.3 team up with us in Union and Superstation KZNN 105.3 in Rolla.

While the Fall Semester is quickly approaching, you still have plenty of time to sign up for classes. Whether you are looking to eventually transfer to a four-year university or get a career-ready degree, we can help find the right path for you.

What should you bring to RegFest?

  • Valid picture I.D.
  • High School and/or College transcripts
  • 2016 Tax Information for Financial Aid

If you don’t have all the documents handy, that’s okay! We can still help get the process started.

Want to get a head start before the event?

Apply Online
Check Out Our Programs
Learn About Financial Aid

Questions?

Union: 636-584-6588 or admissions@EastCentral.edu

Rolla: 573-466-4100 or ECCRolla@EastCentral.edu

How to Skip Over Classes You Don’t Need

June 6, 2018 | Campus News

Spending just a week in The Learning Center this summer could potentially save you nearly a thousand dollars in tuition and three semesters worth of classes! The free Bridge Program can help students assess their skills, improve class placement, accelerate coursework and save money!

It is ideal for students who have already taken an Accuplacer assessment test and have been placed in Reading Comprehension, Intro to Writing/Comp Expansion, Connected Reading and Writing, Pre-Algebra or Introductory Algebra. Students who haven’t tested yet are are still welcome to register and attend a Bridge Program class.

“The courses are designed to work in a student’s favor,” said Erin Anglin, Director of The Learning Center. “There is no penalization for scoring below initial test scores. Students can only improve placement. This is really beneficial to students and gives them an opportunity to potentially improve math placement by up to three courses and to completely test out of developmental reading and English courses.”

Students will also get the chance to take the Accuplacer Diagnostic test, allowing Learning Center Specialists to help students find individual opportunities for growth and work one-on-one to create a plan for improvement that builds on the student’s strengths and previous knowledge.

“We encourage all students wanting to improve their placement to give us a week of their time to help advance their skills, build academic support systems, get an introduction to East Central College and achieve their goals,” said Anglin.

Students can sign up for the free Bridge Program by visiting or emailing The Learning Center or stopping by Student Services.

ECC Foundation Announces Sandy Upchurch Memorial Nursing Scholarship

May 9, 2018 | Campus News

The East Central College Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Sandy Upchurch Memorial Nursing Scholarship for the 2018-2019 school year.

The Pacific native and East Central College alumna was known as a caring, passionate person. She spent more than 30 years as a registered nurse in labor and delivery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield – often caring for children in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Sandy was stricken with cancer and passed away on October 12th, 2016.

Through the scholarship, the family hopes it will encourage and instill the spirit to deliver compassionate care.

Students can apply for the scholarship on the ECC Foundation website. Two awards will be given annually to deserving students.

While the first award has been endowed by the family, donations can be made for the second award. All donations are tax-deductible. Please email foundation@eastcentral.edu for more information or call 636-584-6506.

ECC Month of Service in April

April 10, 2018 | 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.

2018 Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Cedarcrest Manor
  • Children’s Advocacy Center
  • Exceptional Equestrians of MO Valley
  • Victorian Place of St. Clair
  • Franklin County CASA
  • Union Food Pantry
  • Grace’s Place Crisis Nursery
  • Willow Brooke by Americare
  • The Road Home Event
  • ECC Beautification Day

Volunteers can sign up here: signup.com/go/rqYTLMQ

Each volunteer will receive a free T-Shirt! Email Shanee Haynes with any questions.

ECC Foundation Annual Meeting – January 25

January 5, 2018 | Campus News

The annual meeting of the East Central College Foundation will be held Thursday, January 25. at 6:00 p.m. in Buescher Hall, Room 238.

Nominations will be presented to the Board of Directors for 2018. Additionally, the oath of office will be administered to newly elected and returning Directors.

The ECC Foundation Board of Directors is composed of up to 30 individuals from business and community leaders who take an active role in fundraising, membership activities, finance, and investment planning. They also supervise planned gifts and endowments.

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.

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

Veterans Lounge Becomes a Reality

October 24, 2017 | Campus News

Joshua Carico left the Marine Corps in 2017 and enrolled at East Central College soon after.

“Right now, I’m mostly taking general education courses,” he explained, “but I’m looking into criminal justice courses for next year.”

Carico hopes to transfer to a four-year college and eventually become a conservation agent. He admits the transition from the military to civilian life has come with its share of struggles.

“I was in charge of 15 people,” he said. “Now, I’m just in charge of myself. It’s very different.”

To help students like Carico with the transition, East Central College recently created a dedicated space for veterans to study, relax or just hang out.

“I’ve been wanting to create a veterans lounge for several years,” said Lorrie Baird, financial advisor. “We really just never had space for one.”

Space opened up over the summer in the Donald Shook Student Center, and Baird jumped on the opportunity. The next challenge was furnishing the room.

“We received donations from staff, friends, and family,” said Baird. “The support has been amazing.”

The lounge has a refrigerator, snacks, coffee pot, TV, couch, desks, and a computer.

“We have nearly 120 veteran students at East Central College, and we wanted to give them a truly special place to call their own,” said Baird.

The word is spreading, and more veterans are utilizing the space.

“It’s been great to meet other veterans on campus,” said Carico. “It’s good to talk to other people who’ve shared a similar experience to you.”

“I think it is a great idea,” said veteran student Phillip Brown. “It’s heartwarming to see all the donations that have poured in to give us our own space.   It gives veterans a place to go and relax and be with like-minded individuals.”

The veterans lounge will hold an open house on Friday, November 10 in honor of Veterans Day.

East Central College, Missouri S&T Sign Historic Agreement

October 13, 2017 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College and Missouri University of Science and Technology are now working together to help reduce college costs and help students earn a degree in less time.

On October 13, Dr. Jon Bauer, East Central College President, Dr. Christopher G. Maples, Missouri S&T interim chancellor, and Dr. Robert Marley, Missouri S&T Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, formalized the concurrent enrollment agreement, allowing students to enroll in both schools at the same time.

Two students are helping pilot the Campus Connections program, including Fletcher Collins (pictured below).

“You really get the best of both worlds,” said Collins. The computer engineer major says the Campus Connections program just makes fiscal sense. “I’m using my A+ Scholarship money to pay for my East Central College classes, and I still get the perks of attending a four-year university.”

Approved by the Missouri Department of Higher Education for inclusion in a state-wide pilot program, the concurrent enrollment program is designed to help students earn a degree in less time while spending less on college.

“This program works because we are putting students in the center,” said Dr. Bauer. “This is not about competition between schools – it’s about collaboration between schools.”

Students also will have the ability to complete an associate’s degree from East Central College while working toward a bachelor’s degree from Missouri S&T.

East Central College and Missouri S&T have a thriving transfer partnership that was established more than 40 years ago. Originally established for the benefit of engineering students, the partnership has expanded to include students majoring in more than 40 different degree programs.

Learn more about how to apply for the program!


Freshmen Fletcher Collins, Rolla, is enrolled in classes at ECC-Rolla and Missouri S&T.