East Central College will be recognizing 2020 graduates through a recorded Commencement video in lieu of an in-person ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said the decision to forgo a traditional graduation ceremony this year was difficult to make, and he expressed that safety and health of the ECC community was the primary factor of having a recognition video instead of an in-person commencement.

“The health and safety of our students and employees is paramount and holding a ceremony while maintaining appropriate social distances is not possible at this time,” Dr. Bauer said.

Dr. Bauer added that graduation is an important milestone for students, their family, and friends and ECC faculty and staff. He encourages students to participate in the Commencement video.

“We truly want to recognize the incredible accomplishments of our 2020 graduates,” he said. “Many of them overcame adversity during an unprecedented Spring semester and have built a great foundation for their future education or career endeavors.”

All Class of 2020 graduates are invited to the next in-person graduation ceremony where they will be recognized.

Dr. Bauer noted that ECC made every effort to hold a traditional, in-person commencement ceremony, but due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the area — and the size of the 2020 graduating class — holding a large gathering would not be safe for students, faculty or staff.

ECC conferred 342 degrees and certificates to spring semester graduates. It was the largest spring graduation class in several years.

The college is asking that students submit photos of themselves in their caps and gowns holding their diploma covers. The photos can include the graduates with their family and friends or by themselves.

The photos will be complied into a video that will include a message from Dr. Bauer as well as acknowledging the Outstanding Alumni and Outstanding Student of the past year. The video will list the accomplishments of each graduate, including academic honors (including Phi Theta Kappa) and the degree and/or certificate they earned.

2020 graduate photos and information can be sent to PR@eastcentral.edu. The deadline to submit the photos is Friday, Aug. 14.

Pre-ordered caps and gowns are at the ECC Bookstore. There also are extra caps and gowns for those who did not order them. The Bookstore is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Thursday, July 30, there were 15 Union High School students who took the next step in their educational journey at East Central College.

The soon-to-be UHS juniors — who will also be ECC students later this month — attended orientation for the Early College Academy.

These students are the first class of the ECC Early College Academy. That means in two years, they will have something their classmates won’t — a college degree.

Orientation was a time for the group to come together with their families to learn more about starting college this fall. Orientation covered class schedules, student handbook information, online tools, campus resources, safety, and COVID-19 precautions, according to ECC Director of Early College Programs Megen Strubberg.

Students also had the opportunity to explore campus to find their classrooms and walked away with course materials in hand.

“The students in this program are driven and talented, and I cannot wait to cheer them on as they cross two stages in 2022!” Strubberg said.

“It was wonderful to be able to be able to gather in person and feel the excitement from students and families, even though their smiles were hidden by masks,” she added. “I deeply appreciate the leadership of Union R-XI and ECC for their support in making this happen.”

Students will begin classes at ECC on Monday, Aug. 24.

Under the Early College Academy, the students will attend classes at UHS and on the ECC campus with the goal of earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, as well as their high school diploma.

Strubberg said students will attend class with other college students at ECC, all taught by instructors at the college. Students will have access to the ECC Learning Center, library, student clubs and activities.

There is no cost to the high school students to participate in the academy.

Both Strubberg and Markie Lampkin, UHS assistant principal over sophomores and juniors, and other ECC staff attended the orientation held in the ECC Health and Science building.

Lampkin has worked collaboratively with Strubberg with the support of the Union R-XI Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Steve Weinhold and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Scott Hayes to spearhead and roll out the Early College Academy initiative.

Strubberg hopes that additional high schools will be interested in offering this program to the class of 2023, and she will be reaching out to administrators to gauge interest this academic year. Anyone with questions can call 636-584-6723 or email earlycollege@eastcentral.edu.

There is a great opportunity for East Central College students to receive additional funding for short-term training programs.

That includes programs that could lead to a degree or certificate in manufacturing, business and health care fields.

There is $458,000 in CARES Act funding accessible through October to assist current and new students with financial support.

Individual students could qualify for up to $4,000 in funding if they are enrolled in the FastTrack career training. To see a list of the programs, visit www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/fasttrack/.

Funds also could be awarded to students who are enrolled in Career Technical Education (CTE) and Allied Health programs, including welding, precision machining, culinary arts, nursing, paramedic technology and medical assistant.

To confirm eligibility for funding, people must contact their local job center. To contact the Washington Job Center call 636-583-9649 or email kkopp@mersgoodwill.org.

Funding is limited, those interested need to contact their local job center to confirm their eligibility.

FastTrack Training

ECC’s FastTrack programs are being held in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD).

The programs are designed to provide job skills in a variety of fields: manufacturing, IT, health care, logistics, aerospace, child care and business operations to prepare people with the skills to enter one of these high-demand careers in the area.

Each training program, other than the Certified Nursing Assistant program, is taught online or remotely and the length of completion for each program is approximately 2-4 months. The short-term programming is specifically designed in an effort to have the student complete the program in a timely manner to enter the workforce.

CTE/Allied Health

Through the CTE and Allied Health programs, students can earn a two-year degree or a one-year certificate in a career and technical field.

There are several areas of study, ranging from business and accounting to welding and precision machining technology.

The Allied Health division is home to six accredited health care programs, including nursing, paramedic tech and occupational therapy assistant.

ECC’s faculty and staff have decades of experience in the profession and in the classroom. To learn more about the many great career opportunities visit www.eastcentral.edu/academics.

East Central College is continuing its collaboration with the state to offer several FastTrack training programs developed to assist area residents who are receiving unemployment benefits.

Through the program, many Missouri residents receiving unemployment benefits are eligible for tuition reimbursement for the FastTrack training program, with the goal of lowering the approximate 10 percent unemployment rate.

The programs are designed to provide job skills in a variety of fields: manufacturing, IT, health care, logistics, aerospace, child care, and business operations to prepare people with the skills to enter one of these high-demand careers in the area.

ECC’s FastTrack programs are being held in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD).

The cost of the programs will be provided by the state of Missouri’s dislocated worker funds to those receiving unemployment insurance. Funding is limited, those interested need to contact their local job center to confirm their eligibility.

Each training program, other than the Certified Nursing Assistant program, is taught online or remotely and the length of completion for each program is approximately 2-4 months. The short-term programming is specifically designed in an effort to have the student complete the program in a timely manner to enter the workforce.

For more information about the program and contact information for local job centers, visit our Fast Track Grant page.

People also may call 636-649-5800 or email Training@eastcentral.edu to learn more.

There is a new state-of-the-art sound system at the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center that will provide a better experience for those attending live shows at East Central College.

The sound system was installed by Innovative Solutions. Of Memphis, Tenn. ECC staff and faculty members already have trained on the new equipment.

According to Grace Austin, theatre program coordinator, the sound system will provide better clarity and a better listening experience for the audience members who attend musicals, choir and band performances, and other events at the Performing Arts Center.

“I think the biggest benefit to the system will be an even distribution of sound all around the theater,” Austin said. “Previously, depending on what seat you sat in, you could have a totally different sound experience.”

She added that patrons have noted the need for upgrades.

“Some of the biggest feedback we’ve gotten from patrons over the years has been that our sound quality was lacking, and we’re so excited to bring it up to par with the high quality of the productions that we put on!” Austin said.

The previous sound system in the Theatre was about 20 years old and is no longer in Federal Communications Commission compliance. The $88,939.66 sound system was funded through ECC’s Facilities Rental Budget, which must be spent on the maintenance and upgrade of facilities.

The new equipment includes several speakers, a portable system, a digital sound mixing console and wireless microphones.

Sylvia Sellers, Performing Arts Center manager, said the new console has digital interfacing with a 10-inch touch screen.

“This is a flagship sound mixing console, which will greatly improve the quality of events in the Performing Arts Center and offer students the opportunity to learn and train on industry standard equipment,” she said.

Sellers noted that the upgrades also include a digital wireless body-pack microphone system and new wireless handhelds microphones with a high-powered antenna for the best sound performance.

“This will produce a clearer, high-quality sound with better control through the new console,” she added. “The newly installed speaker system has increased sound output and quality that is designed to be experienced at the same level from every seat in the house.”

In addition to Theatre Department productions that will benefit from the new sound system, the ECC Music Department also is excited for the upgrades, according to Aaron Bounds, director of bands/music instructor.

“The new sound system helps our music department in many ways including; performing ensembles for ECC students, professional sound for our Patrons of the Arts events, and quality recording options for our community music festivals, such as the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival and our Jazz Clinic,” he said.

“In all, this system will serve dozens of professional performances and hundreds of local students yearly with cutting edge technology and a superb sound. I can’t tell you how excited I am for that first downbeat with this system!”

When the fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 24, masks will be required for all students, faculty and staff of East Central College, in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The mask requirement follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for institutions of higher education.

Masks are one of the critical strategies for combating the spread of COVID-19. As the fall semester opens with a return of students to campus, this step is important in order to protect the health and safety of all those on the Union campus and our centers in Rolla.

“Consistent and widespread use of masks helps ensure the safest environment for those on campus,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, president of ECC. “While county and city requirements vary throughout the college’s district and service region, it is the responsibility of ECC to adopt and enforce measures most appropriate for the health and safety of those in its facilities.”

With the number of students and employees on campus when the semester is under way, the use of masks will provide the best level of protection from contracting the coronavirus while in proximity to others, Bauer said.

While students may bring their own masks to campus, ECC will be providing free reusable masks. These masks, with the ECC logo, will be distributed to students in Union and Rolla at the beginning of the semester. A supply of disposable masks will be readily available if someone forgets to bring a mask to campus.

For those on campus this summer, current requirements will continue. Masks now are required inside ECC buildings in common areas, classrooms and labs in use during the summer semester, and in situations involving more than two individuals. Employees may continue to work without masks in their offices, or when meeting individually if social distancing of at least six feet can be maintained. These requirements will continue in the fall.

Faculty may elect to use face shields in lieu of masks, to facilitate effective teaching. Some may elect to use both a mask and face shield, and others may switch from one to another depending on the nature of the proximity with students in a classroom or lab setting.

ECC will provide face shields and masks to faculty and staff.

Students who do not wish to wear a mask have the option of modifying their schedule to classes that are offered remotely. The fall semester includes a mix of in-person and remote classes. The decision regarding masks is made now in order to allow students and employees to plan accordingly for the fall semester.

The mask requirement for students will be treated as an expectation of the code of conduct. For employees, the use of masks is an employment condition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to wearing masks, faculty and students will be responsible for wiping down desks and/or work stations with sanitizing wipes before and after class. Combined with the regular cleaning by ECC’s custodial staff, this will also help ensure the safest environment for those on campus. Ample supplies will be available in each classroom or lab.

“ECC will continue to monitor local data regarding COVID-19 transmission, guidelines from the CDC, and other authoritative sources of information in order to make decisions based on science and data,” Bauer said. “These decisions will be made in the best interests of our students, employees, and communities.”

Four East Central College faculty members were recently promoted from instructor to assistant professor.

The new rank goes into affect in the Fall 2020 semester.

Listed below are the faculty members promoted in rank:

• Grace Austin, Theatre/Communications & Theatre Program Coordinator.

• Jason Durbin, CIS/Business.

• John Hardecke, English.

• Gregory Stotler, Education/Teacher Education Coordinator.

Faculty members must follow a process to be promoted in rank. That includes applying for promotion. The application is then reviewed by the  ECC Rank and Promotion Committee.

The committee reviews all submitted portfolios and makes a recommendation to the college vice president of academic affairs and the president for a final decision. The process is rigorous and promotion is not automatic.

The promotion also needs approval by the ECC Board of Trustees.

East Central College is offering a blend of in-person, hybrid and online courses this fall to meet educational needs of all students.

An Instructional Task Force comprised of faculty and staff developed plans that include smaller class sizes, livestreaming options and an increased offering of fully online classes.

According to Vice President of Academic Affairs Robyn Walter, the task force began meeting in May to seek input from all deans, department heads and faculty.

“We plan to welcome students back to our main campus in Union, and our sites in Washington and Rolla, where instruction will be a blend of in-person and online courses,” she said. “We will make extensive use of technology while preserving, as much as possible, the most important elements of the in-person experience.”

Walter noted that there will be smaller class sizes for in-person courses to promote social distancing, and some classes will not be in their usual building due to the class size restriction.

In other courses, there will be a reduced number of students in the classroom, but the class will be live-streamed through Zoom for a remote option.

In addition, there will be hybrid, or blended, courses for a balance of online and in-person experiences.

ECC is offering a fully online liberal studies transfer degree, and fully online Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Health Information Management (HIM) degrees and certificates for students who prefer a remote educational experience.

The College also will offer 14-week courses beginning in mid-September for students who still are unsure of what path to take for the Fall semester.

Faculty Planning

Walter explained that faculty members will have plans in place if there is a need to move to entirely online and remote classes.

ECC will be utilizing Canvas, an online learning platform, for remote and online classes. Each course syllabi will have information regarding how that course will be held if there is a move to remote instruction.

Walter added that faculty also is developing plans if individual students must work remotely if they are quarantined or need to self-isolate.

“It is important to support students during quarantine or self-isolation, so they do not feel compelled to come to campus while they are ill or not completely cleared,” she said.

College deans and faculty members are developing plans if an instructor becomes ill and must teach remotely.

ECC’s winter session will be delivered entirely online. It begins Dec. 16 and ends Jan. 11, 2021

Prevention, Health and Safety

Disposable masks and hand sanitizer will be available to students, visitors, faculty, and staff. Students and others are encouraged to use reusable and washable face coverings. While on campus, students and employees are expected to social distance at least by 6 feet.

There will be additional designated study areas available for students who need internet and/or computer access to complete coursework while still practicing social distancing.

The college facilities crew will increase access to hand sanitizer on campus and will continue to diligently clean surfaces. Employees are asked to maintain clean working spaces to help with this effort.