Changes at East Central College has not only altered how students are learning, but it also has impacted organizations, like the Student Government Association.

That’s according to Gwendolen Minks, an ECC education major and the president of SGA.

“This has affected SGA in several ways,” she explained. “Mainly, it’s hard to have a strong connection with students, but we are also learning new ways to stay connected as well.

“We are sad that we didn’t get to host several in-person events, from Falcon Fest to Consent Week, but we found ways to provide those special moments in a digital format.”

Minks said the SGA members have learned how important a presence on social media is now that there are no in-person events.

“We have gained a higher understanding on why it’s important to have a proactive online presence,” she commented. “If it wasn’t for Instagram and Facebook, I don’t know how we would be able to post updates and interact with students.”

Minks said a silver lining in the changes at ECC, and in the community, is the groups that have sprung into action to assist others.

“The nursing program has been assisting during these times whenever necessary,” she said.

Minks added that the Phi Theta Kappa is hosting a Falcon fundraiser on Facebook.

“Some clubs are planning ahead for how to help each other out after this is over. Even though these are crazy times in our lives, the compassion of others have really taken shape,” Minks commented.

Remote Instruction

Minks is enrolled in four classes at ECC this spring. Two of them already were online before the pandemic prompted the change to an online or remote delivery.

“I was not worried about taking online classes because it is easy for me to stay on task, but I feel bad for students who may struggle with the unexpected transitions,” she said.

For Minks, there was a learning curve for the delivery of courses that were designed to be in the classroom, but she got the help she needed from ECC instructors.

“For me, the biggest challenge I have had for my courses this semester is learning how to use Zoom. Luckily, my teachers have been patient and it’s been a group learning experience,” she added.

Zoom, the remote meeting application, provides a platform for presentations to classmates and instructors, Minks said.

“I think Zoom is a good tool to utilize and once you get to understand how it works, it’s user-friendly.”

Services

Minks said she has not yet utilized student services at ECC that are now offered online or remotely, but she plans to soon.

“I will be utilizing The Learning Center for an upcoming paper,” she said. “Along with that, I keep hearing the different ways that The Learning Center and the library have been working with students on providing resources through the internet and online access to books.

“As much as I’m sad that we are stuck in quarantine and we have had to make quick education adjustments, it’s kind of cool to see how we are learning so much about how to provide resources, or continue education without the in-person experience,” Minks said.

As SGA president, Minks encourages students to utilize the services offered at The Learning Center, various areas of student services and the library.

To learn more about what ECC is doing to help students, visit the ECC COVID-19 resource page at www.eastcentral.edu/covid/. Students also can contact studentservices@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6588 for assistance or more information.

East Central College Nursing instructor Connie Wissbaum logs into Zoom shortly before class starts and greets her students as they chick into a remote meeting site.

Wissbaum, like many instructors at ECC, is teaching live over Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing service.

After chatting with students and taking attendance, Wissbaum begins the class period with an explanation of what the day’s instruction will be. During a Nursing of Adults and Children 1 class last week, Wissbaum taught about diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Wissbaum sees her students in individual boxes on a computer screen instead of at tables in the classroom, a new concept for most faculty and students.

“If you do have a question, wave your hand in the camera,” she told them. “That way when I see the movement I can, maybe, focus on it.”

Remote instruction prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has required adjustments for students and instructors.

Wissbaum explained that a major difference in teaching remotely compared to in the classroom is the need for greater flexibility from faculty for our students, some of which are at home with children.

“We have to be very accommodating,” Wissbaum said. “There are a lot of parents in class and they are all at home trying to do homework.”

Many instructors take a team approach with a second faculty member to test remotely. Students are required to download exam software before taking a test, Wissbaum said.

She noted that students then use two devices, one for Zoom and the second to actually take the test. Then one faculty member is a proctor overseeing test takers while the other administers the test.

“We are trying to make it as close to the classroom setting as possible,” Wissbaum added.

Wissbaum has been a full-time faculty members since 2017. Prior to that she was a nurse in the emergency room at Mercy Hospital Washington.

She recently defended her dissertation via zoom while working toward a doctorate.

Wissbaum added that she has contacted the ER director at Mercy Hospital and she is ready to help during the COVID-19 pandemic if she is needed.

Check out a video below of Wissbaum opening and beginning her class:

 

East Central College will roll out a new Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program beginning in the fall.

Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president, said students completing the program will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technician. This program will be administered through the Allied Health Division.

Last month, the ECC Academic Council approved the recommendation to initiate the new program. The ECC Board of Trustees approved the new program Monday.

The college will offer the MLT program through the Missouri Health Professions Consortium (MHPC). It will be coordinated through Moberly Area Community College (MACC).

“By utilizing the MHPC we will be able to offer this specialized program with a shared enrollment and expense model,” Dr. Bauer said.

Robyn Walter, vice president of academic affairs, said students would complete the program after taking general education classes their first year and then apply for the program. Those accepted would work toward the MLT degree in their second year at the College.

“The students will be ECC students and they will graduate with degrees from ECC,” Walter said.

MLT lectures will be online, however, the labs will be conducted three times throughout the program at the MACC campus in Mexico and students will be placed in various clinical sites within 90 minutes of their home campus/residence.

Walter added that University of Missouri–St. Louis has shown interest in an articulation agreement with ECC for students seeking a four-year degree.

Walter added that MLT clinical rotations will be done locally at the ECC health care partners.

“The gives students the opportunity to do something in the medical field other than bedside care,” she said.

According to Walter, there is support locally in the medical community due to significant vacancy rates of laboratory professionals at area facilities.

Representatives from Phelps Health in Rolla and Mercy Hospital Washington have indicated a need for a local MLT program.

“Medical lab professionals are in high demand, and not just now because of COVID-19,” Walter said.

“Medical Laboratory Technicians occupy an essential function on the healthcare team,” Dr. Bauer added. “Local employers are in support of the program in terms of providing clinical training as well as employment opportunities.”

Each summer, an average of thirty students are selected to begin the program in the fall for the entire consortium. The MLT specific portion of the program is designed to be completed within 12 months beginning in August.

When students have successfully completed the MLT program, they will be eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology certification examination.

Walter explained that the consortium primarily serves rural areas around the state. The same consortium model has been successful with the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at ECC.

For more information, contact Nancy Mitchell, Interim Dean of Health Science, at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu. To learn more about the ECC Nursing and Allied Health Division, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/allied-health/.

 

 

The East Central College Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to name Robyn Walter the vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer.

Walter has been serving as the interim vice president of academic affairs since September 2018. The approval was made during the April meeting of the ECC Board of Trustees during its executive session and is effective immediately, according to Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president.

“Robyn has been highly effective at administering the academic affairs of the college, providing leadership to faculty and instructional staff, serving as the institution’s accreditation liaison officer and working as a member of the senior leadership team of the college,” Dr. Bauer said.

“She is a trusted administrator and advisor, and has proven highly effective in a very challenging role.”

Walter has been with ECC since 2003, serving as a faculty member, director of nursing, nursing and allied health program chair and, most recently, dean of health sciences.

“The experience of serving in various roles over these years has afforded me the opportunity to have direct responsibility for leading change and improvement in the Allied Health Department as well as at a systems level,” she said. “My commitment is strong to East Central College’s mission and vision.”

Dr. Bauer added that Walter’s personal and professional work with students gives her a clear view of what is important to students when it comes to academic life.

“Robyn is deeply committed to ECC, our students, faculty and staff,” he said. “I appreciate her interest in serving in this leadership role, and look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of our stakeholders. She has earned this appointment and I am pleased to express my congratulations.”

Walter received her bachelor’s of nursing degree from the University of Missouri and her master’s in nursing service administration from Saint Louis University. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Dr. Bauer thanked the search committee that considered Walter’s appointment.

“The committee was diligent in this discernment process, and unanimous in its recommendation to remove the interim tag and appoint Robyn in a permanent capacity,” he said. “Likewise, the feedback received from faculty and staff following the campus forums was very helpful to the committee and me as this decision was considered.”

East Central College will waive the online fee for courses this summer to provide students more opportunities to continue their education.

ECC president Dr. Jon Bauer said the decision was made because of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the economy and lives of ECC students.

The $45 fee only applies to summer classes.

“We want to remove as many barriers as possible for our students start, continue or finish their education,” he said.

ECC is only offering online classes this summer.

“We are doing everything possible to enable students to keep moving forward, and to persist,” Dr. Bauer added. “Students’ academic environment has changed, but our commitment to them has not.”

In-district students can enroll in summer classes at a rate of $132 per credit hour in tuition and fees, which is among the most competitively priced rates in Missouri.

The in-district tuition rates are $105 per credit hour. Out-of-district rates are $151 per credit hour.

General fees are $27, which includes student activities and support services fees.

Summer enrollment is now open for current students. Visit www.eastcentral.edu/ for more information.

 

Transitioning to college is not always easy for incoming freshmen leaving home for the first time.

But it can be much more difficult for international students who are moving to a new country, learning new customs and making new friends. Now the most concerning aspect is a worldwide pandemic.

East Central College student Gabriel Pires helped create a business, called Steven Mentor, which assists international students attending college in the United States with various aspects of life.

“We help with a little bit of everything,” He said. “From academics, to weather and social life.”

Steven Mentor became invaluable to international students in March as COVID-19 spread across the globe.

“This crisis has brought many uncertainties for all of us, especially for international students here in the United States,” Pires said.

Pires, from Brazil, is a sophomore business student set to graduate from ECC in May. He came to ECC on a soccer scholarship.

“Most of our students were sharing the same concerns and challenges — figuring out if it was ideal to return to their countries or if they should stay in the United States,” he added.

Pires is working with two other international students, Lucas Gomes and Samuel Padilla at Steven Mentor, which brands itself as the “International Student Mentor.” He is the chief operating officer for the company.  A fourth member of the Stephen Mentor team is Alexandre Medeiros.

Gomes attends college in Florida and Padilla is a student in Iowa, so the business owners and their clients communicate online and over the telephone.

The students who are clients of Steven Mentor come from all over the world, and each have been impacted by COVID-19 in some form.

Decisions

On March 22, Pires flew home to Brazil after it was decided that ECC would be only remote and online instruction for the rest of the semester. He said he wanted to be with his family during uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most international students were in a similar position, that required a major decision. According to Pires, international students were concerned if they could re-enter their home countries due to the pandemic.

There have been concerns of home countries closing borders, which would create issues at airports. If the students were to stay in the U.S., there would be logistical concerns, such as transportation, housing and access to food.

There also has been a lot of concern with the economic aspect of leaving the U.S., Pires added.

“The good news is that Steven Mentor saw this crisis coming and we could advise our students to make important decisions as soon as possible so they are not taken by surprise,” Pires said. “We have helped them decide whether they should return home, understand logistical issues, such as housing and food, in case they stayed in the country, and we advise them to make special financial planning for the next months.

“In addition, we maintain active communication with all our students and mentees, sharing challenges, good practices, and thoughts.”

Pires explained that on the Steven Mentor website there is a specific tab for COVID-19.

“We have also created an initiative to help international students who decided to stay in the country called Adopt an International Student. We are connecting students in need with volunteer helpers from across the country.”

Pires Joins the Team

This isn’t the first company Pires has had a hand in. In 2019, he formed his own, different company to help Brazilian student athletes already in the U.S.

Padilla, an international student at Morningside College in Iowa, learned about Pires’ work and asked him to come aboard to Steven Mentor. It essentially was the same work Pires was doing, but on a larger scale, worldwide and not just for athletes.

Padilla and Gomes, a student at Saint Leo’s University in Florida, already laid the foundation for Steven Mentor.

“They were doing the same thing for students around the world,” Pires said. “His (Padilla) idea was more solid and more complete than mine.”

The mentoring program offered by the company is called “Steven Pro.” It is one semester-long and designed to help international students prepare, adapt, and thrive in the U.S.

It includes eight modules of videos, 40 total, based on Steve Mentor’s “pillars.” Each student is then paired with a mentor for personalized assistance through the first semester. They also have access to an exclusive community of international students and other resources.

So far there have been two classes of students, the first in the Fall 2019 and the second is underway now for the Spring of 2020. The first class had 16 students. The second class has five students.

Pires explained that most international students start at colleges in the fall.

“We are assisting them in developing as a person, and offering a peer-to-peer perspective,” he added.

Piers studied in Denmark for a year while in high school. That gave him experience in navigating new cultures and a different environment before he started school at ECC.

What’s Next?

Pires wants to transfer to a four-year university in Florida to play soccer and finish his business degree.

He hopes to continue growing Steven Mentor and he wants the company to work directly with colleges to reach more students. Ultimately, the company would contract with colleges that pay for their services, Pires stated.

He added that applications for the 2020 Fall class of Steven Pro are to open in June.

East Central College is postponing the spring commencement exercises due to the likelihood of continued advisories regarding public gatherings.

Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president, said the decision was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that there is no specific date for the rescheduled graduation activities. However, plans call for a rescheduled commencement this summer or winter.

“In light of current restrictions concerning large groups, and the likelihood that those restrictions will continue for quite a while, we have decided to postpone commencement,” he said.

The commencement had been scheduled for May 16.

Dr. Bauer added that student health and well-being is ECC’s top priority.

“This is a difficult decision. I believe strongly that commencement is a very important milestone for students, their family and friends, and our faculty and staff,” he said. “I never want a student deprived of that opportunity.”

According to Dr. Bauer, students and the public will be informed about the new ceremony details when decisions are made.

“Our plan is to reschedule commencement later this year, perhaps late summer or as a winter event,” he said “All graduates will be invited to participate.”

Dr. Bauer recognized that the recent events have created a lot of uncertainty and change at ECC and in the community.

“We are committed to providing an environment that will enable you to reach your academic goals while protecting the health of our students, employees and the community,” he commented.

“I want to encourage you to keep moving forward as we work through the pandemic,” Dr. Bauer wrote in a message to students.

“Your academic environment has changed, but our commitment to you has not. You can do this, and I look forward to congratulating you when the day comes that you walk across the stage as a graduate of East Central College.”

Information about how ECC is responding to COVID-19 and changes made at the college will be updated at www.eastcentral.edu/covid/.

 

There have been 29 East Central College students inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) in Union this spring.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Members pursue activities that fall under the direction of the society’s hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship. A ceremony had been scheduled Friday, March 20, but was canceled due to health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19.

The students are part of the Chi Delta chapter of PTK. Recruitment will continue through the end of the semester. Listed below are the names of the students and the towns where they live:

Guy Baskerville, Union;

Nathaniel Blocker, Washington;

Jacob Brinker, Washington;

Madison Brinker, Washington;

June Brown, Cuba;

Alexander Carey, Union;

Griffin Case – Union;

Tela Connors, Salem;

William Galli, Washington;

Thomas Henderson, Rosebud;

Samuel Holland – Hermann,

Ian Howell, Washington;

Alexis Kinnison, Union;

Krista Licklider, Bourbon;

Erin Lindberg, Union;

Christy Love, Union;

Madison Mallady, Cuba;

Jenna Meintz, Cuba;

Sarah Murphy, Robertsville;

Annie Page, Bourbon;

Samantha Peterson, Union;

Shyann Plumlee, Villa Ridge;

Courtney Redhage, Beaufort;

Jessica Reed, Sullivan;

Benjamin Schwanitz, St. Clair;

Kennedy Smith, New Haven;

Anthony Terry, Owensville;

Lucille Vanek, Washington; and

Blaire Wright, Beaufort.

Headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, U.S. territorial possessions and eight sovereign nations. More than three million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 134,000 students inducted annually.

East Central College is closing until April 6 to help impede the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus.)

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said the decision was made in regard public health and safety. The closure begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 20.

To date, there are no active cases of COVID-19 among the ECC community, and no one associated with the college has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Dr. Bauer explained that the closure is consistent with a Franklin County Commission order addressing the  capacity of people in buildings, as well as CDC and Surgeon General guidelines of  “15 days to stop the spread” of the coronavirus.

“This closure is necessary for the safety of our students and employees, and consistent with public health objectives,” he said.

ECC was scheduled to be closed for spring break March 22-28. The new directive states that employees and students will not be on campus until April 6. The closure includes the Union and Rolla campuses. 

Beginning April 6, instruction will continue remotely and online. ECC facilities will only be open to employees, and students for essential services/support.

During a special board of trustees meeting March 20, Dr. Bauer said he has been meeting with ECC vice presidents, faculty, staff and other college representatives, as well as the presidents of other Missouri colleges and universities.

“This is consistent with what other institutions have been doing and what we all feel is the appropriate thing to do,” he said.

Trustees also approved several emergency measures that will enable ECC to take immediate action to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

There will be 10 days of paid emergency leave available to full-time employees who are unable to work because they are caring for a minor due to school and daycare closures. The leave must be approved by supervisors. The leave is in conjunction with federal emergency leave recently approved by congress.

Part-time employees will be paid up to 10 days of work that they would be scheduled if the college must close due to a pandemic.

“The sudden and unexpected nature of the pandemic has created significant economic uncertainty,” Dr. Bauer said. “This measure will provide some stability for part-time employees if we need to close for a period of time.”

Trustees also granted the ECC president the authority to close the college during an emergency. Previously the college could only be closed for holidays and inclement weather.

The ECC president also was granted the authority to enact other student or personnel policies to meet public health objectives as a result of a pandemic. The authority to enact measures would not exceed 90 days.

“These are unprecedented times. Consequently, the measures requested are extraordinary,” Dr. Bauer said. “They are proposed after a great deal of consideration and with the interests of our students, employees, and other stakeholders in mind.”

ECC will continue to update the community on the impact of COVID-19 on students and employees at www.eastcentral.edu/covid/. Information also shared through the ECC Facebook page and Twitter.