Category: Campus News


TLC Reading, Writing & Math Courses Bridge Skills Gap to College


May 7, 2023 | Campus News

The Learning Center (TLC) at East Central College has free courses available to help students bridge the gap between high school and college, or assists those returning to college after an extended period.

The Summer Bridge courses are non-credit sessions available at TLC designed to close the skills gap high school curriculum and the beginning of college. The courses are free and offered online, in-person, and in hybrid formats.

Recommendations for the Bridge program are based on student scores on the Accuplacer test, which evaluates the mathematics, reading, and writing skills of test-takers.

There are Summer Bridge courses reading, writing and mathematics. The courses combine student test scores and college curriculum to help students adjust to college-level courses and improve course placement.

Ideally, students who complete these courses will move more quickly into college-level classes and use less financial aid or out-of-pocket funding for college. Each of the Bridge courses include Accuplacer practice questions. Students can retake the Accuplacer free of charge after taking the Bridge courses.

Reading Bridge

The Reading Bridge is for students who scored 244 or below in the reading section of the Accuplacer. It works with reading courses for a better grasp of college reading courses.

To learn more about the Reading Bridge, contact Jake Little or call 636-584-6688. To learn more about TLC or to view additional resources, visit www.eastcentral.edu/learning-center/.

Writing Bridge

The Writing Bridge is for students who have scored 244 or below in the writing section of the Accuplacer. The class focuses on reading and writing strategies expected in college courses.

To learn more about the Writing Bridge, contact Jake Little or call 636-584-6688.

Math Bridge

There are two Math Bridge courses offered for free this summer at TLC.

The Pre-Algebra Bridge course is for students who placed 259 and below on arithmetic or below 236 on the quantitative reasoning sections of the Accuplacer.

The multi-session Pre-Algebra Bridge program reviews key concepts and college study skills to help students prepare to be successful in math courses including fractions, integer operations and ratios.

The Intro to Algebra/Fundamental Concepts Bridge course is for students who score 260-300 on the Accuplacer in arithmetic or 237-249 in quantitative reasoning.

This program reviews key concepts and college study skills to help prepare students to be successful in college-level math courses, including order of operations, linear equations and exponents.

To learn more about the Math Bridge courses, contact Rheann Spier or Jon Noelker, or call 636-584-6688.


Co-Champions Conquer the ECC Regional Spelling Bee


May 6, 2023 | Campus News

Daisy Fearn and Scott Harriman traded off spelling words head-to-head for several rounds, with neither showing signs of being stumped.

That’s why, for the first time ever, there were co-champions of the East Central College Regional Spelling Bee.

Daisy, a fifth grader at Pacific Intermediate School, and Scott, an eighth grader at St. Francis Borgia Middle School, both earned the top prizes of a trophy, a $100 cash prize, and the Spelling Bee title for the calendar year.

The Bee, the first at ECC since 2019, was held April 29 in the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center at ECC. It was hosted by the ECC Foundation and sponsored by hth Companies, Inc., Union. Hoffmann Hillermann donated plants for the stage.

The other trophy winner was Otto Ploch, an eighth grader at St. John’s Gildehaus Grade School. Otto placed third in the competition because there was no second-place slot. He received a $25 cash prize and a third-place trophy.

There were 26 total participants, which slowly dwindled over 24 rounds until just Daisy and Scott remained. Three hours after the Bee started, and more than 10 rounds between the co-champions, organizers determined that the remaining pair of contestants were not budging.

The competition had never gone for as long as it did this year, according to ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer, who was the word pronouncer.

“We’ve done this for many years, and this is as long as we’ve gotten,” Bauer said. “We could not stump these two. At this point, it would be really unfair for either one not to be champion.”

Spelling Bee Participants

Each of the Top 10 finalists received a medal. The top 10 in the competition were:

Addison Edler, Sullivan Elementary School; Areeba Shaikh, South Point Elementary and Tyler Emmons, Immanuel Lutheran School; Steven Reincke, St. Bridget of Kildare School; Alaina Bates, Black Hawk Middle School, and Kaden Baston, Union Middle School; and Alivia Christiansen, St. Francis Borgia Grade School.

Also participating in the Bee were Kaya Strubberg, Caleb Pich, Eddie Peters, Cole Lashley, Ruby Hill, Eli Schneider, Wyatt Johnson, Avery Pollock, Daniel Meadows, Owen Austin, Sydney Wilson, Brynn Butenhoff, Easton Ray, Jade Kresse, Sloan Romanoskie and Leo Gilbreath.

Participants in the Spelling Bee are determined at area elementary and middle schools, which send their school spelling bee champion to compete in the ECC Bee. Schools hold independent bees throughout the winter to select the top speller to represent them in the region.

Bee competitors are students in grades four through eighth grades. They do not advance to competition following the ECC Spelling Bee, but the regional bee gives students a chance to compete after the school-level competitions.

Judges, Organizers & Past Winners

The Spelling Bee judges were Pam Kaiser, program coordinator for ECC’s Center for Workforce Development; Sue Henderson, director of assessment and accreditation at Maryville University and former associate professor of English at ECC; and Linda Barro, ECC associate professor of English.

The Spelling Bee 2023 Steering Committee members are Jennifer Baker, Jennifer Hawkins, Bridgette Kelch, Patty Kellmann, Dawn Kitchell, Eric Lause, Hannah Masek, Terri Ogle, Eric Lause and Dot Schowe.

Past Champions of The Bee

2019 – Matthew Blomberg, Our Lady of Lourdes
2018 – Gabbie Helm, Our Lady of Lourdes
2017 – Max Grimes, Washington Middle School
2016 – Kelci Moore, Riverbend School
2015 – Samantha Doepker, Clearview Elementary School
2014 – Emily Braun, Union Middle School
2013 – Emily Braun, Union Middle School
2012 – McKenzie White, Meramec Valley Middle School
2011 – Ashley Roberts, St. Francis Borgia Grade School.

Future ECC Regional Spelling Bees are slated for the last Saturday in April each year. For more information, contact the Foundation at Foundation@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6506.


Student Milo Guile with Best of Show award

Winners of ECC Art & Design Student Exhibition Announced


May 3, 2023 | Art Campus News

Many talented and creative students were recognized April 27 during a reception for the East Central College Art and Design Student Exhibition.

Jennifer Higerd, assistant professor of art and gallery curator, and Sean Barton, graphic design instructor and art and design department executive, presented awards to the winners of each category and recognized those receiving honorable mentions.

“It was a delight to welcome students, their families and friends to celebrate the work they’ve done over the past year,” Higerd said. The art and design student exhibition closed May 3.

The highest recognition, Best of Show, was awarded to Milo Guile, Washington, for his wire art piece, “Coat Hanger.”

Listed below are the winners in each category:

Digital Design — Jon Queen, “Osamu Tezuka”

Printmaking — Miriam Bondor, “Adventure Awaits”

Digital Photography — Miriam Bondor, “In Bloom”

Watercolor — Chloe Eades, “Medusa”

Sculpture (3D Design, Ceramics) — Milo Guile, “Thunder”

Functional Ceramics — Lacy Buchanan, “Curvy Vase”

Painting — Zoe Meyer, “Egg”

Drawing — Parker Williamson, “Hand Study”

Figure Drawing — Abby Stanfield, “A Study of Light”

2D Design — Mackenzie Rieger, “Season of Stripes”

Illustration — Emmalyn Henderson, “The Rigid Reflections of Blackthorn Wood”

Honorable Mention

“Parasomnia,” Kimber Clement-Thompson

“The Home as it Pertains to the Vessel,” Elijah Uffman

“Pumpkins and a Silver Fork,” Megan Pritchard

“Unrealistic Standards,” Elijah Uffman

Patron’s Picks

Listed below are artworks purchased by the ECC Foundation to be added to the college’s art collection:

“The Big Cheese,” Abby Stanfield

“Medusa,” Chloe Eades

“Mom’s Stew,” Elijah Uffman

“Medusa,” Emmalyn Henderson

“Winged Woman,” Hallelujah Medlock

“The Healing of the Oak Sprite,” Emmalyn Henderson

“Pumpkins and a Silver Fork,” Megan Pritchard

“Coat Hanger,” Milo Guile

“The Rigid Reflections of Blackthorn Wood,” Emmalyn Henderson

“Rabbit and Fox” (tiles), Megan Pritchard

“Forest Walk,” Milo Guile


Nursing Students and Faculty Attend MLN Convention


May 2, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Students and faculty members from the East Central College Nursing program recently attended the Missouri League for Nursing (MLN) 10th Annual Nursing Student Convention.

At the convention, Union nursing student Nathaniel Temme, was awarded the MLN Student Scholarship for 2023. This is the third consecutive year that an ECC nursing student received an MLN scholarship.

ECC Nursing program instructor Brittany Clark described Temme as a “driven and determined student.”

“He maintains positive relationships with his peers and nursing faculty,” Clark said. “When in the clinical environment, Nathaniel always promotes patient safety and is able to effectively and efficiently provide nursing care.”

“He will be a great asset to any health care organization and the profession of nursing,” she added.

Students also took on leadership positions within the MLN, including Union student Scottia Burrows and Rolla student Kelsea Smith, who were selected as Student Ambassadors for the statewide organization.

Rolla Nursing instructor Jon Elias, left, and Rolla Nursing Program Coordinator Joannie Blakely, right, are pictured with Kelsea Smith, who was selected as a Student Ambassador for the Missouri League for Nursing (MLN) during the 10th Annual Nursing Student Convention.

Union Nursing Program instructor Brittany Clark, left, is pictured with Scottia Burrows, who was selected as a Student Ambassador for the Missouri League for Nursing (MLN) during the 10th Annual Nursing Student Convention.

Nursing faculty members also attended the MLN conference, including Brittany Clark, Judy Bieker, Joannie Blakely, Jon Elias and Dr. Connie Wissbaum, who presented on the “Strategies for a Flipped Classroom.”

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.

Union Nursing Students

Nursing instructor Dr. Connie Wissbaum, presented on the “Strategies for a Flipped Classroom.”


ECC Students Named to Academic Teams


April 27, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Four East Central College students were named to the All-Missouri Academic Team, and one also was recognized nationally.

Kelsea Smith has been named a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and received a $1,500 scholarship.

Smith and Elise Jeffers, ECC Rolla; and Brooklyn Hyatt and Annika Brunner, Union campus, were named to the 2023 All-Missouri Academic Team. The students were recognized by Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) and the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society at a ceremony sponsored by MCCA on April 13.

Each student received a medallion and certificate to honor their achievement along with a $250 cash scholarship underwritten by MOHELA (MO Higher Education Loan Authority). The Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, along with participating corporate partners, sponsors the Academic All-USA competition for students attending two-year colleges.

PTK ranks applicants nationally, then forwards results for students to the MCCA. The top 53 students statewide were named Academic All-State award winners.

ECC annually nominates two to four students per site for the All-USA Team, which automatically qualifies the nominees for the All-Missouri Academic Team. Nominees complete a lengthy scholarship application, including information about their campus and community activities, and details and a letter of recommendation regarding a “significant endeavor” done during their time as a community college student.

Coca-Cola Academic Team

Smith’s Coca-Cola Academic Team honor is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, which recognizes 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

Smith and other Coca-Cola Academic Team members were recognized internationally during PTK’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst. Which was held in Columbus, Ohio, April 20-22.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of PTK. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation celebrates and empowers visionary leaders who are refreshing the world by supporting more than 1,400 exceptional college students each year.

PTK is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders.


Community College Month—Op-Ed


April 27, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla
Jon Bauer, Ph.D.
President, East Central College

The trophy sits on a shelf in my mom’s bedroom. Only recently have I noticed that it resembles an Academy Award, with a gold-plated graduate standing on a pedestal in place of Oscar himself. The graduate wears a dress, a fitting tribute to the class valedictorian. Today—decades later, and after a few dents and dings picked up along the way—the award still represents the best academic performance of that year’s graduating class.

Mom chose this for her valedictory theme at commencement: “There is no security on this Earth, only opportunity.”

A moment in time, but times were different. Going to college—even for the class valedictorian—was no easy task. That was especially true for a young woman from a poor family. There were few scholarships, no federal assistance, and in Mom’s hometown there was no community college. So, after a taste of college, she went to work and raised a family.

Today, the opportunities to go to college would be plentiful. Assistance based on both merit and need would ensure the path a college campus. And today, a community college would likely be serving the Ohio county where Mom graduated.

April is national Community College Month, a time to honor our colleges, our students, and our faculty, staff, and trustees. It is also a time to reflect on the difference these institutions have made for generations of students.

Community colleges are uniquely American. Our oldest colleges were private institutions that replicated those found in Europe. Starting with Harvard, these colleges were places of learning and privilege. Men attended in preparation for life in the landed gentry or clergy. Eventually we adopted the university model, both public and private, derived from Germany.

But around the turn of the 20th Century, University of Chicago president William Rainey Harper proposed the notion of the junior and senior college, the former representing the first two years of a college degree. His idea first took root in Joliet, Illinois, with six students taking classes at the country’s first junior college.

Over the next several decades hundreds of junior colleges came and went. They were mostly extensions of high school. President Harry Truman first called for the development of a system of community colleges in 1947; he was also the first national figure to use the term “community college” in lieu of “junior college.”

In 1960, most communities were without a college of their own. That was true in Mom’s hometown. But that was about to change. States had taken up the challenge from Presidents Truman and Eisenhower and had begun to establish publicly-supported community colleges from coast to coast. At one point in the Sixties we were opening a new community college at the rate of one per week.

East Central College was part of this generation. Local leaders recognized the need for a community college to serve the students of the region and, in 1968, voters approved the creation of East Central Junior College.

We have come a long way in our history. Joliet Junior College—starting with those six students in 1901—serves over 30,000 today. East Central serves thousands of students each year. ECC’s students include juniors and seniors in our Early College Academy. They will graduate from college a few weeks before finishing high school. We serve those right out of high school, as well as those who have been away from a classroom for years, even decades.

Our colleges still serve the student who plans to transfer—Harper’s junior college model—at a fraction of the cost. And we serve those looking to go right into the workforce. These students include nurses, machinists, technicians, and chefs. Over time our mission has grown to serve those already employed, but in need of additional skills. ECC’s Center for Workforce Development works with companies throughout the region.

The Truman Commission called for the first two years of college to be free to students, just like high school. As a nation we are still working on “free community college,” but in Missouri those with the A+ benefit can attend a community college tuition-free. Around 90% of our full-time students have some sort of scholarship or assistance, and the neediest students qualify for the federal Pell Grant. At a community college, the Pell Grant will cover a student’s tuition, fees, and most additional costs like books. For many, it is the jump start to college.

Not only do students have a local, affordable option, but one marked with quality. Our transfer students have high GPAs at their next school. Those going to work often have jobs waiting for them once they graduate. Our faculty are experienced in the classroom, working at teaching-centered colleges. We are much more than the low-cost provider.

Today, more than four out of ten undergraduate students attend a community college.

Community colleges are no longer a novel idea; we are part of the fabric of our communities. We have been around for generations and will be around for generations to come. We are one of America’s best ideas.

Back in Mom’s hometown, a community college came to the area more than a decade after she graduated. Would she have been one of Southern State Community College’s students had the timing been different? I have no doubt. And they would have rolled out the red carpet. That’s what we do at community colleges.

In a few weeks we will graduate another class of East Central College graduates. And coming right behind them will be a new group of students with their own stories, dreams, ambitions, and awards. They will be ready for their best performance. And we will be ready for them.

Opportunity indeed.


A stethoscope, laptop, smartphone, and medical professional

Student Shares Why She Chose HIM Program — Flexible, Great Careers


April 19, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Melissa Helms wants a career in health care but not the bedside patient aspect of the field.

That’s one reason she enrolled in East Central College’s Health Information Management (HIM) program, she said.

HIM student Melissa Helms
Melissa Helms, HIM

“I wasn’t sure I was capable of the hands-on patient care side of healthcare with all its goriness potential,” Helms commented. “However, I still wanted to be involved in the side of healthcare that truly makes an impact on patient care, outcomes, and the improvement of healthcare.”

Helms, of Villa Ridge, graduates in May with an Associate of Applied Science degree.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is celebrating students like Helms, and HIM professionals from April 17-23 during the annual Health Information Professionals (HIP) Week.
This year’s theme is “Health Information Powers Innovation.”

ECC offers an all-inclusive online program in HIM, including a one-semester Health Care Security Certificate of Specialization, a one-year Certificate of Achievement and a two-year AAS degree. The program includes a Professional Practice Experience (PPE).

“My favorite part of this program was the hands-on PPE course,” Helms commented. “The HIM PPE course is what clinicals are to nursing — so much fun and experience were gained during that semester.”

For more information about ECC and the HIM program, visit here, or contact Kimberly Daman-Scheel, HIM program director, at kim.daman-scheel@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6662.

Online Courses

According to Helms, the flexibility ECC’s HIM program offers also attracted her to the College.

“I have three children so finding time to take care of them, worry about their schooling, the ability to take them to their extra-curricular activities, working around my husband’s work schedule, and being able to still work myself, if needed, is a struggle,” she said.

“The program being online allowed me to still have my life while fulfilling my life goal and dream.”

HIM is a broad field that connects the administrative, operational, and clinical components of health care. HIM specialists affect the quality of patient care and information at every stage of health care.

“HIM is more than just billing and coding, which a lot of people aren’t aware of — there is a lot of knowledge and requirements to understand billing and coding due to HIM jobs all having some aspect of these, but it is way more than that and can be more depending on which direction you see yourself going in the HIM field,” Helms added.

HIM Careers

There are many facilities and industries where HIM graduates can works, including hospitals, physician offices and clinics, nursing homes, mental health clinics, insurance companies, government agencies and more.

“I love HIM because of the endless opportunities and options I have for myself and my future,” Helms said, adding that she plans to work in the field while continuing her education.

“My plan after college is to build experience for a year or two, while furthering my education by attending classes to achieve my bachelor’s degree in HIM,” she said.

Helms, along with others who earn their AAS degree, is eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam to be professionally certified in the HIM field.

The ECC RHIT exam pass rate in 2020-21 was 91 percent, surpassing the national average of 78 percent.

The College’s HIM program is accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM).

The sponsor of HIM Week, AHIMA, is a global nonprofit association of health information (HI) professionals. AHIMA represents professionals who work with health data for more than one billion patient visits each year.


ECC Instructor Interviewed about Car Insurance


April 13, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Lisa Hanneken, coordinator and assistant professor of the business and accounting programs at East Central College, recently was featured in the “Ask the Experts” section of a WalletHub.com article focusing on car insurance in Missouri.

In the article, WalletHub stated that the best insurance companies in Missouri have high customer satisfaction, streamlined claims processing and helpful policy management tools. WalletHub rated insurance companies based on user ratings on the WalletHub site.

Hanneken was asked in the interview why car insurance laws are different from state to state.

“The main reason the law and regulations tend to differ is that typically each state has its own regulatory agency,” she answered. “This means each state will oversee the insurance industry for their state and may be involved in the legal process of lawmaking or regulatory rules.”

Hanneken also was asked to list the most important things to look for when shopping for car insurance.

“As someone who has previously worked in the insurance industry, it is one area I carefully research and check into the details because I have seen people who were totally blindsided after a claim,” she said. “Everyone needs to spend the time to ensure they understand what coverage may be required by law, as well as what the policy they are considering really covers to avoid surprises later.”

Hanneken also provided factors to consider when looking for car insurance. To read those factors and the full article, visit here. https://wallethub.com/car-insurance/missouri#lisa_hanneken


Coach Tom Dill to be Recognized with Dugout Naming


April 10, 2023 | Athletics Campus News

East Central College is celebrating the college’s first baseball coach, Tom Dill, with the naming of the Taco Bell Field home dugout.

The Tom Dill Dugout naming ceremony will be Saturday, May 6, at Taco Bell Field during the Region 16 Tournament hosted by ECC. The naming ceremony will be held between games at approximately 11:30 a.m. Food and drink will be available.

RSVP to the event here, by emailing the ECC Foundation at foundation@eastcentral.edu or calling 636-584-6506.

Dill was the founding skipper for the East Central Junior College Rebels baseball squad. He coached the baseball team for 16 seasons, from 1974-1990.

Dill coached many talented baseball players during his tenure, including Tom Henke, a Major League Baseball All-Star who played 14 seasons in the Majors and won the World Series in 1992 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dill also was a faculty member at ECC from 1973 to 2000. He later served two six-year terms on the College’s board of trustees, including several years as board secretary.

If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for Sunday, May 7.


ECC Partners With PCSD in Law Enforcement Training Program


April 5, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

A new partnership at East Central College will offer law enforcement training in the Rolla area that fits students’ schedules and provides the opportunity for financial aid and services.

The inaugural basic training class of the ECC Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) will begin in August. It was developed through a collaboration between the College and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD).

ECC Rolla Director Christina Ayres said the one-year certificate program combines theory, experiential learning, and practical applications to prepare students for a career as a peace officer. Students who successfully complete this Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) approved program are eligible to take the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam (MPOLE) to become a licensed peace officer.

Students also have the option to take additional general education coursework to complete an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Law Enforcement degree.

Courses will be taught in the evenings and Saturdays during the fall, spring and summer semesters at ECC in Rolla, with breaks in between. That allows students to continue their employment while attending training.

Applications are due June 1 for the sessions that begin Aug. 21. There is a selective admission process utilized for students who apply for the program. For more information about the program, visit www.eastcentral.edu/LETC, or contact LETC@eastcentral.edu or 573-202-6960.

Local Program

Ayres has been working with Phelps County Sheriff Mike Kirn and Rolla Police Capt. Will Loughridge since August 2021 in preparation for this new program. She explained that a basic law enforcement training program in Rolla alleviates barriers for employers and future officers.

“Local agencies have seen a gap in the employment pipeline,” she said. “This partnership will provide a local training option reducing additional costs for travel and lodging out of the area.”

“The location of the basic training academy in Rolla will reduce lengthy commutes,” Loughridge added. “It will allow people in our community to attend training close to home, while still allowing them to work and take care of their families until they transition to a career with a police organization.”

Kirn said that a local program will bolster the ranks of the PCSD and police agencies in the Phelps County area.

“This academy will allow local law enforcement agencies access to quality candidates from our area. Young people who were raised here will take more interest in their community,” he said. “People raised here and trained here will stay here.”

“This academy will give us a chance to witness the student’s drive, integrity and work ethic,” Kirn added. “Having this knowledge will allow us to make better decisions when hiring.”

Ayres noted that LETC students will have access to federal financial aid, scholarships and services, including tutoring and advising, that all ECC students are provided.

“This is what we do — we have services and resources already in place to support student learning,” she said.

The state requires 600 training hours for a basic training program. The ECC Phelps LETC basic training program exceeds state requirements by providing 700 contact hours to further enhance the skills and knowledge of students.

Collaboration

The “theory” and classroom segments of the curriculum will be taught at ECC Rolla North, located at 2303 North Bishop, and the hands-on “experiential learning” will utilize facilities and equipment provided by the PCSD.

“Partnering with the sheriff’s department is a perfect example of carrying out our mission of empowering students and enriching our communities through education.” Ayres said. “By addressing this need together, we have the opportunity to maximize each other’s strengths — delivering quality education and support services with highly-trained faculty in well-equipped facilities.”

Students who take general education courses, along with electives, to complete an AAS in Law Enforcement have the option to transfer for a bachelor’s degree. An associate degree in law enforcement provides a foundation for a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, pre-law, public administration, emergency management and more.

The degree program could have a remarkable impact on law enforcement in the region, according to Loughridge.

“The college degree path offered through the ECC Phelps LETC is a significant benefit to attendees and future employers,” he said. “Research shows officers with a college degree often have less use of force incidents and less complaints, which limits liability to the organization.”

Loughridge added that the ECC Phelps LETC will assist in keeping law enforcement officers in the community as a pipeline for agencies, such as the Rolla Police Department.

“There is a potential to have nearly all new officers coming out of the academy with an associate degree and their law enforcement certificate,” he said.