Category: Campus News

Baseball diamond graphic with text: Baseball is back! Sprint 2022

Omir Santos, Former MLB Player, Reflects on ECC Days

February 14, 2022 | Athletics Campus News

In 2001, Omir Santos was the catcher for the last East Central College baseball team to take the field in more than 20 years.

After the 2001 season the ECC baseball field was empty for years to come, but Santos was just beginning his career in professional baseball.

“I was sad when I heard there was no longer baseball at ECC,” said the 40-year-old backstop. “But it is great to hear that baseball is back now.”

In just a few days, a new ECC baseball squad will take the field. The team plays its first game in Harrison, Ark., against North Arkansas College. A home opener at Taco Bell Field had been slated for Feb. 22 at noon, but weather and field conditions could change the date of the first game in Union.

Santos, 40, was recruited in 1999 from his hometown of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, to play baseball at ECC, where he played two seasons.

Santos was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2001 in the 21st round of the MLB draft. He made his way through the minor leagues with the Yankees affiliate club, and then played in the Majors for four different teams.

Santos is one of just two ECC players to play in the Majors. The other player, Tom Henke, was a dominant relief pitcher in the 1980s and 1990s.

Santos moved onto coaching and managing teams after his playing days and in January he was named the manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats, Virginia League Baseball team, an affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

Santos said he is looking into coming to the college to watch a game and show his son around ECC.

All-American Player

Santos attended ECC from 1999-2001, and during his freshman season, he was a key piece of the ECC team winning the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) title.

It was the first and only time in school history that the team won the conference title.

In 2000, Santos was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-Region.

He also garnered NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors after his sophomore season. He led the ECC team in batting average and runs batted in during his second collegiate season.

Santos was named a NJCAA Division 1, third-team All-American after his sophomore season in 2001.

At ECC

Santos said his time at ECC prepared him for the big leagues, and life in general.

“It was a cool experience,” he commented. “If I ever had to do it again, I would pick ECC — they gave me the opportunity to play baseball and go to school.”

“It was the first time that I left the house,” Santos remembered. “My parents were not there and being on my own It made me grow fast — I was cooking, doing laundry, things I was not prepared for.”

He added that ECC gave him his first experience being independent, but also a strong foundation for baseball at the highest level.

“When I first arrived at ECC, I did not know what to do,” Santos said, “but everyone made me feel comfortable.”

He was one of nine ballplayers from Puerto Rico, and there were many more international students attending the college.

“I had the opportunity to meet people from different places and cultures who were all going to school — and I got together with other students who also were far from home, so I was not alone.”

Santos still talks with teammates via social media.

“We keep in touch through Facebook and Instagram messages,” he said. “We don’t talk every day, but I still talk with some of the guys.”

East Central Baseball t-shirt back with Santos and number 29

Baseball Career

Santos played at the Major League level with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians (now called the Guardians). He made his Major League debut Sept. 5, 2008, with the Baltimore Orioles.

He had a long professional career, 122 major league appearances where he totaled 80 hits, 41 RBI and 7 home runs. Santos was named to the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team in 2009 with the Mets.

Prior to taking the head spot with the Hillcats, Santos worked as the Akron Rubber Ducks bench coach, which also is a Cleveland Guardians affiliate. He resides with his wife Gelitza and two children in Kissimmee, Fla.

Santos owns and runs the Triple Crown Sports Academy, a baseball training facility and travel baseball organization.

Trustees Approve New Monument, Memorial Policy for ECC Campus

February 11, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College Board of Trustees approved a new monument policy Feb. 7, paving the way for a memorial remembering Erastus Brown, who was lynched in 1897.

The new policy comes on the heels of a request be the Franklin County Remembrance Project Coalition to establish a memorial garden on campus for Brown, a black man who was lynched in Union by a mob while he was being held in the county jail 125 years ago.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer consulted the college’s legal counsel following the Remembrance Project Coalition’s request to determine if allowing the Brown memorial would create a precedent, opening the door for other monuments outside the scope of the college’s vision.

“We found that there is a significant amount of case law dealing with monuments and memorials and how they are considered in light of the right to expressive activity on campus,” Bauer said. “A monument becomes government speech within the eyes of the law.

“Approval does not mean that additional requests must be approved or accepted,” he added.

Under the policy, trustees can approve the installation of monuments or memorials on college property with the intent to educate students and the community, honor individuals for service or give meaning to events that help shape ECC or the community.

Policy Details

A request for a monument on the college campus should be in written form and addressed to the college president, who would consider the request within the parameters of policy and decide whether to recommend that trustees approve the request.

The board of trustees would have final approval authority of the request, including where a monument could be located and who would be responsible for funding, installing and maintaining the monument or memorial.

Monuments donated to ECC would be property of the college, with all rights of the donor relinquished.

In addition, the policy states, that the college has full editorial control over all text displayed on a monument or memorial and any associated signs, markers, publications, social media posts or advertisements.

Trustees have sole discretion to remove a monument at any time; and persons memorialized posthumously must have been deceased for at least 10 years.

Erastus Brown

Before his brutal death, Brown was being held in the county jail on charges of attacking a woman. On July 10, 1897, a week after his arrest, he was lynched on the banks of the Bourbeuse River.

In 2019, the Franklin County Remembrance Project Coalition held a memorial ceremony at ECC where Lloyd Klinedinst, with the coalition, shared the story of Brown’s lynching. Klinedinst attended the Feb. 7 trustee meeting, representing the coalition.

During the 2019 memorial ceremony, Klinedinst said Brown left his St. Clair area home to get medicine for his sick child. He allegedly attempted to rob Annie Fehrring, who was walking from a store in the Villa Ridge area.

Klinedinst said Brown admitted to striking Fehrring in the head with a rock with the intent to rob her for money to pay for medicine for his sick child.

One week later, a mob broke into the jail, bound Brown’s arms and legs and placed a rope around his neck. It is alleged that the mob loaded him into a wagon and took him to a tree near a bridge over the Bourbeuse River where he was hanged.

Trustees Approve Slight Tuition Increase

February 9, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The East Central College Board of Trustees on Feb. 7 approved a slight increase in tuition costs beginning in the fall 2022 semester.

There will be a $5 credit hour tuition bump for students who live within the district, outside the district and for international students.

ECC Vice President of Finance and Administration DeAnna Cassat said the increase was determined by a subcommittee of the Budget Advisory Committee focused specifically on tuition, which presented its findings to administrators.

She explained the tuition subcommittee’s focus was on intentional, long-range planning and key factors such as a predicted declines in high school population both nationally and in Missouri were considered.

In addition, gradual tuition increases over larger, less frequent increases are preferred by the subcommittee, administrators and trustees.

“Smaller increases over time are easier for our students than larger sporadic increases,” Cassat commented.

She further explained the tuition subcommittee includes staff and faculty from different departments at the college who collaboratively work together to establish a recommendation.

“It is a very collaborative group that put a lot of work into this decision and provided a lot of data and information,” she said.

ECC ranks in the Top 5 in least costly community colleges among the 14 institutions in Missouri regarding tuition. More than half of the community colleges in the state will raise tuition for the Fall 2022 semester.

Cassat noted that the tuition increase is 4.5 percent, which is lower than the 7 percent nationwide inflation rate.

Tuition and fees also are lower than the amount students receive in A+ funds and Pell grants.

“That is really important to us,” Cassat said. “We want to stay under those thresholds for our students.”

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer added that a full-time student taking 15 credit hours will pay $4,300 in tuition and fees. Students who qualify for Pell grants receive $6,500 in federal aid.

Tuition Tiers

There are three tiers of tuition at ECC. Tier 1 includes most programs, as well as general education classes. Tier 2 consists of classes in culinary arts, industrial maintenance technology, nursing and precision machining programs.

There will be no change to the Tier 3 tuition, which includes health care programs at ECC Rolla, radiological technology, surgical technology and licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs.

The new in-district tuition rates will be $115 per credit hour for Tier 1 classes. In-district rates for Tier 2 classes will be $139 per credit hour.

The cost for dual-credit and dual-enrollment courses in the 2022-23 academic year will be $58 per credit hour, an increase of $3 per hour.

Out-of-district rates will be $161 and $195 per credit hour for Tier 1 and Tier 2, respectively.

The rates per credit hour for out-of-state students will be $235 for Tier 1 and $286 for Tier 2. Tuition for international students will be $241 per credit hour for Tier 1, and $306 per credit hour for Tier 2.

Student Fees

There was a $3 increase per credit hour in student fees also approved by trustees, bringing the total to $30 per credit hour. In addition, there are slight changes in the areas where the fees will be spent. Listed below is the fee breakdown and how it was changed:

• Student Activities $9 per credit hour (previously $8.50).
• Support Services $1 per credit hour (no change).
• Technology $3 per credit hour (no change).
• Facilities $8 per credit hour (no change).
• Security $9 per credit hour (previously $7.50).

College Preparing for Accrediting Body Visit

February 7, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College staff and faculty have been preparing for an important visit this spring from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the college’s accrediting body.

A five-person peer review team with HLC will visit ECC April 11-12 as part of the college’s accreditation, which is a “stamp of approval” that demonstrates the college is deeply committed to educational quality and improvement.

The team will meet with faculty, staff and students, and review the college’s assurance argument, a narrative that makes the case ECC meets the criteria for accreditation.

In preparation for the upcoming visit, the college has been educating employees and students on the importance of accreditation. The team driving the college’s accreditation process are Dr. Robyn Walter, vice president of academic affairs; Dr. Michelle Smith, executive director of institutional effectiveness; and Jennifer Higerd, assistant professor of art and art gallery curator.

“We are already doing good work in meeting our educational commitment to students, and providing educational and cultural opportunities to our communities,” Higerd said.

“During the last year and a half, we’ve been preparing for the HLC visit by compiling examples of this good work – examples we’ll put into our assurance argument.”

Accreditation is a guarantee to the public that an institution is prepared to do its job. It is required for institutions to receive federal funding, including financial aid which is distributed to students.

In addition to funding, accreditation also is an indicator that colleges and universities provide high-quality educational programs, which greatly impacts transfer degrees. Most institutions only accept transfer credits from colleges and universities that are accredited.

“East Central College is proud to be accredited through the HLC and looks forward to a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are meeting the HLC Criteria for Accreditation,” Walter said.

She noted that other academic agencies accredit specific programs, such as culinary, medical assisting, education, and more, HLC accredits the institution as a whole.

“HLC and other regional accrediting agencies are responsible for assuring that entire colleges and universities meet certain standards in terms of their missions, operations, and activities in teaching and student learning, discovery and promotion of knowledge, and service,” Walter added.

ECC first earned accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association in 1976. Since that time, the College has maintained a history of accreditation and engagement with the HLC.

The HLC is the accrediting body for ECC and about 1,000 colleges and universities in 19 states that stretch from West Virginia to Arizona. HLC is a private, nonprofit accrediting agency. It is an independent corporation that was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.

Criteria

The HLC has a set of five criteria that is reviewed during the accreditation process:

The college’s mission
• Integrity —ethical and responsible conduct
• Teaching and learning — quality, resources and support
• Teaching and learning — evaluation and Improvement
• Resources, planning and institutional effectiveness

To promote accreditation and educate ECC employees, students and the community, the college’s accreditation committee has been meeting on campus with faculty, staff and students. In addition, “mock” site reviewers were on campus, Nov. 15-16, 2021, to meet with stakeholders and give the campus community an idea of what to expect during the HLC visit in April.

“In addition to the mock visit, we’ve been preparing with our colleagues through workshops and roundtable discussions, where members of different employee groups share anecdotes and examples of the ways that we all, in our daily work, support and meet HLC’s criteria for accreditation,” Higerd added.

Date Change for ECC ‘Puffs’ Performance

January 28, 2022 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

The East Central College Theatre Department has moved the performance of the Off-Broadway smash hit, “Puffs” to April 21-24.

Theatre Department Director Grace Austin, who is directing “Puffs,” said the decision to reschedule the show from February was made from an abundance of caution.

“This was a difficult choice to make,” she said, “but with COVID cases on the rise and with the hope to have actors unmasked, it was the right choice to keep everyone safe.

“We are thrilled that the entire original cast will be appearing at the April performances.”

“Puffs” was originally slated for performances Feb. 24-27. It now will be performed in April when “Church and State” had been scheduled. “Church and State” will move to next season.

The company of “Puffs” includes ECC Theatre veterans Connor Aubuchon, Dora Bell, Andrew Carter, Johny Cojocaru, Lukus Dement, Mekaela Sanders, Abby Scanlin, Tara Steffens and Sydney Smith.

Also in the cast are newcomers Anne Brock, Ryan Balmer, Joshua Bergin, Jaelyn Bergin, Kaylin Buckingham, Lorelei Edwards, Felicity Enloe, Aiden George, Dominique Harper, Brooklyn Hyatt, Evan Kiriakidis, Ethan Mier, Paige Pelster, Ireland Shortt, Kody Scaggs, Stephen Thompson and Elijah Waters.

“Puffs” tells the story of a familiar seven years at a famous school of magic in an unfamiliar way. Boy wizards, broomsticks and owls abound as our heroes are the “Puffs,” a House long neglected in a certain book series.

Tickets for “Puffs” are on sale now at ecctheatre.com. East Central College will offer both socially distanced and non-socially distanced seating at every performance.

For more information, call Box Office Manager Connor Joyce at 636-584-6693 or visit ecctheatre.com.

Mizzou College of Engineering, ECC Sign Computer Information Systems Agreement

January 24, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College has signed an agreement with the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., to streamline the path for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.

The articulation agreement guarantees that any student who earns an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS) at ECC — with an emphasis in database administration and security — has the opportunity to complete an information technology degree at MU College of Engineering.

The “2+2” agreement is designed for students to complete two years, or four semesters, of classes at ECC, and then two years of courses at the University of Missouri. It was signed by Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president; Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC vice president of academic affairs; Dr. Latha Ramchand, UM provost; and Dr. Noah Manring, MU dean of college of engineering.

Dr. Walter explained that both institutions are committed to seamless transfers so students can complete their academic goals. The new partnership enhances access for students across the ECC district, and throughout the state.

She further explained that agreements like this align with ECC’s strategic plan, SOAR to 2024.

“One of our strategies in our five-year strategic plan is to grow partnerships with our four-year university partners, and provide opportunities for the students and the community,” Walter said.

“This articulation agreement with MU is really impactful for students who choose to pursue a career in computer science and choose an online option to obtain their degree.”

Walter noted that the market demand for qualified CIS professional is high.

“This degree is suited for the traditional-aged student, as well as the returning adult student, with the benefit of the online platform at the associate degree level and at the bachelor’s degree level,” she added. “I am thrilled to have this innovative and comprehensive articulation agreement with MU. Our CIS faculty have built a strong program with an outstanding reputation that partners well with MU’s program.”

Background at ECC

According to Dr. Richard Hudanick, dean of career and technical education at ECC, about five years ago CIS faculty members Anna Schwein and Jason Durbin began revamping the program’s curriculum.

“Anna and Jason committed more than three years updating curriculum, rebuilding curriculum layout for a total online learning environment, and new course,” Hudanick said. “They also taught a group of students who were finishing their degree.

“There are a lot of moving parts to a program rebuild, including maintaining student success,” he added.

In 2020, ECC’s CIS online program caught the interest of valued education partner, the University of Missouri, Hudanick noted.

Over the next year, Schwein, Durbin and Hudanick worked with Mizzou’s liaison and faculty to forge the “2 plus 2” articulation agreement.

ECC AEL Offers High School Equivalency Courses in Belle

January 21, 2022 | Campus News

The East Central College Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program will begin a new session of classes in Belle, Mo.

The classes are held at the First Baptist Church, 203 W. 2nd St. The instructor of the course is Amber Hendrix, a full-time teacher at Owensville High School and Belle resident.

Classes will meet Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8-11 a.m. Students can register online at www.eastcentral.edu/ael/ or by calling the AEL office at 636- 584-6533.

The AEL program is free to everyone.

In addition to the classes in Belle, there are day classes available in Franklin and Phelps counties, including Sullivan, Union, Washington and Rolla; and evening classes in Franklin, Crawford, Gasconade, Montgomery and Phelps counties.

For times and locations visit www.eastcentral.edu/ael/.

‘Monsterbet’ Exhibit Coming to ECC Art Gallery

January 19, 2022 | Art Campus News

The East Central College Art Gallery will present “Monsterbet: An Aberrant Abecedarius,” a solo exhibition of oil and mixed media paintings by California-based artist Heidi Brueckner.

The exhibition will run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 15, in the gallery located in Hansen Hall.

“Monsterbet” is a series of cultural allegories based on the traditional format of children’s ABC books, but with a layer of social commentary. Each letter of the alphabet stands for an invented monster that has a particular quirk.

The works are playful and fanciful, while simultaneously symbolic and conceptual, touching on some of the artist’s favored themes of human vice, morality and fear.

The series includes many types of mixed media such as sewing pins, safety glass, vintage Italian doll’s eyes, eyelashes, screen, seeds and pods, flocking, dollar bills, AstroTurf, computer keyboard keys, leaves and blossoms, band-aids, dice, garlic skins, lace, glitter, springs and paper. A companion book of the series is available.

Brueckner has been a professor of art at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif., for over 20 years. She graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz, with degrees in both art and art history. She earned a master’s in fine arts in painting from the University of Kansas.

Brueckner has shown her work nationally and internationally in over 100 solo and group shows. During 2020-21 she won 11 first-place awards among others, including Italy’s International Prisma Art Prize and the Faber Birren Color Award. She lives and works in Oakland, Calif.

To learn more or see Brueckner’s work, visit www.heidibrueckner.com.

For additional information about the exhibit or the ECC Art Gallery, contact Assistant Professor of Art and Gallery Curator Jennifer Higerd at jennifer.higerd@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6653.

ECC, Department Receive 10-Year Music Accreditation

January 11, 2022 | Campus News Music

East Central College and its Music Department received full accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), a rare distinction among community colleges.

The NASM Commission on Community Colleges approved the ECC’s 10-year accreditation.

NASM is an organization of approximately 637 accredited institutional members, including colleges and universities. The association establishes standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees in music-related disciplines. The standards ensure the level of rigor expected of students and articulating requirements of the curriculum.

ECC has been accredited by NASM since 2014. The Music Department and the college underwent a comprehensive review in 2020-21 for a reaccreditation process, which included a team of evaluators coming to the college for an on-site visit in March 2021.

Dr. Jennifer Judd, the music department program coordinator, noted that the purpose of pursuing NASM accreditation is to provide an optimal learning environment for music students and to develop a nationally recognized program.

“We were able to demonstrate the administration and community’s strong support of our program and the fine work by our faculty, staff, and students during the review process,” she said.

According to Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC vice president of academic affairs, there are very few community colleges that hold a NASM distinction.

“I am so proud of our music department faculty and staff, our students, and our patrons who support them,” she said. “NASM accreditation is a remarkable achievement. Full accreditation with a 10-year approval is an amazing achievement. Such a mark of quality!”

NASM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all music curricula and is designated as one of the U.S. Secretary-approved accrediting bodies for federal funding, like the Higher Learning Commission.

Early College Academy Students on President’s, VP’s Lists

January 6, 2022 | Campus News

East Central College is recognizing our Early College Academy students who have demonstrated exemplary academic achievement last semester.

Upon completion of at least 12 fall semester credit hours with a semester grade point average of 3.85 or greater, students are acknowledged on the President’s List.

There are 11 students from the Academy on this year’s President’s List.

Upon completion of at least 12 semester credit hours with a fall semester grade point average between 3.50 and 3.84, students are acknowledged by placement on the Vice President’s List.

There are 10 students from the ECA on the Vice President’s List.

Through the ECA, the students attend classes at their high school and on the ECC campus. The goal of the Academy is for these students to earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree, at the same time as their high school diploma.

To learn more about the ECA, visit www.eastcentral.edu/earlycollege/academy/.