Category: ECC Rolla

ECC Students and Grads Recognized at MCCA, PTK Event

May 3, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Four current East Central College students and two graduates were recognized for academics and leadership during the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) Student Leadership and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society Awards Luncheon.

ECC students Donna Hall, Arica Doerr, Brooklyn Hyatt, and Brandon Morrow; and graduates Kya Nilges and Dora Bell, each were recognized during the April 28 event held at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.

Hyatt, ECC Student Government Association vice president, was a recipient of an MCCA Student Leadership Award. These awards are presented annually to one exceptional leader from each community college.

PTK Honor Society Awards

Each year the 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 to MCCA. The top 40 students statewide are then named Academic All-State award winners, with 10 first-team, 10 second-team, and 20 third-team winners.

Bell and Hall were both named to the All-Missouri Academic First-Team. Doerr and Morrow were named to the All-Missouri Academic Team Third-Team.

Bell also was recognized as a Phi Theta Kappa Coca-Cola Scholar, a distinction only given to students with the top 150 scores from across the country. Bell was a Bronze Scholar, and she received a $1,000 scholarship.

PTK All-Missouri Team

The PTK All-Missouri Team recognizes high-achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence, intellectual rigor, leadership, and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.

Each of the students receives a cash scholarship from MCCA along with a medallion and certificate honoring their academic achievement.

There are two “competition” levels, one for transfer-track students and one for students who are in workforce preparation programs (AAS and certificate-level programs). ECC is allowed to nominate up to two students for each pathway from both Union and Rolla.

To be eligible, students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and be on track to graduate or complete their programs by the end of the fall semester. Students also are required to submit a lengthy application that involves writing essays and getting letters of recommendation to support their applications.

Aimée Appell Named 2022 Commencement Speaker

May 2, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Human rights advocate and community organizer Aimée Appell will address the East Central College Class of 2022 during commencement exercises Saturday, May 14.

This year’s graduation ceremony is at 11:30 a.m. in the Donald D. Shook Student Center in Union.

Appell, pastor of Peace Lutheran in Washington, leads or is heavily involved in, community organizations with strong ties to the College.

That includes Neighbors United – Undoing Racism, which holds an annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at ECC. Appell is the chairperson of that organization.

Appell also is involved in the Equal Justice Franklin County Community Remembrance Coalition, the Juneteenth Celebration and Stories Matter, which all have connections to ECC. She also has moderated a discussion on “Interrupting Racism” on campus.

“I love the presence that ECC has in the community,” she said. “Higher education always brings a lot to the community — that includes music, culture, plays, art and more.”

In addition to organizations like Neighbors United and the Remembrance Coalition, Appell was appointed to the City of Washington’s community relations board in 2020.

She noted that it is important to be active in the community and be part of conversations that positively impact communities.

“Each of us has gifts to bring to our community, and we can use those gifts to build bridges. We may have different opinions about how to get there, but all of us are called to be involved,” Appell commented.

“The more each of us participates, the better our communities will be,” she added. “Whatever our political, religious, or cultural views, we all have something to bring, and we can all work to help others have a voice and a place in society.”

Appell, who originally is from the Washington, D.C., area, lived in Seattle, Wash., and then moved to Washington in 2010. She and her husband, Nelson, have three children — Elinor, Holden and Grace.

Appell earned a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minn.

In the summer of 2019, she began working on a Doctor of Ministry degree at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. She plans to graduate in 2023

Appell explained that she is studying ways pastors and congregations can better engage in conversations about race from the pulpit and in their communities.

ECC Highest Transfer GPA in State Among Community Colleges

April 27, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College students transferring to four-year colleges and universities in Missouri have the highest Grade Point Average among all community college in the state.

According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD), students who began taking courses at ECC in the 2019-20 school year, and then transferred to four-year schools, have a median cumulative GPA of 3.44, higher than any other community college in Missouri.

The 3.44 GPA is based only on full-time students who earned 12 or more credit hours at ECC. There are 265 students who fit the criteria.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer said that is a strong indicator that ECC is preparing students well for the next step in their educational path.

“This is a testament to our exemplary faculty who, year after year, set our students up for success,” he said. “To see how well our students are performing after transferring to the many other colleges and universities in Missouri also proves the high-quality programming we offer at ECC.”

The DHEWD studies furthers shows that 81.5 percent, or 216, of those transfer students were still enrolled at a four-year as of fall 2021 — also a very strong metric for ECC.

The continued enrollment percentage is the third highest among all two-year colleges in Missouri.

Photo of campus with the text Congrats, Faculty!

Trustees Approve ECC Faculty Promotions

April 20, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Five East Central College faculty members have been promoted in rank.

The ECC Board of Trustees approved recommendations by the college’s rank and promotion committee. The new rank goes into effect in the Fall 2022 semester.

Listed below are the faculty members approved for promotion, their current rank and the rank when the promotion goes into effect:

Ellen Aramburu — instructor, assistant professor
Nathan Esbeck— instructor, assistant professor
Lisa Hanneken — instructor, assistant professor
Dr. Rachel Howard — instructor, assistant professor
Leigh Kolb — assistant professor, associate professor

Faculty members must follow a process to be promoted in rank, including the submission of an application to seek 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 college president for a final decision. The process is rigorous, and promotion is not automatic.

“Community Colleges May Be Our Best Idea”

April 16, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

By Jon Bauer, Ph.D., President, East Central College

Our national parks have been called America’s best idea. Others would argue that idea best belongs to the Declaration of Independence. Nope, has to be jazz. Wrong again…. definitely baseball.

Might I add another to the list? Community colleges may be our best idea.

Who has done more than the American community college to level the playing field and change lives? What has impacted our communities and country more than broad access to the best system of higher education in the world?

Our roots stretch back over 100 years, but it was in the last half of the 20^th Century that community colleges truly exploded on the scene.

We can thank a Missourian. President Harry Truman did not invent the community college. But in 1947 he called for a system of community colleges that would serve students across the country. States like Missouri took up the challenge and the movement exploded. We opened a new community college at a pace of once a week—including East Central Junior College in 1968.

Today, we serve students ranging from the traditional high school graduate to the adult learning to reenter the workforce. Our doors are open for everyone.

Certainly, we continue to serve the recent high school graduate, many of whom are planning to start with a community college and transfer to a baccalaureate institution.

But we also remain the college of choice for adult learners. At East Central College, 43 percent of our students are 20 or older, including students in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Often, we are the only choice, a role we embrace.

Today we are serving more students who are younger than the college student of the past. One out of five students at ECC is under 18. Who needs to wait for high school graduation? Not only do we serve students in traditional dual credit classes offered in high school, but today we have students from four high schools on our campus in the Early College Academy.

These students are full-time Falcons, and still involved with high school activities. This spring we will see the first of the ECA students graduate from ECC. By the fate of the calendar, they will actually cross our stage as graduates before earning their high school diploma a few weeks later.

For some students, college is even more unique. Students in our Campus Connections program are enrolled both at East Central and Missouri S&T in Rolla. Many are using their A+ benefit for most of their courses while taking others from S&T in preparation for eventual transfer as a full-time Miner. As freshmen and sophomores, these students benefit from both institutions at the same time.

Our students cover the socioeconomic spectrum. Many are the first in their family to go to college, others are the latest in their family to attend East Central. Most of our students are working, many are parents, all have a dream.

Community colleges serve more and more students in Missouri. For the first time ever, more first-time, full-time undergraduates are enrolled at community colleges than four-year institutions in the state. That’s smart. Our students learn from highly experienced faculty who are devoted to teaching. Students save money—those with the most need have no cost—and move on well prepared for what comes next.

And there’s more. Many in our community are enrolled at East Central in non-credit programs. Across the United States there are over 1 million unique postsecondary credentials. Obviously, this includes traditional college degrees. But these credentials also include certificates, badges, licenses, and more. Community colleges work closely with employers to train, retrain, upskill, retool, and otherwise enhance the workforce in our region. Last year, approximately 800 individuals participated in customized training, incumbent worker, or apprenticeship programs at East Central. This is yet another dimension of the community college mission.

That’s a lot. But I’ve only touched on a portion of our story. Community college means athletics, the arts, student clubs, films and lectures, and more. Our campus is used primarily for teaching and learning, but also for voting, vaccinations, music contests, community meetings, concerts, theatre, even a farmers market.

April is Community College Month. I will spend each day—30 in all—touting on social media the reasons I love community colleges. My challenge is not finding 30 reasons to love community colleges. The challenge is deciding what I’ll need to leave out until next year. As I reflect daily on another reason I love East Central specifically, and community colleges in general, I’m increasingly convinced we are more vital today than we were even two years ago. Our students and communities need us.

Community colleges are indeed our best idea.

ECC’s Marketing Team Receives Gold Award at National Conference

April 14, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The East Central College Marketing team was recognized nationally with the 2021 Gold Paragon Award from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s conference in Denver in March.

The award, for “Successful Recruitment or Marketing Program,” celebrates the marketing team’s efforts on the Finish Your Investment (FYI) recruitment program.

ECC’s FYI initiative provided a step-by-step guide for former students to finish what they started and earn a college degree.

There were 742 former students targeted during the initiative through postcards, social media and digital ad campaigns, print advertising and through the ECC website.

Director of Communications and Marketing Gregg Jones said the marketing campaign was multi-faceted and involved everyone on the communications team.

“That is what makes this award meaningful and noteworthy,” he said. “Through traditional advertising, digital ad creation, writing and our website, our entire team created a marketing campaign that resonated with people in the community.”

Jones added that a key element to the FYI initiative is that it was successful in its goal to reach former students who returned to finish their investment.

Under the degree reclamation program, 39 students “auto graduated” due to the number of credit hours they already had obtained. Another 31 students applied for admission; 20 enrolled in courses, five of whom earned a degree.

Jones attributed the success of FYI to the hard work of many ECC employees who contributed to the planning and implementation of the initiative.

Marketing Team/NCMPR

ECC’s communication and marketing team is comprised of Vice President of External Relations Joel Doepker, former External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant Hannah Masek, Coordinator of Web Services Andy Kolb, Multimedia Specialist Amanda Studdard, and Jones.

The team has grown in the past 6 months to include graphic designer Cole LaPlant, and student worker Abby Stanfield. Former staff member Sara Padgett also contributed to team projects over the past year.

The NCMPR is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges.

Gold, silver, and bronze Paragon Awards are presented to two-year colleges across the nation by the NCMPR.

The 2021 Paragon Awards drew 1,719 entries from 232 colleges across the country and was judged by nearly 70 professionals from the marketing and public relations industry. Entries stretched from coast to coast and from Vancouver, Canada, to Florida.

NCMPR provides professional development opportunities, advocates on behalf of the profession and the institutions it serves, and recognizes professional excellence. NCMPR has more than 1,700 members from nearly 650 colleges across the United States and Canada.

ECC Recognizes Employees for Years of Service

April 5, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Each year, East Central College recognizes the hard work and commitment of its employees during the Annual Service Awards Recognition banquet.

The banquet, held on March 31, is an opportunity to show that the college values the employee’s dedication to students’ needs and educational goals, and to the community ECC serves.

The service award banquet also is an opportunity for administrators to individually recognize each employee and the work that they do for the college and students.

This year’s annual banquet honored those who have been with ECC for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 45 years.

“The ECC board of trustees and I are deeply appreciative of the dedicated faculty and staff at the College,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president.

The ECC Culinary Department provided dinner and service for award winners and their guests.

Service Award Winners:

45 Years — Dr. Robert Mahon.

30 Years — Sharon Hays.

20 Years — Pictured, from left, are Karen Klos, Miguel De Aguero, Debra Simily, Russell Henderson, and Melissa Popp.

15 Years — Pictured, from left, are Alice Whalen, Melanie Dixon, Anne Lause, Ellen Aramburu, Christina Ayres, Wendy Hartman and Dr. Elizabeth Winters-Rozema. Not pictured area Sheila Flynn and Cynthia Maune.

10 Years — Front row, from left, are Gail Witt and Dr. Isaiah Kellogg.

Back row, from left, are Nathan Esbeck, Megen Strubberg and Lisa Mathes-Peters. Not pictured are Julie Apperson, Timothy Gray and Donna Kennedy.

5 Years — Front row, from left, are Cynthia Brinker, Naomi Joyce, Jenifer Goodson, Pamela Kaiser and Lisa Hanneken.

Back row, from left, Amanda Studdard, Amy DeMiere, Annette Moore, Brenda Driemeyer, Laura Hemker and Jon Noelker. Not pictured are Kimberly Aguilar, Susan Altemeyer, David DeArmond, Sarah Haines, Raphael Maurice and Kirby Moreland.

ECC Graduation Rate Continues to Rise

April 1, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

In the past 10 years, East Central College has more than doubled its graduation rate, from 19 percent in 2012 to 40 percent in 2021.

“I’m very proud of our continued efforts to graduate more students every year,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, president of East Central College. “Students are receiving a quality education in a timely manner that enables them to transfer to a four-year institution, or immediately enter the workforce.”

The graduation rate has steadily improved since 2014 — with an 18 percent graduation rate — to a 29 percent graduation rate in 2018, to the current graduation rate of 40 percent.

The 2021 graduation rate is based on the first-time, full-time cohort of students who began in the 2018 fall semester.

There have been multiple factors contributing to the increased graduation rate, including the implementation of a guided pathways model, which outlines specific courses students should take based on their degree plan.

In addition, the guided pathway model ensures students understand that there is a clear pathway to their educational goals. That is accomplished through a stronger connection with local school districts regarding dual credit options, and placement into the correct and appropriate classes.

The ECC advisement team develops a report weekly to identify when students register for courses that are outside of their academic programs, helping to keep students on target.

ECC Rolla Tutoring Services Lead to Student Success

March 10, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Tutoring services at East Central College in Rolla are easy to sign up for, offered for a variety of subjects, and really help students succeed.

That’s according to Chrizma Boswell, a first-year student at ECC, who has used the tutoring service.

“The process to sign up was super easy. I knew about tutoring through the weekly emails we get, and the information is on Canvas,” Boswell said. “I just called and made an appointment.”

Boswell, of Newburg, explained that she was failing an online history class. It was her first semester of college and she didn’t know how to study or take tests for online classes. After attending tutoring sessions with tutor Kirby Moreland, however, she was able to turn her grade completely around.

“I went from failing history to getting an A in the class and it was my highest percent grade,” she said. “Kirby was really nice and friendly and helped me so much.”

Boswell mentioned that Moreland often in the library and she can just go in and ask for assistance.

Moreland said Boswell is a bright student, she just needed to learn how best to study.

“Helping students figure out how to find the information they need is sometimes more helpful than giving them the actual information,” said Moreland.

“My favorite part about tutoring is that moment when I can see the understanding sink in for a student — a few sessions in, I got to see this in Chrizma,” he added. “I made study suggestions and she actually used them which ended up helping her a great deal.”

Boswell wants other students to take advantage of the excellent tutoring services on campus.

“I 100 percent recommend tutoring to other ECC students. I don’t just get tutoring because I’m not doing well in a class, but also for classes that I’m doing okay in but just want a boost in my grade,” Boswell commented.

“I feel like people are afraid to get tutoring because they feel embarrassed, but it is so helpful,” she noted. “You have a teacher who is going to teach you the same way all year round, and then you have a tutor who can show you a way to better understand it.”

To inquire about tutoring services at ECC-Rolla, visit ECC Rolla Student Success Center & Tutoring, call 573-466-4080 or email rolla.tutors@eastcentral.edu.

Students ca receive one hour of tutoring per day in Math, Biology, Microbiology and/or Chemistry. Tutoring options include:

In-Person,
Rolla Tutor Chat,
Zoom or phone sessions, and
Group study sessions.

Homeschool Day is March 25 at ECC in Union and Rolla

March 10, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is inviting homeschooled students to the Union and Rolla locations to let them know what the college has to offer, including dual enrollment opportunities.

Megen Strubberg, director of early college and admissions, said there are many avenues for homeschoolers to earn college credit while still taking high school-level classes.

“ECC is a great option for homeschool students to get a jump on their college coursework,” she said. “That’s why we are inviting them to campus to talk about the programs we have and show them around.”

Strubberg added that once homeschool students complete their high school studies, there is an easy transition to attend ECC full-time.

ECC Homeschool Day is Friday, March 25, in Union and Rolla. The locations and times are:

Union, Health & Science Building, Room 100, 2-4 p.m.
Rolla, Rolla Technical Center, Room 121, 9-11 a.m.

To RSVP for the event, people may email admissions@eastcentral.edu.

For more information or with questions, call ECC in Union at 636-584-6588, or ECC in Rolla at 573-466-4100.

Strubberg added that students do not need to bring anything with them that day, and they will be given information on how to start their college journey at ECC.

Dual Enrollment

Strubberg explained that many in the community may not be aware that they can take college-level courses before completing their high school studies, and through ECC, students can explore more rigorous coursework while doing so.

“Homeschool students work right alongside adult students and other dual enrollment high school students,” she further explained. “Students interested in STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields sometimes crave the increased rigor of upper-level math and science course content — it helps to be a part of a community of students going through that same experience.”

Parents of current and former students enrolled in ECC courses commented on how seamless the enrollment process is, and the benefits of dual enrollment.

Parent Testimonies

Jennifer Schneider, the mother of two ECC graduates who were homeschooled, saw many benefits to her children taking courses at ECC as they took high school-level courses.

“They get challenged and encouraged and it is a huge motivator to allow your student to succeed in a college environment while still at home,” she said.

Schneider, of Washington, said it was simple for her children to enroll in courses and the ECC staff was incredibly helpful navigating them through the process.

“I only wish we would have learned about it sooner,” she said, encouraging other parents to contact ECC.

“If you are considering it, don’t wait,” Schneider said. “If you feel the process is overwhelming, know that Megen (Strubberg) will walk alongside you to help make your child’s transition smooth.”

Jennifer Steinman, Labadie, has two children enrolled in dual enrollment courses at ECC.

“It was an easy transition (to ECC) from a homeschool environment,” she said. “We were used to choosing curriculums and activities that fit our schedules, so it’s great to have the option of online or in-person courses.”

Steinman agreed that the ECC staff has been very supportive, and the testing center enables her to know her children are in the right classes that are appropriate for their level.

“There’s so much academic support from teachers, tutors and counselors to help students succeed, including support with their specific needs,” she said.

“My students can be dual-enrolled with ECC, giving us the flexibility to use the curriculums we choose at home while also having access to courses at ECC that fill in the gaps.”

According to Steinman, when her children were entering high school age, she wanted to be sure they were enrolled in the right classes to challenge and prepare them for college.

“Another homeschool family had told me how well their daughter was doing at ECC and encouraged me to call,” she said. “My first phone call to ECC answered all of my questions.”