Tag: Buescher Hall

Trustees Approve Concrete Pedestrian Bridge

November 10, 2021 | Campus News

The East Central College Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to a concrete pedestrian bridge to replace the current bridge in the center of campus.

During the Nov. 8 meeting, trustees opted for the concrete structure over a steel truss structure after viewing renderings presented by Cochran, the engineering firm providing construction services for the bridge replacement project.

Trustees agreed that the concrete bridge fits the architectural style of the buildings on campus.

Board members also voted in favor of a partially covered bridge to limit the amount of chemicals used to melt ice on the bridge deck, which can deteriorate the surface of the structure. Cochran will now move into the design phase of the project following the decisions by trustees.

The bridge connects Buescher Hall and the Donald D. Shook Student Center. The new structure will have a life expectancy of over 50 years.

The bridge will cost approximately $1.5 million and construction will be funded with federal dollars earmarked for the maintenance and repair of campus facilities.

According to ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer, bids will be sought early next year, and construction would likely start in the late spring of 2022 and continue through most of the 2022-23 academic year.

Means Library Dedication Saturday

November 5, 2021 | Campus News

A ceremony will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. to dedicate the Donald R. and Barbara D. Means Library at East Central College.

The ceremony is by invitation only and it will be livestreamed on the ECC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EastCentral/live.

In February, the ECC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the facility the Donald R. and Barbara D. Means Library.

Donald Means was a charter trustee, and his service goes back even further when he and several others worked diligently to bring the college into existence in the 1960s.

Means served 24 years as an ECC Trustee from 1968 to 1992. He was board secretary from 1968 until 1984, and then served four years as president of the board. Means died in August 2020.

The library is in Buescher Hall, a building that Means would have overseen the construction of during his tenure as a trustee.

Board Approves Naming of Library to Honor Charter Trustee

February 3, 2021 | Campus News

The East Central College Library will be named to recognize the legacy — and memorialize — a charter trustee and his family.

During a Feb. 1 meeting, the ECC Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the facility the Donald R. and Barbara D. Means Library.

Donald Means was a charter trustee, and his service goes back even further, according to ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer.

He noted that Means was one of several people who worked diligently to bring the college into existence in the 1960s.

Means served 24 years as an ECC Trustee from 1968 to 1992. He was board secretary from 1968 until 1984, and then served four years as president of the board. Means died in August 2020.

“Over many years on the board, he provided wise counsel and steadfast leadership to the college,” Dr. Bauer said. “Naming of facilities is not something we have done often, but it is something we certainly want to do for individuals who contribute so significantly to the college — Mr. Means is certainly one of those individuals.”

Dr. Bauer and ECC Foundation Executive Director Bridgette Kelch worked closely with Means’ children to discuss a way for their father’s service to ECC and the community to be recognized.

The library is in Buescher Hall, a building that Means would have overseen the construction of during his tenure as a trustee.

“Mr. Means was a veracious reader, so the library is a natural connection,” Dr. Bauer noted.

Family Members

Means’ daughter, Charlotte Nordyke said her father was dedicated to ECC.

“Dad was so devoted to this school, learning and especially an institution for higher education in Franklin County,” she said. “This is a great tribute to him, and we are indeed honored.”

Doug Means noted that both of his parents committed a great deal of time and energy to ECC.

“I am very, very proud today and I thank the board for this consideration,” he said. “My father spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears, along with my mother, at ECC.”

Nordyke, Doug Means, Eric Means and Rhonda Lasley all attended the remote trustee meeting.

Next Steps

According to Dr. Bauer, ECC and the Foundation will plan for a ceremony at a later date, and signage will be installed.

He added that additional funds were gifted to the Foundation by family and friends of Means.

“There is more to come but this is a moment to pause and say, ‘Thank you,’“ Dr. Bauer commented.

“In a community that prides itself on civic leadership, one need not look further than Don Means for an exemplar. His life and career were marked by integrity and service.”

Virtual Tour of Campus Unveiled

November 19, 2020 | Campus News

East Central College launched its new virtual tour that provides an all-encompassing exploration of campus from the comfort and safety of home.

The tour provides a comprehensive self-guided walk through of the Union campus and Rolla sites, while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

To view the tour, visit www.eastcentral.edu/virtual-ecc/.

Joel Doepker, vice president of external relations, said the intended audience is prospective students, but anybody is welcome to view the tour.

“COVID-19 changed how we typically would introduce our campus to potential students,” Doepker said. “We’re excited to have this feature to attract students to the College at a time when in-person visits and tours are limited.”

“Now, future students and their families, can explore campus anytime they want to, from their PC, laptop, tablet or smart phone,” he added.

The tour is powered by Google and works just like a Google map — the user presses arrows to move throughout campus.

All the primary buildings on the Union campus are featured, including Buescher Hall, Hansen Hall, the Health and Science Building, Donald Shook Student Center, the East Central Training Center and the Business and Industry Center.

The two Rolla locations, Rolla Main and Rolla North, are also highlighted.

Inside each building the tour takes visitors to classrooms, labs and amenities, such as the Culinary Arts Kitchen in the East Central Training Center, the Nursing lab in the Health and Science building, the Learning Center in Buescher Hall, the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center in Hansen Hall and the welding lab in the Business and Industry Center.

Information

The virtual tour features an aerial video of the Union campus recorded by a drone camera. The video also provides information about the college and its 50 degree programs and certificates.

“This tour provides us with another opportunity to show students considering ECC and their families the number of pathways, transfer degrees and certificates we offer,” Doepker commented.

Video and photo galleries accompany the virtual tour in areas such as the art gallery, Culinary Arts kitchen, the Nursing Lab and the EMT/Paramedic lab.