Tag: Central Methodist University

College Receives State Grant to Encourage Math, Science Teaching Careers

November 1, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College has been awarded a state “Grow Your Own” grant to encourage students in its education program to pursue careers in teaching math and science at the middle school level.

The College is receiving $45,000 through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the form of a Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) award to address the critical need of STEM teachers in the region.

ECC was one of five two-year colleges in Missouri awarded a DEWEY grant with the intent to inspire more students to pursue careers in education.

Dr. Robyn Walter, ECC Vice President of Academic Affairs, said math and science were strategically chosen due to their historically low enrollment certification rates in the service area, as well as the pressing need for teachers in these fields within local school districts.

“We anticipate that by offering incentives for students to pursue certification areas with historically low enrollment statewide, those students would be more likely to consider those certification areas over others,” Walter said.

Scholarships

Under this innovative initiative, ECC is set to offer $1,000 scholarships to complete their first year of an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) focused on Middle School math or science. Upon completing their second year at ECC and providing proof of enrollment at a transfer institution for certification in Middle School math and science, students will receive an additional $2,000 to continue to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

“We selected these areas due to their historical low enrollment in our service region, and the school districts we serve are in critical need of educators in these fields,” said Greg Stotler, Assistant Professor, Education/Teacher Coordinator at ECC. “Students who choose science or math programs oftentimes are drawn into professions with higher salaries.”

The College expects to award the $1,000 scholarships in the Spring of 2024.

“This money goes straight to students in a joint effort of growing our own educators,” Walter added.

Transfer Schools

The DEWEY grant aligns ECC with their four-year transfer partners, including Missouri S&T and Central Methodist University (CMU), who can further support students through the Missouri Teacher Recruitment Scholarship opportunity during their student teaching experience. CMU and Missouri S&T are among the 15 four-year colleges in the state to receive $70,000 each in DEWEY grants.

ECC is also hopeful that DESE will expand scholarship opportunities to encompass additional certification areas in the future.

The primary objective of the “Grow Your Own” initiative is to contribute to the growth of qualified educators within the state and tackle the challenge of teacher shortages. DESE reports that just over 5 percent of its teaching workforce is either not qualified or underqualified for their positions, equivalent to 3,579 full-time employees, as of December 2022. The most in-demand subjects are elementary education, cross-categorical positions, and early childhood special education.

DESE’s data from 2023-2024 shows a significant decrease in courses taught by instructors with “inappropriate certification,” down from 45,509 in the previous year to 13,314 courses, signifying the positive impact of these types of initiatives.

This initiative, fueled by the DEWEY grant, is a testament to ECC’s commitment to creating opportunities for aspiring educators and addressing critical teacher shortages across the state.

For more information about ECC’s Education programs, visit www.eastcentral.edu/education/education/.

Grad Earns First-Ever Gulstad Full-Tuition Scholarship to CMU

September 14, 2023 | Campus News

East Central College alumna and aspiring elementary school teacher, Katie Rushing, has been awarded the first-ever Gulstad Full-Tuition Transfer Scholarship to Central Methodist University (CMU).

Rushing, of Washington, who graduated from ECC in May with an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree, is the recipient of this prestigious scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition. The Gulstad Full-Tuition Transfer Scholarship is exclusively available to students attending one of CMU’s extended sites, such as the ECC campus in Union.

“Katie is a driven and remarkable student,” stated ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer. “We are immensely proud of her accomplishments, and we have no doubt that she will continue to excel at CMU.”

The scholarship is named after longtime CMU Provost Dr. Rita Gulstad, who emphasized that the full-tuition scholarship was established with students like Rushing in mind.

“This scholarship was created to recognize excellence among our community college graduates,” noted Rita Gulstad. “Katie is seeking a bachelor’s degree in elementary education because she is passionate about working with children and she desires to make a positive impact on students’ lives.”

Gulstad also highlighted Rushing’s active involvement in her community, including her role as a certified substitute teacher and her volunteer work in her church parish.

“Katie says she chose East Central because it is friendly and affordable, but also to stay close to home so she could continue to support her community,” she commented. “That is why she also chose CMU.”

ECC and CMU have maintained a strong partnership, providing educational opportunities for Franklin County area residents for three decades. Central Methodist University has been operating on ECC’s campus since 1992.

“Central Methodist has been an outstanding partner for 30 years,” Bauer remarked. “Countless individuals have earned their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the area without having to leave, which is a tremendous benefit.”

To learn more about scholarship opportunities at ECC, including the Central Methodist University Gulstad Transfer Scholarship, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/finaid/scholarship-opportunities/.

Mier Family Shares the College Experience at ECC

May 10, 2022 | Art Campus News

Sarah, Ethan and Ryan Mier may be on different educational journeys, but to reach their destinations, the mother and her sons are taking the same path — East Central College.

Sarah, 42, is the mother of Ethan, 21, and Ryan, 18. The family of ECC students live in St. Clair with, their father and husband, Andrew Mier.

“I love attending ECC with my boys — this kind of thing doesn’t happen very often, and it wasn’t planned at all,” Sarah said. “I never thought that I would be going back to school with my children.”

Sarah will be walking across the stage at the ECC Commencement ceremony this Saturday, May 14, while Ethan plans to take one more course at ECC this summer. Ryan will attend ECC through the 2022-23 school year.

Sarah, the president Phi Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, is studying social science and she plans to attend Central Methodist University to work toward a degree in social work.

Ethan’s path is leading him to Webster University, where he will pursue a degree in Computer Animation. Ethan recently was part of the ECC Theatre Department’s “Puffs” and he is a member of the Art Club.

Ryan expects to graduate from ECC in the spring of 2023 and then he will pursue a degree mechanical engineering from Missouri S&T in Rolla.

“All our paths have been different here at ECC and each of us have had different struggles and strengths,” Sarah said.

“I am grateful that ECC has been a part of our journey together,” she added. “All three of us have been able to grow together academically and as family. I am blessed that we had this unique opportunity.”

None of the Miers have had classes together this semester, but they still would see each other on campus, which is, “always a nice surprise and makes my day,” Sarah said.

“We’re always excited to see each other because we don’t have any classes in the same buildings at the same times,” said Ethan.

“My mom and I only interact when I walk past her in the student center,” Ryan added. “She often just asks how I’m doing and sends me on my way.”

Ethan noted that he and his mother had one class together last summer, an online art appreciation class.

“We were able to study together over the summer,” he said. “We were able to help each other study with some parts and help with different forum posts.”

The Mier Home

With three college students under one roof, it is easy to understand why the Mier home looks similar to a dorm room at times.

“Our home a lot of days looks like a library spilled over into it, or it looks like an art studio,” Sarah said. “There are always backpacks and books on the kitchen table, and I would not have it another way — I know at some time, I am going to miss it.”

She added that the challenges of going to college full-time are made easier with the support of her husband.

“I think it’s great,” Andrew said. “Sarah and the boys are going through and experiencing a lot of the same things and they relate to each other very well.

“I am happy to support them in any way I can — whether it be extra chores around the house or running to the store at the last minute for art supplies,” he added. “This is time together that they will look back fondly on.”

Proud Mother

Sarah noted that experiencing college alongside her sons offers a unique insight that she may not have otherwise.

“I am beyond proud of my two sons,” she commented. “They are two vastly different people, yet just as equally smart and talented.

“Ethan’s creative mind blows me away, he can see the beauty in anything,” Sarah added. “He has a God-given gift that will take him far in life. He makes me laugh every day.”

For Ryan, Sarah said, his knowledge, skill, and curiosity of computers and technology are incredible.

“Ryan’s ability to look into a computer, break it apart and then want to know how that works and program it to do more is awe-inspiring,” she said. “He will be writing programs to better the world one day.”

Although Sarah recognizes how bright her children are, what impresses her the most is how they treat others.

“What I am most proud of is that both my boys are kind, caring, and compassionate human beings,” she said. “They will put all things aside when I am having a bad day just to sit with me and make me laugh.”

Family Background

All three of the Mier students are St. Clair High School graduates. Sarah was part of the Class of 1998; and Ethan and Ryan graduated from SCHS in 2019 and 2021, respectively.

Sarah joined the U.S. Air Force after high school. She met Andrew Mier while they both were stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. After Ethan was born, Sarah stayed home while Andrew continued to serve in the military.

As is typical with families in the military, Sarah added, the Miers moved often.

“With moving around so much and raising a family, school was never an option,” she said.

However, her opportunity would come after Andrew retired from the Air Force and then earned a degree in early childhood education.

“As soon as Andrew was done it was my turn to go to school, and it just so happened to be at the same time my boys were also attending college,” Sarah said.

Initially, Sarah planned to take online courses, just as her husband had done.

“I was also going in that direction, and at the last minute I changed my mind and decided that in-person learning at ECC was a better decision for me,” she said.

Sarah noted that in-person classes offered many more experiences and opportunities than online-only courses could.

“I could not be happier with the decision that I made,” she added. “The education, connections and experience here at ECC has been amazing.”

The East Central College seal with the words: board of trustees meeting below it

Trustees Approve Agreement with City of Union for Resource Officers on Campus

May 11, 2016 | Campus News

East Central College trustees approved a five-year agreement with the City of Union to provide Union Police Department officers on the main campus. Action came at the May 9 board meeting.

“I am very pleased with the agreement we’ve worked out with the city to establish a campus resource officer program on the Union campus,” stated Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president. “We will share the cost on a 50-50 basis for the first two years. That will allow the college to use money generated from the new $4 per credit hour security fee that goes into effect this fall to fund some one-time purchases before year three when we will begin fully reimbursing the city for the personnel costs.”

“We anticipate having the lead daytime officer on campus around the start of the fall semester, with a second officer who will cover late afternoons, evenings and weekend events beginning later in the fall,” Bauer noted. With the agreement in place, the city will now actively pursue hiring new officers to fill vacancies in the department due to several retirements. Experienced officers will be assigned to the campus resource officer positions at ECC.

The officers will be employees of the Union Police Department but will be based on the campus full-time. The substation located at ECC will serve as the base of operations for the officers. They will only respond off-campus in cases where all officers are called to the scene of a major incident and neither the city nor college anticipate that to be a frequent occurrence.

“In addition to patrolling the campus, the officers will provide value to the college by making recommendations and coordinating campus security and emergency response,” said Bauer.

The City of Union will provide a vehicle to be used by the campus resource officers, but ECC will provide all equipment for the vehicle and also cover any installation costs. The college will also pay for vehicle maintenance and all parts needed for maintenance. Whenever possible the City of Union mechanics will provide the manpower.

All expenses related to police officer specific training as well as campus resource officer related training will be paid by the college, as will special armed intruder response equipment and any other equipment unique to the duties of the campus resource officer. ECC will only pay uniform and equipment costs if the campus resource officer is a new hire to the Union Police Department.

“This agreement builds on the strong working relationship we’ve established with the City of Union on several projects over the past few years,” Bauer said. “I believe this to be a significant step forward regarding campus security and I look forward to having the officers on campus.”

Central Methodist University Presence at ECC Campus Extended

At their May 9 meeting college trustees approved a revised memorandum of understanding with Central Methodist University for continuing usage of facilities for the 2017 fiscal year. CMU will pay a flat rental fee of $20,500 per year based on 45 credit hours per eight-week session for general classroom usage. That is an increase of $500 from the current rate. CMU has offered bachelor’s and master’s level classes on the ECC Union campus since 1992.

Personnel

In personnel matters, board members approved one resignation and a full-time faculty hiring. The re-employment of 51 full-time members of the professional staff for fiscal year 2017 as well as adjunct instructors for the upcoming summer session were also authorized.

Trustees approved the appointment of Rachel Howard as psychology/sociology instructor for the upcoming academic year. An adjunct instructor with ECC since 2013, she currently serves as ECC’s retention coordinator. Howard earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology as well as early childhood and elementary education from Missouri Baptist University. She also received a master’s degree in counselor education from that same institution.

The resignation of Tiffany Voss, nursing instructor at ECC-Rolla, was accepted effective at the end of this spring semester.

Policies Approved

Revisions to several policies dealing with solicitation and fundraising, facilities use and political activities were also approved by board members.

Fundraising for external causes is prohibited on the campus unless specifically authorized by the college president or board of trustees. The sale on campus of any articles or services not otherwise sanctioned by the college is prohibited.

Student or employee organizations raising funds to benefit, or otherwise on behalf of, external organizations must have prior approval by the college president. Procedures were also outlined regarding employees wishing to solicit co-workers for personal causes along with prohibition of commercial solicitation on college owned or leased property unless a visit has been scheduled with college personnel.

The facilities use policy was also revised to remain in compliance with current laws.

As a service to the community, ECC allows community members to utilize college facilities, the campus and resources if such use does not conflict with the college’s operations and educational mission. ECC students, employees, and alumni receive priority with regard to the use of facilities and resources. Community members may apply for use of ECC facilities and resources, and, when applicable, use outdoor spaces in accordance with the college’s expressive activities policy. Individuals wishing to engage in expressive activities in ECC’s outdoor spaces may do so without first seeking the permission of the college.

Individuals or organizations not associated with expressive activities must submit a facilities use form no later than two weeks prior to an event or activity. A fee may be charged based on the space requested.

The policy on political activities was revised to note that political activities on college property, including canvassing, shall not cause unreasonable disruption of the college function, nor any danger to community members, damage to personal or college property, or unconstitutional interference with the rights of others.

Changes to each of the policies are effective immediately.

Budget Update

President Bauer updated trustees on development of the budget for the 2017 fiscal year which will be presented to the board for approval in June. “Things look good from the state perspective with a four percent increase in performance funding and an additional $440,000 in state aid coming to ECC.” Bauer stated. “The local tax base is projected to be flat. The Franklin County Assessor’s office has provided us with a new tool to better project new construction in the county.”

“On the expense side the biggest element still to be determined is the collective bargaining agreement with the faculty,” he said. “We are very close to having an agreement that will go to the faculty for ratification. Once we have that in place we’ll be able to fill out the remainder of the expense side of the budget.”

Trustees Approve Agreement with CMU

May 14, 2015 | Campus News

East Central College and the School District of Washington will continue to partner in providing programming in early childhood development at the school district’s Early Learning Center.

At their May 11 meeting, college trustees approved updates to the original agreement from 2014. Participating students will continue to have the opportunity to acquire both college credit and the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while completing high school.

Completion last fall of Washington’s Early Learning Center resulted in opportunities for the college to offer coursework at the site for traditional college students and for students in the early childhood development program to observe the children enrolled at the center.

Arrangements for shared staff that satisfy the credential requirements of both schools are outlined in the agreement, along with space and technology needs for program delivery.

Jean McCann, vice president of instruction at ECC noted that coursework will continue to be offered at the Early Learning Center for incoming seniors from Washington High School and other sending schools in the area as well as ECC students.

Central Methodist University Presence at ECC Campus Extended

In other action trustees approved a revised memorandum of understanding with Central Methodist University for continuing usage of facilities for the 2016 fiscal year. CMU will pay a flat rental fee of $20,000 per year based on 45 credit hours per eight-week session for general classroom usage. That is an increase of $3,000 from the previous lease, which had been unchanged since 2005.

CMU has offered bachelor’s and master’s level classes on the ECC Union campus since 1992.

Architectural Engineering Services

Trustees approved a $137,000 contract with Cochran Engineering in Union for professional design services required for the renovation of the former Gala Center just southeast of the campus in Union.

Purchase of the Gala Center was finalized in April so plans for the renovation of the building can begin. The precision machining and industrial engineering technology programs currently housed at Four Rivers Career Center in Washington will be relocated to the new facility, along with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning program now located on the main campus.

College President Jon Bauer told trustees that Cochran is uniquely qualified to perform this work since the firm was responsible for the original design of the building which was constructed in 2007.

The contract includes fees for architectural, civil, structural and mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire protection design. Cochran also provided cost figures on fees for the design of a loading dock and in-fill of the existing courtyard and patio areas.

Bauer noted that college officials will work with Cochran on design of the space over the summer, with the intention of bidding the project in the fall. Renovation would continue through next spring with the plan to move into the facility at the end of the 2016 spring semester.

ECC purchased the building for $1.2 million from Bequette Construction, Inc.

Underwriting Services and Bids Approved

George K. Baum and Company of Kansas City was authorized to provide underwriting services so ECC can refinance the Series 2008 and 2006 general obligation bonds.

Four firms responded to ECC’s request for proposals with Baum submitting the lowest underwriter fee of $3.75 per $1,000. Refinancing the bonds will allow the college to lower the interest amount paid to bondholders due to favorable bond market conditions.

Baum estimated a net present value savings of $240,528 over 20 years on the 2006 series of bonds. For the 2008 series, Baum estimated net present value savings of $646,716 over 20 years. Actual savings will depend on market conditions at the time of refunding.

Upgrades to computer equipment through a state-negotiated purchasing contract with Dell were approved by trustees.

East Central College will spend $29,297 to purchase 30 Dell instructor computer workstations to replace those currently used in classrooms. The purchase will be funded with technology fees.

The college will also purchase a Dell SonicWall firewall for the computer network. Technology fees will be used to cover 80 percent of the $37,716 purchase with institutional support funds used to pay for the remaining 20 percent.

Budget Update

Work is underway on the budget for fiscal year 2016 which begins July 1. Bauer told trustees that he is projecting two percent growth in the taxing base for the district and a four percent decrease in enrollment. “The big driver on expenses is the cost of salaries and benefits,” Bauer said. The administration is still negotiating a contract with faculty NEA representatives that will be incorporated into the budget.

Bauer also noted that the budget signed by Governor Nixon last week includes several positive aspects for ECC including an increase in funding for the A+ Program, appropriations for customized training and equity funding for community colleges.

In his report, Bauer stated that House Bill 19, a bond issuance to fund maintenance and repair projects, was approved by the Legislature last week. “We hope the bill is in a form Gov. Nixon can sign quickly so we can begin planning for improvement projects,” he said. “This was a priority coming into this Legislative session and we’re thrilled that the general assembly has passed the bill and sent it to the governor.”

Bauer said college officials are hopeful that the bill is in a form Gov. Jay Nixon can sign quickly so the college can begin planning for improvement projects. If approved, ECC will receive approximately $1.8 million.

Personnel

In personnel matters, trustees accepted the resignations of two employees. Andrea Garner, assistant professor and program coordinator of the nursing program in Rolla, will be employed through June 30. She started teaching at ECC in 2010 was promoted to her current position in 2012.

The resignation of Rachael Calvin, enrollment services coordinator at ECC-Rolla, was effective May 8. Calvin worked at ECC from 2003 to 2005. She returned to the college in 2008 as a program assistant in the office of career, technical, and outreach education. She was promoted to her current position in Rolla in 2010.

The board also approved the appointment of more than 80 adjunct faculty for the 2015 summer session.

Policies Approved

Two changes were made to board policies. Trustees adopted a policy to include a public comment period at the beginning of each monthly meeting. “The opportunity for public comment has rarely been used, but it is important to include it on the board agenda,” noted Bauer. “It will be beneficial to have a policy that specifically authorizes public comment at meetings and procedures that detail how it will be administered.”

The new policy states that each person wishing to address the board should enter his or her name and the topic to be addressed on a form available prior to the start of the meeting. Each speaker will be limited to no more than three minutes for comments and permitted to address the board only once during the public comment period.

The board will not provide a response at the time of a speaker’s presentation but may ask questions or request clarification to ensure understanding of the speaker’s comments. All comments will be taken under advisement, with the board president clarifying remarks at the end of the public comment session to address any misstatements of fact.

Associated with the new policy is approval of minor revisions to the rules of order to incorporate the public comment period prior to approval of the formal agenda.