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Tag: East Central College board of trustees

Candidacy Filing Period Open for ECC Board of Trustees

December 10, 2021 | Campus News

The filing period to declare candidacy for East Central College Board of Trustees is under way.

Two trustees will be elected April 5, 2022, for six-year terms each. Both openings for the board in Subdistrict No. 3, which includes all of the Washington School District, excluding portions in Boeuf and Lyon townships.

A declaration of candidacy may be filed during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in the Franklin County Clerk’s Office, located at 400 East Locust in Union.

Filing opened Tuesday, Dec. 7, and will close Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at 5 p.m.

The county clerk’s office will be closed from 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 27. The office will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Requirements

A candidate for the ECC board must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, a voter of the college district for at least one full year preceding the election date, and a current resident of the subdistrict for which he or she files.

To file for the board, candidates must not have been convicted of, or pled guilty, to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal law; must not be delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence (as stated on the declaration of candidacy); and must not be a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.

The board of trustees is the sole statutory legislative governing body responsible for the control and operation of ECC. Neither state statutes nor district policy limits the number of terms a member may serve.

Regular monthly meetings of the ECC board are held on the first Monday of the month.

Photo of campus with the text Congrats, Faculty!

Board of Trustees Approve Faculty Promotions

April 8, 2021 | Campus News

Five East Central College faculty members recently were 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 2021 semester.

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

  • Dr. Reginald Brigham — instructor, assistant professor

  • Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell Flotte — instructor, assistant professor

  • Dr. Russ Henderson — associate professor, professor

  • Dr. Wendy Pecka — assistant professor, associate professor

  • Dr. Elizabeth Winters-Rozema — instructor, assistant 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.

ECC Employees, Advocates and Partners Receive Awards

November 13, 2020 | Campus News

East Central College had a strong representation in the awards portion of the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) annual convention.

This year’s convention was held virtually Nov. 11-13.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, ECC Board of Trustee’s President Ann Hartley was presented the Trustee Leadership Award; and Dot Schowe, former director of public relations, was presented the Outstanding Alumni Award.

In addition, Mercy Hospital Washington was recognized with the Distinguished Business/Industry Award. The hospital was nominated by ECC as an outstanding example of a corporation on a regional stage while providing outstanding local community leadership.

ECC employees Stacy Bellville, executive administrative assistant for the office of academic affairs; Joshua Stroup, English instructor; Jeff Parsons, adjunct history instructor; ECC Nursing faculty Nancy Mitchell, Laura McDonald and Judy Bieker; and Laura Deason, associate registrar, were all recognized the final day of the convention, Friday, Nov. 13.

State Sen. Dave Schatz, who represents the district where ECC is located, was also recognized by the MCCA as a Distinguished Legislator.

Trustee Award

Hartley has served on the ECC Board of Trustees since 2012. She is actively engaged with the work of the college and serves as board liaison on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Advisory Committee.

Hartley has worked with the college president to develop a formal orientation process for new board members, and she has developed an evaluation instrument and process that enables the board to collectively participate in the annual evaluation of the president.

“Ann embraces the community college mission, understands the important role of the board in the effective governance of the college, and works devotedly as an ambassador of East Central,” said Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president.

Alumni Award

Schowe graduated from ECC in 1977 and transferred to Central Missouri State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in public relations in 1979.

She returned to ECC and worked in many areas of the college over the next 36 years. She retired in 2016 as the as the director of public relations.

Schowe is a quintessential college ambassador and a tireless advocate for East Central. She has spent a lifetime and career championing her alma mater, contributing to the community, and serving as the quintessential living example of the community college mission.

Distinguished Business

Mercy Hospital is committed to quality health care for its service area of more than 150,000 residents. More than 800 employees and 233 physicians serve the Washington hospital.

For over thirty years, Mercy Hospital Washington has supported health care programming at ECC, including sharing qualified staff to serve as adjunct faculty.

While President and CEO Eric Eoloff and his leadership team have led the hospital, ECC has expanded the scope of support and partnerships through the shared common vision of the college and hospital for healthcare in the community.

Classified Staff Award

Bellville has held the position of Classified Staff Association (CSA) President for the past eight years, and she has been an exceptional leader in that role.

She encourages CSA members to attend MCCA events and webinars. Bellville is an ECC Patrons of the Art member and actively contributes on college-wide committees, including the Higher Learning Commission Task Force.

Her dedication to the faculty, staff and students’ needs inspires others to commit to ECC’s mission of empowering students and enriching communities through education.

Excellence in Teaching

Stroup began his full-time teaching career at ECC in 2007.  Prior to that, he was an adjunct instructor for many years.

He has played major roles in the ECC International Festival and the college Humanities Festival. Stroup sponsors the ECC Lit Review Club and encourages hundreds of students to develop their creative abilities. He is larger than life in the classroom, pushing students to think deeply and creatively.

Stroup also built the technical writing program at ECC from scratch and ran the program for years.

Adjunct Award

Parsons has been an adjunct history instructor at ECC since 2007. He is excited about history and works diligently to instill that excitement in his students. His boisterous, enthusiastic voice can be heard halfway across campus as he teaches his classes.

Parsons’ lectures are packed with movie, music and video clips that give students every opportunity to make a connection to the material being taught. He provides vivid classroom discussions, and encourages and celebrates every individual student voice.

Mel Aytes Award

The ECC Nursing faculty received the Mel Aytes Faculty Innovation Award for encouraging educators to develop new and innovative ways to get more qualified nursing graduates into the workforce.

Director of Nursing Nancy Mitchell, and Nursing Program Coordinators Laura McDonald and Judy Bieker developed the “Earn While You Learn to be an RN” pilot program to facilitate learning for nursing students which acclimates them to the healthcare environment while earning a salary.

This pilot project was approved by the Missouri State Board of nursing and it has paved the way for replication at other community colleges.

Senior Service Award

ECC Associate Registrar Laura Deason started her employment ECC as a student worker in the library. She graduated from ECC in 1989.

She began her vocational career at East Central in 1994. Deason has been a GED instructor, a test proctor, a tutor, an adjunct developmental mathematics instructor and an academic advisor.

Throughout her career, she has selflessly worked to support others as they pursue their goals in higher education. She does not seek recognition for herself; she is always first to celebrate a student’s accomplishment.

Deason inspires excellence both in students and in everyone who works alongside her.

Four Candidates for Board of Trustees

January 18, 2016 | Campus News
Four candidates have filed for two seats on the East Central College board of trustees.
 
Appearing on the April 5 ballot will be Cookie Hartbauer Hays, 182 Oak Tree Lane, Union; John M. Witt, 616 Windy Ridge Drive, Washington; Eric Park, 172 Carriage Court, Washington; and Dan Leslie, 478 Quail Point, Labadie.
 
Both board seats in the April election are from sub-district three which includes all of the Washington School District, excluding that portion located in Boeuf and Lyon Townships. The ECC board consists of six trustees, two each from three sub-districts of the college district.  Though trustees file for office by sub-district they are elected by the voters of the district at large.
The terms of Jim Perry and Tom Dill expire in April.  College trustees serve six-year terms.
 
In addition to Perry and Dill, other current trustees include Ann Hartley, Union; Prudence Fink Johnson, Union; Don Kappelmann, New Haven; and Dr. Joe Stroetker, Sullivan.

Trustees Approve Facilities Master Plan

December 10, 2015 | Campus News

A guide used in planning and implementing campus improvements over the next 10 years was approved by East Central College trustees at their December 7 meeting.  Representatives from Lawrence Group, the architectural firm for the college, presented a detailed master plan to trustees earlier this fall.

“As with any plan, this document is intended to be flexible and dynamic,” noted Dr. Jon Bauer, ECC president. “Needs and priorities will change over time but this plan is a critical tool as we work to ensure that our students, employees, and other stakeholders have the best environment in which to learn, teach, and work.”

Lawrence Group staff worked with college personnel over the past eight months to identify immediate needs, as well as short, mid, and long term improvements to the main campus in Union as well as ECC facilities in Rolla.

College officials will now prioritize the immediate needs.  Some of the work can be funded through the $1.8 million in capital improvement bond funds ECC is receiving from the state.  Renovations to Hansen Hall would include the replacement of a wheelchair lift to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities along with the replacement of the rigging and fire curtain in the theater.

Renovations to Shook Student Center would include replacing gym lighting with more energy-efficient fixtures.

Replacing the fire alarm systems, non-compliant water coolers, exit/egress, and emergency lighting in Hansen Hall and Shook Student Center are also listed as immediate priorities.

The roof of the Regional Training Center was replaced this fall.

In another facilities-related matter, trustees approved a proposal from Cochran Engineering for additional expenses related to the renovation of the former Gala Center.  The additional fee of $49,600 includes the cost to design a 3,180 square foot expansion of the facility not included in the original proposal from Cochran, as well as a facilities move plan that will coordinate the relocation of equipment and machinery to the renovated space.

ECC purchased the Gala Center in April.  Renovations will begin this winter.  When completed the facility will allow the college to expand its technical education programs in Industrial Engineering Technology and Precision Machining which are currently housed at Four Rivers Career Center in Washington.  The Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning program will be relocated from the main campus to the renovated space. The Center for Workforce Development, as well as labs and classrooms dedicated to workforce training, are also planned for the renovated facility.

Software Purchase and Policy Approved

In another action at their December meeting, ECC trustees approved the purchase of the student planning module in the Colleague system at a cost of $39,949.  The software will assist staff and faculty advisors in the advising and registration process.

Federal guidelines state that colleges and universities cannot award federal financial aid to students for classes that are not identified as part of the degree, certificate or other recognized credential students pursue.  Marcia Bailey, ECC registrar, noted that the student planning module will improve the advising process and ensure that students take classes within their program and graduate in a timely manner.

The college will pilot the software in the fall of 2016 and have it fully implemented by March 2017.

Trustees also gave the authorization to create a new policy regarding the financial aid code of conduct which formalizes the expectations and requirements of college employees who work with financial aid programs.  The new procedures detail conflict of interest, award notifications, consumer information, and disclosure.

Delta Dental will be the new provider of dental insurance for full-time college employees.  The rate for 2016 will be $33.60 per month, with that premium paid by the college.   Employees are able to add spouses and/or children at an additional cost.

Last month trustees approved providers of medical, vision and life/accidental death and dismemberment coverage for 2016.

Student Services Center to be Named for Long Time Employee

December 10, 2015 | Campus News

The East Central College board of trustees unanimously resolved at their December 7 meeting to name the Student Service Center in  Buescher Hall after Karen S. Wieda.  She faithfully served the institution for 44 years, the longest tenure of any ECC employee.

A naming policy instituted in 2009 states that the board may consider naming honors for an individual who had a significant, lasting and measurable impact on the college.  Board president Jim Perry noted that it’s appropriate to honor Wieda in this manner based on her decades of commitment and service to the college.

Wieda started working at the college in 1969 before the first classes were held.   Her first position was faculty secretary, but she was soon promoted to registrar – the job she held until her retirement in June 2013.

As registrar she took innovative steps to improve student services and in 2006 she was recognized by the Missouri Community College Association with the Technology Innovation Award for adopting an electronic document imaging system.  She devoted many hours to redesigning student services into the one stop model in place today.

“I am very pleased the board took this step which allows the college to permanently honor Karen’s dedication to ECC,” stated College President Jon Bauer. “Through her tireless dedication and positive spirit, thousands of students benefitted from the education they received and the credentials they earned.”  Bauer noted that numerous employees hired and mentored by Wieda followed her lead by completing lengthy tenures with the college.

Jim Perry, president of the ECC board, noted that Wieda truly represents the best of East Central College.  “Karen led by example through her quiet grace, poise, and vast knowledge,” he said.  “With the Student Service Center on the Union campus bearing her name, all who enter will know about the positive impact she had upon the college.”

Prior to her retirement, fellow employees and the ECC Alumni Association established the Karen S. Wieda Scholarship through the ECC Foundation.  Contributions can be made to that scholarship by calling 636-584-6506 or online.

A ceremony will be held in the spring to honor Wieda and formally name the area.  The student service center houses admissions, registration, advising/counseling and financial aid.

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

Trustees Set Tax Levy

September 4, 2015 | Campus News

The tax rate for the East Central College district will remain the same for the upcoming year.  That approval by the ECC board of trustees came following the annual tax levy hearing held at the college Monday, August 31.

The property tax rate for 2015-16 was set at .4541 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  The tax levy is broken into two categories:  an operating levy of .3700 cents and a debt service levy of .0841 cents.  The operating levy is set at the maximum rate as approved by voters in 2006.  Nine years ago when voters authorized a general obligation bond issue for construction of the health and science building, the college committed to maintaining the debt service levy at its then-current rate.

The operating levy is expected to produce more than $6.3 million in local revenue for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2015.

“The debt service levy adjusts each year according to the college’s schedule of principal and interest payments for existing general obligation bonds,” noted Phil Pena, ECC vice president of finance and administration.   Pena stated that the debt service levy is expected to generate at least $1.5 million in revenue.  However, that revenue can only be used for debt retirement.

The valuation of the taxable property within the junior college district for 2015 is more than $1.6 billion ($1,620,881,736), a decrease of more than $37 million from 2014.  $1,287,211,914 is in real estate assessed valuation, and $333,669,822 in personal property.

No citizens appeared before the board to comment on the proposed tax rate.  The levy hearing was held prior to the regular monthly meeting of the board.

The college’s taxing district takes in approximately 1,000 square miles and includes the major portion of Franklin County and smaller portions of Crawford, Gasconade, St. Charles, Warren and Washington Counties.

Trustees Approve Roofing Bid and Personnel

East Central College trustees accepted a roofing bid and approved a number of personnel matters at their August 31 meeting.

Money provided by capital improvement bonds from the State of Missouri will cover the cost of replacing the roof of the Training Center on the ECC campus in Union.  Board members accepted the low bid of $184,886.64 from Bade Roofing in St. Louis to replace the roof put on when the building was constructed in 2000.  Phil Pena, vice president of finance and administration at ECC, noted that the roof is beyond its life, primarily due to earlier foundation problems which caused movement and shifting of the roof materials and decking.

The specification and bid management was conducted by E & I Cooperative Services, a state sponsored and approved service authorized under the state purchasing program which provides the college discounts negotiated by the state.  Pena noted that work will be done this fall and should not impact building usage or occupancy.

The project includes removing the existing ballast, TPO roofing and flashing, and non-used curbs and equipment.  Roofing materials will be replaced and metal flashing and ballast will be reinstalled.  Repairs will be made around mechanical equipment and the building will be brought up to current energy codes.  The bid stipulated a 20 year warranty.

Bids were also received from three other companies and ranged from $185,801 to $231,584.

Personnel

Members of the board approved several full-time appointments and resignations.

David Owens was hired as librarian.  Since 2008 he has been employed at A.T. Still Memorial Library in Kirksville as public services manager.  Owens attended Truman State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.  He completed a master’s degree in library and information science at San Jose State University in California.

The new student activities coordinator is Courtney Henrichsen.  She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Saint Louis University.  For the past two years she worked in residential life at UMSL.

Laura McDonald will serve as a new nursing instructor at ECC in Rolla.  McDonald earned her associate degree in nursing from Lincoln University.  She continued her studies at Central Methodist University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  McDonald is pursuing her master’s in nursing at CMU.

Since 2009 McDonald has worked as an RN at Mercy Ambulatory Surgery Center in Rolla.  She has been an adjunct nursing instructor for ECC since 2013.

Rachel Howard was hired as retention coordinator, a temporary assignment through next June 30.  She attended Missouri Baptist University where she completed bachelor’s degrees in psychology, early education and elementary education as well as a master’s degree in counselor education.

Howard has been an adjunct instructor at ECC and Missouri Baptist for several years.  She worked for the Meramec Valley School District from 2002 to 2007, spending one year as a kindergarten teacher and four years as school counselor at Zitzman Elementary.

Trustees accepted the resignations of three employees:  Casey Reid, director of developmental education; Elizabeth Long, nursing instructor; and Shirley Hofstetter, director of financial services.

Employment of 133 part-time instructors for the 2015 fall semester was also approved.

Building to be Named in Honor of Founding President

March 17, 2015 | Campus News

The East Central College board of trustees unanimously resolved at their March 2 meeting to rename the Multipurpose Building after Dr. Don Shook.  Shook was ECC’s first and longest serving president.

A naming policy instituted in 2009 states that the board may consider naming honors for an individual who had a significant, lasting and measurable impact on the college.  Board president Jim Perry noted that it’s appropriate to honor Shook in this manner based on his long-term commitment to the college.

Shook was hired in August of 1968 to lead East Central Junior College; a position he would hold for the next 18 years.  During that time enrollment grew from 470 when the first classes started in September of 1969 to 2,973 students in the fall of 1986.

“The original trustees hired the right person when they selected Don Shook to be the first president,” noted Jim Perry, president of the ECC board of trustees.  “Don Shook was responsible for hiring the charter faculty and took on countless other tasks involved with the day to day operations of a new institution.  He was instrumental in the growth of the college from its earliest days in temporary facilities through selection of a permanent campus site and the construction of four major buildings.”

Perry stated that Shook was also instrumental in establishing the ECC Foundation in 1975.  “It is truly fitting that one of the early buildings erected on the Union campus be named after ECC’s first president,” Perry stated.  “This is a well-deserved honor.”

“I am very pleased the board took this step and enabled the college and community to honor one of the most influential individuals in the history of ECC,” stated College ECC President Jon Bauer.

Shook worked in higher education for more than 30 years.  He was president at Crowder College for four years prior to being selected as  president at East Central.  He left ECC in 1986 to serve as the founding president at St. Charles County Community College.

A ceremony will be planned to honor Shook and formally rename the facility later this year. The multi-use building currently houses the gymnasium, cafeteria, bookstore, fitness center, locker rooms classrooms, as well as offices for faculty, staff and student organizations.