Tag: ECC-Rolla

ECC Receives $4 Million for New Rolla Facility; Campus Classroom Technology Project

January 3, 2023 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is receiving a total of $4 million from the federal omnibus spending bill signed into law by President Joe Biden. The funding comes in the form of two projects recommended by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt and Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer.

Health Sciences Academy

Congress approved $3 million to be used for construction of a facility in Rolla. Funding will be provided by the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Sciences Academy at the new ECC Rolla facility. The academy will house the health care programs currently located at two facilities in Rolla which are now leased by the college. The $3 million will be combined with the $6.5 million in state ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to design and construct a new Rolla campus to be completed by the end of 2026. The college is pursuing additional funding for the project.

Classroom Technology Project

Congress also approved $1 million for significant upgrades to the college’s classroom technology. The appropriation will fund phase 2 of the project for the Union campus, and will be used to install cameras, audio equipment and other technology to enhance classrooms, labs and other facilities used.

“Students are the beneficiaries of these strategic investments by Congress,” says Dr. Jon Bauer, president of East Central College. “Both projects will greatly increase the educational opportunities for our students and workforce. I greatly appreciate the support from Senator Blunt and Congressman Luetkemeyer for the funding, which is going to be transformative for our new Rolla facility and the continued enhancement of our classroom technology.”

The $4 million received by East Central College is among the largest allocated to a community college in the spending bill.

The bill also includes other provisions that will benefit community colleges, including a $500 increase to the maximum Pell Grant for students. The Pell Grant is the cornerstone piece of financial aid for students with economic need.

College’s LPN Program in Rolla Helping Answer the Call

December 20, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

When East Central College officially took the reins of its Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program in Rolla this fall, the LPN program already had been serving the community and healthcare system for 55 years, while graduating over 1,250 new nurses.

Today, the need for trained healthcare professionals is as great as it has ever been.

That’s according to Michelle Chick, ECC Rolla’s LPN program director, who said that turnover and vacancy rates are at an all-time high among healthcare professions across the state.

“The majority of our graduates seek employment in this area; therefore, program sustainment is imperative to help with this nursing shortage,” she said. “We need a pipeline of LPN graduates to help meet the growing demands in our area.”

ECC took sponsorship of the LPN program for the Rolla School District in October 2021 so the school district could focus its resources on K-12 education. The Fall 2022 semester was the first under ECC.

Students Benefit

The program is three semesters over 11 months, and it includes a clinical experience. Once students complete the program, they earn a certificate of graduation and are qualified to take the national licensure examination (NCLEX-PN).

After passing the exam, graduates can begin earning higher wages and taking on new challenges and responsibilities.

LPN program student Claude Wyatt, 51, had been a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for several years.

“I absolutely love health care. I worked 16 years as a CNA performing caregiving duties,” he said. “Working under wonderful nurses made me want to step up my care to the next level.”

Today, Wyatt does custodial work, but he never lost his love for the medical field.

“This program finally allowed me to pursue my dream of being a nurse and returning to health care,” he said, encouraging other adult learners to pursue LPN certification.

“I am living proof of how life can get in the way, but don’t give up,” Wyatt added. “Your brain is never too old to learn.”

For Monique Matos, becoming an LPN is a way to better her life and that of her children.

“As a single parent, my kids are my biggest motivation and I want to prove that no matter where life takes you, your goals are always possible with hard work and dedication,” Matos said. “I have always worked in health care and have had a passion for helping others. Ultimately, I want to make a difference in the way someone receives care, and I know I can as an LPN.”

In fact, she already is aware of how the program helped her in her current position as a Medication Aide at The Gingerbread House, in Rolla.

“I am becoming more organized, professional, and confident as a student nurse,” she noted. “Also, I can already see a change in my resident care at work.”

Matos is a first-generation college student and the second in her family to graduate high school.

“I am so grateful for this experience,” she commented. “Before I was living day-to-day but now, I can honestly say that I am excited to see what the future has in store for me.”

Heath Care Partners

Jessica Fischer, LPN instructor and clinical coordinator, and Chick both value their clinical partnerships at area hospitals, long-term care facilities and outpatient clinics. They are aware that these facilities need resilient nurses who are ready to accept the challenging environment of health care.

“The unprecedented stressors placed on all health care professionals, not just nurses, during the pandemic has caused an impact on morale and has caused a major toll on nurses,” Fischer said.

That’s why the LPN program also focuses on stress management, she added.

“As nursing educators, we are working on teaching students how to manage and deal with the stressors of the health care environment they will face, Fischer commented. “Teaching students how to mitigate stress, adapt positively, and develop the ability to recover and overcome difficult situations.”

For more information on the LPN program, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/allied-health/licensed-practical-nursing/ or contact Nancy Mitchell, dean of health science, at Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu or 636-584-6619.

Nine Students Inducted into ECC Rolla Honor Society

November 4, 2022 | Alumni Spotlight Campus News ECC Rolla Inspiring Excellence

Pictured are seven of the nine inductees into the Beta Omicron Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at East Central College in Rolla. From left, are Madison Brown, Serena Macey, Hayden Loeb, Mary Romine, Elise Jeffers, Alicia Ramirez and Kelsea Smith. Not pictured are Gabriel E. Killian and Elysia D. Frayer.

The Beta Omicron Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at East Central College in Rolla inducted nine new members into the honor society during its annual Fall ceremony.

Carson Mowery, an alumna of the chapter and the ECC Campus Life & Leadership coordinator, was the keynote speaker during the in-person ceremony held Oct. 9 when the following students were inducted:
Madison G. Brown, Elysia D. Frayer, Elise M. Jeffers, Gabriel E. Killian, Hayden E. Loeb, Serena C. Macey, Alicia A. Ramirez, Kelsea E. Smith and Mary B. Romine.

Jeffers was installed as chapter president, and Ramirez was named chapter vice president.

At the ceremony, ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer presented ECC Rolla PTK sponsor Dr. Elizabeth Winters-Rozema with a 15-year PTK advisor pin.

PTK is an international honor society for two-year colleges. Members pursue activities that fall under the direction of the society’s hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship.

The Beta Omicron Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at East Central College in Rolla installed Alicia Ramirez, left, as vice president of the honor society, and Elise Jeffers, center, as chapter president. Pictured on the right is Carson Mowery, an alumna of the chapter and the ECC Campus Life & Leadership coordinator. To be eligible for induction, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.4 for one semester and maintain a 3.2 GPA after their induction. Students can be pursuing any major, degree or certificate.

For more information about PTK in Rolla, contact Rozema at 573-466-4084 or elizabeth.rozema@eastcentral.edu.

East Central College East Central College in Rolla Phi Theta Kappa Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Winters-Rozema, left, was presented a Phi Theta Kappa 15-year advisor pin by ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer. Rozema, an assistant professor of biology, was recognized during the installation ceremony of new PTK members held in October.

ECC Enrollment Up for Third Consecutive Semester

October 6, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Enrollment at East Central College is up this fall, bucking the national trend of declining enrollment among public colleges and universities.

The number of credit hours taken by ECC students is 3 percent higher this semester compared to the Fall 2021 semester — students this semester are taking 26,640 credit hours, 772 more than the 25,868 credit hours taken last fall.

In addition, there are 35 more students this year, 2,692, compared to last fall when there were 2,657 students enrolled. That is a 1.3 percent increase in total students enrolled (headcount).

Increasing enrollment has been a challenge for colleges throughout the country, according to ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer.

“For the second year in a row — and going against the trend across the country — we have seen enrollment gains in both credit hours and headcount,” he said. “Everyone at East Central has a part in this work, and everyone should be thrilled with these results.”

ECC’s enrollment over the past two years has challenged the shift toward decreasing populations.

“Although the general trend nationwide is continued declines in enrollment,” Bauer added, “around Missouri, the results at community colleges are mixed.

“Some have seen gains this fall, while others are experiencing declines, while some are flat.”

ECC can attribute some of the enrollment increase to strong gains in dual credit enrollment, employee focus on retention and growth at ECC in Rolla.

Bauer noted that the college’s Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) is 1,776, up from 1,725 last fall. FTE is a calculation based on total credit hours that shows how many students would be attending college if they all were full time. This year’s FTE also is higher than in 2020 when it was 1,642.

A majority of ECC students are planning to complete their Associate of Arts degree, while others are looking to directly begin their career upon completion of their program’s certificate and/or degree.

Below is a list of the top 10 programs for the fall 2022 semester:

Associate of Arts — 1186
Nursing — 94
Education — 81
Industrial Engineering Tech — 50
Computer Information System — 49
Transfer Engineering — 48
Fine Arts — 40
Culinary Arts — 36
Radiological Technology — 29.

LPN-RN Bridge Program Deadline Extended

July 20, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The East Central College Nursing Program has extended its deadline for the LPN-RN Bridge program, located at our Rolla North location.

The Licensed Practicing Nurse to Registered Nurse Bridge program is an opportunity for LPNs to gain the skills and knowledge to continue their education and become RNs.

The deadline for applications has been extended to Sept. 1, and classes will begin January 2023 and finish in December 2023.

The evening and every-other-weekend format will allow for LPNs to continue working while taking courses toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

LPNs considering the move toward an RN can see the program-specific criteria and find a printable application at https://www.eastcentral.edu/allied-health/nursing/#1486613442402-6db17562-b2aa.

For more information, contact Nancy Mitchell at 636-584-6616 or Nancy.Mitchell@eastcentral.edu; or call the Rolla North Nursing office at 573-202-6950.

ECC Nursing Graduates Presented with Awards

May 19, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

Five East Central College Nursing Program graduates were recognized during a pinning ceremony May 14 prior to the college’s commencement ceremony.

Two students, Tela Connors, ECC-Rolla; and Charlena Borges, ECC in Union, were presented the Outstanding Nursing Student awards.

To be considered for the ECC Outstanding Nursing Student award, the college has had to make a difference in the life of the student.

For some cases, had ECC not been in their community, they most likely would not have realized the dream of becoming a nurse. The award winners also display success in the classroom and the clinical setting.

Tela Connors

East Central College-Rolla Nursing program graduate Tela Connors was named an Outstanding Nursing Student for 2022. Pictured, from left, are nursing instructors Julie Chirban and Jonathan Elias; Connors and nursing instructor and Rolla program coordinator Joannie Blakely. The award was presented at the Nursing program’s pinning ceremony.

Charlena Borges

East Central College Union Nursing program graduate Charlena Borges is the recipient of an Outstanding Nursing Student award for 2022. Pictured, from left, are nursing instructors Dr. Connie Wissbaum and Brittany Yoakum; Borges, and nursing instructor and Union program coordinator Judy Bieker and nursing instructor Jessica Van Leer. Borges’ award was presented at the Nursing program’s pinning ceremony.

Spirit of Excellence Awards

Three nursing students — Kayce Boeding, Lyndsey Graczyk and James Johnson — were presented with Spirit of Clinical Excellence awards from the college’s community health care partners.

Each year, Mercy Hospital Washington, Phelps Health in Rolla and Missouri Baptist Hospital Sullivan present nursing graduates with Spirit of Clinical Excellence Awards during the pinning ceremony marking the completion of the program.

Boeding received the Phelps Health award, Graczyk received the Mercy award and Johnson received the Missouri Baptist Sullivan award.

The awards were presented to the graduates by ECC Nursing faculty from Union and Rolla.

To be consider for the Spirit of Clinical Excellence Awards, the graduate nurse must demonstrate: characteristics of caring and compassion; the spirit of inquiry; exceptional critical thinking and decision making; and superior organizational skills and the ability to effectively prioritize.

Lyndsey Graczyk

The Mercy Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award was presented to East Central College Union nursing graduate Lyndsey Graczyk. From left, are ECC Union nursing instructors Dr. Connie Wissbaum and Brittany Yoakum; Graczyk, nursing instructor and Union Nursing program coordinator Judy Bieker; nursing instructor Jessica Van Leer; and Bethany Westlake, chief nurse officer at Mercy Washington.

Kayce Boeding

East Central College Rolla Nursing program graduate Kayce Boeding was presented the Phelps Health Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing. From left, are ECC Rolla nursing faculty member Julie Chirban; Boeding; ECC Rolla nursing faculty member Jonathan Elias and nursing instructor and Rolla program coordinator Joannie Blakely.

James Johnson

A Missouri Baptist Sullivan Spirit of Clinical Excellence in Nursing was given to East Central College Union Nursing program graduate James Johnson. From left are ECC Union nursing instructor Jessica Van Leer and nursing adjunct Heather Sluis, Johnson, Union nursing instructors Brittany Yoakum and Dr. Connie Wissbaum; and nursing instructor and Union nursing program coordinator Judy Bieker.

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.

Rolla Nursing Student Receives Scholarship

February 22, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College nursing student Tela Connors is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Missouri League for Nursing (MLN).

Connors, of Salem, is studying to be a Registered Nurse and is slated to graduate in May.

She will be recognized at the ninth annual Student Nursing Convention April 6-7 in Osage Beach. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books and supplies.

ECC nursing program instructor Joannie Blakely was Connors’ clinical and course instructor last year. She said Connors received an “exemplary performance award” for her clinical performance.

“She is a true advocate for her patient’s and provides quality safe patient care,” Blakely said. “She will be a great asset to the healthcare system.”

According to Julie Chirban, also an instructor in the college’s nursing program, Connors’ personality and work ethic is very well suited for a nursing career.

“Tela is a confident student with years of health care experience that has enhanced her ability to perform at a high level,” Chirban said.

“She is kind to patients as well as to her co-students. She has gone out of her way to help fellow students during this program, and she is a pleasure to have in class and clinicals,” she added.

“Tela will be a wonderful addition to the nursing profession.”

MLN is a not-for-profit organization established in 1953 to support the delivery of quality health care by nurses and other health care providers through education, collaboration and information.

It is the leading organization for promoting excellent health care through programs designed to meet members and health care professional’s continuing educational needs.

MLN is committed to collaboration and networking with other professional organizations and coalitions across the state. It is one of the top constituent leagues in the nation.

East Central College nursing student Tela Connors has been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Missouri League for Nursing. Pictured, from left, are ECC nursing program instructor Julie Chirban, Connors; and instructors Jon Elias and Joannie Blakely.

Students Praise ECC Apprenticeship Program During National Apprenticeship Week

November 17, 2021 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The students enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance Specialization apprenticeship course at East Central College in Rolla have nothing but great things to say about their experience.

“I’m glad ECC does this. It’s nice having the equipment here to physically work on instead of just listening to someone talk about it,” said student Brandon Iske.

An apprenticeship is on-the-job training with job-related instruction intended to develop new skills and to increase employee wages.

“This apprenticeship program is for those in manufacturing who are looking to progress. Our students learn the skills and knowledge necessary for promotion,” Duane Clonts, Industrial Engineering Technology instructor, explained. “One of my students started as a lineman, and after taking last semester’s classes, he was promoted and is now in maintenance.”

ECC Rolla employees are working with Royal Canin, Rolla, and Cohen Architectural Woodworking, St. James, for this apprenticeship program. There are five students enrolled. The specialization takes two years to complete. These students started in January 2021 and are expected to complete the program in December 2022.

“A lot of what I have learned in this program has helped me in my job and will help me in the future,” accounted student Gerald Pulliam.

The program’s instructor has much to do with his student’s success and high praise of the course.

“Duane is very knowledgeable. You wonder how he can keep all that knowledge in his head. It takes a special type of person to teach this class because you have to be so well rounded and know so much,” explained Pulliam. “Duane is very smart and truly one of a kind. I would recommend him specifically because he is such a good teacher.”

Iske had similar sentiments.

“He’s really good. He’s laid back, yet stern. If we need help, he will help us but won’t just come out and say the answer. He guides us there,” he added.

National Apprenticeship Week, Nov. 15-21, celebrates the programs devoted to people evolving their skills in the workplace through an “earn while you learn” model.

For more information on apprenticeships through East Central College, visit https://www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/registered-apprenticeships/.

Rolla Nurse Shares her Story of “Socktober” to Help Others’ Mental Health

October 25, 2021 | Campus News ECC Rolla

On Thursday, Oct. 14, former East Central College student Amber Miller wore a pair of fuzzy black and orange knee-high socks, a pair she won’t wear again this month.

These days, wearing fun and colorful socks is something Miller, of Rolla, enjoys doing. She even dubbed this month, “Socktober,” and she spreads her message with others by giving colorful Halloween socks.

The brightly colored socks she gives away are accompanied by her story of depression and treatment.

It was 10 years ago that the Halloween socks became much more than a fun distraction, but instead a coping mechanism that kept her going day after day.

Miller, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who has taken many of her prerequisite classes at ECC, recently told her story to the college’s Student Government Association.

In September 2011, she was battling depression and she was in the middle of a suicide attempt when her mother called her.

“One of the biggest and most important parts of my story is that phone call from my mom,” Miller said.

“She just reached out. She called at exactly the right moment,” she added. “We don’t know when people are suffering, because so many of us hide behind a smile or jokes or laughter. I don’t know that anyone knew how isolated and alone I felt.”

For that moment, Miller said she was safe, but still battling depression.

Halloween Socks

The next day she went to a store in Columbia where she purchased a variety of Halloween, her favorite holiday, socks.

“I didn’t realize that those socks were giving me something to look forward to,” Miller noted. “I didn’t recognize that it was a very strange coping skill for my depression — I think I just felt like a very strange girl, who found a way to smile every day.”

The colorful, fun Halloween socks helped her get through a difficult October 10 years ago, Miller said. She then planned a Thanksgiving for the residents of the nursing home where she was working.

According to Miller, it was around Thanksgiving 2011 that she moved back home to seek treatment and her mental health improved.

Now she is married with two children and using the same tool she used for hope, Halloween socks, to let others in the community know that help is out there.

“I want to help people as much as I can, and I think a lot of that starts with helping people mentally,” Miller said. “It’s hard to want to get better from an illness if you’re not feeling up to it mentally.

“I’ve seen a lot of people be more compliant with treatment with some gentle nudging to take care of their mental health first.”

Miller initially kept her Halloween sock tradition to herself, but after a few years, she began spreading joy and helping others.

“The biggest reason I started deciding to share the message though, is that someone I cared for very much was struggling with addiction,” she added.

“I know he must have had a great deal of depression, and I think I saw an opportunity to try to help him as well. I was becoming more aware of my own feelings and emotions and recognizing what Socktober really meant to me. I thought it could help him feel better too.”

Spreading Her Message

Miller’s mission to help grew, and she began mailing socks randomly along with her story and what the socks mean to her. The mailing also includes the phone number for the suicide prevention hotline and a P.O. Box number where people can reach out to her.

She also hands out socks to people around town, and this Thursday, ECC Campus Life and SGA will be giving socks to students during a Halloween costume contest. Along with the socks will be a printed paper with Miller’s story.

Halloween socks and Miller’s story will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Café Central atrium at the Union campus.

Today, Miller’s children, Marcia and Jack, and her husband, Ben, assist with the Socktober mission. Miller added that her husband is taking information technology classes at ECC in Rolla.

“My daughter loves Socktober and helps me pick my socks out. My son has a few pairs and I put them on him sometimes,” she said. “My husband sat down and helped me package up socks this year. He’s a wonderful guy, and incredibly supportive.”

This year Miller will give out 434 pairs of socks, including those that will be distributed at ECC.

“This is a huge number in comparison to past years and I am grateful for all who have helped with my endeavor,” she said.

Miller added that she is working with The Rolla Mission to give socks and share her story with those who are assisted by the organization. The goal, she said, is to “promote inspiration, wellness, and providing them with a small comfort going forward in their journeys.”

There is a GoFundMe account set up to help Miller with expenses for Socktober. To donate or learn more, people can visit the page at https://gofund.me/b12f17fe.