Tag: ECC-Rolla

ECC Launching Rolla Area Community Survey

November 2, 2020 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is reaching out to community members and stakeholders in the Rolla area with a community survey intended to influence the direction of the college for years to come.

The Rolla campus is an important part of ECC’S strategic plan — SOAR to 2024. A primary goal of the plan is to identify and define the experience ECC provides to its students. The survey is a key component of the strategic planning process.

According to ECC Rolla Director Christina Ayres, community input is an invaluable resource in creating the strategic plan.

“Expanding ECC’s presence and offerings in Rolla was identified as one of the five strategic priorities to enhance the college’s impact throughout our service region,” she said.

Ayres noted that ECC is reaching out to those in the region to assist the college in identifying opportunities for growth and expansion, and the feedback will be used to help guide ECC’s expansion initiatives in the Rolla area.

“To fulfill our mission of empowering students and enriching communities through education, we are developing a comprehensive plan for our Rolla operations and understanding the needs of our service region is essential to this process,” she added.

“This survey gives a voice to the communities we serve to provide invaluable perspective as we plan for ECC Rolla’s future.”

ECC has two locations in Rolla that offer a wide range of transfer, career-ready, and health care programs designed to meet the needs of Rolla and the surrounding communities.

College administrators, faculty and staff have made a concerted effort to expand and implement the offerings of the college in Rolla.

That includes two new Industrial Engineering Technology introductory courses slated to launch in the Spring 2021.

“We also realize that our community members may not be aware of the programming and services we are currently providing through our Rolla sites, and this survey will provide insights to enhance our course offerings and programs, services, and outreach,” Ayres said.

Learn more about ECC Rolla.

Industrial Engineering Tech Classes to be Offered in Rolla

November 2, 2020 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College in Rolla is expanding its offerings to provide Introductory Manufacturing courses through the Industrial Engineering Technology (IET) program.

The two eight-week courses will be held in the Spring 2021 semester, that begins Tuesday, January 19.

According to Dr. Richard Hudanick, ECC’s dean of career and technical education, the manufacturing community in the Rolla area has expressed interest in IET training and the college is meeting their demand.

“It is exciting to push forward and help the manufacturers in the Rolla area. They companies have been asking for training and by offering these two courses — Intro to Manufacturing Processes and Maintenance Practices — sets the stage to support this community.”

The IET program teaches students to function as industrial machinery mechanics, maintenance technicians and engineering assistants — installing, maintaining and programming advanced manufacturing equipment.

Through the program, students receive training in machinery, maintenance and repair, basic electrical principles, motor controls, process controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, PLCs, robotics, computers, basic machinist skills and metallurgy.

Students also learn the problem solving, troubleshooting, teamwork, and self-management skills sought by business and industry.

Dr. Hudanick adds that “ECC’s Center for Workforce Development surveyed manufacturers in the Rolla area and there is a lot of enthusiasm about the College making a commitment to the area with technical manufacturing degree programming.”

The College also has an apprenticeship program where students will be able to attend the classes while they are working, and the apprenticeship program will cover the tuition costs for the eligible student.

“The IET program is a great pathway to support Apprenticeship opportunities and also provides area high school graduates who want to start a career in manufacturing.”

According to 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of an Industrial Machinery Mechanic is $53,800 and the field is estimated to grow by over 13% in the next eight years.

In the future, ECC could further expand IET class offerings and eventually offer a degree.

“ECC is hopeful to offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Engineering Technology degree at the Rolla campus. This degree transfers to several known universities for those pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the industrial engineering field.”

The Intro to Manufacturing Processes class is scheduled from January 20 – March 10. That course is followed up by the Maintenance Practices course to be held March 21 -May 13. Both classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m.

For more information visit www.eastcentral.edu/

Flu Shots Available to Students at No Cost

October 26, 2020 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College is offering flu shots to every student on our Union and Rolla campuses November 4-5.

The shots will be administered by Mercy Hospital Washington at no cost to students.

In Union, the influenza vaccine will be available on both dates from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. in the DSSC Gym.

In Rolla, the shots will be available in the Rolla Main atrium from 3-6 p.m., Nov. 4; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 5.

ECC, Drury Sign Agreement to Streamline Degrees

October 23, 2020 | Campus News ECC Rolla

A new agreement between East Central College and Drury University is streamlining the path to a four-year degree for business and education students.

The articulation agreement was signed Tuesday during a ceremony at the ECC Rolla North site.

The formal partnership guarantees that the credits for ECC students who have completed an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree or an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Business will transfer seamlessly to Drury University.

Robyn Walter, ECC vice president of academic affairs, said this agreement between the schools will help students navigate the pitfalls to ensure an easier, more successful transition.

“An articulation agreement such as ours is designed to create an uninterrupted transfer experience for students moving from community college to four-year institutions,” she said. “In particular our Teacher Education and Business students now have this invaluable resource for transfer with our partner, Drury University.”

According to Dr. Regina Waters, Drury associate provost for adult, online and graduate programs, the primary focus of the agreement is the needs of students.

“This partnership provides business and education students with a seamless transition to Drury University for degree completion,” she added. “We are so pleased that East Central College shares our commitment to putting students’ needs first.”

The agreement states that once the ECC students meet Drury admission standards, they will be enrolled as juniors at the university.

Walter noted that this partnership leads the way for additional agreements between the institutions.

“This is just the beginning — the efforts thus far lays a solid groundwork for future programmatic specific agreements,” she said. “We look forward to enhancing this relationship and, in turn, enhancing the success of our students and community.”

Walter said ECC faculty and staff members Greg Stotler, ECC education instructor, Dr. Richard Hudanick; ECC dean of career and technical education; and Lisa Hanneken, accounting instructor were instrumental in moving the articulation agreement forward.

“We appreciate the faculty and staff involvement for making this work,” she said. “They worked with Drury faculty and staff to develop a seamless transition for our students.”

Attending from ECC were Christina Ayers, ECC Rolla director; and Dr. Reginald Brigham, mathematics instructor and department chair; Jenni Crosby, ECC Rolla assistant director; Hudanick and Stotler.

Drury Representatives at the ceremony were Kerstin Ellis, director of Drury GO Rolla; Dr. Leasa Richards-Mealy, business instructor; and Kimbrea Browning, executive vice president of enrollment management and operations.

To learn more about ECC’s degree programs, visit EastCentral.edu. Visit Drury.edu to learn about Drury University’s programs and degree options.

McDonald Receives Excellence Award

October 6, 2020 | Campus News ECC Rolla

It was five years ago that Laura McDonald, MSN, RN started at East Central College as an adjunct instructor.

After just two years at the College, she became the Rolla Nursing Program Coordinator and began to oversee the day-to-day nursing program operations at the ECC Rolla campus.

McDonald recently was presented a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award to recognize her as a role model in education, and showcase the excellent work she does for ECC.

“After only two years as a nursing instructor, Laura stepped into the role of program coordinator overseeing 50 plus program students in two nursing tracks and advising over 100 pre-nursing students,” said the ECC representative who nominated McDonald.

She transitioned to a full-time nursing instructor after becoming a clinical adjunct instructor in 2015. McDonald then served as lead instructor while obtaining a masters degree in nursing education from Central Methodist University.

“Three short years ago she became program coordinator, with little experience, and she has done an excellent job leading and mentoring the nursing team in Rolla,” McDonald’s nominator said. “She has a remarkable work ethic and professional standards.

“Laura has done an outstanding job role modeling and developing new faculty members while upholding the program standards and policies, holding faculty and staff to professional standards to support and produce excellent nurses.”

It was further stated that McDonald is an advocate for faculty and students.

“She truly cares about their successes and failures. Laura has been the glue that has held the Rolla campus together the last few years. She is an outstanding faculty member and nurse clinician.”

Colleges that are members of NISOD can recognize employees through the Excellence Awards. The awards are presented to faculty and staff who are doing extraordinary work on their campuses.

Excellence Award recipients receives a unique silver medallion engraved with The University of Texas and NISOD insignias and are adorned with a burnt orange ribbon.

The overarching statement expressed through the award is that teaching and leading on the front lines of the community college mission rest on the shoulders of these outstanding individuals.

Medical Assistant & Other Courses Added to Schedule

June 8, 2016 | Campus News ECC Rolla

East Central College in Rolla will be offering classes starting this fall in four new academic areas. The courses are in Early Childhood Development, Medical Assistant, Agriculture, and Computer Information Systems which includes networking.

“We’re excited to provide more offerings for the students in the Rolla area,” noted Christina Ayers, director of the ECC Rolla centers. “We currently offer a transfer degree, a nursing program, and partnership programs with Rolla Technical Institute/Center in Auto Technology, Building Construction, EMT/Paramedic, and Radiologic Technology. Adding classes in these four subject areas will provide important job skills for students to assist local business and industry.”

ECC’s Medical Assistant program is designed to train professionals to meet the needs of an ever-expanding allied health field. The CIS/Networking classes will provide technical instruction in areas of computer networks, software applications and information management. Classes in both areas will be offered in the evening to benefit individuals who are currently working during the day but may want to further their education or even pursue a career change.

Introduction to Agriculture is another new course on the fall schedule at ECC in Rolla. This hybrid class is the first in a series of agriculture courses and will be held Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. More courses to support transfer education in agriculture will be added in the spring.

Students completing the coursework in Early Childhood Development will be prepared to enter the workforce as trained early childhood educators. Those classes will be offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings so students who may be currently working in a childcare setting can benefit from taking the courses. Coursework in Early Childhood Development prepares students for a variety of career paths, including study in a baccalaureate program.

Classes in Early Childhood Development, Medical Assistant, and Computer Information Systems have been structured in a manner that will allow a student attending full-time to complete the coursework in two years to achieve an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Registration is currently underway for ECC fall semester classes that begin Monday, August 22. To speak with an advisor call 573-466-4100, email ECCRolla@eastcentral.edu, or visit www.eastcentral.edu/rolla.