Joel Doepker, vice president of external relations at East Central Community College, gave a presentation to chamber members on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory. There was plenty to eat from a taco bar provided by Vintage Apron Catering while Doepker spoke on the expansion of ECC’s both footprint and program offerings in Rolla, including a new partnership between ECC and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Attending the luncheon with Doepker included Cynthia Cubas, executive administration assistant of external relations, and Christina Ayres, director of the Rolla campus.
The top ten cities within the service region of Franklin, Warren, Gasconade, Osage, Maries, Phelps, Dent, Washington, St. Charles, Callaway, and Crawford counties included: Washington (15.9%), Union (14%), Rolla (12.5%), Sullivan (5.5%), St. Clair (5.3%), Cuba (3.6%), St. James (2.7%), Marthasville (2.4%), Pacific (2.4%), and Salem (2.2%). This past fall, Salem came into the top ten.
The building in Rolla that currently houses the United States Geological Survey, located at 1400 Independence Rd., has been purchased by ECC with hopes to open in early 2027. The landlord was looking to sell the property, and the college was looking for a more permanent facility in the Rolla area to house its campus. The college will be utilizing $19.5 million to purchase and renovate the building. The current two facilities in Rolla, located at 500 Forum Drive and 2303 North Bishop Avenue, will be moving all ECC offices, programs, and services to the new facility. Staff are incredibly excited to have all offerings under a single roof, shared Doepker.
ECC just signed an architectural engineer to see what can be done to renovate the building. The renovation plan will be finished in April 2025, while the actual building renovation will take place between May 2025 and December 2026. Hopes are to officially open the building for all operations in early 2027. Discussions are underway for how to move everything to the new building, once it’s ready, with as little disruption to student life as possible.
ECC will be utilizing $3 million in federal funds for a Health Sciences Academy; $13 million in state ARPA funds will be utilized to renovate the building; and $3.5 million from MO Excels will be utilized for a Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
This academic year, East Central Community College has approximately 2,300 students enrolled. Rolla’s campus saw an increase in students from 391 to 411 this fall. Credit hours increased in Rolla as well, from 3,581 to 3,797.
ECC in Rolla offers many degree options, including transfer degrees like an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or career-ready programs like Associate of Applied Science (AAS) which provide skills needed to jump right into the workforce. Many students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university will often earn an AA degree with EC before transferring to their desired university.
Their desired university might be closer than they expect, in fact, with ECC offering something called “Campus Connections” to its students. Students participating in the Campus Connections program are dually enrolled with ECC and Missouri S&T. As long as students meet the admission requirements for both ECC and Missouri S&T, students can have the chance to take classes at both institutions at the same time. There are more than 40 different degree programs part of Campus Connections—and all S&T campus services are available to take advantage of, as well.
“Over the past year and a half, we really strengthened our relationship with Missouri S&T,” shared Doepker, who emphasized that with a permanent facility in Rolla, ECC is able to work much closer with Missouri S&T.
Doepker further shared that a recent accomplishment of ECC was its Phelps Law Enforcement Training Center.
“I really do believe, honestly, that this speaks to the heart of what East Central College and your community college does for your community,” said Doepker.
The Phelps County Sheriff Mike Kirn approached Christina Ayres in 2021 to request a law enforcement academy to train new police officers. In July 2024, ECC celebrated its first graduating class of eight students from the academy who then went on to be hired by local agencies. This fall, there are 12 students enrolled in the program. The academy isn’t just for Phelps County but for law enforcement agencies across the region. The program is a year long with students attending three nights a week, plus Saturday. The 700-hour Missouri P.O.S.T. approved basic training program begins in August and finishes in July. The on-campus classroom instruction is taught at ECC’s Rolla North site, while experiential learning and practical application is taught in facilities provided by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department.
ECC also offers a dual credit program, where students still in high school can receive college credits upon successful completion of certain classes. Another offer is Early College Academy, an opportunity for high school students to receive a college degree from ECC while still attending high school. Upon completion, many participating students are able to receive their college degree before they receive their high school diploma, informed Doepker.
The program began with Union High School in 2020. ECC has been adding more school districts over the past three years. Participating students are able to return to their home school around 2:30 p.m. to participate in clubs, activities, and extracurriculars. This fall, there are 154 students participating in the program. School districts pay for the students’ tuition and books.
A few more highlights from the luncheon included:
• A new Respiratory Therapy program offered with ECC. ECC was able to receive a Department of Labor grant in conjunction with four other community colleges to address the Respiratory Therapy desert facing rural Missouri. Programming will be taught online while lab work will be in person.
• ECC also recently received a $2.1 million Title Three grant from the Department of Labor, intended to provide student-to-student mentoring and accommodate returning students to academic life, especially in math programs where more tutoring may be needed to ensure student success.
• The Center for Workforce Development works with area manufacturers to provide a customized training program. ECC received $1.2 million to be distributed to 31 manufacturers in and around our area. Manufacturers can use the money to enhance training, leading to an increase in employee retention.
• ECC received another $800,000 through the Department of Labor to go toward apprenticeships in our area, with a focus on three industries—teaching, healthcare, and manufacturing.
• ECC was selected to be part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative sponsored by iconic heavy metal band Metallica back in 2022. Through Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, they provide funds for scholarships to help students in the Advanced Manufacturing programs at East Central College. So far, 99 student scholarships have been awarded. ECC is the only community college in Missouri to be selected to be part of the Metallica Scholars program.
• ECC also participates in the SkillUP program, which offers free tuition and support services to individuals receiving Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits. Eligible students will be selected and enrolled in a short-term (12 months or less) training program, at no cost to them, that will provide them with a new career path and obtain employment.
• Doepker highlighted ECC’s Summer Learning Academy, offered in Rolla and Union. It’s a summer program offered in July and August intended to get young students involved in college education as early as possible to encourage future college education. Programs offered include a junior welding academy, a culinary kitchen, and nursing labs—with the overall intent to getting them involved in college spaces and thinking about their education post-high school. The program is completely free thanks to area organizations and businesses.
Read more about ECC’s offerings at the links below:
