EHS History
Eastern Iowa Community College's (EICC) Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) program is now entering its third decade of providing quality training to students both locally and around the world.
The EHS program dates back to 1986 when, thanks to funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EICC began work on what was then known as the Hazardous Materials Technology (HMT) program. The name was later changed to Environmental Compliance and Technology (ECAT).
Working with local and national professionals in the field, EICC identified and validated the job skills required in the field of hazardous materials handling and management. That work meant that the curriculum was specifically designed to develop those student job skills.
The district received approval from the Iowa State Board of Education in 1986 for an Associate in Applied Science degree program and a certificate program and, following a year of curriculum development, began delivering college credit programs to students at Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Community Colleges in 1987.
Also in 1987, EICC and Kirkwood Community College (in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) cooperated in establishing the Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute (HMTRI) for the purpose of designing and disseminating community education training programs.
In September of 1991, EICC and HMTRI provided the opportunity for students to earn a HMT certificate for college credit through correspondence study. Additional courses were added, enabling students to achieve a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree through this program.
To more accurately reflect the purpose of the programs and needs of the industry, the Environmental Compliance and Technology (ECAT) program was updated in 2003 with several new courses and was renamed the Health, Safety and Environmental Technology (EHS) program. Currently, the EHS program is offered online.
The Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) has granted graduates of our program a waiver of requirements toward the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) certification. The EHS program meets the requirement for having coverage of three of the five subject areas.
The other two areas may be covered through earning an Associates in Applied Science degree. Completion of the EHS program also leads to a waiver of ¾ years of experience toward the OHST certification. For more information regarding the OHST certification, refer to EHS Careers – Certification along the right side of the EHS home page.
Questions? Call toll-free 1-888-336-3907, email eiccinfo@eicc.edu or contact the college nearest you and ask to speak to an advisor.
- Clinton Community College, 563-244-7000
- Muscatine Community College, 563-288-6000
- Scott Community College, 563-441-4000
It is the policy of Eastern Iowa Community College District not to discriminate in
its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual
or potential family, parental or marital status, as required by the Iowa Code §§216.6
and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and
2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational
Amendments, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.
§ 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et
seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy,
please contact Debora J. Sullivan, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Equity Coordinator,
Eastern Iowa Community College District, 101 West Third Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801,
563-336-3487, djsullivan@eicc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights,
U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-7204, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.