Here are a few highlights of what to expect on campus:

• We have collaborated with our custodial vendor, MBM, to conduct advanced cleaning protocols following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
• Physical barriers have been added in select places where it is difficult to maintain strict physical distancing guidelines.
• Hand sanitizer stations have been installed across campus to encourage employees and students to sanitize their hands as often as possible.
• Some events - including business meetings - may be modified or cancelled to allow for physical distancing and limited contact.

Some events - including business meetings - may be modified or canceled to allow for physical distancing and limited contact.

After careful consideration, and with guidance from the Center for Disease Control and the Texas Department of State Health Services, Brazosport College will be offering a variety of course formats.

Courses will be delivered in one of the following formats:

1. Face-to-Face: Traditional on-campus courses with social distancing and other safety precautions in place.
2. Blended: Courses with both on-campus and online instruction.
3. Scheduled Live Online: Online courses with scheduled live interaction with instructors. Student will log-in at their designated class time.
4. Online: Online courses without scheduled live interaction with instructors.

We will offer limited "Face-to-Face" and "Blended" courses this fall.

For Blended Courses: In order to reduce the number of students in a classroom at one time, students may rotate between receiving on campus and online instruction. This will allow all students in the class to experience both face-to-face and remote instruction.

For example, a course meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays may have half of students attend face-to-face on Tuesdays, and the other half attend face-to-face on Thursdays.

Check out the Semester Schedule to see which courses have been affected or learn more about these changes on our Back to Brazosport College page.

The number of students allowed in each course may be lowered to accommodate social distancing.

Your professors have been working hard, especially in courses with hands-on learning, to prepare lessons, online labs, and do-at-home kits to provide high-quality instruction from a distance.

The Writing Center, Math Center and many other student services will also be available online to support you.

Brazosport College believes that continuing our daily lives, including your college courses, with appropriate safety precautions is a good strategy for managing our way through these uncertain times. We are committed to providing a high-quality college experience.

Yes! Below you'll find a list of all the student services still available to help you during this time.

Please keep in mind that if you have questions regarding your educational records (examples include grades, schedule, or financial aid) you MUST send emails from your official Brazosport College email address. You can access your BC email by visiting webmail.brazosport.edu.

Help with your classes

1. Writing Center, Math Tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction will continue to be available in online formats as well as on campus.
2. Library services will be available online and on campus and librarians will be available during regular operating hours, including evenings.

Help with your student records

1. Counseling is available on campus. If you wish to speak with a counselor instead of communicating through email only, you may request that in your email to ecounselor@brazosport.edu.
2. Admissions and Registrar offices are open and students may access them through the following: admissions@brazosport.edu, registrar@brazosport.edu, or Admissions and Registrar chat.
3. Financial aid questions are to be directed to finaid@brazosport.edu.

Help at home

1. Student Life is continuing to seek out resources for students. All resources will be posted on the COVID-19 webpage – please click on the Resources tab.
2. Student Wellness and Basic Needs resources and information are available to students. Please email Lisa.Unger@brazosport.edu or Alex.Crouse@brazosport.edu.
3. CARE team will continue to be active. If you are struggling, please reach out to CARE.

If you are having password trouble, please visit: www.brazosport.edu/password.

For other issues, you can reach out to the IT Helpdesk via:

• Phone: 979-230-3266
• Email: helpdesk@brazosport.edu
• Chat: Live chat with the Help Desk

For more information, please visit www.brazosport.edu/it.

If you are new to the Virtual Campus, take the introductory tour.

A list of additional resources for learning about the Virtual Campus is available on the Distance Learning webpage.

Emergency aid funding is available to students who experience an unexpected or unforeseen circumstance that may prevent them from achieving their immediate educational and career goals at Brazosport College.

You can learn more about this type of aid at brazosport.edu/emergencyaid.

We also recommend speaking with the Financial Aid office. They have the flexibility to work with students to ensure the students are able to stay in school.

We recommend speaking with the Financial Aid office. You can contact them via email at finaid@brazosport.edu.

To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency, federal student loan borrowers can be placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payment.

We recommend reading the borrower Q&As on the Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Office website to learn more about what to do in certain circumstances. They will be adding information for students, borrowers, and parents to this page on a regular basis, so please check it frequently.

The testing department is committed to the health and safety of our Brazosport College Community. Please continue to monitor the Assessment Center website for the latest testing updates at www.brazosport.edu/assessmentcenter.

We are so excited to welcome everyone back to campus on August 23, 2021!

The IT department will continue to provide support.

As we move to more of our services and classes being provided online, we understand that a reliable Internet connection can sometimes be a struggle to maintain. Below are some steps you can take to improve your experience while studying, attending your classes online, and virtually requesting help from different services on campus.

If you don't have Internet at home:

1. Try a Public Hotspot: Comcast (Xfinity) and AT&T have opened up their public Hotspots for anyone to use. Check your available Wi-Fi networks for provider hotspots. If you don't see one in your neighborhood, you can go online to the Xfinity or AT&T websites and search for a public hotspot. You may find that you have coverage in a public park in your area. Xfinity has an interactive map on their website, but you need the mobile Hotspot Locator app for AT&T.
2. Tether Your Cell Phone: If your cell phone has data service, you can turn on "tethering" and use it as a private hotspot. Be sure to check with your cell service provider, as sometimes this service may come at an extra cost. For more information, see what the major carriers are offering below.
3. Share Someone's Internet: If you have a neighbor with Internet, ask them if they would be willing to share. Home services have the ability to set up guest accounts that will keep their network secure but still allow visitors to get Internet access.
4. Get Service at Home: Service providers are offering discounted packages during this crisis and special offers for homes with students. Talk to the Internet service providers to make sure you can get service in your area, but even the most basic package should work if you limit it to the essentials.

If you have poor performance at home:

1. Test Your Max Bandwidth: Use a speed test application to check your speeds. Your Internet service provider (ISP) may have one that they recommend. Try to do this when no one at home is using the Internet. This will tell you your maximum possible speed. If your speeds don't match the speeds that your ISP guarantees, then you should report the problem to them and see what they recommend.
2. Reduce the Load on Your Internet Connection: Your max bandwidth is shared by everyone using the service. If the family is watching video streams, gaming, or video chatting, it will consume bandwidth. Shut down the unnecessary and set priorities. If you run a speed test while you're shutting down unnecessary network use, you can watch the speeds increase.
3. Lock Down Your Network: If your home network does not require a password, you may find that you are sharing it with the whole neighborhood! Securing it with a password will let you control who has access so you can control how your data connection is being used.
4. Limit Multitasking: Your laptop or PC can only do so many tasks at a time. If you're trying to study, watching a movie, and browsing the Internet all at the same time on your computer, you may be doing more than your computer or network can handle. Shut down unnecessary applications and turn off processes that are running "in the background." They will affect the performance of your computer and slow down access to your network.
5. Try a New Location: If you are using a cellular hotspot or tethering, try a different location. The distance from a cell tower and the number of walls between you and the tower's signal can impact performance. Moving to an exterior room or moving to the other side of the house may improve performance.
6. Try a wired connection:  If all your neighbors are using Wi-Fi, it can cause interference with your service. If you can connect to your home router with a wired connection, you may see improved service.

Help from Service Providers

Many major service providers are now offering different options for those who need assistance connecting to the Internet for work and school. Check out the links below to see what each is doing and how you may be able to benefit.

• AT&T: https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html
• Comcast: https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19  
• Sprint: https://newsroom.sprint.com/covid-19-updates-sprint-responds.htm
• T-Mobile:  https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/ongoing-updates-covid-19#customers 
• Verizon: https://www.verizon.com/about/news/our-response-coronavirus

SOURCE: University of Houston Information Technology

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

We recommend the following organizations for more information regarding COVID-19:

• National Information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• State Information: Texas Department of State Health Services
• Local Information: Brazoria County Health Department

Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care

• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
• Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.
• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people

As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a cloth face covering.

• Additional guidance is available for those living in close quarters and shared housing.
• See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets.

Monitor your symptoms

• Symptoms of COVID-19 fever, cough, or other symptoms.
• Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

• Call ahead. Many medical visits for routine care are being postponed or done by phone or telemedicine.
• If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your doctor’s office, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.

Get Tested

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested. While waiting for test results pdf icon[224 KB, 2 pages], you stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.
• You can visit your state, tribal, localexternal icon, and territorial health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing sites.

If you are sick wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth

• You should wear a cloth face covering, over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home)

• You don’t need to wear the cloth face covering if you are alone. If you can’t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.

• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the covering without help.

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical grade facemasks are reserved for healthcare workers and some first responders. You may need to make a cloth face covering using a scarf or bandana.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
• Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Handwashing Tips

Avoid sharing personal household items

• Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home.
• Wash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and water or put in the dishwasher.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom; wear disposable gloves. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but you should clean your bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
• If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver/other person should wear a mask and disposable gloves prior to cleaning. They should wait as long as possible after the person who is sick has used the bathroom before coming in to clean and use the bathroom.

High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.

• Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
• Use household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant.

• • Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs are killed. Many also recommend precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
  • Most EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A full list of disinfectants can be found here.
  • Complete Disinfection Guidance

When it’s Safe to be Around Others After Being Sick with COVID-19

Deciding when it is safe to be around others is different for different situations. Find out when you can safely end home isolation.

For any additional questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider or state or local health department.

SOURCE: CDC.GOV/CORONAVIRUS
UPDATED: AUGUST 19, 2021