Student Services

Student Life

Student Body

All students have representation in student government and are encouraged to participate in student-sponsored activities and other activities supported by student service fees. The Office of Student Life supports success by providing quality engagement opportunities that complement academic programs and enhance the educational experience for Brazosport College students.The Office of Student Life also provides support for all student organizations, New Student Orientation, Health and Wellness programming, the Swamp and the Fitness Loft. For more information, visit the Student Life web page.

Intramural Sports

Students enrolled in courses at Brazosport College are eligible to participate in the college’s intramural recreational sports program. Activities include, but are not limited to flag football, volleyball, and basketball.

This program offers students, experienced or inexperienced, an opportunity to compete against their fellow students. Please visit the Intramural Sports webpage for additional information on Intramural opportunities.

Clubs and Organizations

Brazosport College offers a wide variety of student clubs and organizations for students to become involved. To review a list of student organizations, visit the Student Life web page.

Student groups seeking to be recognized as an official organization and to be eligible to operate on the campus must complete the recognition process through the Office of Student Life which will determine the organization’s eligibility. If the group is eligible for recognition, the Director of Student Life will make the recommendation to the Dean of Student Services and the College President for final approval.

Intercollegiate Programs

Brazosport College is a member of the Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium. Students in member schools of this comprehensive conference participate in athletics, dramatic arts, literary events, music, visual arts, and vocational areas.

Phi Theta Kappa

Brazosport College has a local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the only internationally acclaimed honor society serving two-year colleges. To be eligible for active membership, students must have completed at least 12 semester hours working toward an associate or bachelor degree or 6 semester hours working toward a certificate at Brazosport College, and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on all college-level coursework attempted. Induction ceremonies are conducted in the fall and spring semesters. Contact Cassie Bruner, Lead Advisor, at 979-230-3259 or phi.theta.kappa@brazosport.edu.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) was established more than three decades ago through the Student Government Committee which was appointed by the student body. The committee formulated a model constitution which was adopted by the student body in October 1969. The first student senate was elected and installed at that time.

The SGA provides representation for students and support for all student organizations. SGA provides opportunities for students to participate in college decision-making processes and planning and to practice self-government. The SGA officers and representatives are elected by the student body. For information on SGA or to become involved, call 979-230-3355 or 979-230-3550.

Counseling and Advising

Student Assistance

Students are encouraged to contact any faculty or staff member for assistance on educational, vocational, or other related topics. All full-time faculty members maintain daily office hours for student conferences.

Counseling and Testing

The counselors are dedicated to providing the support and guidance that students need to reach their educational objectives. Enrolled or prospective students are encouraged to visit with a counselor for assistance with academic advisement that might include exploring majors and setting educational goals, assistance with college placement tests, academic or technical course planning, and help with university transfer questions. Counselors are trained to provide additional services for students with disabilities, single parents, and students seeking veteran’s benefits. These services also include short-term personal crisis counseling and utilize a variety of referral resources both on campus and in the community to enhance student success.

Career Services

The goal of the Career and Transfer Center is to educate, support, and guide individuals in the process of career planning. Assistance with obtaining information and opportunities to develop the necessary skills to transition from the classroom to the workplace. Whether you are uncertain about a major, a career choice, writing resumes, or interviewing, you may utilize the services in the Career and Transfer Center for assistance. Listings for part-time and off campus employment are available in this office.  For more information, visit the Career and Transfer Center web page.

The college’s Work-Study Program enables qualified college students to work on campus part-time while taking courses. The financial aid office and job placement coordinate applications for on-campus employment.

Library and Learning Services

The Library

A vital learning resource, the college library contains more than 70,000 volumes, 345 periodical titles, and a variety of full text, online databases. The library maintains extensive back files of periodicals, in bound, microform and electronic full text formats. Newspapers from locations throughout Texas and the United States are available.

The library offers a number of powerful online resources. Its web site, located at http://www.brazosport.edu/library, is designed to provide access to the library’s automated card catalog, as well as a number of electronic resources, including full text journal and newspaper databases and electronic books, all available on-campus, off-campus and by mobile device. The library has 24 computers and 14 laptops for student use on a first-come, first-serve basis. Printing in the library is 10 cents per black and white page and 25 cents per color page, payable at the main desk. Students may purchase paper in the library for use in open computer labs.

The materials in the library are selected jointly by the faculty and professional library staff to serve the curricular needs of Brazosport College students and faculty. The library staff welcomes student suggestions for new books, periodicals, and other materials. The library offers interlibrary loan services to students, staff and faculty.

The library has six study rooms available for students to reserve for private study, study groups or meetings. The rooms may be reserved up to two weeks in advance; reservations may be made in person at the main desk.  The library also has a computer lab available for class instruction with 24 computers and an instructor’s computer.

The library has knowledgeable staff to provide research assistance to both individuals and classes. Class tours, orientations, and specialized workshops may be scheduled at the main desk by calling 979-230-3310.

Library hours:

7:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday

7:30 a.m. - 12 noon, Friday

Learning Services

Located on the first floor, adjacent to the Library, Learning Services provides a variety of services to help students with their course work.

• Computing Services - an open computer lab with approximately 28 computers are set-aside for student use. Several accessories are available along with printing at a minimal charge.
• Online Learning Services - A section of the computer lab is set aside for online course work.
• Testing Services - Proctored testing services, including computerized testing, are provided for faculty and students Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Friday at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. A current Brazosport College Photo I.D. is required for all BC tests. Call 230-3253 or come by to reserve a place.
• Tech Support Services - The staff provides a limited amount of technical support related to course work.
• Audio/Visual Services - Students may view audio/visual tapes, CDs, or other media that instructors reserve.
• Office Equipment Services - Several pieces of equipment are available including a photocopier, a laminator, staplers, and hole punches
• Study Skill Services - Learning Services provides a variety of information in how to manage time and optimize learning.
• Conference Rooms -Three large conference rooms are available for meetings for scheduled meetings and study groups.

Learning Services hours:

7:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday

7:30 a.m. - 12 noon, Friday

Veterans Affairs

Veterans and eligible dependents who want to apply for veteran’s educational benefits should contact the Veterans’ Advisor before they register. Because certification is done at the student’s request, veterans should contact the Veterans’ Advisor each semester.

Student Success Center

Brazosport College Student Success Center exists to provide a variety of academic support services to all students. These services include Learning Framework, Supplemental Instruction (or SI), the Brazosport College Writing Center, the Brazosport College Math Center, Student Mentor support, along with other forms of tutoring, and workshops. Research strongly supports the use of services at the Student Success Center. Students who take advantage of these services earn higher grades, are more likely to stay in college and graduate at a higher rate.

Learning Framework (PSYC1300)

The Learning Framework course teaches techniques for learning that are based on sound psychological findings and learning theory. It is a psychology course that has immediate applications for the student. Topics covered in the Learning Framework course include:

• How college is different than high school
• How to be an “A” student
• How to use myBC, BC email, p-drive, Desire2Learn
• Taking notes
• Active learning
• Motivation
• Goal setting
• Time management
• Memory
• Preparing for exams
• Improving reading
• Improving writing,
• Career explorations
• Learning styles
• Managing stress
• Fiscal management

For questions about Learning Framework, contact the Transitional Educational Department, at 979-230-3184.

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a free academic support program that uses collaborative, hands-on learning strategies to increase academic performance and retention in SI-supported courses. SI involves the use of regularly scheduled peer-facilitated sessions in which students are provided the opportunity to process and practice course-related information.

Each SI section is facilitated by a peer leader, known as an SI Leader, they are required to have successfully completed the same course, preferably with the same instructor of the course they will support. SI leaders are facilitators that function as “model students.” They attend all regularly scheduled lectures, take notes, and read all assigned materials. The SI leader conducts three or more out-of-class SI sessions each week to share learning strategies, review material, and answer questions. The overall goal is to integrate “how to learn” with “what to learn”.

All students enrolled in an SI-supported course are eligible and strongly encouraged to participate. At Brazosport College, students who participate in SI tend to earn from one-half to one full letter grade higher than those who do not participate in SI.

To learn more about which courses are supported by SI, or for general questions about SI, contact the Supplemental Instruction Coordinator, Pat Jeffreys, at 979-230-3322.

Writing Center

The mission of the Brazosport College Writing Center (BC WC) is to create and facilitate a culture of literacy at Brazosport College. We believe that literacy education is a life-long process. Life is lumpy. While we might have one plan today, we don’t know what skills we will need in the future. All fields require literacy skills, and reading and writing are components of science, nursing, and workforce programs as well. Effective communication is a skill that employers always need, and the Brazosport College Writing Center is committed to supporting the reading and writing of our academic and larger community.

The BC WC is not just for people who find writing, reading, or speaking difficult. All successful writers know that nothing is written in isolation. Writers need readers, and the Writing Center has at least two readers on staff every hour to work with you at every stage of the writing process.

Along with walk-in visits, we also allow students to schedule appointments in advance by visiting the BC Writing Center online or calling us at 979.230.3184 or 3460, and students have a choice between 25 minute and 55 minute session lengths.

Students can expect to receive assistance in becoming more effective readers and communicators in speaking and writing. The Writing Center Consultants can help you with:

• reading comprehension,
• reading and researching sources for your writing projects,
• brainstorming possible topics in response to an assignment,
• developing ideas,
• maintaining your focus in your writing,
• organizing and outlining speeches,
• clearly communicating during Power Point presentations,
• formatting academic writing following MLA, APA, and CMS, and
• discovering and learning how to control persistent patterns of error.

While we don’t provide proofreading services, we will work to enable you to become a better editor of your own work.

Faculty can expect to receive support for their students and themselves. The Writing Center will work with individual faculty members by in-class workshops, supported peer review, or supplemental workshops tailored to your class and your students’ reading and writing needs. In addition to visits at the start of the semester that describe how the Writing Center can help your students succeed, we can provide designated consultants who will meet with you to stay current on your class materials and provide feedback on how your students who visit the Writing Center seem to understand that material. Working with a designated consultant offers you a window into your students’ comprehension regarding your assignments and class-concepts, and this insight can help you decide what lessons and interventions to offer during class. In addition to support from our Consultants, the Writing Center can help you more effectively integrate writing into your courses by:

• offering assistance in developing and scaffolding assignments to solicit the thinking you want to evaluate,
• providing ways to more effectively respond to and assess student writing, including assistance in designing evaluation guidelines and rubrics, and
• discussing how to use writing to teach writing concepts that you find students consistently struggling with.

If you would like to discuss ways the Brazosport College Writing Center can support existing writing instruction or help you integrate writing into any of your courses, please contact the Director of the Writing Center, Dr. April Sikorski (April.Sikorski@brazosport.edu or 979.230.3174). Also, find us on Facebook (BCWC) or on Instagram (@bcwriting).

Math Center

The Math Center provides drop-in tutoring in all areas of math. Students may drop in any time Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and on Fridays, 8:00 am- to noon. Online tutoring is available for Brazosport College students that are currently enrolled in a BC online math course, during operational hours.

In addition to drop-in math tutoring, Brazosport College offers video learning lessons in foundational math concepts. These Algebra Learning Modules will help students prepare for placement exams, review long lost knowledge, and assist in course success.

For questions about the Math Center, call 979-230-3515, or contact Rebecca Goins, Tutor Coordinator, at 979-230-3134.

Below is a listing of other subjects that are currently available by appointment only. Availability is subject to change.

• Chemistry
• Accounting
• Economics

For the current subjects and schedule, visit the Math Center website at https://brazosport.edu/mathcenter/

BC Student Mentors

The Student Mentor program is a free service that provides academic, social, and support services to first-year students.  Student mentors are experienced peer leaders who provide first-hand insight on navigating the college experience and promote student success.

The Student Mentor office is located in the Student Success Center, E. 213; drop-ins are welcome or schedule an appointment to get priority service. **Office hours are subject to change each semester.

The Student Mentor Program offers a safe haven for BC students seeking:

• Academic & Social Support
• Study Strategies & Tips
• Campus Resources
• Advocacy between Counselors, Professors & College Departments
• Referral services

Mentor Office Number: 979- 230-3439
BCMentoringProgram@brazosport.edu
Program Director: Vivian L. Rodgers

Other Academic Supports Services

The Student Success Center provides three study rooms that are available for student use, along with thirteen computers with printing capabilities.  Students are encouraged to reserve these study rooms to collaborate with classmates to work on projects and assignments. A conference room is also available and can be reserved for large group meetings.

Students who desire assistance in a subject not listed or have questions about these additional services contact the Student Success Center, at 979-230-3184.