About Brazosport College

History

Brazosport College offers a broad range of courses to address diverse educational goals. Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree can enroll in introductory academic classes as well as courses in more than two dozen majors which transfer to other four-year schools. In 2005, Brazosport College began offering its own baccalaureate degree, the Bachelor of Applied Technology. For students seeking preparation in a technical workforce education field, Brazosport College offers courses leading to a certificate or Associate of Applied Science degree in 36 specialty areas. In addition, an ever-broadening continuing education program is designed to address the entire community’s needs.

More than 150,000 students have attended Brazosport College since it opened 56 years ago. In the 2019 - 20 year, Brazosport College awarded 916 degrees and certificates.

Mission, Vision and Core Values

Mission

Brazosport College exists to improve quality of life by providing certificate, associate and baccalaureate degree programs, academic transfer programs, workforce development, and cultural enrichment in an efficient and cost effective manner. The board, faculty and staff are committed to student success and lifelong learning by responding to student needs, creating a dynamic learning environment, and enriching our communities.

Vision

The College of Choice®

As the College of Choice, the Brazosport College board, faculty, and staff shall be broadly engaged in reaching and supporting all members of our community intellectually, socially, and culturally, preparing them to thrive within the global community. As a national leader of student success initiatives, the College will develop lifelong learners and prepare competitive citizens for tomorrow’s workforce.

Core Values

Student Success: Creating a learner-centered institution focused on academic excellence, we engage all students through multiple strategies to attain educational and personal goals.

Partnerships: Maintaining and fostering innovative partnerships, we contribute to the educational, economic, and cultural advancement of our local and global communities.

Integrity: Adhering to the highest ethical standards while promoting personal and social responsibility, we are accountable for the use of college and community resources.

People: Recognizing that education is a human endeavor, we create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment in which we recruit, develop, and retain excellent people, encouraging all to pursue excellence.

Continuous Improvement: Establishing evidence-based processes to set student success goals, the College evaluates its programs and services to drive measurable continuous improvement.

Campus and Facilities

The College Campus

The Brazosport College campus occupies 156 acres of beautiful, naturally landscaped land bounded on two sides by the winding Oyster Creek. It is convenient to all the towns and cities in Southern Brazoria County: 22 miles from Sweeny, 19 miles from West Columbia, eleven miles from Brazoria, eight miles from Freeport and Angleton, and contiguous with Lake Jackson, Clute, and Richwood. In addition, it is easily reached from Highways 288, 332, and 288B.

The Clarion is the home of Brazosport College’s music program. It also serves as a venue for various performing groups and community ensembles. It includes a 600-seat performance hall acoustically designed to meet the highest standards for live music performance. The Clarion’s classroom and rehearsal hall space houses an exceptional music program.

Chemical technology programs benefit from the availability of a process trainer on campus that allows students in process technology, instrumentation, and laboratory technology to develop their knowledge using true to scale control instrumentation. The trainer and several smaller plants have been developed in cooperation with partnering local industries.

The Bill and Julia May Children’s Center at Brazosport College provides top quality, affordable child care services at a reasonable cost that is competitive within the community.

Brazosport College’s Corporate Learning Center is the home of the Center for Business & Industry Training, a provider of a large range of consulting and educational services to area businesses. The Small Business Development Center also operates from the Corporate Learning Center.

Recently completed projects include the Byron and Sandra Sadler Health Professions and Science Complex, the Dow Academic Center, the BASF Center for Process Technology, the Library, the Student Pavilion. The Freeport LNG Crafts Academy is now home to the construction and mechanical technologies.  Finally, the BCPC Welding Technologies Laboratory was opened in the spring of 2016.

The Dow Academic Center (DAC) is a community resource that complements other meeting and event space at Brazosport College. It is available for rental for private parties, trade shows, corporate events and charity benefits. Brazosport College offers community education services on the main campus, as well as, through a Community Education Center in Freeport.

Housing

Brazosport College is an institution for commuting students and does not operate dormitories or a housing office. Students and their families are responsible for locating housing and making housing arrangements.

Record of Performance and Quality Guarantees

Recognition and Accreditation

Brazosport College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 or go to http://www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Brazosport College.

Guarantee for Transfer Credit

The Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) is a voluntary, co-operative effort among Texas community colleges and universities to facilitate transfer of freshman and sophomore level general academic coursework (click Transfer of Credit  for more information).  Brazosport College guarantees to its graduates with degrees of Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, and Associate of Science and other students who successfully complete college transfer courses with grades of “C” or better, the transferability of course credits to those colleges and universities which cooperate with Brazosport College in the development of course equivalency guides and/or articulation agreements. If these transfer courses are rejected by the college or university, Brazosport College will waive tuition costs for appropriate courses which are acceptable to the receiving institution, provided all of the conditions are met.

Guarantee for Entry-Level Job Skills

Brazosport College guarantees that students who satisfactorily complete an occupational-technical degree or an advanced certificate of at least 25 or more semester credit hours will have the job skills for entry-level employment in the occupational field in which they received the degree or advanced certificate.

Community Education Programs and Non-Credit Workforce Development

Community Education

Brazosport College offers a wide variety of educational opportunities through the Community Education Department. These non-credit programs include the following:  Occupational and career training & certifications, job readiness skills, professional education, youth, and Adult Education classes.  You will also find courses for leisure, recreation, travel, and culinary. Classes are open to any adult, age 17 or older (except in youth programs).  Whether your goals are personal or professional, we have a program for you!

Career Training

Whether you are looking to change or enhance your current professional skills, Brazosport College Community Education has course offerings that meet your needs. We offer Business, Healthcare, and other professional training courses to supplement your skills.  See below for some of our offerings.

Healthcare

Our Allied Health programs are taught by certified and licensed healthcare professionals and provide opportunities for students to train to become professionals in a variety of health career areas.  If you want to become a member of the highly employable health care workforce, we can help you get there.  Whether you are looking to start a career in healthcare, expand your current skills or certifications, or explore a new career pathway in healthcare altogether, we can help!  We offer training programs and courses in Phlebotomy, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant and more.

Professional Training & Personal Enrichment

We have a variety of computer training courses that are conveniently scheduled. Earn a certificate in Microsoft Office Suite; learn how to manage your business and keep your finances in check with QuickBooks Pro or brush up on your existing computer skills.

Personal Enrichment programs enable you to explore new interests, skills, and hobbies. Further your passion for lifelong learning with one of our unique course offerings such as gourmet cooking, cake decorating and more.  These classes meet in our state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen.

Partnering with Collette and Premier World Travel each year, destinations are carefully chosen for the travel program with some international, and some within the states.  These guided tours are well planned to get the most out of your excursion. Join us for information sessions on the tours that interest you.

Youth & Teens

Youth program classes and workshops are offered throughout the year now, as well as Teens and Kids College every summer. Kids College runs for two weeks in July with children 6 to 8 years of age, and children 9 to 12 years of age in alternating weeks. Some of the classes offered during Kids College include cooking, robotics and programming, reptiles, archery, gym games, horse and rider, video game competitions, as well as science-based courses.

Teens College is offered in June each year. Classes provide opportunities to learn skills like cooking, fencing, and participating in technical classes such as 3D printing, robotics, and engineering.

Adult Education and Literacy (AEL)

Adult Education and Literacy courses are offered to assist adults with acquiring basic skills. The content areas include English as a Second Language, Adult Basic/Secondary Education and Career Pathways.

High School Equivalency (HSE) is a free course in preparation for the High School Equivalency (HSE) certificate, which may be acquired by passing the HSE exam (formerly the GED Exam). A pre-test is required to determine if a student is eligible to take the official test, or if the student needs additional preparation. The following classes allow students to focus on five key areas: Writing, Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Math.  Students must be at least 17 years old to attend class. 17 and 18year-olds can enroll with parental consent and formal withdrawal papers from the last high school attended. Upon completing the High School Equivalency courses, students are eligible to apply for a Community Education Scholarship which could assist in paying for the HSE Exam.

English as a Second Language (ESL) offers non-English speaking adults an opportunity to develop an understanding of the spoken language, or to improve existing language skills. This course is free for adults who wish to increase their English skills to improve communicating with others in the community, promote family literacy and enhance job prospects.

English for Professionals is a free Intensive Program for students who have obtained a degree and/or certification from their home county. Students receive skills preparation for any local credential exam, has their degree and/or certifications transcribed, receives specialized career advising, and ESL services.

Citizenship classes are offered free of charge to prepare students for the United States Citizenship exam. The course reviews content of the Citizenship exam and helps to obtain skills necessary for becoming a US Naturalized Citizens.

Career Pathways is a program that empowers students to receive Adult Education & Literacy services, workforce preparation activities and a training certification concurrently. Workforce preparation activities may include, but are not limited to, employability skills, resume building, interviewing techniques and learning about soft skills. The training certifications run concurrently with a focus on the high skill/high growth demand of the Gulf Coast Region and courses that Brazosport College currently offers.

For more information, view Community Education classes online at http://www.brazosport.edu/ce or call us at 979.230.3600. Courses may be arranged to provide customized training for industry or groups. Registration for Community Education courses is continuous throughout the year.

Center for Business & Industry Training

The Center for Business & Industry Training (CBIT) offers customized training and consulting to businesses and industries, freeing organizations to focus on core business functions. The CBIT delivers training expertise utilizing professionals with proven industry experience. Training may be done on company sites or at Brazosport College’s Corporate Learning Center in state-of-the-art training rooms.

Facilities: CBIT is housed in a 45,000 square foot facility that includes multi-use classrooms, breakout rooms, computer labs, on-site catering, convenient parking, and a communication suite for client use. In 2019 the facility received a $1.2M technology upgrade, which allows for more technologically advanced training.  The upgrades included smart touch technology in the training rooms, updated microphones and speaker systems and virtual reality technology.  Besides training, the department offers event planning services. CBIT hosts business meetings or special events. CBIT employees are available to meet all your facility needs in scheduling, implementing, and evaluating events. CBIT’s combination of detail-oriented planning employees and availability of on-site services ensures your event will run smoothly and hassle-free.

Computing/Internet Solutions: Flexible computer training formats include fast track classes for the busy professional or in-depth sessions for individuals desiring more hands-on experience in popular software courses. 

CBIT staff offers custom design and creation of databases, internet web sites, and file conversions of spreadsheets and databases.

Professional Development: A variety of soft-skill courses are available ranging from communication skills to team development. Training, built on workforce competencies, is designed to enhance today’s fast-paced organizations. Consulting and coaching are tailored to assist teams with real life work issues where they apply tools and techniques learned in training.

Technical/Safety: CBIT offerings include a series of technical learning opportunities including new hire and incumbent training for process operators and instrument/electrical technicians. Custom solutions can also be created to meet specific industry or company needs. General safety training and regulatory training to meet industry specific requirements are offered.

Workforce Development: Workforce training is continuously changing in the new corporate climate.  Assessing workplace skills and providing training to close gaps for the incumbent workforce is essential and the department is constantly analyzing trends and innovating. CBIT is currently equipped to offer a large majority of professional development, computer, and technical courses in an online and/or virtual format to meet the changing needs of partnering clients.  Also, through foundational and technical skills training and testing, workers are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

For more information on these programs or other business/industry training needs, call 979-230-3050 to arrange a free consultation.

Dow Academic Center

The Dow Academic Center (DAC) is a community resource that complements other meeting and event space at Brazosport College. Opened in 2011, the large event space provides for community and business events including banquets, receptions, and trade shows. In addition to the Commencement Hall that accommodates 2,000 guests, the Center also has a Regency Suite with private dining room, Green Room, ticket office, office space and preparation kitchen for approved caterers.

Small Business Development Center

America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States. The mission of this network is to help existing businesses become more competitive in the complex marketplace of our local and global economies and to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership.

The Brazosport College SBDC was established in 1988 and is a business advising and training center of the University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network serving 32 counties in Southeast Texas.  The SBDC program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

We offer one-on-one business advising services, low-cost workshops, and market and industry research that help entrepreneurs start new businesses, grow existing businesses, and boost productivity and profitability for small businesses in the Brazosport College service area, including assistance with:

• business plans and funding strategies
• financial management and tax issues
• websites and marketing plans
• business technology
• international trade and procurement

For help with your small business or to schedule a no-cost business advising session with one of our experienced business advisors, call the Brazosport College SBDC at (979) 230-3380 or email sbdcinfo@brazosport.edu. Learn more on the web at www.brazosport.edu/sbdc