Brazosport College

Brazosport College (BC) is a public community college in Lake Jackson, Texas. The college was opened in 1968 and offers primarily associate degrees and some bachelor's degrees. The campus features The Clarion, regional musical performance venue, in addition to the Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences, which houses the Brazosport Museum of Natural Science as well as the Brazosport Planetarium among other institutions.

Brazosport College
Former names
Brazosport Junior College (1968–1970)
MottoThe College of Choice
TypePublic community college
Established1968 (1968)
EndowmentUS$3.3 million[1]
PresidentDr. Millicent Valek
Academic staff
166[1]
Students4,191[2]
Location
Lake Jackson
,
Texas
,
United States
CampusSuburban, 156 acres (.63 km²)[3]
ColorsBlack, Blue, and White[4]
NicknameGators
AffiliationsSACS
Websitebrazosport.edu

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Brazosport College is the Brazosport, Columbia-Brazoria, Damon, and Sweeny school districts, and the Angleton independent school District excluding that portion annexed by Alvin Community College prior to September 1, 1995.[5] The service area includes most of Lake Jackson, Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach.[6]

History

In 1948, voters of the Brazosport independent school District voted to create the Brazosport Junior College District. However, not until the summer of 1967, after a tax was authorized by voters to maintain the college, was the college actually built. In the Fall of 1968, the college opened as Brazosport Junior College, and the first semester of classes began with an enrollment of 879 students.[4] Classes were held at the Brazosport Education Extension Center in Freeport, Texas.[7]

In 1970, Brazosport Junior College graduated its first 25 students. That same year, Brazosport Junior College was renamed to Brazosport College to represent a broader vision for the school.[4] In 1996, President Millicent Valek was selected as the fourth president of the college.

On June 20, 2003, then Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 286 of the 78th Legislature into law, which created the pilot project. The program allowed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to choose Brazosport College along with Midland College, and South Texas College to offer baccalaureate degrees.[8] In December 2004, Brazosport College received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a baccalaureate-level institution. In the Fall of 2005, BC began offering classes for its Bachelor of Applied Technology degree program for the first time.

In 2011, Brazosport College, along with Frank Phillips College in Borger, Ranger College in Ranger, and Odessa College in Odessa, were proposed for closure by the State of Texas. The Texas Association of Community Colleges rallied successfully to keep the four institutions open. In a letter to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio and Jim Pitts of Waxahachie, then the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, TACC leaders referred to state budget restrictions at the time:

Community colleges are fully aware of the state's budget crisis, and we understand that we will have to bear our share of the budget pain. We pledge to work with you to reach a fair and equitable solution ... the decision to close these four colleges is unfair and inequitable in that it appears to be arbitrary and ill-advised. We stand in support of our sister colleges, and we look forward to a productive debate ...[9]

In July 2014, Brazosport College expanded their baccalaureate programs by adding the Health Management Services major to their Bachelor of Applied Technology degree program.

List of Brazosport College presidents
  • J. R. Jackson, 1968–1978
  • W. A. Bass, 1978–1988
  • John R. Grable, 1988–1996
  • Millicent Valek, 1996–present

Academics

There are several divisions that comprise the college as follows:

  • Division of Communication & Fine Arts
  • Division of Computer Technology & Office Administration
  • Division of Construction and Mechanical Technologies
  • Division of Mathematics & Life Sciences
  • Division of Physical Sciences & Process Technologies
  • Division of Social Sciences & Business
  • Department of Transitional Education
The Byron & Sandra Sadler Health Professions/Science Complex

Associate degrees and transfer programs

Students at BC have the option to pursue several educational paths. Historically, most students have opted to attend classes at Brazosport College as a stepping stone to other colleges and universities that offer bachelor's degrees. BC participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System, or TCCNS, a voluntary cooperative effort by many Texas colleges and universities to create a standard set of course designations for transfer students at the freshman and sophomore level. This allows students who wish to transfer courses taken at Brazosport College to take a relevant curriculum for their destination school.

Another option for students at BC is to pursue an associate degree. Brazosport College generally graduates around 200 students annually.[3]

Bachelor's degree
Dow Academic Center

A third option for students at BC is to pursue a Bachelor's degree in the school's Bachelor of Applied Technology program. Students in this program must be admitted through a separate application process than other students enrolled.[4]

Campus
The Clarion

Brazosport College as a campus is nearly 160 acres (0.65 km2) in size. It is a fully commuter-based campus, as there are no housing facilities for students. Most classes are held in a central complex.

Facilities

Brazosport College is home to The Clarion—a 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m2) performance hall that seats 600.[10] The $7.36 million facility was opened in October 2005.[11] Notable artists that have performed at The Clarion include singer-songwriters Don McLean, Lyle Lovett, David Sanborn, Aaron Neville, Christopher Cross, Vince Gill, Rick Springfield, and Los Lonely Boys.[12][13] The Clarion has had only one administrator since its construction, Vorin Dornan,[14] who is still the current administrator.[15]

The Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences, a 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m2) facility dedicated to arts and sciences is located directly in front of Brazosport College. Hosted by the college on college land, the Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences is an independent nonprofit corporation. The center houses Brazosport Center Stages, an art studio and gallery, The Brazosport Museum of Natural Science along with a nature center and planetarium.[16]

BC has a student activity center known as "The Swamp". Students can play pool, table tennis, and participate in other activities. The college also has a central dining facility that serves meals throughout the day to visitors, students, and staff and faculty.

Student life

Brazosport College's Student Senate are elected and represent BC's student body interests. Other activities for students include a fencing club and a performing drama group.[1]

Notable alumni
  • Candace Duval, class of 1981, former Democratic nominee to the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Robert Ellis, last attended in 2006, singer-songwriter

References
  1. College Overview:Brazosport College. Peterson's. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  2. "Brazosport College". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  3. "About Brazosport College". Brazosport College. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  4. Student Guide & Calendar Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Brazosport College, Retrieved August 12, 2007.
  5. Texas Education Code, Section 130.170, "Brazosport College District Service Area".
  6. "Brazosport College Map" (PDF). Brazoria County Appraisal District. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. Gillenwaters, Karen. "Brazosport College". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  8. Wright, Michael (July 1, 2003). "BC can offer 4-year degree". Brazosport Facts. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  9. "Letter to the Honorable Joe Straus" (PDF). tacc.org. January 24, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  10. About the Clarion Archived August 14, 2007[Date mismatch], at the Wayback Machine. Brazosport College. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  11. "Clarion music performance hall holds first concert". Archived February 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine The Navigator. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  12. Past Performances by Guest Artists Archived August 19, 2008[Date mismatch], at the Wayback Machine. Brazosport College. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  13. Loveless, Billy (October 1, 2010). "Los Lonely Boys kicks off Clarion's fifth season". Brazosport College. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  14. "Dornan, Vorin". 09-Staff-Page. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  15. "The Clarion – Music Performance Center". 07-Int-Three-Col-Lvl-4. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  16. BCFAS.org. The Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences. Retrieved October 12, 2007.

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