Important Alerts

August 12, 2022 - Statement on BCCC’s procedures for managing COVID-19 infections and exposures

Dear Students and Colleagues:

This announcement provides information regarding Beaufort County Community College’s procedures for managing COVID-19 infections and exposures as of August 12, 2022. These procedures follow guidelines released by the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on August 11, 2022.

1. If you are well, wearing masks on campus is optional but highly recommended in all group settings.
2. If you test positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine away from campus for 5 days, but may return to campus or class after 5 days, if you do not run a fever for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicines. You must continue to wear a mask in all group settings for another 5 days after returning to campus. If you test negative for COVID-19 with 2 antigen tests that are taken at least 48 hours apart, you may discontinue masking, even if you have not completed the second 5-day period.
3. Students must tell their faculty members that they have tested positive for COVID-19 and must quarantine for 5 days. Faculty and staff must inform their immediate supervisors of a positive COVID-19 test and must quarantine for 5 days.
4. If you are exposed to a person with COVID-19, you should take a COVID-19 test 5 days after the exposure, or sooner if you experience symptoms. Determining whether you are exposed to COVID-19 depends on several variables: the length of time you spent with the infected person (less time is better); your distance from the infected person (farther away is better), whether you were masked (less likely to be infected), and whether you have a compromised immune system (more likely to be infected).
5. The College will no longer engage in contact tracing of either students or faculty/staff who are exposed to or infected with COVID-19. We must consider the virus to be widespread, therefore making contact tracing ineffective.
6. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should immediately inquire of your medical professional about the use of antiviral drugs, which may lessen the severity and length of your infection.

As a society, we have now reached a place where we must assume COVID-19 is virtually everywhere. Please protect yourself and your classmates and colleagues by taking a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms of the virus or believe you were exposed to someone who is positive for the virus. And, if you are positive for COVID-19, stay home until you have remained fever-free without fever-reducing medicines for at least 24 hours.

Should you have any questions about these new COVID-19 procedures, please contact me directly.

Be well, and best regards,

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

March 10, 2022 - Statement on mask optional policy

Dear Students and Colleagues:

After many months of requiring masks in all indoor settings at the College (great job!), we have finally arrived at a COVID transmission rate that will allow us to adopt a mask-optional policy for all students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. This will take effect on Friday, March 11.

First, the COVID-positive cases and exposures on campus, both among students and faculty/staff, are extremely low, and on some days at zero. Second, the number of positive cases in our service region has fallen significantly. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control now classify Washington and Tyrrell Counties as “moderate” regarding transmission, although Beaufort and Hyde remain at the “high” level. Still the methodology for arriving at these status levels tends to skew some of the data to the point where all of our counties are likely in the “moderate range.” And, third, most of our sister community colleges, as well as ECU and North Carolina State University, have already transitioned to mask-optional policies. I have spoken with the Faculty Senate, Staff Association, and the Student Government Association about this plan, and all are in favor of a change to a mask-option policy.

Although we are moving to a mask-optional policy, there are some important elements of our COVID-19 policy that remain in place: 1.) If you test positive for COVID-19, you must immediately inform your supervisor or a faculty member and quarantine for five days or until asymptomatic; in no case should anyone with a fever be on campus; 2.) If you experience close contact with someone who has COVID-19 (at least 15 minutes within 6 feet), you must inform your supervisor or a faculty member; depending on you vaccination status, you may need to quarantine and will need to receive a COVID test three days after exposure; 3.) If you’re sick, stay home. This is just common sense. Even if you may not have COVID, you may have another communicable virus (e.g., the flu), and you should not be on campus; and, 4.) Please continue to wash your hands and social distance where possible, especially in large indoor groups. If we see break-through COVID cases, they will likely come from such gatherings.

Additionally, individual faculty will have the capacity to speak discretely with students who may seem to be sick while in class to determine whether they need to go home or wear a mask. It simply makes sense for everyone’s welfare that if you’re exhibiting signs of illness, you should not be on campus.

Please remember that mask-optional means just that: if you want to continue wearing a mask, you may do so. If you decide not to wear a mask, that, too, is your choice. The College will not tolerate any episodes of harassment or shaming of people for either wearing or not wearing a mask on any occasion.

And, lastly, COVID-19 is likely to stay with us for many years. We must and will be prepared to return to mandatory masking if the Centers for Disease Control suggest this route in the future.

Right now, let’s enjoy seeing each other’s faces again!

Thank you, and best wishes,

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

January 3, 2022 - Statement on the current policies for spring semester

Dear Students and Colleagues:

With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in our region, we need to follow the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines regarding quarantining and isolation.As of our reopening tomorrow, January 4, Beaufort County Community College will adhere to the following procedures regarding COVID-19:

1. All students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 or who are exposed via close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 (close contact = 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who is positive) must inform your supervisor (faculty and staff) or a faculty member, dean, or vice-president for Student Services (students) immediately.
2. All individuals must continue to mask at all times while indoors on campus, unless you are alone in your office space (employees).Because we will continue to hold in-person classes, it is imperative that everyone wear masks that cover both the nose and mouth at all times when in class and between classes in indoor spaces.
3. FOR EVERYONE:If you test positive for COVID-19, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not, isolate and stay home for 5 days.If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days (and you have no fever), you may return to campus but must wear a mask around others at all times in keeping with procedure #2 above.
4. If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and have been vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna two-shot series within the last 6 months OR if you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine earlier than 6 months ago and have received the vaccine booster OR if you have received the series of Johnson & Johnson vaccinations within the last 2 months, you may continue to attend class or come to work, as long as you continue to mask.Additionally, you should be tested for COVID-19 after 5 days.If you test positive, follow procedure #3 above; if you test negative, you may return to campus.All individuals must inform the College of test results after exposure.
5. If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and if you are unvaccinated OR have not received the Pfizer or Moderna booster OR if you completed the Johnson & Johnson series of vaccinations more than 2 months ago, you must stay home for 5 days, test after 5 days, and continue wearing a mask for another 5 days.If you test positive, follow procedure #3 above; if you test negative, you may return to class or work, as long as you continue to mask.

Should you have any questions about these procedures, please contact Ms. Nicole Ham in Human Resources (if employee) at Nicole.ham@beaufortccc.edu or Dr. LaTonya Nixon, Vice President of Student Affairs (if student) at latonya.nixon@beaufortccc.edu

With your cooperation, we will weather this new surge in the virus and hopefully put COVID-19 behind us.

Best regards,

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

August 5, 2021 - Statement pertaining to mask policy

BCCC requiring masks, encouraging vaccinations.

In light of the recent surge in cases of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, Beaufort County Community College is instituting the mandatory wearing of face masks by all students, faculty, and staff as of August 9, including individuals who are fully vaccinated. This decision coincides with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendation that all individuals—including fully vaccinated individuals—wear masks indoors in areas with “substantial or high transmission” rates. Currently, Beaufort, Hyde, and Washington Counties are experiencing “substantial” transmission, while Tyrrell County is experiencing a “high” rate of COVID-19 transmission.

This mandate will not apply to individuals when they are alone in their offices or work spaces, nor will it apply outdoors. The college is not reinstating social distancing, but will maintain its ongoing disinfection of all spaces on campus.

According to the most recent data from the CDC, individuals who are fully vaccinated are 99.9 percent protected from hospitalization resulting from COVID-19, even if they contract the Delta variant. With the advent of the Delta variant, more than 95 percent of headcount hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in the unvaccinated population.

While the College will not be asking students, faculty, or staff to disclose their vaccination status, it encourages vaccination as students will be in close proximity with other students who travel between high schools, work places, and homes with varying safety protocols. Free vaccines are readily available at local drug stores and at each county health department. Classes start on August 16, and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that is available for ages 12 and up requires a second dose after 21 days or three weeks for full efficacy.

Broad vaccination among eligible individuals will also help protect individuals who cannot get vaccinated such as children under 12 and people with medical complications.

BCCC believes that the best way to serve its students is through in-person courses. Returning to an all-virtual environment is not effective for teaching and learning, especially when there is a vaccine available that will prevent serious illness. Therefore, the college will move forward with in-person classes without social distancing, trusting to vaccines and masks to slow transmission of the virus.

March 3, 2021 - BCCC resumes in-person classes for Fall 2021 semester

Beaufort County Community College will resume in-person classes during its Fall 2021 semester. Classes will begin on August 16 and run for 16-weeks, as previously scheduled. Registration is currently open for both the Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 semesters. The college will adjust its mask and social distancing policies during the summer in response to public health guidelines.

BCCC administrators decided to resume in-person classes to accommodate students who perform better academically in a classroom setting. Since the Spring 2020 semester, the college ran most courses exclusively online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some career and technical skills-based classes such as nursing, automotive systems technology and basic law enforcement training have held in-person classes following the college’s existing mask and physical distancing policies.

The majority of Summer 2021 classes, beginning May 18, are taking place online, as they have during previous semesters.

Registration is currently underway for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021. Students are welcome to come to campus to meet with admissions and financial aid staff, though they are required to wear masks inside of buildings. The college will open its advising center, initially online, on May 17 to help students register for classes.

In August, the college may still require students and employees to wear masks inside of campus buildings based on Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations at that time.

September 22, 2020 - SlowCOVIDNC App Launch

slowCOVIDNC app

July 28, 2020 - Welcome Video

July 1, 2020 - Temporary COVID-19 Virus Response Procedure

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends of BCCC:

To the right you will find Beaufort County Community College’s procedure for managing College instruction and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the procedure is effective immediately, some of the actions will not commence until we fully reopen campus facilities prior to the start of Fall Semester 2020.

Please note two significant components in the procedure: 1). Face coverings/masks are required in all indoor spaces at all times and for all individuals and outdoors when individuals are closer than six feet; 2). College buildings are open only to students, prospective students and their parents/guardians, faculty, staff, trustees, and foundation directors. Members of the general public are still welcome to use the walking trail, exercise stations on the walking trail, and the disc golf course at their own risk, but are not allowed in College buildings without approval by the Office of the President.

Thank you and be safe!

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

April 20, 2020 - You Still Belong Here

April 7, 2020 - Summer Semester 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

I sincerely hope you and your families are well during this unprecedented time in our state, nation, and world. I write to inform you that Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) will operate via online instruction only for Summer Semester 2020. This will include all 8-week courses as well as both 5-week sessions.

Students who enroll in career and technical skills-based courses such as welding, mechanical engineering technology, and electrical engineering technology during Summer Semester will receive Incomplete (“I”) grades at the conclusion of their courses, since they will still need to complete the hands-on, face-to-face lab component of these courses in order to show competency. It is possible that we may be able to hold some of these labs with safe social distancing by July or August—but there is no guarantee that this will occur. We will have to wait to see whether the state and federal authorities agree that is safe to meet in small groups again. All transfer courses, including lab sciences, will run online in entirety.

I realize that this is a difficult time for all of you and that we all want our lives to return to normal. This will happen! But, we have to work together to make it happen by practicing safe social distancing and avoiding direct contact with groups of people. That’s why it’s so important that the College continue with online instruction only through July, or at least until the pandemic subsides.

Please contact our great faculty and staff should you have any questions about your courses or College operations and procedures ( https://www.beaufortccc.edu/college-contacts ). Also, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page on the College website, where we’ve tried to anticipate your questions and concerns during this unique time ( https://www.beaufortccc.edu/covid-19-faq ).

The only continuing education courses that BCCC will offer through June 30 will occur online. By July 1, the College will reevaluate whether it is safe for public services courses in continuing education, such as EMS and Fire, to meet face-to-face for lab experiences. Our decision at that time will depend on recommendations from the State of North Carolina and the federal Centers for Disease Control regarding the degree of safe face-to-face contact.

Until further notice, the College’s Learning Enhancement Center is available for virtual assistance only. Also, until further notice, the BCCC Library and the regional centers in Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties are open by appointment only.

Thank you for choosing BCCC and for allowing us to help you stay on track with your higher education aspirations. Take care, and

Best wishes,

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

April 3, 2020 - Library and LEC Access

Dear Students and Colleagues:

Due to the possible increase in COVID-19 cases in Eastern North Carolina over the next several weeks, I have decided to close the Learning Enhancement Center (LEC) on our main campus as of April 6. As of that date, you will need to access the Learning Enhancement Center online at this address:

http://www2.beaufortccc.edu/learning-enhancement-center/or call the LEC director, Mr. James Casey, at 252-375-6433.

While our Library on the main campus will remain open, as of April 6, you will need to make an appointment with Ms. Paula Hopper, the director of the Library, at 252-940-6243 or at library@beaufortccc.edu to gain entrance to the facility in Building 5. Please call or email at least one hour in advance of your visit to access the library.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. As you know, we have to take all necessary precautions to prevent transmission of the coronavirus and to keep students and employees safe.

Thanks for understanding, and be well…

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

March 30, 2020 - You Still Belong Here

Dear BCCC Students:

I hope that you and your families are well and managing the COVID-19 pandemic as best you can. This is a very difficult time for all of us, but I want you to know that Beaufort County Community College is here for you. As an essential service, the College is an exception to Governor Cooper’s stay-at-home order, so you can travel here and comply with the order.

We are still open on campus, including the Library and our Learning Enhancement Center (tutoring and computer lab), and you may use these from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Additionally, our regional centers in Roper and Engelhard are open, and we have opened a computer lab at Tyrrell Hall in Columbia for student use. Also, we have boosted the strength of our wireless Internet service on campus and at the regional centers, so you can access the Internet from the parking lots, if you do not wish to enter the buildings.

I realize that some of you may not have expected or wanted to take courses online and may not be perfectly comfortable with that format. Should you have any concerns with using Blackboard, the online learning management system for your courses, please contact your instructor directly or our Blackboard administrator, Ms. Kate Purvis, at Kate.Purvis@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6247. She will be glad to assist you with questions about the software.

Also, here is a link to the phone numbers of the College’s critical functions and the individuals responsible for each area: www.beaufortccc.edu/college-contacts. Please contact these individuals with questions regarding their departments. Each person’s number rings directly to an individual cell phone, so you will receive very prompt service.

Please keep in mind that registration for Summer Semester and Fall Semester is open as of today, March 30 (www.beaufortccc.edu/student-records/schedules). I encourage you to enroll now for your courses for both semesters; we will be open and here for you no matter what happens.

Stay healthy, hang in there, and keeping thinking about your future! You STILL Belong Here!

Best wishes,
David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

March 24, 2020 – Dr. Loope on commencement and Spring Semester

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends:

Given the increasing likelihood that the coronavirus outbreak will prevent us from convening in groups larger than 50 people for the foreseeable future, I have made the decision to postpone our scheduled May 15, 2020, Commencement ceremony until a later date. We do not know the new date of Commencement, since we do not know when the pandemic will subside sufficiently to enable us to gather as a large group. But, we will hold Commencement on a yet-to-be-determined date, which the College will communicate as soon as we know it. If you are a student who is scheduled to graduate this May, you will still do so—assuming you successfully complete any remaining required courses in which you are enrolled. Also, if you have already paid your Commencement and other graduation fees, there will be no need to repay these. The College will apply them to the rescheduled Commencement ceremony.

Secondly, the College will continue to offer all courses—with a very few approved exceptions—in an online format through the last day of finals on May 13. This extends our decision to teach via online format through April 5. All lab science courses will use online laboratory experiences that faculty will begin to employ over the next week. Career and technical education (CTE) programs will continue to teach the lecture component of their courses via Blackboard; the College will decide how to manage lab-based instruction in CTE programs on a program-by-program basis over the next two weeks. Continuing education courses not taught online will remain on hiatus pending further direction from College leadership.

I am aware of the disappointment you must feel in postponing Commencement, which is truly the culmination of each year’s academic experience for faculty and a lifetime milestone for students. But, under these extraordinary circumstances, we have little choice in the matter. I will be back in touch as soon as possible with a new date for the event.

Thank you all for your amazing persistence and professionalism during this most trying time. Stay well, and

Best wishes,

David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President

March 16, 2020 – Classes to Transition Online at 5:00 p.m.

Effective at 5:00 p.m. today, March 16, 2020, Beaufort County Community College will transition all face-to-face instruction to online instruction through the Blackboard learning management system. The college is taking this action in order to prevent the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus on campus. We will continue with this instructional mode through April 5, 2020. At that time, we will reassess the transmission of COVID-19 in our service region and determine whether to continue in online instructional mode. Also, we will postpone all continuing education courses that cannot meet in an online format through April 5 and reassess attendance policies at that time. All events on campus are canceled through May 1.

It is very important to understand that the college is not closing. Each credit course section at BCCC possesses an online Blackboard site designed for just such situations. Students can still sign up for classes, speak to financial aid representatives and pay for classes online and over the phone. We will have post updates and plan to post answers to frequently asked questions on the homepage of our website, www.beaufortccc.edu/

The administration, maintenance and custodial staffs will remain on a regular work schedule on campus. All non-critical function, full-time employees and permanent part-time employees will telecommute at least through April 5. The BCCC Library will remain open for students but not for the general public, as will the Learning Enhancement Center.

Exceptions to the online transition include nursing and allied health practicals and basic law enforcement training (BLET). For classes that require a face-to-face lab experiences, we will ensure students and faculty practice safe social distancing procedures (6 feet of space). Cosmetology lab hours will be postponed until after April 5.

During this online instruction period, while the public school districts in the region are closed, BCCC will keep open our Washington County Center in Roper and our Hyde County-Davis Center in Engelhard on normal schedules. These sites will enable early college high school students in those counties to access the computer labs and internet connections at those locations so as to continue with college coursework. Additionally, BCCC will provide a portable computer lab at Tyrrell Hall in Columbia to provide access for Columbia High School early college students.

These are difficult actions for the college to take in the middle of the semester, and we want to thank our students in advance for their cooperation, understanding, and assistance in enabling the college to continue operating during this unprecedented time. BCCC has a mission to meet the postsecondary education needs of all citizens in its large service area—to enable them to better their lives and look to a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. We hope to remain a beacon of hope by persevering in this time of adversity.

March 13, 2020- Test Drive Your College canceled

Our Test Drive Your College event, scheduled for April 7, has been canceled due to restrictions on field trips from school systems.

March 10, 2020 - Statement from BCCC President, Dr. Loope

Dear Colleagues:

I write to update you on Beaufort County Community College’s response to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak. BCCC continues to monitor national, state, and local health organizations. We have reviewed preventive measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the Beaufort County Health Department. College representatives meet weekly with the Beaufort County Health Department to gain the latest information and recommendations for our community. BCCC will take appropriate actions, as recommended by State and local health services, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What is BCCC doing to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus?

BCCC has installed UV light filtration units in our air conditioning systems. These systems eliminate almost the entirety of mold, viruses, and bacteria as the air passes through the filtration system and back out into the classroom and office spaces.

BCCC custodial staff cleans restrooms, door handles, handrails, and water fountains multiple times per day with approved hospital grade antiviral disinfectants. They wipe down desk tops, seating, and classroom computer keyboards daily. The hand soap dispensers in the restrooms contain antibacterial soap. If the COVID-19 virus begins to effect Beaufort County and the remainder of our service area, college custodial staff will engage in their cleaning routine multiple times each day.

At this time, there is no plan to discontinue the meeting of face-to-face classes at the college. However, we will monitor the possible spread of the virus into Eastern North Carolina and continue to consult with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Beaufort County Health Department regarding recommendations for any discontinuation of college services. I will communicate with you directly if we make any such decisions.

What can you do to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus?

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.
• Avoid shaking hands and fist bumps.
• Practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of at least three feet from others when possible.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched. (i.e. cell phones, computers)
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Communication is important. If you are sick, communicate immediately with your professors about your situation.

BCCC continues to keep the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students a priority. Remember, frequent handwashing remains the best way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading around our communities.

Sincerely,
David R. Loope, Ed.D.
President