College closed for holiday break

Coastal Bend College will close on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 at 5 p.m. for the winter holiday break. The college will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 at 8 a.m. Faculty will return on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012.

The last day to register for Spring 2012 classes is Jan. 13. Students with no holds may register at any time at www.coastalbend.edu until then, even over the holiday break. Students are encouraged to register as soon as possible as classes fill up quickly. Classes begin on Jan. 17.

A new state law requires all students entering institutions of higher education show evidence of receiving a bacterial meningitis vaccination or booster dose during the five year period prior to enrollment and not less than 10 days before the first day of the semester. Entering students include transfer students from other colleges and returning or continuing students who have had a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester.

The law allows for exceptions for:

• Students 30 years of age or older;
• Students who are enrolled only in online or other distance learning courses;
• Students who submit an affidavit or a certificate signed by a physician who is duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States, in which it is stated that, in the physician’s opinion, the vaccination required would be injurious to the health and well‐being of the student; or
• Students who submit an affidavit signed by the student stating that the student declines the vaccination for bacterial meningitis for reasons of conscience, including religious belief. A conscientious exemption form (“Affidavit Request for Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience”) from the Texas Department of State Health Services must be used. Allow several weeks to submit and have form approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

To get the vaccine, check with your family doctor or local public health department. Be sure to get your vaccine early as you will need to submit proof of immunization before the start of classes to allow for verification time. This process is expected to take at least 2‐3 days but it could be longer.

Coastal Bend College (CBC) will be using Magnus Health SMR (Student Medical Record) an electronic system for tracking and storing the bacterial meningitis immunizations and exemptions. Magnus is used by more than 900 schools for managing school health records. We are adopting this system because it 1) reduces the future burden of paperwork on our students, 2) provides HIPAA and FERPA privacy and security practices to the information, 3) makes this information instantly available to you if the need arises in the future, and 4) advances the speed of care and communication of our staff to you in the event of an outbreak or illness on campus.

To receive information from Magnus on how to submit your documentation, you must access your CBC e‐mail account using your CBC student ID number. Instructions on how to access your student ID number and e‐mail account are provided below. An email from Magnus will detail where and how to submit documentation required by the state and your username and temporary password to access your account. The bacterial meningitis vaccine or exemption from this vaccine must be submitted through Magnus Health SMR. When you log in to your Magnus Health account you will be able to download the forms that need to be completed to provide proof of vaccination or exemption. If you have additional questions please contact customer support from Magnus Health SMR, which is available to you by phone (877‐461‐6831) and email (service@magnushealthportal.com).

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