With the start of the spring semester, Bakersfield College leans towards the way of safety for its students and begins precautionary measures by introducing COVID-19 check-in stations. Being open for the busier hours of campus classes and activities, with locations at admin way, admin lot, GET Bus stop, solar lot, Fine Arts walk-up way, Red and White walk, Red and White Trans West, Stadium Parking lot, Southwest Walkway, Stadium Lot, and the Southwest Drive stations. Check-in station hours include Monday through Thursday from 7:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Also a new way to get onto campus is by completing the Daily Health Checker form within the KCCD app and by showing your green campus pass.

Set to stay for the entirety of the new semester, it begins a further step of precautionary measures set by BC. According to Office of Student Life program director Nicole Alvarez, “the Campus Pass Check-In Stations are one of BC’s many mitigation steps to keep our students, staff, faculty, and campus community safe and healthy. As part of our shared responsibility, we must all continue to use the Daily Health Checker within the app before coming to campus and share information about the free testing, vaccines, boosters, and flu shots available at BC’s COVID Resource Hub.”

Yet, mixed emotions from the students also raise some questions, with first-year BC student Briana Scargglioni sharing her concern when asked about the new measures, “it’s alright. I don’t see any point because someone could easily lie on the KCCD app.”

 At the same time, others do not mind like BC fourth-year student Toshiro Germany 

“I feel pretty indifferent about covid; for me, it’s just something I have to do to get on campus, so I don’t really think too much of it.”

Nonetheless as a new COVID variant rages on it provides a barrier in protecting students and staff. 

“We are committed to maintaining the health and safety of our campus community, that’s why the BC’s COVID Response Team has put certain protocols in place, like the Campus Pass Check-In Stations and the Daily Health Checker” Alvarez said. “These processes will help us keep the campus open for in-person learning and face-to-face student support services.”

For any questions or concerns regarding COVID testing, contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at (661) 395-4336 before arriving on campus.