During a March 4 board of trustees meeting, the Lone Star College System announced its intent to continue operating with mask protocols in place and limited capacity through the remainder of the year.

LSCS Chancellor Stephen Head said the college is anticipating the maintenance of its current safety protocols of social distancing, wearing masks and doing temperature checks through the end of the year following Gov. Greg Abbott's announcement to lift the mask mandate effective March 10.

"We have a responsibility to our 85,000 students and 7,500 employees," Head said. "We want to be really careful."

Head added that LSCS staff members have been supportive of keeping the protocols as they are.

LSCS is currently operating with 50% of courses online, 25% of courses in person and 25% of classes as a hybrid of online and in-person.