Policies, Requirements & Records

Academic Requirements

Degree/Certificate Programs

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree is awarded for completion of a comprehensive program of study in professional technical education designed to prepare graduates for technician-level employment. Programs leading to the AAS degree are 90 or more credits in length. 

The Associate of Applied Science - Transfer (AAS-T) option contains the technical courses needed for job preparation and also a minimum of 20 credits of transferable general education coursework in English, math, humanities, social science, or natural science. Be sure to check with the receiving institution advisor to confirm which courses will transfer.

Direct Transfer Agreement/Major-Related Program (DTA/MRP) degree options are designed for students who intend to complete a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution before entering the workforce. Completion of these BTC 90-plus credit degrees prepares students to transfer with junior status to a participating college or university. Be sure to check with the receiving institution advisor to confirm what courses will transfer.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree is a two-year degree added on top of an existing associate degree or previous bachelor’s degree.

A certificate of completion is awarded for successful completion of an approved course of study totaling less than 90 credits within a program of professional technical education. 

Upon successful completion of an AAS, AAS-T, or DTA/MRP degree, a Washington state high school diploma is available to students who have not otherwise satisfied the State Board of Education’s high school graduation requirements. Students must meet eligibility criteria as defined in SHB 1758 and submit an online High School Diploma application. Once verified, High School Diploma will be posted to the student’s BTC transcript along with the earned degree. 

Students may elect to graduate under the provisions of the catalog in force either at the time of entry OR at the time of completion, providing four (4) years have not lapsed AND the student has remained continuously enrolled in the program. Students needing longer than four years to complete a given degree or certificate will be subject to any updated completion requirements. 

In determining if the requirements for graduation have been met, the college provides assistance through faculty advisors, College Navigators, counselors, and the college catalog. However, the final responsibility for meeting all completion requirements rests with the student. Students have the responsibility of verifying specific completion requirements with their advisor and Academic Advising Report (AAR).

General Completion Requirements for Degrees and Certificates

1. Complete, with a passing grade, all technical and academic core courses as listed in the BTC Catalog on the program pages defining requirements for individual degrees/certificates. Some degree/certificate programs may require minimum grades in required courses.
2. Complete the online BTC Graduation Application and Academic Advising Report (AAR) for each degree or certificate requested. 
3. Meet all financial obligations to the College.
4. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. Individual programs may require a higher grade point average.
5. Complete 15 college-level credits in the required course work at BTC.
6. BTC may verify and award certificates and degrees as they are earned.

Program Closure

BTC is committed to student completion of professional technical degrees and certificates. In the event of a degree or certificate program termination, the College will make an effort to assist students in the completion of program requirements within a specific timeframe.

Commencement Ceremony

All students who complete a program of 45 credits or more by the preceding fall, winter, spring, and following summer quarters are eligible to participate in the June Commencement Ceremony. Students must submit an online graduation application and sign up to participate in Commencement by the published deadline. Guest tickets (no charge) are required for the Commencement Ceremony. Black cap and gown are required and can be purchased through the BTC Campus Store.

General Education Requirements

General education courses are included in the programs to prepare students with communication, computation, and interpersonal skills required for success. All candidates for degrees and certificate options of one year (45 credits) or longer in length must satisfy the requirements for general education. 

Each program has specific requirements unique to that field of study and employment or transfer. For specific General Education requirements, see individual program pages in the catalog, online at www.btc.edu/Degrees, or in an Academic Advising Report (AAR).

Minimum General Education Requirements

Certificates of 45 credits or more and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees require a minimum of 3-5 credits in Communications, 3-5 credits in Mathematics, and 3-5 credits in Human Relations.

Associate of Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) degrees require a minimum of 5 credits in English Composition (ENGL& 101), 5 credits in college-level Mathematics, and 10 credits in Science, Social Science, or Humanities.

Direct Transfer Agreement/Major-Related Program (DTA/MRP) degrees require General Education to satisfy transfer requirements for universities. See requirements at www.btc.edu/Degrees.

Bachelor of Applied Science degree requirements are posted at www.btc.edu/Degrees.

Classes falling into each of the required categories are listed at www.btc.edu/Academics. Specific programs may be more prescriptive and require a particular class within one of these categories or may require additional General Education requirements. These requirements are catalog year specific. Refer to program information at www.btc.edu/Degrees and talk with your College Navigator regarding particular requirements.

Student Grades

Grading Policy

BTC uses the following letter grading symbols:

Interpretation of Grade Symbols

A (4.0) Excellence in Achievement of Competency 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student has done an exceptionally high level of work and has achieved all competencies. 

B (3.0) Above Average Achievement of Competency 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student has significantly exceeded the average and has achieved all competencies. 

C (2.0) Average Achievement of Competency 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student accomplished an average level of work and, at a minimum, has achieved all competencies. 

D (1.0) Below Average Achievement of Competency 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student did not do average work and did not meet the minimum level competencies. 

F (0.0) Failure to Achieve Minimum Competency 

The student failed to progress toward minimum competencies and performed at exceptionally low level of skill. Student must repeat degree/certificate program course requirement in which an F grade has been earned. 

NOTE: + and - symbols are used with traditional letter grades A through D to differentiate level of achievement within a grade range. The + symbol is not used with the letter grade A, the - symbol is no longer used with the letter grade D, and neither the + or - symbols are used with the letter grade F. 

The following grades do not carry grade point values and therefore are not computed into the grade point average (GPA).

AU - Audit

This designation is used for continuing education courses only and must be requested by the student before the course begins or prior to the second class session. This grade is not used for academic courses or degree/certificate programs course requirements. No credit will be awarded for Audit classes. The student must pay regular tuition and fees. 

CR - Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL)

ACPL is credit granted toward the award of a degree or certificate for prior learning experiences, demonstrated through various means of assessment, to be the equivalent of learning gained through formal collegiate instruction. Credits are earned.

I - Incomplete 

The student has completed a significant portion (75% or more) of the course requirements, but did not complete all requirements by the end of the quarter. For a student to receive a letter grade, a contract for completing the competencies must be established with the instructor and all work completed according to the contract within one year from the date the I grade was received. Failure to achieve satisfactory completion by the deadline will result in the grade changing from an I to an F. 

I after letter grade - In-Progress (valid grade prior to Fall Quarter 2005)

The student has completed a significant portion of the course at the time of grading and is performing at the level of the grade identified. In-Progress grades will post each quarter until all course requirements are completed. A final grade will be posted in the quarter of completion.

NP - No Pass 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student did not meet the requirements. No Pass is used for internship courses, work-based learning experiences, and clinical courses. 

P - Pass 

In relation to the standards set for the course, the student met all requirements. Pass/No Pass is used for internship courses, work-based learning experiences, and clinical courses. Credits are earned.

R after letter grade - Repeat (valid indicator prior to Fall Quarter 2021)

A grade qualifier that indicates the course has been repeated. Only the highest grade will compute into the cumulative GPA. This indicator appears after the letter grade of the lowest grade.

T - Transfer credit (valid grade prior to Summer Quarter 2009) 

Transfer Credit granted for coursework completed from other regionally accredited institutions, as determined by the designated transcript evaluator or dean through evaluation of official transcripts. Effective Summer Quarter 2009, cumulative transfer credits will be noted on the student transcript. 

V - Unofficial Withdrawal (valid grade prior to Fall Quarter 2010) 

The student discontinued the course and did not officially withdraw. 

W - Official Withdrawal 

A system-awarded grade for students who officially withdraw from a course or program prior to the end of the quarter, or the designation of an administrative withdrawal of the student by the college. 

Grading Policy/Grading Changes 

A grade posted on a student’s transcript is considered final. If a student believes there has been a grading error, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor right away. Instructors can submit grade changes due to an error no more than four quarters from the time the grade was awarded. 

Academic Integrity

Acts of cheating, plagiarism, facilitation, and fabrication by students demean the institution, debase the degrees awarded, have no place in the college, and are serious offenses to academic goals and objectives and to the rights of fellow students. Academic consequences for academic dishonesty or abetting in academic dishonesty may be imposed at the discretion of a faculty member up to and including a failing grade for the course or dismissal from an academic program. The college may also impose disciplinary sanctions against a student who commits, attempts to commit, aids, abets, incites, encourages, or assists another person to commit, an act(s) of academic misconduct.

Academic Appeals

Bellingham Technical College believes in the right of all students to receive a fair and equitable review process when a grade complaint arises. These procedures will ensure that the grade awarded was not an arbitrary or capricious evaluation of the student’s fulfillment of the course requirements as described in the course syllabus. 

PROCEDURE

1. INITIATION OF APPEAL

All Bellingham Technical College students have a right to receive a fair and equitable review process when a grade complaint arises or after having been sanctioned for an academic integrity violation.

Students who believe they received an improper final grade or an unwarranted academic sanction shall have until the tenth instructional day of the subsequent quarter to appeal. For example, if action was taken in fall quarter, it must be appealed no later than the tenth instructional day of winter quarter. However, if the action was taken in spring quarter, the complaint may be appealed through the tenth instructional day of the next fall quarter.

Students are responsible for retaining all papers, tests, and projects from the class in question. Appeals of grades must demonstrate an arbitrary or capricious evaluation of student work or a calculation error. W (Withdrawal) grades are not appealable.

2. INFORMAL PROCESS — RESOLUTION BETWEEN STUDENT AND FACULTY 

The student initiates the academic process by speaking to the course instructor. This process should facilitate good faith efforts on the part of both the student and faculty member to resolve the matter.

PLEASE NOTE: If the instructor is no longer employed by the college, or is away from the campus for an extended period of time, the appropriate Dean will appoint two faculty members to review the student’s work and the grade which is under appeal. The grade can only be changed upon the recommendation of both faculty members. If there is no agreement, the grade shall remain as awarded.

3. FORMAL PROCESS WITH THE DEAN 

If the informal process with the instructor does not reach resolution, the student may initiate a formal academic appeal process by submitting a completed grade appeal form to the appropriate Dean by the end of the fourth week of the quarter. Once the Dean has received the completed form, they have ten (10) instructional days in which to discuss the situation with the instructor and the student. The student must make themself reasonably available to meet with the Dean. The Dean has another ten (10) instructional days following their discussion(s) with the instructor and student within which to make a written recommendation to the student which may:

1. Deny the appeal or grade change.
2. Move forward the appeal and convene a Hearing Committee.

If the Dean convenes a Hearing Committee, the decision of the Hearing Committee shall be final.

3A. APPEAL OF THE PROGRAM DEAN’S DECISION TO DENY THE GRADE CHANGE 

If the student wishes to appeal the Dean’s decision to deny the appeal, it should be done within five (5) instructional days of receipt of the Dean’s decision. The written appeal should be submitted to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) or designee and should stipulate the reasons for the appeal. The CAO or designee has ten (10) instructional days following their receipt of the appeal to review the documents and meet with the student. The CAO or designee has another ten (10) instructional days following their meeting with the student to make a written recommendation to the student which may:

1. Uphold the decision of the Dean and deny the appeal, which will end the appeal process.
2. Move forward with grade appeal and request the Dean convene a Hearing Committee.

If the CAO requests the Dean to convene a Hearing Committee, the decision of the Hearing Committee shall be final.

4. COMPOSITION OF THE ACADEMIC APPEAL HEARING COMMITTEE 

The Academic Appeal Hearing Committee will be drawn from a pool of ten (10) volunteer faculty members (approved in advance, by the CAO) who serve on-call for a one-year term.

From the pool of ten (10) names, five (5) will be chosen randomly by the Dean (with the student and, if possible, the instructor of record, present). The student will then remove two of the five (5) names. The remaining three (3) faculty members will make up the Hearing Committee. Chosen faculty may abstain from any Hearing Committee if they stipulate that serving poses a conflict of interest. In that case another member would be selected randomly from the pool by the CAO.

A designated administrator will serve as facilitator and an ex-officio member of the Academic Appeal Hearing Committee. 

4A. ACADEMIC APPEAL HEARING COMMITTEE PROCESS 

The Academic Dean or designee will contact the Academic Appeal Hearing Committee within ten (10) days of the request by the CAO. 

The Hearing Committee will set a date for a review session, review all documentation, and may interview all parties, including other students who may serve as student and/or faculty advocates. At the hearing, the instructor and the student will have a maximum of 30 minutes each in which to present their case. The Hearing Committee may vote to extend the 30-minute limit to an additional amount of time and provide the same number of minutes to both the student and instructor. 

The Hearing Committee will render their decision within ten (10) business days of the hearing. The decision of the Hearing Committee is final and the appeals process ends. 

Copies of the decision will go to the CAO, the student, and the instructor. A copy also will be placed in the student’s file.

Course Repeat 

Repeated classes will be identified on the transcript. Only the highest grade will be computed in the cumulative GPA. Students will need to fill out a Course Repeat Form if repeating a course taken prior to 2022.

Students may not take a class more than three (3) times per state regulation (this is defined as two repeats in addition to the original enrollment). A course applies to the repeat rule if the student receives a grade or withdraws.

Some programs may have more stringent restrictions for repeating courses (e.g. nursing). Requests for an exception to the Course Repeat rule may be submitted in writing to the appropriate Dean for review and determination.

Students receiving financial aid or veteran education benefits should consult the respective office(s) prior to repeating a course, as benefits or eligibility may be reduced or canceled as a result of the repeat.

Grades and Transcripts 

Quarterly grades for all graded programs and courses are available in myBTC or at www.btc.edu\transcripts within three business days following the end of the quarter. Grades can be viewed on unofficial transcripts. An unofficial transcript is an unsigned and unsealed copy of the student’s academic record and is available online. There is no charge for unofficial transcripts. The official transcript is a sealed copy of the student’s academic record bearing the college’s seal and the signature of the Registrar. Requests for official transcripts require a student signature and must be accompanied by the appropriate transcript fee. Official transcripts are requested online at www.btc.edu\transcripts.

GED transcripts are available at www.ged.com

Student records require a student’s legal name. In myBTC, students may enter a preferred name for faculty class rosters.

It is the student’s responsibility to review their transcript for accuracy. 

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Quarterly grade point averages are calculated as follows:

1. The number of credits for a course multiplied by the numerical grade awarded to obtain the grade points for that course.
2. Add the grade points for all courses taken.
3. Divide the sum of the grade points earned by the total number of credits attempted in course awarding numerical grades to obtain the GPA for a particular quarter.

AU, CR, I, P/NP, T, and W grades are not used in computing grade point average.

Conversion of Clock Hours to Quarterly Credits

Prior to Summer Quarter 2007, Bellingham Technical College was a Clock Hour institution. Here are the appropriate equivalency formulas for converting clock hours to credits at Bellingham Technical College.

• Starting in 2001, courses taken equate to 11 clock hours to one (1) quarterly credit. For example, English 101, English Composition in the past was listed in our catalog as 54 clock hours. Using this formula, this would equate to 5 quarterly credits (rounded to the nearest whole number).
• Courses taken prior to 2001 equate to 16.5 clock hours to one (1) quarterly credit.

From 2004-05 to 2006-07 the BTC Catalog lists both clock hours and credits for courses. In the summer of 2007, BTC converted from a clock hours to a credits institution.

Academic Achievement

Dean’s List

Students who carry a 12-credit load or more in graded courses and who earn a quarterly grade point average of 3.75 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List for the quarter. 

Honors Designation (effective Fall Quarter 2016)

Awarded to each full-time student enrolled in a degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher at the completion of all degree requirements.  Full-time is defined as being enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits per quarter. 

• Cum Laude: with honor                                                                     3.50-3.74 cumulative GPA
• Magna Cum Laude: with great honor                                                3.75-3.89 cumulative GPA
• Summa Cum Laude: with highest honor                                           3.90-4.00 cumulative GPA

Academic Standards and Progress

Academic Progress 

The primary objective of Bellingham Technical College is to prepare an educated workforce. In educating students, BTC stresses equally the development of technical skills, communication and interpersonal skills, positive work habits, and attitudes that are required for employment. In light of this, BTC expects that students demonstrate academic progress. 

In 2003, the Legislature of the State of Washington established a law requiring colleges to develop policies to ensure that undergraduate students complete degree and certificate programs in a timely manner in order to make the most efficient use of instructional resources and provide capacity within the institution for additional students. 

Academic Standards/Credit Completion Policy 

Students who wish to graduate and receive a degree or certificate must earn a quarterly grade point average of 2.0 or better in the program course requirements for the specific degree or certificate. 

In order to demonstrate satisfactory progress: 

1. All students will maintain regular attendance for each enrollment period. See Attendance below. 
2. All students will demonstrate satisfactory progress toward meeting program objectives. This standard is defined as maintaining a quarterly grade point average minimum of 2.0*.

* Individual programs may require higher-level grades in program or individual course requirements in defining satisfactory progress. These requirements will be published and made available to students upon enrollment in the program. 

Academic Alert/Probation/Suspension/Readmission 

Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory progress as defined above will be placed on academic alert and notified of their status. Students who do not demonstrate satisfactory progress for the following quarter will be placed on academic probation, notified of their status, informed they need to complete an Academic Improvement Plan, and meet with their assigned point of contact. Students will be suspended after three consecutive quarters of unsatisfactory progress, notified of their status and future enrollment blocked.

Students who have been suspended as a result of unsatisfactory academic progress may petition for re-admission by the fifth instructional day of the quarter. The suspended student can find the steps to submit their petition for academic re-admission on the Student Appeals page located on the BTC website. With their petition they will need to submit an Academic Improvement Plan and an unofficial transcript. Their program Dean will determine if they are approved or denied to continue enrollment at Bellingham Technical College. Students approved for re-admission will be placed on academic probation.

Attendance

Regular attendance is required to maintain satisfactory academic progress. BTC believes that attendance is a critical workplace competency and is important to overall student success. It is important that students attend all scheduled classes or notify their instructor of any absences. Attendance may be part of the grade in certain programs or classes.

Students who fail to attend and do not participate in a course activity by the second day of class may be dropped from class by the Instructor as a No Show. 

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a class and review their Student Schedule for accuracy. 

Student Records

Notification of Rights Under FERPA Privacy of Records/Releasing of Information

Bellingham Technical College policy on privacy of records and releasing of information follows the directives outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, the federal law governing the protection of educational records. Registered students will be notified of this policy on an annual basis. Others can find the policy below and on the BTC website.

Personally identifiable information will not be released from an education record without the prior written consent of the student unless an exception has been granted by FERPA (see Exceptions under FERPA section below). 

Rights Under FERPA 

All admitted and registered students at BTC are protected under FERPA, including former students. Students have the following rights and protections related to the privacy of their education records at the College:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day BTC receives the request for access. 

   Students should present to the Executive Director of Enrollment Services a signed, written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Executive Director of Enrollment Services will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Executive Director of Enrollment Services, the Executive Director of Enrollment Services shall advise the student of the college official to whom the request should be addressed. At the time of viewing, the student shall present a form of picture identification, such as a valid driver’s license, before being allowed to view the record. 

2. The right to request, in writing, amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes to be inaccurate or misleading. 

   Students should request forms for this purpose from the Executive Director of Enrollment Services. Students should clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of their right to file a formal student grievance regarding the denial of the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the formal student grievance process can be found under the Student Grievance Procedure and on the Student Appeals page of the BTC website.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent (see Exceptions under FERPA below). 

4. The right to waive their rights in writing.

5. The right to file a complaint to the U.S. Department of Education if they feel their FERPA rights have been violated. 

Information on how to file a complaint, along with the FERPA Complaint Form, may be found on the Protecting Student Privacy page of the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

The office at the Department of Education that administers FERPA is: 

U.S. Department of Education 
Student Privacy Policy Office 
400 Maryland Avenue SW 
Washington D.C. 20202-8520

Exceptions Under FERPA

Under certain conditions, as authorized by FERPA, information can be released without student consent.

Directory Information

The term Directory Information is a legal term applying to that information the College may release without the prior written consent of the student. Students have the option of refusing the release of Directory Information by sending a written request to the Registrar.

BTC designates the following information as Directory Information: 

• Student name 
• Major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Degree or certificate earned
• Term degree or certificate awarded
• Honors

Students have the right to restrict the disclosure of Directory Information at any time. To restrict the disclosure of Directory Information, a student may submit a written request to the Executive Director of Enrollment Services. The written request to restrict disclosure of Directory Information will be honored until such time as the student presents a signed written notification to the Executive Director of Enrollment Services to remove the restriction.

The College will disclose information from a student’s educational records only with written consent of the student, except under the following limited circumstances authorized by FERPA:

U.S. Military 

According to federal law, the college must release to the U.S. Armed Forces student name, address, phone number, date of birth, and field of study. To restrict the disclosure of this information, a student may file a signed written request with the Executive Director of Enrollment Services. 

Authorized Federal, State, and Local Authorities

Student authorization is not required for disclosure to an authorized representative of the following individuals or entities: 

• The Comptroller General of the United States 
• The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education 
• State educational authorities 
• Any party legitimately connected with the student’s application for or receipt of financial aid 
• Accrediting organizations 
• Agencies involving an audit or evaluation of compliance with education programs 
• Organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions 

Other Institutions 

Information can be released to other schools to which the student seeks or intends to enroll. 

Emergency Situations

In an emergency, information can be released to law enforcement personnel, emergency personnel, and college officials in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. 

Legitimate Educational Interest

Officials of the college who are determined by the college to have a legitimate educational interest may have access to student records without obtaining consent from the student. Officials of the college is defined as: 

• Persons employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position 
• Persons serving on college governing bodies 
• Persons employed by or under contract to the college to perform a specific task, such as an attorney 
• Auditors 
• Persons or companies with whom the college has contracted, such as attorneys, third party services (such as National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment or BankMobile, auditors, or collection agents/ agencies)
• Persons serving on the Board of Trustees 
• Students serving on official committees (such as a disciplinary or grievance committee) or who are assisting other school officials in performing their tasks 

Officials of the college have a legitimate educational interest if they need to: 

• Perform duties specified in their job description or under terms of contractual agreement 
• Provide campus services related to a student, such as advising, financial aid, and counseling 
• Conduct tasks related to a student’s education or campus discipline 

Judicial Order

Information must be released to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. The college will make a reasonable effort to notify the student of the order or subpoena in advance of compliance, so that the student may seek protective action. However, if the court (or other issuing agency) has ordered that the existence or the contents of the subpoena or judicial order not be disclosed, the college will comply, and notification to the student will be withheld. 

Grievance hearing information about a student or students involved in a grievance investigation or grievance hearing may be released to members of the Grievance Committee, including any students assigned to that committee, if such information is germane to the investigation or hearing. 

Disciplinary Hearing

The results of a disciplinary hearing may be released to an alleged victim of a crime of violence without the permission of the accused. 

Bellingham Technical College Foundation

Student names and addresses may be released to the Bellingham Technical College Foundation for Foundation-related activities. The Foundation is considered part of the college and will hold confidential such information, using the information only in specific activities intended to aid and support the college. Release of such information to the Foundation will be made only with the approval of the college president or their designee. 

U.S. Patriot Act

The college must release, without consent or knowledge of the student, personally identifiable information from a student’s education record to the Attorney General of the United States or their designee in connection with the investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes specified in sections 233b (g)(5)(B) and 2331 of Title 18, U.S. Code. 

Parents of Dependent Students

Parents of an eligible student who claims the student as a dependent for tax purposes may request non-Directory Information on their student as per established college policy under FERPA.

Written Release

Personnel employed by the college who have consent in the form of a written release of information signed by the student may disclose student information to appropriate outside agencies or persons. 

Inquiries from all third parties, including family members (of whom the student is not a dependent for tax purposes), other students, outside agencies, groups and organizations, and the public are considered as coming from outside the College and require written authorization from the student.

Students seeking to use BTC faculty or staff as a reference for employment are required to complete the Student Release for Reference or Recommendation form. Students obtain this form from their faculty. 

Student Names

Preferred Name

Bellingham Technical College is committed to promoting and providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. Referring to students by the name they wish to be called in classrooms and when interacting with college personnel supports a respectful learning environment. The reasons for choosing a preferred name that may be different from a legally changed name are personal and different for each individual.

A preferred name is a name a student wishes to be known by in the college community that is different from a student’s legal name. Typically, preferred names are first names. Surnames (last names) can be changed only with a legal name change.

Use of a preferred name is optional. Preferred names can be updated in myBTC under Student Profile. Preferred names will appear on Class Rosters, Grade Rosters and the Student Homepage.

Students may have many reasons for asking to have their preferred names, over their legal names, displayed on non-legal documents:

• Students known by names that are different from their legal names.
• Transgender or gender nonconforming identities.
• International students or other students who wish to adopt an English language name.

Staff may use your preferred name or your legal name.

• Since your Preferred Name is available to the Instructor and in the classroom via CANVAS and your legal name remains in other systems, staff may use your legal name at times.
• When this is the case, please confirm your legal name and let us know you have a preferred name that you would rather we use when interacting with you.

Preferred names may not be used for purposes of fraud or misrepresentation. Bellingham Technical College reserves the right to remove a preferred name if it contains inappropriate or offensive language.

When you set your preferred name, you agree that:

• You have not set a preferred name with an intent to impersonate someone else, to deceive, or to defraud.
• Hate speech, inappropriate language, or repeated frequent use of this feature may bar you from using this option at Bellingham Technical College’s discretion.

Legal Name

A legal name is the name that appears on your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, or U.S. Social Security Card.

Your legal name will be used in business processes and other activities that require use of a legal name. These include:

• Student Financial Resources Documentation
• Financial Aid
• Student Employment Records
• Federal Requests for Information
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Parchment
• Transcripts
• Academic Certifications
• Student Records
• Diplomas
• International Education Documentation

Your legal name will appear on your BTC Student Identification Card. The last name cannot be changed without a legal name change. You may request for your legal first name to be shortened (i.e., Matthew to Matt or Christine to Chris).

Changing Your Legal Name

The Name Change form is available online. For a legal name change, please fill out the Name Change form and bring it to Enrollment Services. You must provide official documentation to prove the legal name change. 

Official documentation for a legal name change is considered one of the following:

• Government issued ID AND Social Security Card with the new name
• Certified Court Order
• Marriage Certificate
• Dissolution/Divorce Decree

Student Identification Numbers

In accordance with Washington State Law SB 5509, BTC uses randomly assigned ctcLink ID numbers as the primary identifier for students’ academic records. This law is intended to add additional protection to students’ identity, records, and privacy. 

In response to Senate Bill 5463 the 34 Washington State Community and Technical Colleges modified how ctcLink ID numbers are assigned to new students. The purpose of this change is to move toward a common ctcLink ID number across the system, where students eventually will have one single ctcLink ID number regardless of which and how many colleges in the system they attend. 

Students may have the same student ID assigned that was assigned at a previously attended college when they provide a correct social security number. This common ctcLink ID number process only affects students who apply to colleges as of 12/16/2011. It does not apply to previously applied or attended colleges within the Washington State Community and Technical College system. 

Although a student’s social security number (SSN) will not be listed as the primary student identifier, the college will still need to record it for a number of uses including financial aid, tax credits, employment verification, workforce or unemployment data, assessment/accountability research projects authorized by the college and/or the state of Washington, transcripts, and other legitimate uses authorized under state and/or federal law. 

Student ID Cards

BTC student body cards are available in the temporary Student Center in the Morse Center Building, Room 221. The picture identification card includes the student identification number, which may be needed for enrollment, library usage, and other campus functions. It may also entitle the student to some community/retail discounts. 

Student Rights & Responsibilities

Discrimination and Harassment

Bellingham Technical College is committed to providing a learning and working environment characterized by mutual respect and fair treatment among all its constituents. An essential component of this environment is a strong ethic and practice of equality, acceptance, and nondiscriminatory interactions. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, use of a trained guide dog or service animal, or any other basis prohibited by college policy or by state or federal laws is unacceptable and will be addressed through this policy.

According to federal law, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Furthermore, Bellingham Technical College strives to provide a safe environment in which students and employees can pursue their education and/or employment free from the detrimental effects of sex discrimination, which includes, but is not limited to, sex-based harassment.

Sex discrimination will be addressed through the College’s Grievance Rules available online (Grievance Rules).

Office of the Title IX Coordinator for BTC: 360.752.8440 or titleIX@btc.edu.

Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer for BTC: 360.752.8354 or hr@btc.edu.

Student Conduct Code

All students are subject to the Bellingham Technical College Student Conduct Code published in Chapter 495B-121 of the Washington Administrative Code and as defined in this catalog. 

Copies of the entire Student Conduct Code are available to students and the campus community in the Office of the Vice President of Student Services and on the Student Resources page of the BTC website. 

Enrollment in the college carries with it the requirement that the student will conduct themselves as a responsible member of the community. This includes an expectation that the student will obey appropriate laws, will comply with the rules of the college and its departments, and will maintain a high standard of integrity and honesty. Sanctions for violations of college rules or for conduct that interferes with the operation of college affairs will be dealt with by the college, and the college may impose sanctions independently of any action taken by civil or criminal authorities. In the case of minors, misconduct may be referred to parents or legal guardians. 

Disciplinary action may be taken for a violation of any provision of the Student Conduct Code or violation of other college rules. 

Student Grievance Policy

Bellingham Technical College believes in the right of all students to access a fair and equitable review process when a complaint arises. These procedures will ensure that service received by students is proper and fair and not arbitrary, prejudiced, or capricious.

Definition of Grievance

A grievance is a complaint by a student against the application of a policy or practice of the college or college staff that is considered improper or unfair, or where there has been deviation from or misinterpretation or misapplication of a practice or policy. A grade appeal is not a grievance and is covered by a separate policy and process, as are appeals of student conduct decisions.

Student Grievance Procedure

1. INITIATION OF GRIEVANCE

The student will first try to resolve the matter with the appropriate BTC employee. If resolution is not achieved between the student and the BTC employee, the student will ask the employee’s immediate supervisor to resolve the complaint. If resolution is not achieved at the supervisory level, the student may file a formal grievance using the appropriate online grievance form.

2. INFORMAL PROCESS — RESOLUTION BETWEEN STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE 

The student wishing to initiate a complaint process must first try to resolve the matter with the appropriate BTC employee. This process should facilitate good faith efforts on the part of both the student and BTC employee to resolve the matter. In the event that the employee is no longer employed by the college, or is away from the campus for an extended period of time, the appropriate supervisor will hear the complaint.

3. INFORMAL PROCESS WITH THE SUPERVISOR 

If the informal process with the employee does not reach resolution, the student may initiate an informal complaint process with the appropriate supervisor (usually a dean or director) within 10 business days of the final response from the employee. Once the supervisor has received the complaint, they have 10 business days in which to discuss the situation with the employee and the student. The student must make themself reasonably available to meet with the supervisor. The supervisor has another 10 business days following their discussion(s) with the employee and student within which to make a written recommendation to the student which may: 

1. Offer a resolution to the complaint. 

2. Find the complaint unfounded. 

If the supervisor finds the complaint unsupported or if the student does not accept the resolution, the student may file a formal grievance. 

4. FILING A FORMAL GRIEVANCE 

If the student wishes to appeal the supervisor’s decision regarding their complaint, they may file a formal grievance within 5 business days of receipt of the supervisor’s decision. The written appeal should be submitted through the online form available on the BTC website and will be routed to the appropriate Vice President or designee for review and response. The student will receive acknowledgment of the filing of the grievance and may withdraw the grievance at any point during the formal procedure. The Vice President or designee will notify the employee with whom the complaint was originally filed, and the employee will receive a copy of the complaint. Note: if a complaint involves a Vice President at the informal level, the formal grievance will be assigned to a different Vice President.

The Vice President has 10 business days following their receipt of the grievance to contact the involved parties and an additional 10 business days to make a written recommendation that may:

1. Uphold the decision of the supervisor.

2. Offer a resolution to the student.

3. Move forward with the grievance and convene a Review Committee. 

If the Vice President upholds the decision of the supervisor or if the student does not accept the resolution, the student may request within 5 business days of receipt of the decision to move to the Grievance Review Committee stage.

4a. COMPOSITION OF THE GRIEVANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE 

The Grievance Review Committee will consist of five individuals representing the various college constituencies.  The committee will be made up of one administrator and four others determined through the BTC committee/governance process. The complainant may request student representation on the committee. If requested, the President will select two students to substitute for a like number of existing members of the committee. Members of the Grievance Review Committee will not be biased or personally interested in the outcome of grievance. 

The appropriate Vice President or designee will serve as facilitator and an ex-officio member of the Grievance Review Committee. 

4b. GRIEVANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS 

The Grievance Review Committee will review the grievance and the recommendations of the Vice President and make one of the following determinations within 10 business days:

1. That the grievance is unsupported.
2. That the grievance is supported and the committee can make a recommendation for remedy.
3. That the nature of the grievance requires a full hearing.

The committee will make its report in writing to the Vice President. The deliberations of the committee will not be disclosed to anyone except the Vice President, who will hold them confidential.

If the grievance is found to be unsupported by the committee, the Vice President will notify the student and the involved employee(s), and the grievance will be closed. The student may appeal this decision to the President.

If the grievance is found to be supported by the committee, they may make a recommendation for remedy. The Vice President will communicate the remedy to the student and the involved employee(s). If the recommendation is not acceptable to the student, they may appeal this decision to the President.

If the committee determines that the nature of the grievance requires one, they will call a full hearing.

4c. GRIEVANCE HEARING PROCESS

The appropriate Vice President or designee will establish a date for the hearing to be held within 10 business days from the date of the hearing notice. The notice establishing the date, time, and place of the hearing will be provided to all involved parties. The hearing will be conducted as expeditiously as possible and on successive days, if possible.

The student and the involved employee will each have the privilege to present a challenge if it is felt that a member of the committee is biased. In the case of a challenge for bias, a majority of the Grievance Hearing Committee members must be satisfied that a challenged member cannot hear the case impartially before the member can be disqualified. In the case of removal of a member through the challenge process, the President will restore the committee to full membership. Challenges for bias will be resolved before the hearing date.

At the hearing, the involved employee and the student will have a maximum of 30 minutes each in which to present their case. The Grievance Hearing Committee may vote to extend the 30-minute limit to an additional amount of time and provide the same number of minutes to both the student and employee. 

The student, the employee, and any others the committee deems necessary to the proceedings will make themselves available to appear at the proceeding unless they can verify to the committee that their absence is unavoidable.

The student and the employee will be permitted to have with them a party of their own choosing to act as advisor and counsel. The hearing may be monitored by the Assistant Attorney General assigned to the college.

The hearing will be closed to all except those persons directly involved in the case as determined by the Grievance Hearing Committee. Statements and materials given at the hearing will be confidential, will not be released to anyone, and may be used by the committee only for the purpose of making its findings and recommendations.

The facilitator of the Grievance Hearing Committee will convene and regulate the proceeding. The student, the employee, and the members of the hearing panel must be present during the proceeding, unless excused by the chair for good cause.  Repeated failure, without reasonable explanation, of either the student or the employee to appear will be grounds for default. The student will have the burden of presenting their grievance.

All parties will have the opportunity to question participants, to present materials and documentation and to respond to materials and documentation presented.

The hearing panel will be empowered to question participants and receive materials and documentation, to exclude any person(s) felt to be unreasonably disruptive of the proceedings, to hold conferences for the settlement of the issues involved, to make decisions or proposals for decisions, and to take any other actions consistent with this procedure.

After the conclusion of the hearing, the Grievance Hearing Committee will have 10 business days to deliver a written disposition of the grievance to the involved parties. The student may appeal this decision to the President within 10 business days.

5. APPEALS TO THE PRESIDENT

The student may submit a written appeal to the President within 10 business days from the date the decision is made by the Grievance Hearing Committee. The appeal must specify in detail what findings, recommendations, or other aspects of the decision were inappropriate or inaccurate. The appeal should also include what corrective action the student desires after consideration of the appeal by the President. The President may uphold the decision of the Grievance Hearing Committee, at which point no further appeals within the college will be considered, or the President may determine a remedy. After considering an appeal, the President will issue a written decision to the parties involved within 30 business days of the receipt of the appeal. The decision of the President will be final and no further appeals within the college will be considered.

Accommodation for Reasons of Faith or Conscience

BTC complies with RCW 28B.137.010 and accommodates student absences or rescheduling of learning activities for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization. Students’ grades may not be adversely impacted by absences authorized under College policy 375.0 Accommodation for Reasons of Faith or Conscience.

Bellingham Technical College requires regular attendance for students. If you have special circumstances and know you will be absent from class, you must notify your instructor prior to the absence.

Students seeking accommodation for reasons of faith or conscience must provide written notice to the faculty within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course of the specific dates requested.  All requests for accommodation under this policy must be in writing and contain a concise explanation of how the requested holiday is related to a reason of faith or conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization.

After an instructor is notified by the student of an upcoming absence, the instructor will determine what adjustments, if any, will need to be made to the student’s scheduled classwork or assignments. The instructor shall inform the student of these adjustments within two days of receiving the student’s notification. 

If the student’s desired absence date is on a day when a test was scheduled or an assignment was due, the instructor may require that the student take the test or submit the assignment before or after the regularly assigned date.

Regardless of an instructor’s class expectations or grading policies, absences authorized under this policy shall not adversely impact a student’s grades. 

If a student fails to notify any of their instructors of an absence that would have been accommodated under this policy, the instructor is not obligated to make any accommodations for the student’s absence or treat the absence as authorized under this policy or the law.

Children on Campus

No employee, student, or visitor to the College shall leave a child/minor unattended at the College, including in campus buildings, on campus grounds, or in a vehicle. The College does not supervise children/minors outside of officially sanctioned programs; neither the College nor its employees, agents, or students may accept responsibility to do so on behalf of the College.

BTC acknowledges that due to family needs and responsibilities BTC students and employees may in some circumstances have children/minors present on campus with them in a learning and/or work environment with approval of the employee responsible for the educational/physical space and/or a supervisor. Children are not permitted in high-risk learning environments and spaces such as: shops, mechanical rooms, power plants, garages, animal facilities, medical labs, food preparation areas, high security areas, and others as determined by the College. It is the responsibility and liability of the guardian/accompanying adult to ensure the safety of children/minors. The guardian/accompanying adult must ensure children/minors do not disrupt the educational or work setting.

The College retains the right to revoke permission of children/minors on campus at any time. Any unsupervised children/minors may be referred to the Safety Director and may be asked to leave. Any guardians/accompanying adults may be asked to leave with children/minors.

Service Animals

In compliance with state and federal laws, service animals are permitted on Bellingham Technical College’s premises or in facilities. This affords individuals with disabilities who require the assistance of a service animal equal opportunity for access to the college facilities, courses, programs, and activities.

Individuals whose animals do not meet the criteria of a service animal by state and federal laws are encouraged to consult with the Accessibility Resources Office.

Definitions:

Service Animal: A dog or miniature horse trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The trained tasks directly mitigate the effects of the disability. Disabilities may be physical, sensory, psychological, intellectual, or other mental disabilities.

Handler: The person with a disability who has control, custody, or possession of the Service Animal that has been trained to perform tasks for that individual.

Physical Control: Control by means of a leash or other restraining device held by the handler. Service Animals must be under control of the Handler at all times.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An animal that provides emotional or passive comfort alleviating one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of a disability. An Emotional Support Animal is not a service animal under this policy.

Student Rights

As members of the Bellingham Technical College academic community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and to engage in an independent search for truth. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility. The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the college community. 

For more information on student rights, see the Bellingham Technical College Student Conduct Code published in Chapter 495B-121 of the Washington Administrative Code and as defined in this catalog.

Student Right to Know and Campus Security Acts

In compliance with Public Law 101-542, the Student Right To Know Act and Campus Security Act, as amended by Public Law 102-26 (Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1991), Bellingham Technical College provides students with information about the student completion rates for the institution, as well as substance abuse prevention information, campus crimes, and security. All of this information is provided to students by e-mail and is also available on the college’s website: www.btc.edu. 

Transferring & Earning Credits

Credit Acceptance Policy

Transfer credit is credit that is granted for coursework from other regionally accredited institutions. BTC accepts and articulates all eligible transfer credits at time of admission or upon submission of an official transcript to Enrollment Services. BTC articulates transcripts within four weeks of receipt as staff capacity and resources allow.

Only courses completed at a regionally accredited college or university with an earned grade of “C” (2.0) or better will be considered for equivalent transfer credit at BTC. Appropriate college level courses numbered above 100-level or equivalent will be considered for acceptance of transfer credit for general education courses at BTC. Recency of coursework required by BTC programs may be considered in acceptance of transfer credit. The maximum number of transfer credits applied toward program requirements of a BTC degree or certificate is 50% of the total credits required by the respective program.

BTC does not release or certify copies of transcripts from other institutions. Transcripts reflecting a student’s previous secondary and college education, which have been submitted to BTC as part of the official file, will not be returned to the student. Students who need transcripts of course work completed elsewhere must order transcripts directly from the institution where the work was completed. 

Credit Evaluation Procedures

Students seeking transfer credit must submit official, sealed transcripts or electronic from the sending institution to the Admissions & Advising Office. The official transcript will be reviewed by the college-designated transcript evaluator. Processing typically takes 2 - 4 weeks and may take longer during peak registration periods. It is recommended that students plan ahead and send records in advance of the quarter they plan to attend. For some courses, course syllabi or other descriptive information may be required in addition to an official transcript.

Technical Course Requirements

Students seeking transfer credit must submit official copies (sealed envelope or via secure electronic portal) or all college transcripts documenting equivalent credit to the Enrollment Services Department. Unofficial transcripts may inform placement or enrollment requirements only in the case of students attending BTC on an ad hoc basis with the intention of transferring to a different institution.

It is recommended that students plan ahead and send records in advance of the quarter they plan to attend. For some courses, course syllabi or other descriptive information may be required in addition to an official transcript.

General Education Courses

Students must submit official, sealed transcripts to the Admissions & Advising Office for evaluation and approval of credit granted for equivalent general education content. The official transcript will be reviewed by the college-designated transcript evaluator. Students may be asked to provide syllabi from prior courses.

Academic Credit for Prior Learning

Washington state is committed to fostering an educated and skilled workforce, which is essential for economic prosperity and meaningful work for its citizens. Increased enrollment in – and successful completion of – post-secondary learning programs is critical to achieving that goal. Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) can help more students complete their training and degree programs sooner by evaluating an individual’s existing knowledge and competencies for college credit, including knowledge that may have been acquired through documented military training.

ACPL credits have the following limitations:

• ACPL credits are not eligible for Financial Aid and do not count toward full or part time enrollment
• ACPL credits are not eligible for payment through Running Start
• ACPL credits do not count toward residence requirements
• Only students who have completed the BTC admission process will be eligible to earn ACPL credits

For more information visit btc.edu/acpl.

Credit by Evaluation (Standardized Testing)

CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL (CI) 

BTC awards unrestricted elective credit for a Cambridge (CI) score of E on A and AS level exams. Credit is awarded on the basis of official CI results, not transcript notation. Credits granted for general education or major requirements are specified on BTC’s website.

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) 

Students who have taken CLEP exams may receive credit in select courses at BTC. To request credit for CLEP scores, students must submit official CLEP scores to the Admissions & Advising Office. Credit will not be granted for scores below the ACE recommended score. 

DANTES SUBJECT STANDARDIZED TESTS (DSST; FORMERLY DANTES) 

The nationally recognized DSST provides college credits for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom through a suite of 38 exams in college subject areas such as Social Sciences, Math, Applied Technology, Business, Physical Sciences, and Humanities.  The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for all 38 DSST exams.  To request credit based on DSST scores, students must submit official scores and a completed Evaluation Request to the Admissions & Advising Office. Credit awarded will be indicated in the student database and will appear on the graduate’s record of cumulative waiver/transfer earned upon program completion.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION (COURSE CHALLENGE)

The course challenge is a process permitting students to receive credit in courses in which the student demonstrates the knowledge and expertise of that course. Not all courses have a challenge procedure. Contact the ACPL coordinator to discuss the process for challenging a specific course.  Course challenges require a per credit fee be paid to the Cashier prior to completing the challenge. To pass the course a minimum (B) grade is required. Students cannot challenge a course if they have completed the course or are enrolled in the course. 

Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning (Portfolio)

Credit for Prior Experiential Learning allows students to receive credit for program course requirements in which the student demonstrates knowledge and expertise that meets the outcomes of the course(s). Credit for prior experiences can be shown through various means of assessment; however, these experiences must be equivalent to learning gained through formal collegiate instruction. This experience may include industry certifications, work experiences, and similar out-of-classroom learning. The college may recommend online instruction in portfolio development.

Prior learning credit is only available for some degree or certificate programs. Credit for prior experiential learning cannot duplicate credit granted by transfer or previously graded work. Contact the ACPL coordinator to discuss the process.

Extra-Institutional Learning

BTC accepts certain credentials from institutions other than regionally accredited colleges for credit. Students should provide documentation to the ACPL coordinator for evaluation. Program faculty and the ACPL coordinator may approve credit awards for additional credentials as appropriate.

Awarding Credit for Military Training

Per the Veteran’s Administration, all veteran student transfer credit must be evaluated. BTC enrolled students who are veterans of any branch of the United States armed services must provide their official Joint Services Transcript (JST), Community College of the Air Force transcript, and/or transcript(s) from any other college/university attended to the Admissions & Advising Office. 

Veteran students using education benefits are not permitted to opt out of prior credit evaluation. 

Degree and Certificate Program Change

For students who want to change their program or transfer to a different program the first step is to discuss the possibility of a program change with a College Navigator. Staff will assist with requirements needed for the new program, discuss a revised educational plan, and provide the steps for a program change. A Program Change Request form must be completed and submitted to the Admissions & Advising Office.

Those receiving financial aid or other funding should determine the effect of the change on funding status prior to initiating the change. If you change your class schedule, you will be responsible to pay any additional tuition and fees. 

Transferability of BTC Credits

To determine transferability of credits earned at Bellingham Technical College, students must request that an official BTC transcript be forwarded to the college where they want to have credits evaluated. The receiving college will determine the value of coursework completed at BTC. Contact the receiving college for evaluation information and instructions. Official BTC transcripts are ordered online at www.btc.edu\transcripts. The “&” in a BTC course prefix designates Washington State Community and Technical College Common Course Numbering (CCN). Common Course Numbering identifies those courses common within the 34 Community and Technical College system in Washington State and to make course transfer between those institutions and to four-year colleges and universities as easy as possible for students, advisors, and receiving institutions. 

Credits, qualifications, or requirements waived by one college may not necessarily be waived by another college. Those decisions are made at each institution. 

Upon a student’s application, each college evaluates and, if appropriate, transfers recognized or accepted credits that apply to the area of study for which the student has applied. The enrolling college determines transfer of credits earned elsewhere. When applicable, students may be accepted for advanced placement or receive a waiver of coursework. 

TRANSFER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE

Adapted from “The Intercollege Relations Commission (IRCR) Handbook,” revised April 2022.

1. Students have the right to clear, accurate, and current information about their transfer admission requirements, transfer admission deadlines, degree requirements, and transfer policies that include course equivalencies.
2. Transfer and first year students have the right to expect comparable standards for regular admission to programs and comparable program requirements.
3. Students have the right to seek clarification regarding their transfer evaluation and may request the reconsideration of any aspect of that evaluation. In response, the college will follow established practices and processes for reviewing its transfer credit decisions.
4. Students who encounter other transfer difficulties have the right to seek resolution. Each institution will have a defined process for resolution that is published and readily available to students.
5. Students have the responsibility to complete all materials required for admission and to submit the application on or before the published deadlines.
6. Students have the responsibility to plan their courses of study by referring to the specific published degree requirements of the college or academic program in which they intend to earn a degree.
7. When a student changes a major or degree program, the student assumes full responsibility for meeting the new requirements.
8. Students who complete the general education requirements at any public four-year institution will have met the lower division general education requirements of the institution to which they transfer.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Colleges and universities have the right and authority to determine program requirements and course offerings in accordance with their institutional missions.
2. Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate and publish their requirements and course offerings to students and the public, including information about student transfer rights and responsibilities.
3. Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate their admission and transfer-related decisions to students in writing (electronic or paper). 

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS

High School Articulations: Through county-wide agreements with school district superintendents and BTC, students may enroll in classes to receive high school and college credit at the same time. These articulation agreements are managed through the Whatcom County CTE Dual Credit Consortium and provide opportunities for high school students under professional technical career pathways. 

College Articulations: Agreements with certain public and private colleges and universities provide BTC students with transfer options to earn four-year degrees related to specific programs of study. To view a current listing of those colleges, please visit the BTC website at www.btc.edu/transferoptions. Beyond the formalized degree articulation agreements, BTC has a number of transfer agreements with state colleges and universities regarding courses. To determine if BTC credits are transferable to other colleges, contact the Registrar at the receiving college.

Participating schools and colleges must assure compliance with all applicable state regulations and the federal requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the American Disabilities Act of 1991, Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

COPYRIGHT POLICY:

4.24.490, RCW 28B.10.842, TITLE 17 US CODE

It is the intention of Bellingham Technical College that all members of the College community adhere to the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sect. 101 et seq.). Bellingham Technical College recognizes the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments including Guidelines for Off-the-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Education Purposes, The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, and The TEACH Act, which grants authors, publishers, and creators control over the copying, distribution, and performance of their original works.

Bellingham Technical College recognizes the importance of the Fair Use doctrine (Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976); all staff and faculty shall be responsible for acquainting themselves with its provisions so that the guidelines are followed when copying is done.