General Information

Mission Statement

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is dedicated to providing a diverse student population with collaborative programs and support services to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in its service area. Its quality academic programs are learner centered and focus on career entry, university transfer, developmental education, and workforce development.

Vision Statement

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College curriculum is integrated directly with the economic and workforce needs of the region. Programs of study are designed to meet the needs expressed by community members, advisory boards, employers, and workforce as reflected in on-going needs analysis of the region. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College faculty and staff continuously analyze and modify the curricula and programs to meet the educational needs of an increasingly complex and technological society. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College intends to meet the educational challenges of the 21st century and to provide quality educational experiences for the population of the Eastern Panhandle.

Policy of Nondiscrimination

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College provides opportunity to all prospective and current members of the student body, faculty, and staff on the basis of individual qualifications and merit without regard to race, sex, sexual preference, religion, age, national origin, or disability. The College neither affiliates knowingly with nor grants recognition to any individual, group, or organization having policies that discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual preference, national origin, or disability, as defined by applicable laws and regulations.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is required by Section 904, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, not to deny admission on the ground of blindness or severely impaired vision; by 45 CFR 84, Subpart E, Section 84.42, and by Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, nor to deny admission on basis of handicap; by 45 CFR 90, 91 not to discriminate on basis of age; and by 45 CFR 86, Subpart C, Section 86.21, not to deny admission on basis of sex. By Title Vl of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the ground of race, color, or national origin. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is an equal opportunity-affirmative action employer in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, West Virginia Human Rights Act, Title IX (Education Amendments of 1972), Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, American with Disabilities Act, and other applicable laws and regulations.

Academic Year

The academic year consists of two 15-week semesters offered in the fall and spring of each year. Additionally, a 10-week summer session is offered.

Accreditation

In March 2005, CTC Shepherd was initially accredited for five years as an independent institution by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA). On July 1, 2006, CTC Shepherd officially became Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. Additionally, individual programs are accredited by their own respective organizations/accrediting bodies.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College began an extensive self-study process in 2006 to prepare for the HLC comprehensive evaluation in October 2009. A significant part of the Self-Study effort is the preparation of a Self-Study Report which demonstrates that Blue Ridge CTC should be accredited. Blue Ridge CTC received ten year accreditation in Spring 2010.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an independent corporation and one of two Commission members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), which was founded in 1895 as one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits, and thereby grants membership in the Commission and in the North Central Association, to degree-granting educational institutions in the North Central region: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. NCA contact information is as follows: (www.ncahlc.org, phone (312) 263- 0456, or 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504).

History of the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Shepherd began offering 2-year programs in disciplines such as business in the 1960s. Officially, Shepherd Community College began in 1974 when the nursing department became the first official two-year program to be adopted by Shepherd. In 1989, the West Virginia State Board of Directors requested Shepherd to re-confirm its point of interest in operating a Community College. Dr. Pete Checkovich was chosen to become Dean of the Community and Technical College, he later was named Provost, and in 2004 became President of Community and Technical College of Shepherd (CTC Shepherd). CTC Shepherd was located on the basement floor of Gardiner Hall in Shepherdstown until August 2001. Meanwhile, the Martinsburg City Council contacted college officials about the possibility of bringing the Community and Technical College to Martinsburg. The City Council offered a grant for the college if it would relocate, and offered to help the college find a suitable location in Martinsburg. The site selected was the former Blue Ridge Outlets. Their offer along with the location of the building was presented to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in the fall of 2000 and the move to Martinsburg was approved. In June of 2001, renovation of the Berkeley Building of the former Blue Ridge Outlet Complex began. Classes began at the Community and Technical College on August 20, 2001. In early 2002, the Berkeley County Commissioners finalized the purchase of the Blue Ridge Outlets complex; negotiations resulted in the May 2003 relocation of the CTC Shepherd to the newly renovated Dunn Building. In March 2005, CTC Shepherd was accredited as an independent institution by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA). On July 1, 2006, CTC Shepherd officially became Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

History of the Martinsburg Campus

The buildings where the Community and Technical College is now located are over 110 years old. In 1890, Martinsburg had a population of 7,226 but it was the fourth largest city in West Virginia. Moving away from its roots as strictly an agricultural community, Martinsburg ushered in the industrial age when Interwoven came to town and built a mill. Interwoven, later known as Martinsburg Mills, was a textile manufacturing company. William Henry Crawford originally operated Interwoven with the help of Thomas Dunn. They were responsible for overseeing the performance of the Crawford Woolen Company and the Worsted and Cashmere Company. The woolen mills were in the buildings located to the south, and the cashmere mills to the north. Although the woolen mills only started out with 15 employees, Interwoven would soon be known worldwide as the largest manufacturer of men’s hosiery.

Approximately 20 years later, the two companies failed primarily because of outdated machinery and insufficient capital. Crawford Woolen Mills was originally valued at $250,000. Due to the financial ruin, however, a small group of stockholders was able to purchase the mills for $27,200, which included land, buildings, and machinery. The company was renamed Berkeley Woolen Company. The Dunn Woolen Company was organized in 1914 after citizens of Martinsburg raised $35,000 to reorganize the old Martinsburg Worsted and Cashmere Company, under Thomas Dunn’s leadership. The older equipment replaced with modern equipment that could produce newer textiles and fabrics enabled both Berkeley Woolen Company and Dunn Woolen Company to focus their efforts on meeting the needs of the United States and French army’s as they engaged in World War I. Berkeley Woolen’s efforts produced uniforms and overcoats. Berkeley’s efforts earned the company sufficient resources to build additional buildings. During this time, the Dunn Woolen Company produced blanket material.

After the war, Mr. Dunn realized the importance of the growing market for automobile upholstery and made connections with all of the large motor vehicle companies. The Dunn Company gradually shifted from manufacturing suiting and blanket cloth material to auto upholstery cloth. By 1933 when Mr. Dunn passed away and his five sons took over the business, the plant was producing nothing else but auto upholstery for Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler vehicles. After 80 years of operation, the mills were eventually closed in 1970 due to the local community offering higher paying jobs than those traditionally found in the textile industry.

In 1984, the mills were renovated and turned into the Blue Ridge Outlet Center. It contained at least 50 stores. Some of them included Ralph Lauren Polo, Nautica, Corning, Levi’s, Nine West, and other popular stores. In the mid to late 1990s, the Blue Ridge Outlet Center slowly lost many stores because they were moving to the Prime Outlets in Hagerstown. By April 2000, the Blue Ridge Outlets had shut down due to loss of business.

In July 2001, State Street Bank and Trust Company bought the Blue Ridge Outlet Center for $4.65 million at a foreclosure auction. Renovation of the Berkeley Building began almost immediately, and classes began at the Martinsburg location of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College on August 20, 2001. Local efforts to improve Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s facilities and meet the need for updated Berkeley County Administrative Offices came together in early 2002 when the Berkeley County Commissioners finalized the purchase of the Blue Ridge Outlets complex and negotiations with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College resulted in the May 2003 relocation of the college to the newly renovated Dunn Building.

Workforce Development

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a resource for employers in Berkeley, Morgan, and Jefferson Counties. Its academic educational programs, together with strong business and industry training programs have created a learning organization whose students and graduates are among the best-prepared citizens and workers in the state.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College provides educational solutions to the emerging and incumbent workforce that includes customized training design and delivery, support industry certification, and improve the workplace performance of our customers. For additional information, please visit our website (www.blueridgectc.edu) or contact Ann Shipway at (304) 260-4380.

Campus Locations

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College main campus is located at 400 W. Stephen St. Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401, and the phone number is (304) 260-4380. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College administrative and faculty offices are at this location.

Technology Center of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College opened its Technology Center in the Berkeley Business Park, located at 5550 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25405. The Tech Center held its ribbon cutting ceremony on June 18, 2008. Governor Joe Manchin, III gave the keynote address. This building was opened with a partnership of Allegheny Energy. The facility has an indoor and outdoor pole park, classrooms, and many office spaces. This site is approved by The Higher Learning Commission and the Department of Education. Please contact the College for more information.