General Information

Mission Statement

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College provides our diverse student population with life-changing education, training, and services that drive economic development within the communities we serve.

Vision Statement

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is the first choice for higher education that drives career growth and economic development in our region and surrounding communities.

Core Values:

Stewardship:

• Put student access, learning, and success first.
• Support a safe, collaborating, and engaging environment for employees and students.
• Provide an optimum learning environment for students.
• Use College resources responsibly.
• Demonstrate care for facilities.

Integrity:

• Engage and actively contribute to the overall success of the College.
• Think creatively and develop solutions.
• Act honestly and ethically.
• Provide accurate and thorough information.
• Be courageous to be even better.

Civility:

• Communicate with respect, trust, and care.
• Respect differences.
• Listen actively.
• Be aware of your impact on others.
• Discuss differences and resolve conflicts.

Entrepreneurship:

• Embrace our business partners.
• Think proactively and innovatively.
• Be adaptable and flexible for shifting priorities.
• Identify areas for continuous improvement.
• OWN enrollment.
• Take calculated risks wisely.

Policy of Nondiscrimination

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College provides an 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, color, 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, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, financial status, veteran status, 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.

Notification of Rights under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

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

a. A student should submit to the registrar, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Registrar’s Office will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

i. Records on Disability services and accommodations need to be directed to the Office of Student Affairs

ii. Records on Financial Aid need to be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.

iii. Records of payments and charges need to be directed to the Cashiers Office.

2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask for an amendment to a record should write the office responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.

3) The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

a. BRCTC discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.

4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-5901

Once a student has enrolled and begun attending a post-secondary institution, it is the student who has the rights defined under FERPA. Parents of enrolled students in post-secondary DO NOT have any rights that are mandated under FERPA, regardless of their involvement in helping to fund the student’s education. There are three ways in which parents and other individuals may access their student’s records.

• If the student signs a written consent giving the access (students can complete this form in the Enrollment Management Office, the student must sign the form in front of EM – this information is then housed in their permanent folder and in banner).
• If the person has a court order or subpoena directing the institution to release the records.
• If the parent can establish that the student is their tax dependent for the most recent tax year according to the IRS Tax Code (this information will be housed in the Financial Aid Office).

Academic Calendars

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. (Dates are subject to change. Please check the website for updated information).

Accreditation

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (BRCTC) serves the West Virginia counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan.  The College has evolved from a small presence in the Eastern Panhandle to an institution of over 6000 students and 165 full-time employees.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College operated as a component of Shepherd College and traces its beginnings to 1974.  The College received its accreditation through its host institution, now Shepherd University. Over the next 25 years, the West Virginia legislature passed progressively more emphatic legislation calling for independent community colleges in the state. 

The legislation passed by the state enabled Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to gradually attain a new location and independent accreditation. In 2001, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s first milestone was to move from Shepherdstown to Martinsburg, WV.  The new location and new legislation allowed Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to operate as a free-standing institution and perform such actions as developing its own budget, hiring faculty, developing its own strategic plan, organizing an independent Board of Governors and becoming independently accredited. 

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College was independently accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in February 2005.  The College, which had held the name of the Community and Technical College (CTC) of Shepherd, was officially renamed Blue Ridge Community and Technical College on July 1, 2006.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College has since received reaffirmation of accreditation in 2010 and most recently in 2015.

For more information regarding the institution’s accreditation status, please visit https://www.hlcommission.org/component/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&Itemid=&instid=2854.

History of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Shepherd College 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 February 2005, CTC Shepherd was accredited as an independent institution by The Higher Learning Commission and was a member of the North Central Association (NCA). On July 1, 2006, CTC Shepherd officially became Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.  Currently, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Dunn Building housed Blue Ridge Community and Technical College from 2003 – 2012 and accommodated the rapidly growing population. As enrollment continued to climb, College officials quickly recognized the need for a new headquarters building. In Fall of 2009, the College purchased 46 acres on Route 45 in Martinsburg, which now houses the new main campus. Construction began Fall of 2010 and the beautiful new campus was completed during the Spring of 2012.  The 55,000 square foot building offers 18 classrooms, additional parking, and an on-campus servery to the student body. The gorgeous new building is a welcomed addition to the scenery and backdrop within Berkeley County, West Virginia and will easily serve the thousands of students to come.

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, supports industry certification, and improves 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

Headquarters

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Headquarters is located at 13650 Apple Harvest Drive, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25403, and the phone number is (304) 260-4380. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College administrative and faculty offices are at this location.

Technology Center

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College opened its Technology Center in the Berkeley Business Park, located at 5550 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25405. The Technology 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 with Allegheny Energy. The facility has an indoor and outdoor pole park, classrooms, lab classrooms for Culinary Arts, Mechatronics, Physical Therapy Assisting, Medical Assisting, Applied Lab Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, Plastics, computer labs, 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.

The Pines Opportunity Center

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College began using the Morgan County Center during the Fall of 2012. The Center is located in the Pines Opportunity Center, 109 War Memorial Drive, at the former Berkeley Springs hospital. Currently, there are five standard classrooms along with several smaller rooms that can easily accommodate small groups and meetings. Please contact the College for more information.