2020-2021 Student Handbook

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, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, familial status, veteran status, or disability. This advertisement is for informational purposes only. Printed and/or electronic documents produced by the College do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between an applicant or student.

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).