As a state agency, Bellingham Technical College is subject to the provisions of the Washington state public disclosure laws (RCW 42.56) governing access to public records and will respond accordingly. BTC also maintains a Public Records Index. There may be exemptions to disclosure that may prohibit the college from releasing certain documents. The College will provide a brief explanation for any exemption to disclosure.

How do I make a Public Records Request? 

You may fill out BTC’s public record request form, email, write or fax BTC your request asking for the records you would like to receive.

 
Public Records Officer 
Email: publicrecords@btc.edu 
Fax: 360.752.7349 

• Contact information: your name, mailing address and telephone number. You can also include your email address, fax and/or cellphone number. 
• A description of the specific records being requested. Your request must be specific enough for BTC to be able to identify the records being requested. 
• Let us know if you would like copies of the records or if you would like to come to our office to review them. 

Alternatively, you may also contact us by telephone or in person and we will assist you. 

What happens when I make a Public Records Request? 

BTC’s Public Records Officer processes all requests for records from the public. 

Within five business days, you will be notified that your request has been received along with an estimated timeframe to fulfill your request and a cost estimate if applicable. In addition, we may contact you in order to clarify what information you are asking for. Our staff then contacts the department(s) holding the records you seek and provides them with a copy of your request. The department(s) will identify, collect and forward the records to the Public Records Officer. 
The Public Records Officer reviews these records and may remove information as allowed by the public records statute, state law, federal law or case law. They also may notify third parties who have an interest in the records you are requesting. 

You will be contacted once this review is complete and records are ready for release. Depending on the number of requests received before yours, and the size and complexity of your request, response may take up to two months. If a request is very complex, more time may be required. You'll be notified if this is the case. 

Are there costs? 

There generally is little cost for electronic copies. However, not all documents are available electronically. Current costs for documents include: 

• $0.15 per page for paper copies 
• $0.10 per page for scanning hard copies 
• Cost of postage for copies or CD/DVD’s sent through the mail 
• Cost of CD/DVD if electronic records are too large to be sent through email system or if documents are requested in this format 

Can you keep my request for records confidential? 

No, your public records request is not a confidential record. The request is itself a public record. It can be requested by others, plus the public records officer forwards public records requests to departments holding records and to third parties who have an interest in the records requested.