Safety Information

We are pleased you have chosen Bellingham Technical College as a potential place to attend college. The College administration wants to assure you that, as part of the BTC community, your safety and security are of primary concern. BTC staff are committed to making our campus a safe, nurturing learning environment.

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Incident Reporting Forms

Please go to the Incident Reporting page to report any concerning behavior, conduct issues, crimes, accidents, or general safety concerns.

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Safety Resources

Recognizing and preventing violence on campus

The Center for Personal Protection & Safety, headquartered in Spokane, Washington, has produced a video and a slide show entitled "Flashpoint on Campus". Its purpose is to help prevent campus violence by instructing individuals on how to recognize behavioral warning signs of potentially dangerous individuals.

Flash Point on Campus includes training on the following topics:

  • Spectrum of Violence
  • Common Myths Surrounding the Issue of Campus Violence
  • Warning Signs of Potential Violence
  • Stalking and Intimate Partner Violence
  • Responding to Behaviors of Concern
  • Roadblocks to Reporting Behaviors of Concern

Flash Point on Campus is published and copyrighted by the Center for Personal Protection and Safety and is presented here with permission.

Flash Point on Campus - Video
Flash Point on Campus - Slide Show

How to Respond to an active shooter incident

The video was produced by the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office on Public Safety with a DHS Catastrophic Planning Grant.

RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event

Resources

Emergency Flowchart (RTF|PDF)
Emergency Handbook (RTF|PDF)
Notification Response Color Flyer (PDF)
Notification Response BW Flyer (PDF)

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BTC Emergency Alerts

To help keep you better informed in the event of a campus emergency, BTC's emergency notification system enables you to receive urgent text and e-mail messages. Take advantage of the emergency notification system by registering your personal e-mail and text addresses using the Web links provided below. Keep in mind, the program is voluntary, but is recommended for your safety. You can update your personal contact information or opt out at any time (however all BTC e-mail addresses are automatically registered and cannot be removed).

Depending on your personal cell phone plan, there may be a nominal fee from your carrier to receive text messages, but there is no charge from the college to use the service.

SIGN UP NOW!

BTC Students

Students can receive urgent text and e-mail messages by signing up for BTC Students Emergency Alerts.
Questions: Please contact the student help desk at library@btc.edu or call 360.752.8383.

BTC Employees

BTC employee email addresses are already registered. Employees can sign up with their personal email addresses at BTC Employees Emergency Alerts.
Questions: Please contact the BTC help desk at helpdesk@btc.edu or call 360.752.8330.

General Public

Community members, family and friends of of BTC may sign up for BTC's public emergency response notification system.
Questions: Please contact the BTC at btc@btc.edu

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Emergency Closures

Want to know if Bellingham Technical College is closed due to weather, physical plant or other emergencies?

FIND OUT MORE:

Call: BTC Weather Watch: 360.752.8SNO (8766)
Updated by 6 a.m. for day classes and 3 p.m. for evening classes.

Listen to:
  • KGMI 790 AM
  • KAPS 660 AM
  • KBRC 1430 AM
  • KIXT 930 AM
  • KUGS 89.3 FM
  • KISM 92.9 FM
  • KPUG 1170 AM
  • KAFE 104.3 FM
  • KZAZ 91.7 FM
Watch:
  • KVOS- Channel 12
  • KIRO- Channel 7
  • KING- Channel 5
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Medical Emergency

If you need to contact a BTC student due to a medical emergency. Please call 360.752.8550

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Crime Statistics

All postsecondary institutions that receive Title IV funding (i.e., those that participate in federal student aid programs), which includes Bellingham Technical College, are required to submit annual crime statistics to the U. S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security, as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. BTC’s crime statistics can be found by visiting the Department of Education’s Campus Safety & Security website (link below), and are also included in the college’s Annual Security Reports.

U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security Site: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

The statistics found on the Department of Education’s Campus Safety & Security website represent alleged criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities and/or local police agencies. Therefore, the data collected do not necessarily reflect prosecutions or convictions for crime. Because some statistics are provided by non-police authorities, the data are not directly comparable to data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting System which only collects statistics from police authorities. The Department’s website contains a glossary that provides definitions for the various crime and geographic categories presented in the reports.

Annual Security Report

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, the college reports the mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues and the required crime statistics in an Annual Security Report. This report must be disseminated to all students, employees, prospective students and prospective employees by October 1st of each year.

  • 2022 Annual Security Report

  • 2021 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2020 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2019 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2018 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2017 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2016 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2015 Annual Security Report (PDF)

  • 2014 Annual Security Report (PDF)

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Sexual Offenders Registry

In accordance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000 (which amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act), the Jeanne Clery Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Bellingham Technical College (BTC) provides a link to the Sex Offender Registry. This act requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice of each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries a vocation, or is a student.

Local, State and National registry information shall be used for the purposes of screening of current or prospective employees, volunteers, or otherwise for the protection of the public in general and children in particular. Unlawful use of the information for purposes of intimidated or harassing another is prohibited.

Sex offenders are required to notify the Vice President of Student Services of their intent to enroll at BTC. A list of those individuals who have complied with this requirement is kept by the Vice President of Student Services.

Whatcom County Sex Offender Registry

National Sex Offender Registry

In addition, a list of sex offenders is maintained by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office at www.sheriffalerts.com and the Bellingham Police Department at http://www.cob.org/PIRSexOffenders/

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