Bellingham Technical College is committed to providing a learning and working environment characterized by mutual respect and fair treatment among all its constituents. An essential component of this environment is a strong ethic and practice of equality, acceptance, and nondiscriminatory interactions. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, gender identity or manifestation, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, or any other basis prohibited by college policy or by state or federal laws is unacceptable and will be addressed through this policy.
According to federal law, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Furthermore, Bellingham Technical College strives to provide a safe environment in which students and employees can pursue their education and/or employment free from the detrimental effects of sexual misconduct, which includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual assault, and other forms of non-consensual sexual behavior.
Sex- and gender-based harassment, discrimination or violence will be addressed through the College’s Grievance Rules- Discrimination and Harassment available online (Grievance Rules- Discrimination and Harassment).
Office of the Title IX Coordinator for BTC: Michele Waltz, 360.752.8440 or titleIX@btc.edu
Office of the Interim Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer for BTC: Tami Willett, 360.752.8475 or hr@btc.edu.
The Title IX Coordinator handles a student complaint of harassment (bullying, sexual harassment, hazing,) sexual assault, sexual violence, sexual coercion, and rape, as well as violations of the Student Conduct Code. For the process in these instances, please see the Student Code of Conduct (WAC 495B-121) or contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleIX@btc.edu or 360.752.8440.
The Interim Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer handles any investigation of an employee complaint based upon: Race, Color, Creed, Religion, National Origin, Sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), Age, Disability, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, Genetic Information and Veteran Status. For information on the process in these instances, please contact at hr@btc.edu or 360.752.8475.
The Title IX Coordinator provides advice and oversight on policies, preventive educational programs, resources and services required under Title IX, and in addition, oversees all complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence, as well as identifies and addresses any patterns or systematic problems that arise during the review of complaints.
Note: The 2020 Department of Education federal regulations under Title IX, effective August 14, 2020, define sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct more narrowly than the Bellingham Technical College policy and require specific procedures for investigating and adjudicating allegations that meet the federal definitions and other criteria, such as where alleged conduct occurred. BTC will continue to address all complaints of sexual misconduct and will assess complaints to determine if BTC policy or federal rules apply.
If you have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or sexual violence, we encourage you to see a confidential counselor in the Advising and Career Center. Please stop by the front desk in College Services Building (CS) Room 106, or call 360.752.8450, to make an appointment with a counselor to discuss your reporting options in detail, and to have someone there while you report. We also encourage you to utilize the following support resources that are available to you:
The United States Department of Justice page on Sexual Assault information and resources
Center for Changing our Campus Culture - Includes information for students, schools, and anyone interested in finding resources on how to respond to and prevent sexual assault.
If you have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or sexual violence, you have resources and reporting options. If you are involved in, or have knowledge of, an incident, please immediately contact at least one of the following people/offices:
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator College Services 201, 360.752.8440, titleIX@btc.edu
Interim Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer, College Services 122, 360.752.8475, hr@btc.edu
Complete the Relationship Violence form on the Incident Reporting page of the BTC website: Incident Reporting (btc.edu)
Effective August 14, 2020, the new 2020 Title IX Regulations (34 CFR Part 106.45(b)(10)) mandates the public sharing of materials used to train school and college Title IX team members. The following materials reflect the training of BTC’s Title IX Coordinator and Title IX Administrators.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, March 28-29, 2023, led by Emma Hempel.
Grand River Solutions: Hearings in a Post Regulatory World, Washington Community College Collective, March 17, 2022, led by Martha Compton.
Innovative Educators: Title IX, Clery & FERPA: Policy Development, Compliance & Ethical Considerations, March 10, 2022, led by Amy Murphy, Ph.D. and Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, Day 1, March 1, 2022, led by Martha Compton.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, Day 2, March 2, 2022, led by Chantelle Botticelli.
Grand River Solutions: Diversity Foundations: Bias Awareness and Mitigation, January 28, 2022, led by Tibisay Hernandez.
Grand River Solutions: Title IX and Bias Series: Utilizing Assessment to Identify and Reduce Bias, August 26, 2021, led by Tibisay Hernandez and Martha Compton.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, April 6-7, 2021
Grand River Solutions: May 2020 Final Title IX Regulations, led by Jody Shipper.
Grand River Solutions: Title IX and Bias Series: Utilizing Assessments to Identify and Reduce Bias, September 15, 2021, led by Tibisay Hernandez and Martha Compton.
Title IX Education Specialists (TIXEdu): Title IX Hearing Officer Training
Office of Administrative Hearings: Decision Maker Training
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, March 28-29, 2023, led by Emma Hempel.
Grand River Solutions: Hearings in a Post Regulatory World, Washington Community College Collective, March 17, 2022, led by Martha Compton.
Innovative Educators: Title IX, Clery & FERPA: Policy Development, Compliance & Ethical Considerations, March 10, 2022, led by Amy Murphy, Ph.D. and Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, Day 1, March 1, 2022, led by Martha Compton.
Grand River Solutions: From One Title IX Coordinator to Another: A Practical Approach to Navigating Beyond Compliance in the Post-Regulatory World, Day 2, March 2, 2022, led by Chantelle Botticelli.
Grand River Solutions: Conducting Fair, Thorough, and Trauma Informed Sexual Violence Investigations, February 7-8, 2022, led by Chantelle Cleary Botticelli.
Grand River Solutions: Diversity Foundations: Bias Awareness and Mitigation, January 28, 2022, led by Tibisay Hernandez.
Northwest Association of Title IX Administrators Conferences and Trainings
EVAWI's New Frontiers in Investigating and Prosecuting Sexual Assault by Intoxication, December 9, 2020, led by Wendy Patrick, JD, PhD, and Carlton Hershman
Title IX Investigators Training, February 4-5, 2020, led by Julia Dunn (Senior Associate Dean of Students, Title IX Administrator at Whitman College)
Grand River Solutions: Being an Effective Title IX Advisor: From Investigation to Hearing, May 18, 2021.
Page updated August 2021