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 college 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 sex discrimination, which includes sex-based harassment. Sex-based harassment includes sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
Discrimination based on protected characteristics, harassment, and retaliation will be addressed through the College’s Grievance Rules - Discrimination and Harassment available online (Grievance Rules- Discrimination and Harassment).
Title IX Coordinator: Michele Waltz, 360.752.8440 or title9@btc.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Officer: Allison Mack, 360.752.8549 or hr@btc.edu.
The Title IX Coordinator or their designee handles any student complaint of discrimination or harassment 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 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 sex-based discrimination, as well as identifies and addresses any patterns or systematic problems that arise during the review of complaints.
Update: On January 9, 2025, a federal district court issued a decision vacating the 2024 Final Rule. Consistent with the court's order, the U.S. Department of Education has confirmed on their website that the 2024 Title IX regulations are no longer in effect in any jurisdiction. As per the U.S. Department of Education's Title IX Enforcement Directive, released February 4, 2025, BTC is working alongside legal counsel to update relevant items consistent with the 2020 Title IX Rule.
The Equal Employment Opportunity 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 the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at hr@btc.edu or 360.752.8549.
If you are in an emergency situation, please call the Campus Safety Director at 360.305.1006 or call 911. If you need after-hours crisis support, please call 911.
BTC is committed to supporting a culture of respect and non-violence. If you or someone you know has experienced sex discrimination we encourage you to speak with the Title IX Coordinator to discuss reporting options, supportive measures, and interim protective measures that are available to support you or your friend at BTC.
All Bellingham Technical College employees are required to report sex discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator. BTC's Counselors are Confidential Employees under Title IX, which means they can speak with students on a confidential basis without disclosing personally identifying information to the Title IX Coordinator. Please note that even Confidential Employees must report to the Title IX Coordinator in extreme cases of immediacy of threat or danger or abuse of a minor, elder, or individual with a disability, or when required to disclose by law or court order.
BTC offers free, confidential personal counseling services to enrolled students. If you have experienced sex discrimination, we encourage you to see a confidential counselor to discuss your reporting options in detail and have the option to have someone there while you report. Please stop by the front desk in College Services Building (CS) or visit the counseling webpage to make an appointment, email counseling@btc.edu, or call 360.752.8700 to leave a confidential voicemail.
The best way to help a friend who has experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual violence is to believe, validate, and support them. If you are a friend of a survivor, encourage them to speak to a counselor. Counselors are a confidential resource available at BTC and are available during business hours. You can also contact a counselor, who can help answer questions about your role as a friend of a survivor. For after-hours assistance, contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or live chat online at their website at https://www.rainn.org/.
Beyond that, keep these suggestions in mind:
Being accused of interpersonal violence, or having someone that you know be accused can be stressful. It is important to seek support to determine how to best navigate this situation. Because all BTC employees, except Confidential Resources, are required to report information related to interpersonal violence to the Title IX Coordinator, should you wish to speak with someone confidential, your on-campus options are:
If you have questions about BTC's formal disciplinary process, contact the Student Conduct Officer, Chris Eder, at ceder@btc.edu. The Title IX Coordinator can also answer questions about the process.
If you have received a notification that your conduct is under investigation, follow the directions in that letter or email and respond by the date listed. You will be informed of protections in the process, and be given an opportunity to provide information, witnesses, and/or a statement. You have the right to have an advisor of your choice present during any meeting or interview.
If you would like help finding an advisor, please contact the Title IX Coordinator and one will be provided to you at no cost.
You also have the right to interim supportive measures during the investigative process. If you would like interim supportive measures, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.
Bellingham Technical College is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for parenting students and those experiencing pregnancy or related conditions.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities including academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools. This prohibition includes discrimination against students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions and parenting students.
Students may request reasonable modifications for pregnancy or related conditions through BTC's Title IX Coordinator. They will work directly with the student to identify and implement reasonable modifications to help prevent sex discrimination and ensure the student maintains equal access to their education program or activity. Reasonable modifications will look different for everyone, but may include:
To request reasonable modifications, contact the Title IX Coordinator's office at title9@btc.edu or 360.752.8440. The Title IX Coordinator will discuss with the requesting student their individualized needs, and may ask for documentation that supports the requested modification(s) if reasonably necessary.
Employees should contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at hr@btc.edu or 360.752.8475.
BTC has designated a lactation space that is available for any person on campus for pumping or breastfeeding as needed, regardless of a person’s gender identity or gender expression.
If you have experienced discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of pregnancy or parenting, including denial of reasonable modifications, you are strongly encouraged to file an Incident Report on the Incident Reporting page of the BTC website by clicking the "File Report" button at the top of the page. You may also contact:
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator, Michele Waltz, College Services 201, 360.752.8440, title9@btc.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Allison Mack, College Services 122, 360.752.7349, hr@btc.edu
Retaliation against any person for making a report or participating in an investigation is strictly prohibited. You have the right to report without further participation in an investigation.
Michele Waltz