Academic integrity is the adherence to an ethical code of conduct within academic culture that emphasizes honesty in all scholarly work and includes the avoidance of plagiarism and cheating. Academic integrity promotes the ethical use of research material, protects the intellectual property of the scholars who produce the material and avoids legal liability associated with copyright violation. Furthermore, students who adhere to academically honest practices maintain their personal integrity by holding themselves responsible for engaging with their assignments, which helps promote their own learning in their coursework.

Students are expected to do their own work on all examinations and assignments. They are also expected at all times to uphold high standards of integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, any other form of theft of intellectual property, allowing another individual to complete part or all coursework for a student, or assisting another student in doing any of these acts are all examples of academic dishonesty and are prohibited. These rules apply to concurrent, traditional, hybrid, and online students.

Honor Statement

Each student will sign the following honor statement when they sign the student agreement form for their class.

I affirm that all work I submit in this course will be my own work and I will uphold the principles of honesty and integrity. I recognize that ethical behavior builds character, fosters personal growth, and lays the foundation for true success. Cheating undermines these values and I choose to face challenges with honesty and perseverance. I will abide by the Academic Integrity rules as outlined in the syllabus and will refrain from doing any of the following:

Cheating, Dishonesty, and Lack of Integrity

Includes, but is not limited, to the following:

• Copying from another student’s test paper.
• Using any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations.
• Possession during a test of materials that are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as class notes or specifically designed “crib notes.”
• Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out assignments. Unauthorized sources as defined by the teacher could include artificial intelligence.
• Falsely claiming to represent the College or a registered student organization of the College.
• The acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the Black River Technical College faculty or staff.

Plagiarism

Includes, but is not limited, to the following:

• Offering the work of another person or artificial intelligence as one’s own without proper acknowledgment, which includes “self-plagiarism”- the use of one’s work from a previous class without explicit approval from an instructor.
• Aiding and abetting another person in committing any form of academic dishonesty.
• Making, possessing, or using any falsified college documents or records; altering any college document or record, including identification cards.
• Knowingly providing false information or documents to a college official.

Students having concerns pertaining to the compliance with Title VI, Title IX, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 should direct their concern directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs or refer to the Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures found in the current Student Handbook and BRTC Course Catalog.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Black River Technical College complies with all civil rights provisions of federal statutes and related authorities that prohibit discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Therefore, Black River Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, national origin, religion (not applicable as a protected group under the FMCSA Title VI Program), or disability in the admission, access to and treatment in Black River Technical College programs and activities, as well as hiring or employment practices.

Complaints of alleged discrimination and inquiries regarding Black River Technical College nondiscrimination policies may be directed to:

Black River Technical College
Attn: Jason Smith Vice President of Student Affairs / Title VI Coordinator

1410 Highway 304 East
P.O. Box 468
Pocahontas, AR 72455
(870) 248-4000

Free language assistance may be available upon request.

This notice is available from the ADA/504/Title VI Coordinator in large print, on audiotape, and in Braille.

Black River Technical College is committed to freedom of expression and to fostering an environment where learning and intellectual discovery flourish. We believe that maintaining a balance between safety and open, respectful debate is essential to our mission and success.

We believe in the value of inclusivity and belonging. This belief demands mutual respect and civility so as not to come at the price of suppression of other voices. Because meaningful conversations help students gain the skills to communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds, differing opinions should not be drowned out by a “noisy majority.”

Our students are encouraged to discuss ideas with individuals of diverse perspectives. Open-mindedness and respectful dialogue are expected. As such, we will not tolerate impediments to or abridgments of the freedom of speech, of the press; or the right of our people to peaceably assemble.

See the BRTC Freedom of Expression Policy for more information.

See also: BRTC Campus Poster Policy.

Students wishing to file a complaint on a faculty or staff member should contact the vice president for the department in which the faculty or staff is employed. The following is a list of the vice presidents and their phone numbers. If the complaint is in reference to a vice president, please contact the BRTC president.

Students wishing to appeal charges of plagiarism or academic misconduct may appeal sanctions. Please refer to the Student Appeal/Grievance Procedures section BRTC Course Catalog.

Appeal requests must be submitted to the registrar’s office by letter or email within 5 days of the occurrence.

Act 943, passed by the Arkansas Legislature and signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson during the 2015 Legislative Session, directed “the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop an action plan to address the prevention of unplanned pregnancy.”

Black River Technical College provides information and support to meet this requirement through a variety of services:

• Programming to support this initiative provided to new students and transfer students at orientation sessions for the fall and spring semesters on the Pocahontas and Paragould campuses
• Collaboration to offer resources and assistance at low or no-cost with
  • Randolph County Health Department in Pocahontas
  • Greene County Health Department in Paragould
• BRTC Career Pathways program provides assistance to parents, offering advising and personal support, gas cards, and child care reimbursement to qualifying students.
• The Director of Student Development assists students with personal support and referrals to resources on the BRTC campuses and in the community.

If you have been dismissed from a program of study at BRTC, you may appeal that dismissal.  Please refer to the Student Appeal/Grievance Procedures section BRTC Course Catalog.

Appeal requests must be submitted to the registrar’s office by letter or email within 5 days of the occurrence.

Black River Technical College strictly prohibits racial profiling in any form.

No employee, campus police officer, contractor, or representative of the College may take adverse action, make decisions, or treat any individual differently on the basis of race, color, or national origin. This includes—without limitation—actions involving admissions, academic evaluation, student services, campus safety activities, employment decisions, or access to College programs and facilities.

BRTC is committed to ensuring that all individuals are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. Decisions must be based solely on legitimate, nondiscriminatory factors consistent with federal and state law. Any use of race or color as a motivating factor in evaluating behavior, initiating an investigation, or determining eligibility for services is strictly prohibited.

Individuals who believe they have experienced racial profiling or discrimination may file a complaint with the College’s Equal Opportunity Officer / Human Resources Office. These offices will provide information about the complaint process, assist in filing a report, and ensure that all matters are handled promptly, impartially, and without retaliation. BRTC will promptly review all reports, take appropriate corrective action, and protect all parties from retaliation in accordance with EEOC principles and applicable law.

BRTC adheres to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s enforcement guidance, and all related state and federal nondiscrimination requirements.

As a general rule, a student’s academic record is confidential and will not be released to unauthorized persons without written approval from the student. However, under 34CFR 99.31 (a) (2) BRTC can release a student’s information to another institution in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.

The following items are considered public information and may be made available upon inquiry unless the student requests nondisclosure:

• name,
• address,
• email,
• phone number,
• photo,
• enrollment status,
• field of study,
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
• honors and awards,
• degrees obtained and dates conferred, and
• dates of attendance.

Request for nondisclosure is effective until the student notifies the Registrar, in writing, that the request is to be voided. BRTC intends to comply fully with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act. Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act should be referred to the Vice President for Student Services.

For more information, visit the following:

• FERPA Policy in this year's Course Catalog
• FERPA Policy Provisions in this year's Student Handbook
• Policy 2182: Data Privacy Policy
• BRTC Gramm-Leach-Bliley Safeguards Policy

For information about transfer, view the Transfer section of this year’s BRTC Course Catalog.

Transfer Programs

For students who wish to pursue academic degrees at four-year colleges, BRTC provides a bridge. The basic academic coursework offers students an appropriate college foundation to qualify for admittance to a four-year college and prepare for successful work in the upper classes. The faculty is actively involved in advisement to help students with this transition.

Most colleges will only accept transfer of courses with a grade of “C” or better, but those colleges with whom BRTC has a partnership agreement (ASU and WBC) may accept all BRTC courses (with the exception of a grade of “D” in Freshman English I), even those with a “D” grade, if students have an overall GPA of 2.00 and are transferring complete Associate of Arts degrees. Students are responsible for contacting the registrar at the receiving college regarding transfer policies at that college.

Arkansas Act 98 (1989) provides for the establishment of a core curriculum of courses which will apply towards the general education requirements of baccalaureate degrees at state-supported colleges, and which will be fully transferrable between these colleges. The term “state minimum core” is used to describe this core curriculum, and a copy may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, or from advisors/counselors.

Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS)

The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the application of credits for the admissions and degree requirements. Course transferability is not guaranteed for courses listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Additionally, courses with a “D” frequently do not transfer and institutional policies may vary.

Courses notated in the degree plan with the “~“ symbol are considered ACTS courses. The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) contains information about the transferability of courses within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Students are guaranteed the transfer of applicable credits and equitable treatment in the application of credits for admissions and degree requirements. For further information, the ACTS website link can be reached at https://adhe.edu/students-parents/transfer-info-for-students.

Direct Transfer Degrees & Articulation With Other Colleges

BRTC has agreements with several 4-year universities, which allows students to complete the first 2 years of a degree at BRTC and then transfer seamlessly to the university to complete the 4-year degree.

The following webpage identifies BRTC’s direct transfer degrees and with which universities BRTC has an agreement: https://blackrivertech.edu/college-classes/courses/university-direct-transfer

For more information, visit the following:

• This year's course catalog
• Policy #7130: Evaluation of Transferred Credit

Title II of the Crime Awareness, Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires the collection and dissemination of certain information regarding murder, robbery, sex offenses, forcible or non-forcible, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, liquor law violation, drug abuse violation, weapon possessions, arson, and manslaughter. A report must be made/filed with the security officer within 72 hours of its occurrence. Access to campus facilities should be directed the individual(s) below.

• 2024 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2023 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2022 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2021 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2020 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2019 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2018 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2017 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report
• 2016 BRTC Drug and Campus Security Report