Black River Technical College
| File:Black River TC logo.png | |
Former names | Black River Vocational Technical School |
|---|---|
| Type | Community college |
| Established | 1972 |
| President | Dr. Eric A. Turner |
| Students | 3,000 |
| Location | , , USA |
| Website | www |
Black River Technical College (BRTC) is a public community college serving northeast Arkansas, located in Pocahontas, Arkansas. It is named for the Black River which runs through the city.
BRTC serves approximately 3,000 students annually through its degree programs, technical courses, and community educational offerings.
History
BRTC was established in 1972 as Black River Vocational Technical School on land donated by the City of Pocahontas. BRTC's original purpose was to provide vocational education for the northeast Arkansas region. The college adopted its current name in 1991, and became an independent institution of higher education in 1993, at which time it offered associates degrees and college courses toward "core" requirements for four-year schools.
Governance
BRTC is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor. Each trustee serves a seven-year term which ends on June 30 of the final year.
Campus Locations
The BRTC Main Campus is on Arkansas State Highway 304 in Pocahontas, covering 246,030 square feet (22,857 m2) in 20 buildings over 90 acres (360,000 m2). BRTC also has three offsite locations:
- The Aviation Maintenance Technician facility, located at the Pocahontas Municipal Airport
- The Fire Science facility, an associate training center for the Arkansas Fire Academy, located at the College City Industrial Park north of Walnut Ridge
- The Greene County Industrial Training Center, located at North Industrial Park in nearby Paragould
Educational Offerings
BRTC offers the Associate of Arts degree, which can be credited toward the first two years of a four-year degree program. The degree consists of a total of 60/61 hours in required courses and electives (which must be college transfer classes).
BRTC also offers the Associate of Science degree in 3 disciplines: Business, Criminal Justice, and Fire Science Administration.
BRTC offers the Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
BRTC offers the Associate of Applied Science degree in the following disciplines:
- Accounting
- Administrative Services, Legal emphasis
- Business Administration
- Business Technology Applications
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Criminal Justice
- Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
- Entrepreneurship
- Fire Science
- General Technology
- General Technology—Health Professions, Nursing
- General Technology—Health Professions, Respiratory
- General Technology—Option for LPNs
- Health Information
- Industrial Maintenance Technology
- Law Enforcement Administration
- Networking
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Registered Nursing
- Respiratory Care
BRTC offers Technical Certificates in the following areas:
- Accounting Assistant
- Administrative Services Technology
- Auto Collision Technology, Cosmetic Repair Technology
- Auto Collision Technology, Structural Repair Technology
- Automotive Service Technology, Electrical-Engine Specialty
- Automotive Service Technology, Powertrain-Systems Specialty
- Business Technology Applications
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
- Entrepreneurship
- Fire Science
- Health Professions, Nursing Emphasis
- Health Professions, Respiratory Emphasis
- Industrial Electricity/Electronics
- Law Enforcement Administration
- Machine Tool Technology
- Microcomputer Business Applications
- Microcomputer Repair Technician
- Nutrition and Foodservice Management
- Practical Nursing
- Web Design
- Welding
BRTC offers Certificates of Proficiency in the following areas:
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Entrepreneurship
- Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
- Law Enforcement Administration
- Medical Insurance Coding
- Medical Transcription
- Microcomputer Repair Technician
- Nursing Assistant
- Phlebotomy
BRTC also offers adult education courses in seven areas including the ability for students to work towards and obtain a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), and continuing education courses for the Pocahontas and Randolph County community for both personal and work-related development.
- Adult Basic Education
- College Preparatory/Pre-Employment
- Computer Literacy
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- General Adult Education (GED)
- Transitional Opportunities Program (TOP)
- Work-Based/Workplace Education
BRTC offers some courses through various forms of distance education; the Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing courses in nursing theory are done completely by interactive video as part of the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium, of which BRTC's program is a member.
The BRTC Fire Science program is offered in conjunction with the Arkansas Fire Academy.
The Greene County Industrial Training Center (also referred to as BRTC-Paragould) is in the process (as of September 2005) of obtaining approval to offer the four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Education (Human Resource Development concentration) issued by the University of Arkansas through distance learning.
Accreditation
BRTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and its programs have been approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Arkansas State Board of Vocational Education.
The following programs have received additional accreditation or approval as shown below:
| Academic Program | Accrediting/Approving Agency |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic | Arkansas State Board of Health, Division of Emergency Services |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | American Dietetic Association |
| Nutrition and Food Service/Dietary Manager | Dietary Managers Association |
| Practical Nursing | Arkansas State Board of Nursing |
| Nursing Assistant | Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care |
| Registered Nursing | Arkansas State Board of Nursing |
| Respiratory Care | Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care |
| Respiratory Care | Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health |