BCC becomes Bellevue College as award of first bachelor’s degrees nears
BELLEVUE, WASH. -- Bellevue Community College has changed its name to Bellevue College (BC) as it prepares to award its first bachelor’s degrees this spring.
The change becomes effective publicly April 13 and is accompanied by introduction of a new logo.
“Because many people associate ‘community college’ with associate degrees only, we want our first baccalaureate graduates to have Bellevue College on their diplomas,” said Jean Floten, president of the college.
“This change in no way signals any lessening of our commitment to serve the community, or to maintain our associate degree and certificate programs,” Floten added. “It does, however, reflect a new facet in our ability to serve.”
“We stepped outside our traditional role as a two-year college because of the urgent need for more bachelor’s degree opportunities in radiation and imaging sciences,” Floten said.
The college launched its Bachelor of Applied Science in Radiation and Imaging Sciences program in Fall 2007 after studies and discussions with local healthcare leaders revealed increasing problems resulting from a lack of baccalaureate-level educational programs in that field.
The BC program remain the only one of its kind in the state and one of the few in existence nationwide.
“At some point we hope to be able to offer bachelor’s degrees in additional fields.” Floten said. “The widening gap between the space available in baccalaureate programs, on the one hand, and the needs of state residents and employers on the other, harms our economy and the quality of life in our community.”
Bellevue College expects to award bachelor’s degrees to 18 students at commencement ceremonies June 18. Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will be the commencement speaker.
The college first notified the state last November of its intent to change its name. Hearings to gather public comment were held Feb. 11, and the college Board of Trustees approved the change March 11.
Floten noted that the new name and logo will be phased in over time in order to minimize cost.
“You may still see our old name and logo out there for a while in some places, because we are being fiscally responsible about making the changeover,” Floten said.
The college designed its new logo in-house and will not reprint materials that carry the old logo until supplies run out or their contents become obsolete, Floten noted.
Bellevue College will remain part of the state community and technical college system and will continue to fulfill its community college mission, which is to provide an open door to higher education to all who are eligible.
Ten other community colleges in the state already have changed their name in a similar way.
The name change, Floten added, is independent of the bills introduced in the Washington State Legislature earlier this year to allow the college to award additional bachelor’s degrees.
The college changed its Internet domain to bellevuecollege.edu in September 2008.
About Bellevue College
Serving 35,000 students annually, Bellevue College is Washington state’s third largest institution of higher education.
BC offers educational programs in five general categories: a Bachelor of Applied Science in Radiation and Imaging Sciences; transfer study (the first two years of a bachelor’s degree) in more than 50 interest areas; work-related training through more than 90 degree and certificate programs in such fields as health care, information technology, business and interior design; adult basic education, including English language training; and Continuing Education programs in computing and technology, business and workplace skills (including contract training tailored for the workforces of individual employers), languages, art, travel and personal enrichment.
For more information on the college name change, visit www.bellevuecollege.edu/about/college/collegename/
Visit Bellevue College on the web at www.bellevuecollege.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bob Adams
(425) 564-3081
badams@bellevuecollege.edu