Public Disclosure

Bellevue College makes the following important information available to the general public, as required by state and federal laws and/or college policy. You can follow the links to get more detail on any of these topics. If you prefer to get the information in paper format, contact the office listed. You can also view all of our college policies and procedures online.

Topics:

Accreditation

Bellevue College’s accreditation as a two-year institution was reaffirmed in 2005 by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Redmond, Wash.), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education. We are currently a candidate for accreditation by the Commission as a 4-year institution.

Find information about BC’s accreditation status at www.bellevuecollege.edu/about/college/accreditation or contact the President’s Office, room A201, phone (425) 564-2301. For information about accreditation standards and procedures at:

NW Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Ave. NW, Suite 100
Redmond WA 98052
(425) 558 4224
www.nwccu.org

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Affirmation of Inclusion

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, andadministrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

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AIDS/HIV Information

For information about the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the prevention of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), go to the following websites or contact the Counseling Center in the Student Services Building.

More information is available at the following websites:

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Campus Maps

For information on campus buildings, facilities, and maps to the various campus locations, please visit http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/around/directions/.

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Costs of Attending Bellevue College

Current information about current tuition rates, student fees, tuition & fee waivers, and the college’s policies on refunds is online at www.bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/costs. This information (along with cost estimates for books, school supplies, housing, and transportation) is also published annually in the BC Course Catalog, available at the BC Bookstore. For more details, contact the Financial Aid Office, on the first floor of the Student Services Building or by phone at (425) 564-2227.

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Crime and Campus Safety Report

BC's annual security compliance report is available online atwww.bellevuecollege.educampusops/publicsafety/reports. If you would like to receive the information in paper format, come to the BC Public Safety department in K100 or call (425) 564-2400 to request a copy.

The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including crime prevention, college security law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, and other important issues related to security on campus. Information on crime statistics is listed for the three previous calendar years on reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by BC; and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campuses.

This information is required by law and is provided by the BC Public Safety Department, room K100, phone (425) 564-2400.

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Degree and Certificate Programs Available at Bellevue College

Bellevue College offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs which help prepare students either to transfer to baccalaureate colleges and universities or to enter a professional/technical field. General studies and non-credit Continuing Education programs are also available.

Go to www.bellevuecollege.edu/about/publications/catalog/ for the current Course Catalog and PDF versions of previous years’ catalogs. Details about degrees and certificates are also available from the Educational Planning and Transfer Center, upstairs in the Student Service Building

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Directory - Staff & Faculty

Contact information for all BC departments and staff can be located at http://bellevuecollege.edu/directory/.

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Disability Access

Visitors and General Public

Bellevue College facilities are barrier-free. If reasonable accommodation is needed to visit, please contact Disability Resource Center at (425) 564-2498 (TTY line (425) 564-4110) at least four weeks before the anticipated need.

Accommodations and Support Services for Students with Disabilities; Nondiscrimination

Bellevue College facilities are barrier-free. If reasonable accommodation is needed to visit, please contact Disability Support Services at least four weeks before the anticipated need.

BC’s Disability Resource Center provides classroom accommodations and advocacy for eligible students who have disabilities. Appropriate accommodations are authorized when a student requests them and completes the mandated intake procedures. As a part of the process, students must submit documentation of the disabling conditions before DSS can authorize and arrange auxiliary aids or academic adjustments for classes. For more information, visit DSS in room B132, call (425) 564-2498 (TTY line (425) 564- 4110), or go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc or to our Disability Resources information page.

BC does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Any student who feels he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of disability may file a complaint according to the established campus policies and procedures or may contact one of the following agencies:

  • Department of Education
    915 Second Avenue
    Seattle WA 98174
    (206) 220-7900
    National website: http://www.ed.gov/ocr/
  • Washington State Human Rights Commission
    1151 Third Avenue, Suite 921
    Seattle WA 98101
    (206) 464-6500, TTY (206) 587-5168
    Statewide website: www.hum.wa.gov/complaintProcess

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Drug-Free Schools and Campuses

BC intends to provide a drug-free, healthful, safe, and secure work and educational environment. Each employee is expected to report to work in an appropriate mental and physical condition to perform his/her assigned duties, and each student is expected to be in an appropriate mental and physical condition to participate fully in the learning process. Using, possessing, delivering, selling (as defined in RCW 69.04.005 as now law or hereafter amended) or being under the influence of alcohol, legend drugs, including anabolic steroids, androgens, or human growth hormones (as defined by RCW 69.41.010 and RCW 69.41.300) or any other controlled substance (as defined in RCW 69.50.101 as now law or hereafter amended), except upon valid prescription or order of a practitioner, is prohibited.

View the complete policy on maintaining a drug-free campus and workplace, including disciplinary actions.

Employees are encouraged to seek help from the Employee Assistance Program; go to Human Resources in Room A101 for contact information. Students who feel they might have a problem with drug and/or alcohol are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center, room B234, phone (425) 564-2212.

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Enrollment Policies

Complete information about:

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Equal Opportunity in Education and Employment

Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; creed; color; national origin; sex; marital or family status; sexual orientation including gender identity or expression; age; religion; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or veteran status in the educational programs and activities which it operates. BC is prohibited from discriminating in such a manner by college policy and by state and federal law. All college personnel and persons, vendors, and organizations with whom the college does business are required to comply with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations designed to promote affirmative action and equal opportunity. [BC Policy 4150]

Read more...

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Equity in Athletics

Bellevue College reports annually to the federal Department of Education
concerning the number of male and female student athletes, support for men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports, financial aid available for male and female student athletes, etc. For a copy of the report, contact the Athletics Department, room G100, phone (425) 564-2351.

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Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA); Disclosure of Student Information

Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA”), establishes that the education records of students attending or having attended the college are confidential and can be released only with written permission from the student. FERPA also authorizes the college to release so-called “directory information” without that prior written permission.

The primary rights of students under FERPA are:

  • to inspect and review their education records;
  • to request correction or amendment of their education records;
  • to have some control over disclosure of information from their education records.

BC has designated the following as “directory information” which may be disclosed without prior written consent unless the student notifies the college in writing by September 15 of the academic year:

  • student’s name;
  • student’s campus e-mail address;
  • degrees or certificates awarded;
  • dates of attendance at BC;
  • athletic statistics;
  • scholarships received;
  • membership or office held in student government or honor society;
  • part-time or full-time student status;
  • previous schools attended.

BC has adopted comprehensive policies and procedures to implement the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act and protect the confidentiality of student information. For questions, more detail, or the steps to take to request inspection and/or correction of education records, contact the Dean of Student Services, room B125, phone (425) 564-2205.

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Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to BC students from a variety of state, federal, and private sources and may include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study employment. Applying for financial aid is a lengthy process and is controlled by the rules and regulations set by the funding agencies. Advance planning is necessary to complete and submit the basic financial aid application in a timely fashion. Information about types of aid, eligibility requirements, “satisfactory progress” criteria, and an orientation to the application forms and procedures are available online at www.bellevuecollege.edu/financialaid and at the Financial Aid Office on the first floor of the Student Service Building, phone (425) 564-2227. For additional information about scholarships available to BC students, go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/scholarships or call (425) 564-2279 for the date and time of the next scholarship orientation session.

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General Educational Development (GED)

BC offers courses to prepare students for the five-part GED exam. The GED exam is available at BC for a $75 fee. Those who successfully complete the test will earn a certificate of General Educational Development. See

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Graduation Rates

Federal Graduation Rate Survey Information for Bellevue College (accurate as of Spring 2004):

  • Combined transfer out/completion/graduation rate: 52.7%
  • GRS completion or graduation rate: 32.1%
  • GRS transfer-out rate: 19.9%
  • Students still enrolled after four years: 19.8%

BC provides this information pursuant to the federal Student Right to Know Act so that prospective students can make informed decisions about colleges they might wish to attend. The federal Graduation Rate Survey definitions pertain to a very small group of BC students: new students attending full time, with degree or certificate intentions, without prior college experience.For help in interpreting these data, contact the Office of Institutional Research, (425) 564-3152.

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Limitation of Liability

The college’s total liability for claims arising from a contractual relationship with the student in any way related to classes or programs shall be limited to the tuition and expenses paid by the student to the college for those classes or programs. In no event shall the college be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of earnings or profits.

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Request for Public Records

Bellevue College is an agency of the State of Washington and its records are therefore open for public review (with some exceptions such as students’ educational records and certain items in employees’ personnel files). Any member of the community may ask to see or to obtain a photocopy of any existing college document that is part of the public record. For information on how to request access to public records, contact Administrative Services, room B202, phone (425) 564-2451.

For The Washington State rules on access to public records, go to www.atg.wa.gov/openrecords/ or refer to the Public Disclosure Act beginning at RCW
42.17.250.

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Privacy Notice

The privacy notice addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of the Bellevue College website. This notice covers the following topics:

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Smoking on Campus

In accordance with the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act of 1985 (RCW 70.160) and in recognition of the executive order establishing the Governor’s Policy on Smoking in State Facilities, it shall be the policy of Bellevue College to limit smoking and tobacco use on campus as follows [BC Policy 2300]:

  1. Smoking and tobacco use are permitted only in designated locations. Administrative Services will designate locations outside the campus courtyard on the main campus.
  2. Smoking and tobacco use shall not be permitted in college vehicles.

The college provides signage on main campus to inform people of the policy.Signs and ashcans are placed at the main pedestrian entrances to campus. A map showing the designated smoking and tobacco use areas is available from Campus Operations or at
www.bellevuecollege.edu/about/around/directions/maps/main-office.asp

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State Support for Higher Education

The Washington State legislature wants students to know how much the state contributes to the cost of their instruction at community and technical colleges. The following table indicates the amount of state support by tuition category for students attending community and technical colleges. This information is to be used for the academic year 2005-2006.

 

Residents

Non-Residents

Total instructional cost per FTE student

$5,898

$5,398

Operating fee

$1,959

$6,778

Net state support per FTE student

$3,939

--

The following table indicates the amount of state supported financial aid including that provided from the local institutional financial aid fund (3 ½ percent).

 

Residents

Non-Residents

State financial aid appropriated per FTE student

$636

$74*

Institutional financial aid fund

$42

N/A

*Institutional financial aid is shown on an average student basis. Data are not available to allocate
by student category. Institutional financial aid is not available to nonresidents.

This information is provided according to RCW 28B.10.044. For questions or further detail, contact the Dean of Student Services, room B125, phone (425) 564-2205.

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Steroids

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones which are often misused in an effort to enhance athletic performance. According to Washington state law and BC policy 4355, any student violating the laws about use or possession of anabolic steroids will become ineligible to participate in school-sponsored athletic activities and may also be charged with a gross misdemeanor or felony.

Students should also be aware that misuse of anabolic steroid drugs is a serious health risk. For information, contact the BC Counseling Center, upstairs in the Student Service Building.

Further information is available at the following websites:

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Student Right to Know

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Voter Registration

Do you want to register to vote in the State of Washington?

Here’s how: www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx

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Whistleblowers

State law (RCW 42.40) encourages state employees to report improper governmental actions to the Office of the State Auditor. “Improper governmental action” means any action by an employee that violates state law, abuses authority, wastes public funds, or endangers public health or safety. (“Improper governmental action” does not include personnel actions pertaining to grievances and related complaints.)

Any state employee wishing to report improper governmental action should notify the State Auditor at the following address:

State Auditor’s Office
Attention ED
P.O. Box 40021
Olympia, WA 98504-0021

Telephone calls will not be accepted. Whistleblowers may choose to remain anonymous; however, if a whistleblower wishes to be informed about the results of the State Auditor’s investigation, his/her initial report must include a name, address, and telephone number. Whistleblower reports made in good faith are kept strictly confidential. The whistleblower is entitled to protection form reprisal or retaliatory action (such as arbitrary job changes or unwarranted letters of reprimands). A whistleblower who believes he or she has been the subject of reprisal or retaliation may file a claim with the Washington Human Rights Commission.

A whistleblower reporting form and other details about the program can be found at www.sao.wa.gov.

For more information about the whistleblower policy at BC, contact the President’s Office, room A201, phone (425) 564-2301.

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