President’s Message: Department of Education, Free Speech, and Immigration Enforcement

Dear Bellevue College community,

I want to take a moment to share important updates regarding the U.S. Department of Education, free speech at Bellevue College, and potential immigration enforcement on campus. Each of these topics carries implications for our college. The college’s leadership team and I remain committed to keeping our community informed and prepared.

Department of Education

We are aware of the executive order signed on Thursday directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to close the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” as well as the recent termination of more than 1,300 DOE employees. While the full impact on our college and students remains uncertain, college leadership and I are closely monitoring this evolving situation and its impact.

I’m dedicated to ensuring disruptions to our students and employees are minimized, and I will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Free Speech and Expressive Activity

Bellevue College supports free speech and free expression, which are fundamental to our democracy and core to our educational mission. As a public institution, we are legally required to provide access to campus for First Amendment activities, even when viewpoints expressed do not align with the college’s core values or mission. Our role is to create an environment where ideas—both affirming and challenging—can be shared. However, expressive activities must not disrupt campus operations or create an unsafe environment.

Participation in expressive activities is a personal choice, and you are not obligated to engage with advocacy groups or individuals exercising their First Amendment rights. I also recognize that such activities can be emotionally charged. I encourage students to seek support from our Counseling Center and employees to utilize the Employee Assistance Program if needed.

For more information, you may review Bellevue College’s Expressive Activity Policy

Immigration Enforcement on Campus

Bellevue College is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. In alignment with Washington state’s Keep Washington Working Act, the college has established policies that protect privacy, prevent unauthorized access by immigration enforcement, and uphold our commitment to educational access for all.

A team is actively working on additional resources and an informational session to help our employees understand how to respond if immigration enforcement comes to campus. More details will be shared soon. In the meantime, if you encounter any immigration enforcement activity on campus, immediately refer the agents to Public Safety in B132 or call Public Safety at 425-466-9365.

For more information on Bellevue College’s immigration enforcement protections, please refer to our Federal Response and Resources and Undocumented Student Resources webpages.

Thank you for your attention to these critical issues. As always, I appreciate your dedication to our mission and our shared commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive campus environment.

Sincerely,

Dr. David May

Bellevue College President