7450 Commercial Activity (WAC 132H-133)

Original Date: 9/8/1992 * Last Revision Effective: 3/12/2025
Policy Contact: President

Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 132H-133 will be adopted as policy 7450 on 3/19/2025. WAC revisions will be effective 5/20/2025.

Policy

WAC 132H-133-010  Title.

WAC 132H-133 shall be known as the commercial activity of Community College District VIII.

WAC 132H-133-050  Commercial activity.

To promote the mission of Bellevue College it is often necessary to engage in commercial activities that provide goods and services that meet special needs of students, faculty, staff and members of the public participating in college activities and events. Chapter 28B.63 RCW establishes standards for institutions of higher education to follow in conducting commercial activities. The purpose of the policy statement and standards that follow is to ensure that Bellevue College pursues commercial activities in compliance with chapter 28B.63 RCW and that all commercial activities of the college serve the mission of the college.

(1) Policy statement. Bellevue College may engage in the providing of goods, services, or facilities for a fee only when such are directly and substantially related to the educational mission of the college. Fees charged for goods, services, and facilities shall reflect their full direct and indirect costs, including overhead. They shall also take into account the price of such items in the private marketplace.

(2) Approval and review of commercial activities. The vice president of administrative services or designee shall be responsible for the approval of new commercial activities and the periodic review of existing ones. It shall be the responsibility of this office to ensure that each commercial activity meets the criteria established for commercial activities of the college. Proposals for new or altered services shall be approved by the vice president of administrative services or designee prior to implementation.

(3) Criteria for commercial activities serving members of the campus community. Each of the following criteria shall be used in assessing the validity of providing goods or services to members of the campus community:

(a) The goods or services are substantially and directly related to the mission of the college.

(b) Provision of the goods, services, or facilities on campus represents a special convenience to the campus community or facilitates extracurricular activities.

(c) Fees charged for the goods, services, or facilities shall take into account the full direct and indirect costs, including overhead. They shall also reflect the costs of such items in the private marketplace.

(d) Procedures adequate to the circumstances shall be observed to ensure that the goods and services are provided only to students, faculty, staff, or invited guests.

(4) Criteria for providing commercial activities to the external community.

(a) The goods, services, or facilities provided relate substantially and directly to the mission of the college and are not commonly available or otherwise easily accessible in the private marketplace and are in demand from the external community.

(b) Fees charged for the goods, services, or facilities shall take into account the full direct and indirect costs, including overhead. They shall also reflect the price of such items in the private marketplace.

(5) Definitions and limitations. “Commercial activity” means an activity which provides a product or service for a fee which could be obtained from a commercial source. This definition shall be used to determine which activities shall be governed by this policy, except that this policy shall not apply to:

(a) The initiation of or changes in academic or vocational programs of instruction in the college’s regular, extension, evening, or continuing education programs;

(b) Fees for services provided in the practical aspects of instruction;

(c) Extracurricular programs, including food services, athletic and recreational programs, and performing arts programs.

Relevant Laws and Other Resources

Revision History

Original 9/8/1992
Revisions 1/5/2003; 3/22/2005; 5/21/2009; 10/19/2015; 3/12/2025

Approved By

Board of Trustees

Last Updated March 13, 2025