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Bellevue College (formerly Bellevue Community College or BCC) is a community college located in Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. It serves 35,000 students per year, making it the largest community college and second largest institution of higher education overall in Washington state (behind the University of Washington and ahead of Washington State University). Bellevue College offers associate's degree programs covering the first two years of a college education as well as degrees, certificates, and continuing education programs. The college has a range of distance and online learning options as well.^[2]

In 2007, the college started a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Radiation and Imaging Sciences. In 2009, bachelor degree offerings expanded to include a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Interior Design.^[3]

History

Bellevue Community College was established in 1966 as an alternative place of higher education for residents of the east side of Lake Washington.^[4] The School opened with a total of 464 students^[4] in portable classrooms on the campus of Newport High School. Two years later, construction began on a permanent campus, and school size grew throughout the 1970s. During the 1980s, slow growth led to a reduction in staff and enrollment. College growth once again increased during the 1990s, and peaked with a total enrollment of 39,300 during the 2000-2001 school year.^[4]

Academics

Many of Bellevue College's students earn their college freshman and sophomore credits (and receive an associate degree), and then transfer to a four-year institution to continue their education. Additionally, the college offers 2 applied bachelor degree programs, one in Radiation & Imaging Sciences and another in Interior Design.^[5]

Bellevue College offers a variety of high school programs, such as Running Start, for students of age 16 and older.^[6]

Student life

The Associated Student Government (ASG) holds elections for all students once a year to elect their representatives. The ASG allocates funding from their S&A budget, a fee collected per the vote from the student body meant to enrich the lives of students on campus. Some examples of programs supported by the ASG are, the math and reading labs, Black Student Union, and LGBTQ. The Jibsheet is the weekly English-language student-run newspaper.^[7]

Athletics

BC participates in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges,^[8] also known as the NWAACC. Facilities include a baseball field, a soccer field, and a gymnasium^[9]

Expansion of Four-Year Degree Programs

In 2009, Bellevue College promoted bills in the Washington State Legislature to greatly expand its four-year degree programs. It also changed its name from Bellevue Community College to Bellevue College in anticipation of this. The bills did not pass, but they would have allowed the college to offer more four-year degrees (it currently is only allowed to offer two) and would have put the college under the oversight of the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, among a few other changes. Part of the reason that the bills did not pass was that the University of Washington opposed it, saying that any extra higher education money should go to its campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma, and not to a new college.^[10] Yet, public comment and community response to the college's request for expanded four-year programs has been overwhelmingly positive.^[11]

The President of Bellevue College has indicated that she will continue to push for the expansion. In the meantime, however, the state higher education board did approve a second major, a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design, which will start being offered in January 2010.^[12]

Awards

• "Microsoft IT Showcase School" designation from Microsoft Corporation (only the second in the nation, along with the University of Massachusetts-Amherst). 2006^[13]
• One of the "Nation's Leading Colleges and Universities Committed to Diversity," according to non-profit educational organization Minority Access, Inc. 2006^[14]
• National John L. Blackburn Award for Exemplary Models of Administrative Leadership from the American Association of University Administrators. 2006^[15]
• Charles Kennedy Equity Award from the Association of Community College Trustees, recognizing exemplary commitment to equitable treatment for minorities and women. 2005
• Selection by U.S. Department of Labor to create national Bioinformatics Center of Excellence. 2004
• Designation as Washington state Center for Information Technology Excellence. 2004
• National Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Collaboration Award from Community College National Center of Community Engagement. 2004
• Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Internationalizing the Campus 2004. Washington, DC USA: NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 2004. pp. 7–16.  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Bellevue College at a Glance, College Facts and Stats
2. ^ "Bellevue College Distance Education Program". Bellevue College. http://bellevuecollege.edu/distance/. Retrieved 3 December 2009.  
3. ^ "Degrees & Certificates". Bellevue College. http://bellevuecollege.edu/programs/degrees/. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
4. ^ ^{a b c} "College History". Bellevue Community College. http://bellevuecollege.edu/40years/. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
5. ^ "Bachelor Degree Programs, Bellevue College". Bellevue College. http://bellevuecollege.edu/programs/degrees/bachelor/. Retrieved 3 December 2009.  
6. ^ "High School Programs". Bellevue Community College. http://bellevuecollege.edu/programs/highschool/. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
7. ^ "The Jibsheet Home Page". The Jibsheet. http://www.thejibsheet.com/. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
8. ^ "Member Institutions". Bellevue Community College. http://www.nwaacc.org/memberSchools.php. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
9. ^ "Bellevue CC Athletics Facilities". Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. http://bellevuecollege.edu/athletics/Facilities.html. Retrieved 18 December 2007.  
10. ^ "Bellevue College wants more 4-year degrees". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2008709348_bcc05m.html. Retrieved 2009-09-19.  
11. ^ "Comments: Bellevue College wants more 4-year degrees". Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reader_feedback/public/display.php?source_name=mbase&source_id=2008709348. Retrieved 2009-12-03.  
12. ^ "Second bachelor's degree approved at Bellevue College". Mercer Island Reporter. http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/mir/news/56624612.html?period=W&mpStartDate=09-09-2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.  
13. ^ "Bellevue Community College Named Microsoft IT Showcase School". Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/nov06/11-20BCCMSITShowcasePR.mspx. Retrieved 12 February 2008.  
14. ^ "Values at BCC". seattletimes.com (The Seattle Times). 2006-10-09. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003295323_bcced09.html. Retrieved 2008-02-13.  
15. ^ "BCC's rock star". seattletimes.com (The Seattle Times). 2006-07-25. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003149391_bcced25.html. Retrieved 2008-02-13.  

External links

• Bellevue College
• About Bellevue College
• Directions and Maps to Bellevue College
• Online and Distance Education Programs
• Continuing Education programs
• The Jibsheet