Institutional Commitment

Bellevue College Affirms Our Commitment to You!

The faculty and staff of Bellevue College stand committed to providing you with a safe and welcoming community, and we protect your right to be here. Our values place our students at the center of all we do. We acknowledge our responsibility to our community and we believe that access to a college education is the cornerstone of a democratic society.

We continue to value and promote a pluralistic and diverse campus community that fosters creativity, innovation, and student success, and we support the international exchange of scholars and students.

Your success, safety and well-being drive our work and supports you as a student here at Bellevue College.

College Policies and Practices Protecting Bellevue College Community Members

Bellevue College policies and our practices help to protect your rights and provide a context for action and thoughtful decision-making. BC Commitment to Students (downloadable pdf)

Privacy of Student Records Policy

Bellevue College enforces the federal law that protects the privacy of your educational records.  This law, also known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), generally prevents us from sharing your information with others without your written consent. Some excep-tions include the health and safety of you, the student, or other individuals, response to some types of court orders, information provided to other college employees needed to do their jobs, and Directory Information.

Directory Information includes your name, college email address, dates of attendance and other information not considered harmful if shared. However, you have the right to ask that we not share your Directory Information. If you wish to withhold Directory Information, or you want detailed information about FERPA and your rights, please contact Student Central on the first floor of B Building, or the Dean of Student Central, Steve Downing at steve.downing@bellevuecollege.edu.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

The Bellevue College non-discrimination policy protects you and others from discrimination and harassment. Bellevue College does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities. To ask questions about our discrimination and harassment policy, contact the Vice President of Human Resources (425-564-2445) or Title IX Coordinator (425-564- 2641). Learn more at www.bellevuecollege.edu/equal.

Bellevue College celebrates diversity, inclusion and equity, and holds these values at the heart of our campus community. We ask our community members to engage in civil, respectful conversation with one another, and to model compassion and tolerance for diverse ideas and cultures.

Student Code of Conduct

Once you complete the admission process, we consider you a student and a member of our campus community. We expect Bellevue College students to follow the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct expects you to follow college rules and regulations, comply with the directions of college officials, maintain a high standard of honesty and integrity, and respect the rights, privileges and property of other members of the campus community.

The Student Code of Conduct helps to protect you from other students that might violate your rights and your safety. Violation of the Student Code of Conduct is taken very seriously and we enforce consequences through an established process. To ask questions about our Student Code of Conduct, contact the Manager of Student Conduct (425-564-2757).

Federal and State Regulations For Students

Federal Laws

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): This law protects the privacy of student records at all schools, including elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities.
• Plyler v. Doe: In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that a K-12 education is a fundamental and protected right for all children in the United States, regardless of citizenship or residency status.

Federal Policies

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Under DACA the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot deport certain undocumented youth who arrived in the United States as children.

However, DACA, established by the Obama Administration, is temporary and does not provide a way to become a permanent resident or a U.S. citizen. Those accepted into DACA status must reapply every two years, and must prepare for the possibility that a new administration may change or eliminate this option.

Washington State Regulations

REAL Hope Act (WA DREAM Act): SB 6523 gives undocumented students, including students with DACA status in the state of Washington, the right to attend colleges and universities and to qualify for state-funded financial aid.

Washington State Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60): This regulation protects individuals from any form of discrimination based on any protected class, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Last Updated March 5, 2024