Current Bellevue College Students
- You can use our tiered services all year! See the Current Students page for everything that is available to you right now.
- If you’d like to join the full program, you can start at step 7 on the checklist below after watching our program videos!
New Students: Your first step is to watch the Information Videos and attend an Information Q&A Session which will begin on November 18, 2023 with Discovery Day! Check for additional dates and RSVP.
See below for additional steps.
For students joining our cohort program in Summer 2024
Welcome! We’re glad you’ve found us! Contact us if you need support with any part of the process!
Successful participation in the Neurodiversity Navigators program is directly correlated to your desire to be part of the program, learn about your strengths, and work with other neurodivergent students. You are welcome to “try out” the program if you are unsure.
Parents and others should work collaboratively with their student to make a decision and should not pressure, push, or entice students to participate.
Work through the steps below to join the Neurodiversity Navigators program.
All deadlines listed are the very last day you can do something.
Please do your best to complete items as far ahead of deadlines as possible.
- You must attend the Summer FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort
- Students will not be able to join the program if they do not complete this course.
- Class begins July 1 – ends August 15 (dates are approximate)
- Please contact us if you run into barriers, including missed deadlines.
*1. Watch Videos & Attend a Q&A information session
- Watch the program videos here. The second video is the most important if you don’t have time to watch all three.
- Record any questions you may have and attend a Q&A Information Session to ask them!
*2. Apply to Bellevue College for Summer Quarter (by 6/15)
Be sure to mark SUMMER 2024 as your first quarter. You must apply to the college no later than June 15, 2024.
*Notes:
- When you apply, be sure to choose an academic degree path, especially if you are applying for Financial Aid. (You can always change it later if you change your mind!)
- Online application guide (see Step 26 in that guide for choosing academic degree path.)
- See the Enrollment Calendars here. Enroll as soon as possible.
- If you need help with this process, there are Admissions Advisors to support you!
- If you are a Running Start student, or CEO Student, be sure to follow all High School programs guidelines as well.
- Email runningstartsummer@bellevuecollege.edu to register for the required Summer Quarter FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort.
- Check with your program for additional information and guidelines.
- Be sure to mark SUMMER 2024 as your first quarter. You will be unable to register for FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort if you skip this step.
IF you need help: Meet w/Admissions Advisor.
If you run into any difficulties enrolling, setting up your email address or login to your ctcLink account, Admissions Advisors can help!
3. Create your Bellevue College email address
When you receive your ctcLink ID from the college, create your Bellevue College email address. This is called your NetID. Be sure to write down or remember your password! You will also need to remember your ctcLink ID and your Bellevue College email address.
As a college student, you have a legal right to privacy. If you want your parents or someone else to be included in information, or be able to phone or email on your behalf, you must fill out a Release of Information Form (PDF – FERPA form). Please email this to us from your Bellevue College email address.
4. Complete BC New Student Orientation and New Student Enrollment
- You will learn about college services and resources, paying for college, important policies, class registration, and other ways to prepare for success at Bellevue College.
Be sure to let enrollment advisors know that you are planning to be part of the Neurodiversity Navigators program and have them include our courses into your academic plan.
- If they don’t have the list of courses, you can share it with them: Neurodiversity Navigators course sequence [PDF].
- Remind the advisors that you need to register for FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort this summer (no permission code required.)
- For Summer Quarter, take ONLY FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort (no additional classes.) We do not recommend taking any other classes during the summer.
- Incoming Housing students will be provided an exception to the 6-credit requirement if they are taking only FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort and are part of the Neurodiversity Navigators program.
- Remember to register for Fall Quarter classes too!
Reserve space in your Fall schedule for the EXPRL 180 Skills for Navigating College and Career class (permission code required – we will give you the code after we meet in Step #7).
You can download a full list of the Neurodiversity Navigators course series here [PDF].
Additional academic advising tools can be found here. Note: it’s important to use these tools AND meet with Academic Advisors. Do not plan your path only with parents or others outside the college. Support people, including parents, are welcome to attend Advising meetings with you.
We recommend taking ONLY FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort for summer. You must attend this summer class to join the Neurodiversity Navigators program. Incoming Summer Housing students can receive an exception to the 6 credit requirement if they are taking only FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort and are part of Neurodiversity Navigators.
We do not recommend taking any other classes during the summer because summer is an accelerated quarter, meaning students must complete the same amount of work as an 11-week quarter during 6 weeks. Other supports, such as peer mentors and tutors are generally not available during the summer.
5. Register for Summer FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort and Fall Quarter Classes
FYS (First Year Seminar) is required for all Bellevue College students. The curriculum is not unique to the Neurodiversity Navigators program, although it is taught as a cohort class for students to begin to form a community. Any neurodivergent student can register for this course. No permission code is needed. Register for ONLY FYS 101: Neurodiversity Cohort for Summer Quarter
Choose your Fall Quarter classes and register for those as well! The sooner you register, the better choice you will have. Remember to reserve space in your Fall schedule for the EXPRL 180: Skills for Navigating College and Career class (permission code required – we will give you the code after we meet in Step #7).
6. Determine your English placement.
To be successful in Neurodiversity Navigators, you must be able to complete assignments at the level of English 072 or above.
- This is to ensure that you will be able to understand the course material and complete the assignments for cohort classes.
This step must be completed prior to meeting with us, so please start on this right away.
English Placement is done with our support. You can use any of the English Placement Documents listed below:
- Smarter Balanced test scores
- AP English class scores
- AP/IB/Cambridge test scores
- College transcripts
- PSAT/SAT scores
- Accuplacer assessment scores within the past 2 years,
- GED Language Arts scores, OR
- If you do not have any of these items, please let us know and we will send you information for an alternate assessment.
Once you have gathered the above scores, transcripts, or completed the alternate assessment we send you, then schedule your individual meeting with us to determine your acceptance into the Neurodiversity Navigators program (Step 7, below). We will ask you to send those documents with your request for a meeting. (You can meet with us prior to attending NSO and NSE – Steps 4 & 5.)
We are unable to meet with you without one of the English placement documents.
7. Schedule a meeting with us (this form will be live on March 1)
- You will need your ctcLink ID from Bellevue College, your Bellevue College email address, and your English Placement documents to complete this form.
The purpose of this appointment is for you to have a conversation with program administrators to ensure that you understand the program, that it is your decision to be part of the program (not anyone else’s!) and to ensure that everything else is in place.
We will also talk to you about what classes you will be taking.
Please finish Steps 1-3 as well as Step 6 prior to meeting with us!
Note: A student’s successful participation in the Neurodiversity Navigators program is directly correlated to their desire to be part of the program. Parents and others should not pressure, push, or entice students to participate against their will. Students are welcome to “try out” the program if they are unsure.
Appointment Applications close on August 11, 2024, and we must meet with you by August 31. If you’ve missed this deadline, please contact us to see if we still have space and time!
8. Check your Bellevue College email regularly.
After our meeting, watch your BC email for an email from us with important registration information.
We will mail students only, at their Bellevue College email address, unless we have a signed FERPA release form [PDF]
9. Fill out the Availability Survey.
Watch your BC email for our Availability Survey. The survey lets us know when you are available to meet with a peer mentor regularly each week.
- Be sure to respond to the survey fully and completely by the deadline given in the email.
10. Pay for your classes!
Classes will be dropped by the college for nonpayment. You can:
- Pay all at once
- Set up a payment plan
- Apply for Financial Aid
Final Step: Stay in touch with us!
Let us know if you change your schedule for Fall classes. We cannot accommodate schedule changes past September 1.
Once we set your peer mentor appointment, we cannot change it.
- Please contact us with concerns at asn@bellevuecollege.edu if you are having difficulty with the deadlines – we’re here to help!
- We are unable to hold individual information meetings. Please watch the videos then record your questions and email, text, or chat with us about them.
- Please pay close attention to deadlines for course registration, as well as payment deadlines, and check your Bellevue College email daily for important updates, both from the Neurodiversity Navigators program and from the College.
- If you’ve missed a deadline, please contact us so we can help!
- We strongly recommend that students register with the Disability Resource Center for ADA Testing and Classroom accommodations, however, we do not require it. During our appointment with you, we can discuss this. If you wish to have classroom and testing accommodations, the steps are below:
- Follow the steps on their “Getting Started” page:
- A DRC access coordinator will contact you to complete an Initial Access appointment. Watch your Bellevue College email and respond as soon as possible! They will email only the student unless you have a FERPA on file with them for others.
- The accommodations process takes time! Do this as soon as possible, concurrent with setting things up with us!
- Purchase and start reading: On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life (any edition, buy used! There are several options under $10 online.) This book is not required, however, we highly recommend it. Students should read whichever parts interest them.
What are the most important things you can do to prepare for college now? Watch these videos and find out!
For questions, or support with the application process, visit Support with Applying to Neurodiversity Navigators.
Email: asn@bellevuecollege.edu (best way to contact)
Text: (833) 227-4551
Phone: 425.564.2764 (if we do not answer, please leave a message and your email address)
Please contact us if you run into any barriers, including missed deadlines.
Not sure you want to take our cohort classes or use the full program services? Check out the support we provide to all neurodivergent students at Bellevue College.
Explore more about Bellevue College here.
Last Updated November 27, 2023
