Employee Engagement and Resources

The Diversity Caucus’ purpose is to support the college’s commitment to diversity and pluralism by providing advice and counsel to the college community through the Council on Inclusion & Diversity (CID), promoting internal community building, and providing a structure for networking, mentoring, and support for students, staff, faculty and administrators from diverse populations.

Contact: Beabe Akpojovwo, beabe.akpojovwo@bellevuecollege.edu or Glenn Jackson, glenn.jackson@bellevuecollege.edu.

Diversity Caucus Retreat Registration:

The Council for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) provides a forum to consider equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students and employees. It ensures the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and works to reduce disparate achievement outcomes. The CID also promotes the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce with equitable professional opportunities. The CID will make recommendations to the president, College Assembly or other councils, as appropriate, for further consideration and action. It will encourage cross-campus communication, coordination, and collaboration. The CID provides a framework to further the college’s commitment to diversity within BC Governance and is supported by the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Human Resources.

Affinity Groups are voluntarily formed, not dictated by management, and any individual employee membership and participation are voluntary. They play a vital role in articulating, promoting, and supporting the college’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Their primary focus is to develop and improve the campus climate by increasing the presence of diverse faculty and staff. The Affinity Groups help increase morale, provide insights into diverse areas, build bridges to the community, and empower members. Affinity Groups also serve to spotlight the achievements and accomplishments of the college’s students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. The groups may assist the college with recruiting, retaining, and promoting top, diverse talent.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Vice President for Diversity, and the Diversity Director provide resources and support to Affinity Groups in articulating, promoting, and supporting the needs of the various groups.

Current Affinity Groups:

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)

• Mission: The AAPI (Asian & Pacific Islander Employees) Affinity Group connects Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander educators at Bellevue College who celebrate the diverse cultures within our communities·Offer an open space for educators on campus to discuss issues relevant to our community’s personal, professional well-being and identity. ·Work to promote perseverance and affirmation of identity through collaboration, support, community and mentoring through professional development, networking and social activities to ensure perseverance and affirmation of identity.
• Contact: Pavy Thao – pavy.thao@bellevuecollege.edu,
  or Donna Miguel – d.miguel@bellevuecollege.edu

Bellevue College Chaverim Jewish Affinity Group

Mission:

The Bellevue College Chaverim, Jewish Affinity Group, is for Jews and Partners of Jews on campus. Our activities include a cultural celebration of Jewish holidays, discussions of current events that impact Jews, advocacy for Jewish issues on campus, and rapid response to provide support when the Jewish community is in need.

• Contact: Laura Nudelman – lnudelma@bellevuecollege.edu, or
  Rebecca Cory – rebecca.cory@bellevuecollege.edu

Bellevue College Black and Indigenous People of Color (BC BIPOC) Coalition

• Mission:

The BIPOC steering committee comprises diverse BIPOC BC employees passionate about social justice work. Using a shared leadership model, we have been meeting regularly to form the beginnings of the BC BIPOC Coalition. While the support of and collaboration with allies are essential if we are to transform the College, the Coalition membership is comprised of BIPOC only.  

The purpose of the Coalition is to provide a generative space for members of the Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities to: 

• Collectively advocate for social justice and accountability measures in all BC  spaces 
• Foster a safe, supportive community for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) employees 
• Collaborate and communicate across campus to include and amplify the perspectives of the BIPOC community 

We will carry out our purpose by focusing on the following: 

• Advocating for policies and initiatives that center social justice 
• Facilitating intercultural and interracial reconciliatory educational opportunities 
• Networking and building community among BIPOC employees at BC 

• Contact BIPOC Steering Committee:
  Jennifer Pang (Jennifer.pang@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Amy McCrory (Amy.mcCrory@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Beabe Akpojovwo (Beabe.akpojovwo@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Belle Nishioka (B.Nishioka@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Ithzel Moreno (Ithzel.moreno@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Nan Ma (Nan.ma@bellevuecollege.edu),
  Sapan Parekh (Sapan.parekh@bellevuecollege.edu), or
  Tony Akhlaghi (Tony.Akhlaghi@bellevuecollege.edu).
  

Black Employees of Bellevue College (BEOBC)

• Mission: BEOBC will provide leadership in facilitating racial awareness issues, pieces of training, and workshops at Bellevue College (BC) for students, faculty, and staff. BEOBC will support all black employees at BC by supporting creating and maintaining an inclusive, safe, and ethnically diverse campus environment. BEOBC will be an on-campus source of leadership and input on issues of racial discrimination concerning BC practices, i.e., hiring and promotions, diversity training, and alignment with BC’s mission and core values. BEOBC will support and mentor the BC Black Student Union (BSU) & African Association (AA).
• Contact: Beabe Akpojovwo – beabe.akpojovwo@bellevuecollege.edu,
  Glenn Jackson – glenn.jackson@bellevuecollege.edu, or
  Darnita Boynton Howard – d.boyntonhoward@bellevuecollege.edu.

BC Black Faculty Group

• Mission:

To support and nurture, using a holistic approach, the success of Black Faculty at Bellevue College. This can be accomplished by:

– Identifying and reaching out to all Black faculty on the Bellevue College campus

– Celebrating the accomplishments of Black faculty in Academia at Bellevue College

– Providing institutional knowledge and support on how to navigate the various Bellevue College system

– Providing professional development webinars centered on self-care, Black empowerment

– Taking steps to decolonize our curriculum and enhance an anti-Blackness focus

• Contact: Ronald Holland – Ron.holland@bellevuecollege.edu or Corvilia Thykkuttathil – c.thykkuttathil@bellevuecollege.edu

Coming to America (Immigrants and Refugees)

• Mission:
• Contact: Fabienne Mouton – fabienne.mouton@bellevuecollege.edu
• Kattie Dang – kattie.dang@bellevuecollege.edu,
• Maria Paula McPherson – mariapaula.mcpherson@bellevuecollege.edu

Disabled Staff and Faculty

• Mission: The Disabled Staff and Faculty affinity group strives to provide support, resources and advocacy for Disabled folks and disability issues at Bellevue College. We welcome anyone with a disability (learning, physical, mental health, chronic health, neurological, etc.) who wants support, or to gain more understanding of Disabled identity. We also strive to hold compassion for each other and provide education to each other and the campus on the wide range of disability experiences. 
• Contact: Marissa Hackett – marisa.hackett@bellevuecollege.edu

Community Kindness

• Mission: The Community Kindness affinity group represents a group of employees who share community kindness as a common interest.
• What is our Focus? We come together with community kindness as the focus to:• support each other• support community building• bring employees together• promote progressive change• encourage creative expression• provide visibility• provide diversity• provide cultural sharing• share kindness perspectives• learn more about kindness• collaborate on community kindness projects.

• Contact: Heather Rane – heather.rane@bellevuecollege.edu
  

Latinx Employees of Bellevue College (LEOBC), formerly Bellevue Latinxs Unidos (BLU)

• Mission: Bellevue Latino/as Unidos at Bellevue College is a group of faculty, administrators and staff committed to promoting the interests and advocating for the advancement of the Latino community at BC. We celebrate our heritage and actively contribute to the diversity and enrichment of the College.
• Contact:

LGBTQ+ Task Force

• Mission: The LGBTQ+ Task Force is a diverse group of multi-gendered, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, inter-generational LGBTQ+ community members and allies. We work to advocate, educate, and support gender equity at Bellevue College.
• Contact the Steering Committee: Liz Hollerman – liz.hollerman@bellevuecollege.edu, Dr. B – b.ivelisse@bellevuecollege.edu, Sapan Parekh – sapan.parekh@bellevuecollege.edu, Molly Jae Vaughan – molly.jae.vaughan@bellevuecollege.edu, Justyce Wright –justyce.wright@bellevuecollege.edu, & Argus Ortman – lgbtq.coordinator@bellevuecollege.edu

Neurodivergent Staff & Faculty

• Mission: To increase the presence of neurodivergent staff and faculty at Bellevue College, and by doing so, support our student body in embracing their own neurodiversity. 
• Contact: Sara Gardner – sara.gardner@bellevuecollege.edu

Womxn of Color Mentoring Circle

• Mission: The Womxn of Color Mentoring Circle brings together self-identified womxn of color staff, faculty and administrators on campus.   
  Our group is committed to:
  • fostering meaningful relationships on campus and creating a sense of belonging; 
  • centering an inclusive shared leadership model that draws on the collective strengths of our member; 
  • providing platforms to support the personal and professional growth of womxn of color through mutual mentoring and authentic sharing; 
  • identifying and creating opportunities for leadership development for womxn of color; 
  • collaborating with other affinity groups and governance entities in social justice and other campus-wide initiatives.   
    Thus, we contribute to the goal of retaining qualified faculty, staff and administrators of color at Bellevue College.   
• Contact: Nan Ma – nan.ma@bellevuecollege.edu
  

White on Whiteness

• Mission: What on Whiteess is a liberative action group that fights to dismantle academic colonialism. We approach systemic issues from an intersectional, gendered lens and work to create and support initiatives that are anti-racist. We leverage our privilege and power to hold leadership accountable and support BIWoC, BLM, and the LGBTQ community.
• Contact: Christina Sciabarra – christina.sciabarra@bellevuecollege.edu or
  Elizabeth Harazim – e.Harazim@bellevuecollege.edu

Affinity Groups are voluntarily formed, not dictated by management, and any individual employee membership and participation is voluntary. They play a vital role in articulating, promoting, and supporting the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals of the college. Their primary focus is to develop and improve the campus climate by increasing the presence of diverse faculty and staff. The Affinity Groups help increase morale, provide insights into diverse areas, build bridges to the community and empower members. Affinity Groups also serve to spotlight the achievements and accomplishments of the college’s students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. The groups may assist the college with the recruitment, retention and promotion of top diverse talent.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Vice President for Diversity and the Diversity Director, provide resources and support to Affinity Groups in articulating, promoting, and supporting the needs of their various.

If you are interested in starting an Affinity Group, please complete the online form:

A grassroots publishing and collaboration platform for Bellevue College employees.

Click here to learn more about BC Commons Platform

Provides faculty guidance to enhance online content and instructional design consultations.

Click here for more details about the eLearning Department

Facilitate and support faculty-guided innovation

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Read and send campus announcements, news, and events.

Click here to learn more about FYI Newsletter

The Social Justice Leadership Institute (SJLI), is a partnership between Bellevue College and South Seattle College.  It focuses on honing skills for becoming a culturally responsive social justice leader of the community and technical community colleges in Washington State. The dates are as follow (All sessions held remotely):

• Attend the retreat (Two days, four hours each), January 10 & 11, 2022 (Required).
• Attend five (half-day) workshops during the 2022 academic year, along with graduation November 3, 2022. All workshops will be held remotely (Required).
• Attend the Faculty & Staff of Color Conference October 26 – 28, 2022 (Optional)

The Faculty & Staff of Color Conference (FSOCC) provides a safe and inclusive space for systemically non-dominant employees in higher education throughout Washington State. The conference focuses on providing subject matter expertise for faculty & staff of color success within hiring, promotion, and leadership development within the diverse community and technical colleges.

All workshops are designed for faculty and staff of color; however, any faculty or staff who would like to support the mission of the conference at their institution are welcome to attend.

FSOCC Mission:

• To create, model, and lead networks for ongoing dialogue on issues impacting professional and career opportunities for faculty, administrators and staff of color in all    sectors of higher education.
• To develop greater awareness and visibility of policies and plans that enhance the institutional climate, access, and educational quality for faculty, administrators and staff of color in higher education in Washington.
• To increase our capacity and subject matter expertise to combat racism, promote ethnic and racial diversity, and achieve professional excellence in higher education.

“Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.” – Vernā Myers

The 2021 Faculty and Staff of Color Conference, has been cancelled.

Contact: Beabe Akpojovwo, beabe.akpojovwo@bellevuecollege.edu, conference chair

Educational Equity (EEQ) is a partnership between the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Office of Academic Affairs, and Faculty Commons. As part of the collective bargaining agreement between Administration and the Bellevue College Association of Higher Education (BCAHE), all candidates for tenure are required to attend and participate in the Educational Equity (EEQ) course (see faculty contract 18.7.4 & 24.2.2). In addition, all faculty members who have not previously taken it are encouraged to complete Educational Equity professional development.

This course is intended for all faculty to learn about implementing principals of educational equity and social justice in the classroom and broaden faculty’s understanding of their own social positions/identities as they affect behaviors in the classroom and relationships with all students.

Course Expectations

• A reading assignment prior to the start of the first class session
• Completion of all assignments within the course
• Attendance to each of the ten class sessions
• Topics include identity based adaptions to instruction/curriculum that includes but not limited to: race, culture, disability, gender, power, privilege, and social justice.
• A stipend of $1000 for completion of the course requirements above

Please note that if you know ahead of time that you will miss more than two sessions, we ask you to wait for the next opportunity and/or give the seat to someone else. Your consistent participation in a classroom will contribute to all participants’ learning and the overall success of the Educational Equity learning goals. However, if you need a specific accommodation, please contact:

Beabe Akpojovwo, beabe.akpojovwo@bellevuecollege.edu

This resource provides professional development, community and collaboration space, mentoring and advocacy services, and innovative & creative pedagogy support.

Click here to learn more about Faculty Commons

DEI Training List

• LinkedIn Trainings
• Digital Books
• Videos
• Hiring Trainings
  • Equity in the Screening
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocate Trainings
    

Employee Parking Permit
The form is online to apply for an employee parking permit. A temporary parking permit is available upon request. If you have any questions please call 425-564-2516 or email permitorders@bellevuecollege.edu.

Orca Card
Please contact Payroll (X4270) or the Office of Sustainability (X2720 or sustainability@bellevuecollege.edu) for info on how to get an Employee ORCA Card.