Bellevue College Governance

Constituency councils represent students, faculty, classified staff, and exempt staff.

Associated Student Government of Bellevue College

• serves as a liaison between students and the College Assembly
• addresses issues of concern on behalf of students & researches solutions to these issues
• makes recommendations to the Assembly or other councils, as appropriate, for further consideration and action

Faculty Council

• provides a forum for faculty to exercise a major role in all aspects of the college’s academic program
• initiates, researches, and forms consensus for matters including: policies and procedures, strategic planning, and issues of college-wide concern
• has primary responsibility for the curriculum, faculty professional development, and student assessment
• reviews all policies and procedures with academic impact and ensures that its aligned committees operate appropriately

Classified Council

• provides a forum for classified staff to participate in Bellevue College decision making
• initiates, researches, and forms consensus for matters including but not limited to: policies and procedures, strategic planning, and issues of college-wide concern

Exempt Council

• provides a forum for exempt staff to participate in Bellevue College decision-making
• initiates, researches, and forms consensus for matters including, but not limited to: policies and procedures, strategic planning, and issues of college-wide concern

Functional councils represent college functions.

Student Success Council

• considers matters related to the provision of instruction and student services, including, but not limited to:
  • educational planning and advising
  • student transitions
  • instructional technology
  • equitable opportunities
• encourages cross-campus communication, coordination, and collaboration between all units engaged in improving student success

Resources & Planning Council

• provides a forum to consider college-wide strategic planning and resource allocation, including:
  • planning assumptions
  • annual unit planning
  • the collection of appropriate data
  • mission fulfillment
• ensures that planning and resource allocation are aligned

Council for Diversity & Inclusion

• provides a forum to consider equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students and employees
• ensures the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and works to reduce disparate achievement outcomes
• promotes the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce with equitable professional opportunities

Infrastructure Council

• provides a forum to consider the effectiveness of nonacademic support functions, including:
  • technology
  • facilities
  • auxiliary services
• recommends and advances infrastructure policies and positions concerning campus facilities and grounds issues
• encourages cross-campus communication, coordination, and collaboration concerning infrastructure

The College Assembly acts as a coordinating body for the governance system overall and communicates governance work to the president and the college at large. Assembly ensures that proposals are fully evaluated and reflect a collaborative process. It may refer, propose amendments to, or return to a council for reconsideration any submitted proposal. It may also endorse or decline to endorse a proposal to be sent to President’s Cabinet, and only proposals endorsed by Assembly will require a formal response.

Other College Assembly responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the Bellevue College Governance Handbook
• Conducting an annual assessment of the governance system
• Recommending modifications to the governance system