News and Stories
We’re making headlines at Bellevue College. Take a look at the latest events, innovations, and student achievements detailed in our news and stories. From alumni profiles to institutional success, we are proud of the stories that make Bellevue College the region's college of choice.
foundry10 Works with Foundation to Support Healthcare Student Success
The Bellevue College Foundation can now award work-based learning scholarships to three times as many healthcare students as in years past.
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Amazon Expands Collaboration with Bellevue College for Job Training, Student Assistance | 425 Business
Bellevue College (BC) students will get more opportunities to earn Amazon Web Services (AWS) certifications and pursue internships and employment with AWS customers and partners under a new collaboration announced this week between the Bellevue College Foundation and Amazon.
Amazon also is providing $100,000 for student scholarships and emergency aid when unforeseen circumstances arise requiring nontuition support, the college said in a news release. The foundation’s safety net program allows students to continue their studies without disruption.
As an AWS Academy member institution, BC receives a free, ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognized certifications and in-demand cloud jobs, the release said. It added that cloud computing skills training offers an opportunity for workers to reskill and reenter the workforce.
Bellevue College Looking to Fill Space for Healthcare Management and Leadership Program | Bellevue Reporter
At the start of the pandemic, many educational institutions had to shift from in person learning to online learning, but Bellevue College’s healthcare management and leadership (HCML) bachelor’s degree program has exclusively offered remote learning since its inception in 2016.
“Our faculty didn’t miss a beat. We’ve been doing it for six years,” said Shana Chung, associate professor and program chair. “We know how to teach online.”
HCML students can choose from two paths to earn their bachelor of applied science degree: general healthcare management, and radiation and imaging management. Students are admitted twice per year–in the fall and spring–and space remains available for this fall. The deadline to apply is August 31.
Cloud Computing Degree Programs Help Fill Workforce Gaps | EdTech
Bellevue College named its continuing and career education arm the Tombolo Institute, after the word for a sandbar that joins an island to the mainland. The institute aims to similarly serve as a bridge, helping working professionals build their careers. When it comes to the cloud, officials are leaning on an ongoing partnership with Microsoft to help midcareer students grow their skills.
“We get input from the job marketplace — from the students and also from our advisory council made up of employers — and there’s definitely a gap in terms of the talent that employers are looking for and the people that want to get into the field,” says Ray Chew, director of technology at the Tombolo Institute. “There are all of these job openings, but you can’t just take a course and then expect someone to hire you tomorrow, so we’ve helped students to bridge that gap.”
Bellevue College’s partnership with Microsoft gives the school access to the vendor’s content and resources. It also provides training for Bellevue College instructors, ensuring that courses are led by professionals with thorough knowledge about the latest tools and practices in cloud computing. Students in the program pursue Microsoft cloud certifications, making them more competitive job candidates, Chew says.
“Cloud computing touches everything today,” says Chew. “Now all of the application services are pretty much cloud-based. If you want to know the world of IT, you need to know how cloud computing works.”
Still Hiring | Northwest Asian Weekly
If you’ve walked through your neighborhood recently, you’ve probably noticed “Now Hiring” signs in shop windows. And while they may not have signs in their windows, large and mid-sized companies seem to be on the lookout for talent, too.
Mimi Jung – Keynote Speaker at BC Commencement | Northwest Asian Weekly
Mimi Jung, Emmy award-winning morning anchor at KING 5, addressed graduates as the keynote speaker for Bellevue College (BC)’s commencement ceremonies at T-Mobile Park on June 24.
Jung was born and raised in Puyallup and attended Syracuse University, where she graduated with a broadcast journalism degree.
She shared at the in-person ceremony that “this little girl from Puyallup never imagined she’d be standing in a stadium in front of thousands, giving advice to college graduates.”
BC interim president Gary Locke said Jung is “renowned for her exceptional journalism and ability to convey insightful and powerful news stories.”
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You Didn’t Get Into the University of Washington’s Acclaimed Computer Science Program. Now What? | Geekwire
In 2016, Bellevue College received permission to become the first community college in the state to offer a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Five students signed up for the initial cohort. The college is now admitting 84 students a year spread over three quarters. Some of the state's other colleges are looking to follow Bellevue's lead and create similar programs. North Seattle College is launching its program in the fall of 2022.
Seattle’s History of Black language: African American English, Code-Switching and Why It Matters Today | Seattle Times
In the years following the abolishment of chattel slavery in the U.S., African American English presented itself proudly in Black expression, says Ron Holland, associate professor of English at Bellevue College. He pointed to movements like the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s as examples of the impact of Black language.
“The vernacular presented itself in music, in poetry, in literature, in speeches, in sermons,” Holland said. “Even to this day, we are descendants of that vernacular.”
Amazon Workers Can Now Attend These 180 Colleges for Free | Fortune
Amazon is adding partnerships with more than 140 colleges and universities to provide a cost-free college education to its hourly employees—bringing the number of schools Amazonians can attend debt-free to 180. Bellevue College is one of these institutions.
Amazon, the second-largest U.S.-based retailer, also unveiled that the program will now be available to employees who have been with the company for just 90 days.
Public Invited to Help Shape Bellevue College Priorities | 425
Two virtual town halls are set this week to gather community input on the future of Bellevue College as part of the Priorities Project, an initiative launched by the college’s board of trustees to identify the priorities and values that will guide the college through the next three to five years.
The project will help the college focus on what’s most important to the campus as well as the greater Bellevue community, according to a news release. Additionally, the project will explore criteria to identify the best candidates in the upcoming search for a permanent president at the college.
Town halls will occur via Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Friday.
EdReformer announces the Best Interior Design Schools in the US | Digital Journal
EdReformer has curated a list of some of the best institutes in the US that offer degrees in the field of Interior Design. Studying at these colleges, students can successfully land a job that will pay them handsomely. Bellevue College is ranked #2 in the nation.