Original Date: 7/6/2010 * Last Revision Effective: 12/4/2024
Policy Contact: Vice President, Student Affairs
Policy
Purpose
This policy describes instances where official college business with students is conducted electronically and establishes that students may opt-out of text messaging from the college. College communications are generally separate from instructional, faculty-initiated communications, online learning platforms, and electronic teaching resources for coursework used by professors and their enrolled students.
Primary College Communication
Electronic privacy and security of educational information is a top priority. After admission, Bellevue College students must create a NetID and will receive an official Bellevue College email address. A student may choose a different “preferred” email address in ctcLink. To protect student confidentiality related to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students and college employees are expected to communicate with an official email address (generally firstname.lastname@bellevuecollege.edu) or the preferred email address maintained by the student in ctcLink. The college maintains reasonable expectations that communications are received and read promptly.
College communications include security alerts, campus suspension of operations, technology services alerts, required federal and state notifications, student specific financial aid, housing, and registration notifications, presidential and foundation notices, and communication that relates directly to individual student transactions or issues.
Students are advised to send emails to and from their college email address whenever possible. When educational or personal records are shared, students may be re-directed to their official college email address.
Secondary College Communication
The college uses secondary electronic methods to communicate general information to students. These include text messaging and non-instructional messages sent via the Canvas learning management system. General information includes matters that impact the health and safety of the campus community, academic success resources, and information related to the college’s mission and values, campus events, and general announcements.
Opt-out Options
Students may elect to stop receiving text messages by replying “STOP.” However, students may not elect to opt-out of receiving emails or notifications sent using the Canvas learning management system.
Definitions
Emergency purpose: Critical and time-sensitive communications made necessary in any situation affecting the health and safety of the college community.
College communication: Identical or substantially similar messages sent to a group of students in one or more batches. College communication is restricted to information that:
- Pertains to most of the recipients,
- Is critical or time sensitive, and
- Is for official college business.
Official college business: The individual sending the communication is doing so for a purpose within the scope of their college employment.
Opt in: An action by which someone agrees to receive college communications to a personal device and consents by acknowledging a statement that provides a clear understanding of the nature of the messages that will be received.
Opt out: An action by which someone who receives college communications to a personal device indicates that they no longer want them from the college.
Relevant Laws and Other Resources
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
- Policy #5250 Information Security
- Policy #5150 Acceptable Use of Information Technology
- 5150P Acceptable Use of Information Technology (Procedures)
- Policy #2050 Student Conduct Code
Revision History
Original 7/6/2010
Revisions 9/11/2012; 3/24/2015; 10/20/21; 12/4/2024
Approved By
Board of Trustees
Last Updated December 5, 2024