Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Minutes

A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, state of Washington, was held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Pradnya Desh, chair, presided. This meeting was held in B201 and on Zoom. A telephone line was also available.

Chair Desh called the business session to order at 2:01 PM.

Executive Session

At 2:01 PM, Chair Desh announced the Board would convene for 45 minutes in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose: (g) To review the performance of a public employee; Chair Desh announced that no final action would be taken during the executive session.

At 2:47 PM, Chair Desh extended the executive session by 5 minutes.

The executive session ended at 2:52 PM.

Chair Desh called the business session to order at 2:53 PM.

Roll Call

A quorum of the Board was present.

Present: Chair Pradnya Desh, Vice Chair Rich Fukutaki, Trustee Richard Leigh, Trustee Michelle Flowers-Taylor, President David May, Assistant Attorney General Tricia Boerger, and Board Secretary Alicia Keating Polson.

Absent: Trustee Greg Dietzel.

There were 120 guests in attendance.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes

Trustee Leigh made a motion to approve the agenda (June 17, 2026) and minutes (May 27, 2026.) Trustee Flowers-Taylor seconded.

The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment

Ethan Anderson, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on the reading lab.

Marlowe Zoller, staff member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on budget reductions.

Nan Ma, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on faculty commons.

Phil Duncan, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on faculty commons.

Chloe Horning, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on faculty commons

Melissa Massie, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on faculty commons.

Sophie Leung, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on faculty commons.

Leslie Lum, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on the business transfer program.

Donna Miguel, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on arts and humanities.

Frank Lee, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on budget reductions.

Kelsey Funkhouser, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on budget reductions.

Laura Gettleman, staff member at Bellevue College, provided public comment on budget reductions.

Caroline Fitzpatrick, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on HSEWI.

Ocean Silverman, student at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on the music program.

Shelley Keller, student at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on the music program.

Ronald Holland, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on institutional decision-making.

Phil Duncan, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on faculty commons.

Cara Diaconoff, faculty member at Bellevue College, provided a written public comment on the reading and writing lab.

Action

Off-Cycle Tenure

Motion 16.26

Trustee Fukutaki moved that the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII hereby grants tenure beginning in the 2026-27 Academic Year to Muntaha Alibrahim, Health Science, Education, and Wellness Institute (Nursing). Trustee Leigh seconded.

The motion passed unanimously.

Board Officer Elections

Motion 17.26

Trustee Flowers-Taylor moved that the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII approves Fukutaki as chair. Trustee Leigh seconded.

The motion passed unanimously.

Motion 18.26

Trustee Leigh moved that the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII approves Pradnya Desh as vice chair. Trustee Flowers-Taylor seconded.

The motion passed unanimously.

First Read

2026-2027 College Budget

The Bellevue College Operating Budget for fiscal year 2026-27 is presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration. To assist the Board in considering the proposed budget, a comparison of the 2025-26 and the permanent 2026-27 budget was provided.

Proposed Budget

It was recommended that the Board of Trustees of Community College District VIII approve the following budget plan for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Annual Budget

Operating Funds                                           $153,969,418

Proprietary Funds                                        $18,929,580

Financial Aid Funds                                     $18,285,017

Total 2025-26 Annual Budget                 $191,184,015

Reserve Funds

Operating   Reserve                                     $35,053,494

Proprietary Reserve                                     $739,377

Debt Reserve                                                 $10,689,394

Student Housing Reserve                         $1,570

Total Reserves                                             $46,483,835

2026-2027 S&A Budget

RCW 28B.15.044 for the State of Washington grants authority to the Board of Trustees to approve the campus Services and Activities (S & A) Budget.  Further, it requires students to advance a budgetary recommendation for consideration by the Board of Trustees.

The S & A Budget recommendation is developed by the S & A committee.  The committee was comprised of six students, one exempt staff member, one classified staff member, and one faculty member. 

The committee completed deliberations and has prepared a recommendation for the 2026-2027 year.  The budget recommendation was approved by the committee members.  The ASGBC approved the committee budget recommendation on May 15, 2026.

This year, there were 79 applications requesting $6,398,758 but there is only approximately $3,446,500 in the 26-27 S & A budget.  The S & A committee was tasked with reducing the total asks by approximately 46% to meet budget targets. 

This year’s S & A Committee used the following priorities to guide their discussions as they looked to develop the 26-27 budget recommendation.

Priorities (not in any particular order): 

• Operations and areas that have campus-wide impact 
• Events occurring on-campus  
• Academic success (co-curricular) 
• Funds for food to support programming
• Maximize impact of funds on maximum number of students 
• Equity across allocations areas and types

The S & A Committee reviewed each application thoroughly.  Through the review process, the committee reduced asks in multiple ways: 

1. Each application was reviewed by line item and reductions were made to items such as travel, equipment, purchased services, and food. 
2. 2025-26 S & A Fund usage was reviewed to determine what funding was being utilized to impact campus and what funds were left unused so far this year 
3. The amount necessary to support different types of programs was discussed and the committee sought to provide equitable funding to similar type and size of organizations 
4. A pre-final review was made, and some organizations were decreased by up to 5% to meet the initial allocation recommendation total.
5. A final review was made after appeals, and some funds were added to the initial recommendations.

The full list of recommended allocations was included in the Board packet.  Funds allocated are in the column titled “2026-27 Allocation Recommendation”.

• If additional funds are found in end of year review (i.e., more leftover funds than expected or funds collected exceed projections), those funds will be placed in the ASGBC General Fund.
• If there are less funds than projected, funds will come from the available ASGBC General Fund.

Revision of Policy 4760: Exempt Employee Evaluation

Bellevue’s exempt staff performance review policy and procedures were last updated over ten years ago. Since then, significant changes in practice and process have occurred at the college. Updates to policy include alignment with 2025 strategic plan and incorporation of plain language principles.

To further growth and development of exempt staff, and to promote open communication and support for supervisors, the 2015 policy and procedures have been updated to remove an outdated “360-review” process and replace it with an ongoing, interactive format that promotes continuous improvement and reflection.  

Proposed changes include:

• Updated language aligned with strategic plan
• Updated review timeline
• Focus on continuous improvement and reflection

A 45-day review period was held from April 15 – June 1, 2026, so the campus community could exercise its advisory role. Three comments were received and adopted where appropriate.

Creation of Policy 4460: Consensual Relationships

The proposed policy supports the mission of Bellevue College by establishing an environment free from bias, conflict, or inequitable treatment and the pursuit of academic freedom and student success. Additionally, this policy serves to uphold the college’s high standards of professional and ethical conduct, specifically with respect to interpersonal relationships among students and employees, or among employees.

Existing college policy 4250 Standards of Ethical Conduct outlines overall expectations for college employees to “protect the integrity of the college by being independent and impartial in the exercise of their duties, avoiding the use of their positions for personal gain or private benefit; promote an environment free from fraud, abuse of authority, and misuse of public property; create a work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment; treat members of the campus community and of the community at large with respect, concern, courtesy, and responsiveness; and protect confidential information to which employees have access in the course of their duties.”

The proposed policy further specifies prohibitions around consensual relationships within the college community.

A 45-day comment period was held from March 12 to April 27, 2026, so the campus community could exercise its advisory role. Three comments were received and were incorporated where appropriate. One comment led to the addition of procedures, rather than a single all-in-one-policy The new procedures are taken directly from the proposed policy draft.

Revision of Policy 6230: Driver Safety

Bellevue’s driver safety policy was last updated over ten years ago. Vehicles owned and operated by the college have changed, and responsibilities for drivers, managers, and public safety have been clarified. An emphasis on student and employee safety is paramount in this update.

To protect students, staff, faculty, and community members, driver safety training is required, and the previously described “driver safety briefing” will be enhanced to a full program.

Proposed changes include:

• Title changes, clarity of authority
• Reporting and approval protocols
• Requirements for drivers
• RCW updates, links

Cabinet approved a 45-day comment period from March 11 – April 27, 2026, so the campus community could exercise its advisory role. One response was received and incorporated where appropriate.

Revision of Policy 6380: Security Cameras

Bellevue’s security camera policy is recommended for housekeeping edits based on a minor title change to the policy. However, more extensive recent updates have occurred in procedures across campus. Security camera placement, access, and retention have been updated and clarified with an emphasis on safety, privacy, and responsiveness.

To protect students, staff, faculty, and community members, security cameras are installed in various locations around campus. Procedures to install, access, and retain information from camera footage was last updated in 2015.

Proposed changes include:

• Title changes, clarity of authority
• Reporting protocols
• Offices potentially engaged with review of camera footage
• RCW updates, links

Cabinet approved a 45-day comment period from March 11 – April 27, 2026, so the campus community could exercise its advisory role. Three comments were received regarding the procedures for security cameras which were incorporated where appropriate.

Recess

Chair Desh called a 5-minute recess at 3:55 PM. The Board reconvened at 4:01 PM.

Board Leadership Transition

Chair Desh departed the meeting at 3:55 PM. Vice Chair Fukutaki assumed the role of presiding officer and chaired the remainder of the meeting. A quorum of trustees remained present.

Constituent Reports

Classified

There was no report.

College Assembly

The College Assembly report was provided by Judith Paquette, Co-Vice Chair of College Assembly.

• Councils welcomed new members on June 12.
• Most councils have elected their 2026-2027 officers.
• College Assembly has concerns about the actual spending of the college which has swung from a year-long estimated shortfall to a surplus for the year ending June 30 and recommends 3 corrective measures:
  • Accurate, timely, actionable data.
  • A clearer, monthly picture comparing actuals to budget.
  • Better forecasting.
• Student Success Council approved a proposal to centralize campus communications regarding student job openings. College Assembly has also approved this proposal and forwarded it to President’s Cabinet.
• Faculty Council, in partnership with the Testing Center, is conducting a survey on proctoring services for makeup exams. This include hours, availability, and other suggestions.
• Resources and Planning Council enjoyed the final presentation by their student members and is impressed with the quality of work.
• Council for Inclusion and Diversity approved a proposal to formalize the council’s participation in Socktoberfest. This was approved by College Assembly and forwarded to Cabinet.

Faculty

The Faculty report was provided by Lindsay Haney, President of the Bellevue College Association of Higher Education (BCAHE.)

• Faculty are not fundamentally opposed to cuts of any kind and see the need for long-term planning. However, they do not want to see things cut because someone doesn’t understand what they do or how they are connected.
• Faculty have had limited opportunities to get questions answered, or to be in meaningful dialogue as the budget was developed.
• Budget Town Halls are good for sharing information, but limited time for questions means faculty must extrapolate from phrasing and synonyms.
• Faculty are not notified when a proposed cut or category of cuts is no longer being considered. They must instead compare lists to learn when a change they have asked for has been implemented.
• Some faculty are not being paid in a timely or accurate manner in several areas of the college. This is not just a matter of catching up with ctcLink, but in some cases is also due to newly implemented procedures.
• Administration has not demonstrated the need for cuts in sensitive areas that will be difficult to reestablish once the mistake has been realized.
• The college should look in Good and Services/Personal Services for savings as it is the most flexible category of the budget and is budgeted at a 13% increase over this year’s anticipated.

Foundation

The Bellevue College Foundation (BCF) report was provided by Chelle Chase, President of the BCF Board.

• The BCF Board Retreat is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at Robinswood. Three new Board members have been identified, including Distinguished Alumni award winner, Brandon Ting. All three have attended a BC campus tour and lunch on May 27.
• The permanent ‘Never Again is Now’ mural was presented and celebrated on June 11.
• A new record was set this year with 1100 scholarship applicants.
• Current Use & Endowed Scholarship Awarding Plan for 2026-27:
  • 298 tuition & fee scholarships totaling $710,611
  • 70 Bookstore scholarships totaling $21,000 ($300 each)
  • The totals above do not reflect the $368,000 that has been secured for quarterly HSEWI Internship Awards, which will provide 490 scholarships from Summer 2026 through Spring 2027.
• Revenue is up $1.75M (34%), investment earnings are strong (41%) and event revenue has the opportunity to grow.
• June 12 was the Alumni Team USA World Cup Watch Party. The event was very successful with around 50 attendees, including many new alumni.
• July 31: Bellevue College at the Mariners. The goal is to invite 100 alumni.
• October 1: Bellevue College at the Sounders.
• The Foundation formally honored this year’s Staff & Faculty Excellence Award recipients at the College’s Year End Celebration on June 3rd. There were 4 Award winning recipients and 116 nominees were recognized. Thanks to the generous support of staff and faculty from across campus in providing gift baskets and supporting the raffle, the Foundation raised more than $2,500 in ticket sales to directly support the Staff & Faculty Safety Net Fund. The Foundation has agreed to match the amount raised dollar for dollar, doubling the impact for employees facing an unexpected hardship.

Student

There was no report.

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Quarterly Report

Student Success Report

Dr. Judith Hernandez Chapar, Vice President of Student Affairs; Dr. Ben Pryor, Acting Provost; and Megan Kaptik, Dean of Student Support, provided a student success update for Spring Quarter 2026, reporting on Bellevue College’s current state and progress towards the student success outcomes adopted in the Be Bold: Built for Students, Connected to Community strategic plan.

The Be Bold strategic plan, adopted in January 2026, sets several target outcomes for student success:

• 75% completion and transfer 
• 85% fall-to-winter retention 
• Eliminate equity gaps in persistence and completion 
• 65% bachelor’s completion within six years post-transfer

This presentation provides an update on key student success indicators and Bellevue College’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the connection between student achievement and workforce outcomes. Building on prior reports focused on retention, completion, and equity, this quarter’s update focuses on how students start on the right path at Bellevue College and how they engage with career exploration and high-impact practices to prepare for long-term success.

Bellevue College has noted encouraging momentum in indicators such as pathway selection, career certainty, and participation in college success requirements. For the last three years, 85% of students have consistently begun class registration two weeks before the quarter starts, and completion of the College Success Requirement has grown from 37% to 57% this fall. Higher rates of pathway and career certainty have also been observed, with each increasing by about 10% since Fall of 2023. Bellevue College has also expanded how students engage with career readiness and exploration, with over 1,500 career service touchpoints as well as Career Center class visits and Exploring Pathways events.

These career exploration opportunities, including internships, are one example of high-impact practices, which can also include experiential learning, capstone projects, portfolios, and service learning, among others. The report details how Bellevue College continues to expand the implementation of high-impact practices across disciplines, though we see the highest rates in Science the Health Sciences. These experiences help students build professional networks, develop career-ready skills, and strengthen their transition into employment; this in turn supports the strong outcomes in economic mobility for Bellevue College students after completion, with 92% of graduates earning above 150% of the poverty rate, and 94% employed 3 years after graduation.

At the same time, the report identifies opportunities for continuous improvement. Equity gaps remain in participation in work-based learning experiences, with significantly lower participation among Black and Latine students. Additional work is also underway to strengthen employer partnerships, further elevate Bellevue College’s professional and technical programs within the region, and improve the college’s ability to track and assess participation in experiential learning opportunities.

Continued investment in advising and student support capacity remains essential to ensuring all students can access the early momentum experiences that contribute to long-term success. Services such as educational planning, college success courses, career exploration, and pathway advising help students establish a strong foundation for persistence, completion, and workforce readiness.

Overall, the report demonstrates growing momentum as more students engage in the practices, supports, and experiences that contribute to academic achievement and meaningful workforce outcomes. Future quarterly reports will continue to provide updates on early momentum indicators within Achieving the Dream first-year cohorts, workforce-connected learning opportunities, and the college’s progress toward closing equity gaps in student success outcomes.

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Reports

President’s Report

David May, President, provided the President’s report:

• The unveiling of the permanent installment of the Never Again is Now mural had about 100 attendees, including survivors of the incarceration. This was an important moment in the history of the college. What was done cannot be undone, but a commitment can be made to learning from it.
• Commencement, the ultimate celebration of student success, is approaching. Hundreds and hundreds of students will be walking across the stage.
• The City of Bellevue Innovation Exchange brings people from higher education and industry together. Fatma Serçe, Dean of Science, developed a track and coordinated with students, faculty, and staff at the event.
• Budgets are complicated and uncertain. They are a plan that can never represent more than a snapshot plan at a moment in time. It does not contain every budget reduction, though it does note that some are being negotiated with labor partners.

Board Report

Trustee Fukutaki provided the Board report:

• Never Again is Now – Trustee Fukutaki shared that his grandmother was a widow who was incarcerated in the Gila River camp with 13 children and he found the mural unveiling very moving.

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Unscheduled Business

There was no unscheduled business.

Executive Session

At  4:58 PM, Vice Chair Fukutaki announced the Board would convene for 15 minutes (beginning at 5 PM) in executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1) for the following purpose: (g) To review the performance of a public employee. Chair Desh announced that no final action would be taken during the executive session.

The executive session ended at 5:15 PM

Adjournment

There being no further business, Chair Desh adjourned the Board of Trustees meeting at 5:16 PM.