Mission, Accreditation, Equal Opportunity

Bellevue Community College Mission Statement

BCC is a student-centered, comprehensive and innovative college, committed to teaching excellence, that advances the life-long educational development of its students while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of its diverse community. The college promotes student success by providing high-quality, flexible, accessible educational programs and services; advancing pluralism, inclusion and global awareness; and acting as a catalyst and collaborator for a vibrant region.

Distance Education Program Mission Statement

Distance Education enhances and supports the mission of the college by delivering a comprehensive selection of college courses, degrees, and certificates via the Internet and other digital communication systems. We maximize educational and training options for all students, enabling them to achieve their academic goals and meet the challenges and opportunities posed by new careers, new technologies, and life transitions.

BCC Is An Accredited Academic Institution

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities:
      Bellevue Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is an independent, non-profit membership organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the regional authority on educational quality and institutional effectiveness of higher education institutions in the seven-state Northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. It fulfills its mission by establishing accreditation criteria and evaluation procedures by which institutions are reviewed.

State Approving Agency:
      The academic programs of study are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.

US Secretary of Education Listing:
      Bellevue Community College is listed on the US Secretary of Education's database of accredited postsecondary educational institutions and programs. Special programs at BCC are also accredited by national institutional and specialized accrediting bodies.

Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation

BCC reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. This policy applies to all programs and facilities, including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs, and employment. BCC is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and education for individuals with disabilities.

To request disability accommodation in the admission application process contact the Office of Disability Support Services at—Voice:  (425) 564-2498 TTY: (425) 564-4110 Fax: (425) 564-4138 E-mail: dss@bcc.ctc.edu.

Any discriminatory action can be a cause for disciplinary action. Coordination of the compliance efforts at BCC with respect to discrimination laws is under the direction of Lucy Parke Macneil, Vice-President for Human Resources, Bellevue Community College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, WA 98007-6454,VOICE: (425) 564-2274 TTY: (425) 564-4184.

About Bellevue Community College

BCC opened its doors in 1966. Now serving over 38,000 students annually, more than half of those in credit degree or certificate programs, Bellevue Community College is the third largest institution of higher learning in Washington State. Over 70% of students are full-time, credit-seeking students, 59% female and 41% male, with an average age of 31.  Eighty-six percent of professional/technical graduates are employed within nine months and professional/technical graduates earn a median hourly wage of $19.80, well above the community college system average of $12.89 for the state.

BCC graduates over 2,000 students annually, sending more transfer students to four-year schools than any other community college in the state of Washington. BCC offers associate degrees, certificates and continuing education programs in the traditional arts, humanities and sciences, computer technology, communications, business, health sciences, social sciences, educational development and numerous other professional and technical fields.

See more general college information and BCC history.