Bellevue College President Jean Floten has announced that she is leaving BC to take a position as chancellor of WGU Washington, washington.wgu.edu. Created by the legislature in partnership with Western Governors University, WGU Washington is the state’s only all-online competency-based university.

Floten has been at Bellevue College since 1989, leading the college through its period of greatest growth. The college now serves about 39,000 students annually and offers bachelor and associate degrees in addition to a wide array of programs for special populations.

“Having the honor of serving as president of Bellevue College for over two decades has been the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Floten. “Clearly, a large part of my heart will be left behind, but WGU Washington is a great model that will benefit thousands of Washington students, pursuing bachelor and master degrees. WGU Washington provides access to a high-quality, affordable education. Plus, students are recognized for what they already know and progress at their own pace to complete their degrees. High touch is another attribute that appealed to me — each student is assigned a mentor and subject-matter experts to guide them through their education at every step along the way.”

“Bellevue College has been blessed with Jean Floten’s guidance for the last 23 years,” said Vijay Vashee, Mercer Island resident and chair of the Bellevue College Board of Trustees. “Major impact has been felt ranging from early learning to various areas in the computing field. Her departure is a clear loss for the college. Fortunately, the state will still benefit from her presence.”

The BC Board of Trustees plans to appoint an interim president and begin a national search for a new president.

Upon learning of Floten’s departure, Douglas Brown, president of the Bellevue College Association of Higher Education, commented, “Those of us who have been at the college for even half of her long tenure are keenly aware of the extensive growth and change that she has both catalyzed and managed. In very many ways, the Bellevue College we know is an expression of her vision and a testament to her leadership.”

For more information, go to www.bellevuecollege.edu.