Longstanding Bellevue College President Starts Down a New Path

Jean Floten, who has served since 1989 as president of Bellevue College in Washington State, has announced that she is stepping down. As of August 1, Floten will be chancellor of the Washington branch of Western Governors University.

Western Governors University was founded in 1997 by 19 western states. The online university has 20,000 students and offers more than 50 degree programs. About 1,000 students from Washington are currently enrolled in Western Governors University programs. But a new agreement with the university and community colleges in Washington will allow students at the state’s two-year community college to transfer credits toward their bachelor’s degree if they enroll in Western Governors University. They will also receive a 5 percent tuition discount. This agreement is expected to result in a large boost in enrollments in Washington for Western Governors University.

Floten holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Portland State University.