About TELOS

About TELOS

Bellevue College Continuing Education offers the BCCE TELOS Program of courses designed to fit the interests of retirees. (Everyone, whether a retiree or not, is welcome and encouraged to take the courses.)

The TELOS program has operated since 1976. See the TELOS History page for some interesting historical information.

Classes:  TELOS presents a broad range of classes to meet a wide variety of interests. Some of the most popular categories include topics on Arts, Creative Writing, Current Events, Geology, Health and Well-Being, History, Literature, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion, Science and Technology. Classes are small and informal, ranging in size from eight to 39. Most average between 15 and 20 students. At TELOS the emphasis is on education and growth, not measuring performance. There are no entrance requirements, grades or tests.

Students: Most TELOS students are retirees. They have come from a wide seniors at TELOSvariety of backgrounds and share a common desire to expand their knowledge, find fresh avenues of growth and establish new friendships by forming a community of individuals with common interests. There are no age requirements to register for TELOS classes. Faculty and students interact as peers, making learning a creative exchange of ideas. Many students form lasting friendships.

Schedule:  Classes are generally 1.5 or 2 hours long and meet once a week Monday through Friday, usually starting at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Most Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter classes are eight weeks in duration, but some are shorter. There is also a Summer program which typically has fewer offerings.

Instructors:  Classes are taught by women and men who have expertise in their subject matter and excellent teaching skills. Many are active or retired faculty from colleges and universities. Others are professionals with accomplishments in many fields. All share a keen interest in contributing to the mental, physical and spiritual fulfillment of older adults.

With as many as 70 courses offered each quarter and over 1000 students participating in TELOS, this program is bound to offer a course and community that is right for you!

Recent Posts

TSO Council meeting minutes March 2025

TSO Council meeting Minutes

Mar 26, 2025 – 03:30 PM

Top of Form

Attending:        Jerry Bunce, Bryan Leyton, Chris Steele, Laura Stanely,

Ted Watts, Phil Andrews, Chris Stoynov

Quick recap

The team discussed the TSO Student Organization’s activities and future plans. They also met with the new Director of Continuing Education, Esteban Maldonado. They discussed the use of BC Foundation funds for advertising and instructor recruitment. Lastly, the council considered disbanding and the need for someone to update the website with meeting minutes, as well as the usefulness of a storage booth on campus.

Next steps

Jerry to send a note to Esteban Maldonado asking for an update on Telos program status, course numbers, and future expectations.

Jerry to inquire with Esteban about the status of cross-advertising between Edmonds Creative Research Institute and Bellevue College Telos.

Jerry to visit Student Programs to find a computer science student to help update the TSO website.

TSO Council to make a decision about disbanding at the next meeting on May 28th.

Jerry to report back to the council on any feedback from Esteban Maldonado regarding Telos activities.

TSO Student Organization’s Activities and Plans

In the meeting, Jerry led the discussion about the TSO Student Organization’s activities and future plans. TELOS had 20 classes in the winter quarter, with 5 being canceled, and 325 registrations. However, there was a question about the organization’s impact and whether it should continue. The group also discussed the upcoming spring quarter, with 16 classes planned for spring quarter. Fewer classes and registrations expected in summer. The possibility of adding another session of the generative AI for daily life class was also discussed. But George Liu now has a full time job and is not teaching at this time.

As always thanks go to Donna for collecting and sharing the TELOS class and registration information.

Esteban’s Role and Program Updates

Jerry, Ted, and Phil discussed their meeting with Esteban Maldonado, the new Director of Continuing Education and IBIT. Esteban was described as honest, earnest, and interested in their work. Phil suggested asking Esteban for an update on the college’s pulse regarding their program in their next meeting. Ted emphasized the need for Esteban to focus on their mission and not just be a nice face. Jerry noted that Esteban took over Liz Hollerman’s responsibilities, including the IBIT program, and expressed satisfaction with Esteban’s support for their program. The team agreed to send a note to Esteban, asking about the decrease in course numbers and what they can expect in the future.

Advertising and Instructor Recruitment Discussion

The team discussed the use of funds for advertising and instructor recruitment. They considered donating remaining funds in the TSO Student account with Student Programs to the foundation for more advertising and instructor recruitment. The team also discussed the process of hiring instructors as contractors, which simplifies the hiring process. The treasurer’s report showed that no money had been spent since the last meeting, leaving around $5,000 in the TSO student account. The team also discussed the potential for cross-advertising between Edmonds Creative Research Institute and Bellevue College.

Council Considers Disbanding and Storage

The council discusses the possibility of disbanding and agrees to make a decision at their next meeting on May 28th. They consider holding a final general meeting if they decide to disband. Jerry mentions the need for someone to update the website with meeting minutes, suggesting they might recruit a student for this task. The group also discusses the storage booth they have on campus, questioning its usefulness and contents. No new business is brought up, and the meeting is adjourned.

 

  1. TSO Council meeting minutes Jan 2025 Comments Off on TSO Council meeting minutes Jan 2025
  2. TSO Council meeting minutes Oct 2024 Comments Off on TSO Council meeting minutes Oct 2024
  3. TSO Council Meeting Minutes July 2024 Comments Off on TSO Council Meeting Minutes July 2024
  4. TSO Council Minutes, May 22, 2024 Comments Off on TSO Council Minutes, May 22, 2024
  5. TSO Council Minutes, March 27, 2024 Comments Off on TSO Council Minutes, March 27, 2024
  6. TSO Council Minutes Jan 24, 2024 Comments Off on TSO Council Minutes Jan 24, 2024