Bellevue College President David L. Rule resigned during a special board of trustees meeting on Aug. 3, leaving the institution in the midst of several large projects.

Rule handed in his resignation at a special board of trustees meeting, according to the college.

“Things happen and organizations make decisions based on what they think the best decision is. It was a mutually agreed upon decision,” interim Bellevue College spokesperson Dr. Gayle Barge told the Reporter.

Barge said that there were differences of opinion on the college’s future and that the board felt they needed a change in leadership.

Bellevue College is currently in the midst of creating a partnership with Washington State University. The school is also in the process of building its first on-campus housing.

Rule was named the fifth president in Bellevue College’s 50 year history in November 2012. He came to Bellevue College after four years at the Rock Creek campus of Portland Community College, and Muskegon and Orange Community Colleges prior to that.

“It has been an honor to serve our students, faculty and staff,” Rule said. “Our collaborative work transformed higher education in many key areas.”

The trustees voted Wednesday to appoint Dr. Gita Bangera and Aaron Hilliard as acting co-presidents. They will also be developing a process for a presidential search. There will be many opportunities for community engagement during the process, Barge said.