Student Rights & Responsibilities
All students at Columbia Basin College are expected to comply with College policies, procedures, and regulations. Students are also provided with certain rights, including due process. These rights and responsibilities are fully outlined in student policies, which are administered by the Vice President for Student Services. For further information, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.
Alcohol & Drug Free Schools/Workplace
In compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Columbia Basin College has adopted and implemented a drug and alcohol prevention program. Unlawful possession, use or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs is disciplinable for students under the Student Code of Conduct and employees under applicable policies. Please note: marijuana remains an illicit drug on CBC’s campuses. Information regarding CBC’s drug and alcohol prevention program under these laws can be found in the Alcohol & Drug Free Workplace Policy.
Hazing
Consistent with Washington statute, RCW 28B.10.900, CBC prohibits students, student organizations, athletic teams and living groups from engaging individually or collectively in hazing activities. Individuals or groups that engage in hazing will be subject to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct, Chapter 132S-100 WAC. Questions, concerns, reports, or complaints regarding actual or suspected hazing should be referred to the Office of Student Conduct at conduct@columbiabasin.edu or 509-542-4765, or ext. 2765.
Non-Discrimination & Harassment Policy and Procedure
Columbia Basin College recognizes its responsibility for investigation, resolution, implementation of corrective measures and monitoring the educational environment and workplace to stop, remediate and prevent discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State’s Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. To this end, Columbia Basin College has enacted policy prohibiting discrimination against and harassment of members of these protected classes. Any individual found to be in violation of policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the College or from employment. The policy, grievance process and complaint form can be found in the Non-Discrimination & Harassment Policy and Procedure.
The College takes complaints about harassment and discrimination very seriously. Depending on the facts of the individual situation, the College may proceed with actions consistent with its due process procedures, Office for Civil Rights guidance, personnel policies, collective bargaining agreements and Student Code of Conduct. If the behavior may be criminal, the claimant has the right to file a criminal complaint with local law enforcement. This will not delay the College in doing its own work to address the complaint promptly and equitably.
Employee, student, applicant or visitor complaints of harassment including sexual assault and misconduct, and discrimination based on an individual’s protected class status or gender are handled by the Vice President for Human Resources & Legal Affairs/Title IX Coordinator who can be reached by phone at 509-542-5548, by email at vphr@columbiabasin.edu or in person at the Human Resources office located in the A Building on the Pasco campus.
Retaliation by, for or against any participant (including claimant, responding party, witness, Title IX/EEO Coordinator or investigator) is expressly prohibited. Retaliatory action of any kind taken against individuals as a result of seeking redress under the applicable procedures or serving as a witness in a subsequent investigation, or any resulting disciplinary proceedings is prohibited and is conduct subject to discipline.
Student Absence for Reasons of Faith and Conscience
Students may request an accommodation for absences for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church or religious organization. An accommodation may include rescheduling examinations or activities necessary to complete the course or program. Any student seeking a reasonable accommodation under this policy, must provide written notice to the Office of Instruction at instruction@columbiabasin.edu within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course with the specific dates the student requests accommodations for examinations or other activities. The Office of Instruction will notify the student of the approval or denial in accordance with the Student Absence for Reasons of Faith or Conscience Policy.
Transitional Studies Progression Policy
Students enrolled in a Basic Education for Adults course are expected to make academic progress in adherence to the progression policy guidelines stated in the State Board for Community and Technical College’s Basic Education for Adult Handbook.
For more information about the progression policy at Columbia Basin College, please visit the Transitional Studies Progression Policy webpage.
Student Complaint Process
The purpose of the CBC student complaint process is to establish a process whereby
a student may express dissatisfaction with the performance or action of a faculty
or staff member that the student believes to be a violation of student rights under
WAC 132S-90-010 and/or is inconsistent with College policy.
This process is not to be used when a student disagrees with the teaching practices,
or the work required for a course. Issues excluded from the student complaint process
are:
- Student Conduct decisions
- Grade appeals
- Discrimination or harassment based on protected class status. For these complaints, a student can refer to the Non-Discrimination & Harassment Policy and Procedure and Title IX Grievance Policy or by contacting the College’s Title IX/EEO office at 509-542-5548.
- Parking citations
- Debt Review decisions
Additionally, this process is not meant to address student concerns and complaints about faculty instructional methods in the classroom or other formal academic settings. The College respects the academic freedom of faculty and will not interfere as it relates to the method or style of teaching. Indeed, academic freedom is and should be of paramount importance.
For more information about the Student Complaint Process at CBC, and to access the
submission form, visit the Student Complaint Process webpage
Students Located Out-of-State and Engaging in Online Learning:
Columbia Basin College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Washington. Per NC-SARA policy complaints made by students located outside of Washington who are participating in distance education courses must first go through Columbia Basin College’s own student complaint process.
If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process, the complaint (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to Washington State’s SARA Portal Entity, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). WSAC has the final authority in SARA complaints.
See the SARA Student Complaint Process for a flowchart of the full process.
State Authorization & Professional Licensure
State Authorization
State authorization is the permission Columbia Basin College has from other U.S. states and territories to offer educational activities to students located within their borders. CBC is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which allows us to provide distance programs and coursework to students located in most locations outside of Washington.
Even if CBC is authorized to provide distance education in your state, professional licensure programs may require further authorizations when state licensing agency rules are in effect. Please refer to Licensure for Professional Technical Programs or contact your program for more information.
Professional Licensure Compliance
Professional licensure and certification requirements vary by state and territory. Students who are considering an academic program that may lead to professional licensure should refer to the Licensure for Professional Technical Programs webpage to determine whether a program meets the educational requirements in their location. Per federal regulations, distance education professional licensure programs cannot enroll students from states/territories where the program curriculum does not meet, or the college cannot determine it meets, the educational requirements set by the state/territory licensing agency.
If CBC determines the program curriculum does not meet or if we cannot determine whether we meet the educational requirements, we will contact you with any next steps. Non-responsiveness may lead to a hold being placed on registration and/or unenrollment from courses.
NOTE: State licensure requirements are subject to change. Since our research findings are only updated annually, students are encouraged to review their state’s or territory’s requirements and to contact the appropriate licensing agency for the most up-to-date information.
Additional College policies can be found on the CBC website.