26-27 Safety & Security Information

Information on this page is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change; please refer to the current information on the CBC website or contact the appropriate department for the most up-to-date information.

2026-2027 Course Catalog Online

 

Campus Safety & Security

Columbia Basin College strives to provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff and visitors. The Campus Security department enforces College parking and traffic regulations, provides SAFEWALKS, jump-starts vehicles, retrieves keys locked in vehicles, maintains lost and found articles and assists local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

In an emergency, 911 is called. On-campus emergency assistance is available by calling 509-542-4819 or ext. 7777. Security personnel routinely conduct patrols of CBC facilities and parking lots and provide emergency assistance as necessary. Security officers have authority to request identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at CBC.

Coordination With Law Enforcement

CBC maintains close coordination with local law enforcement agencies at all CBC locations and activities. CBC’s security officers have the same arrest capability as a citizen. Criminal incidents are referred to the local police who have jurisdiction on the CBC campus. All College personnel and students should immediately report any crime, suspicious circumstance/person or emergency to the 911 Dispatch Center or to the CBC Security department at 509-542-4819 or via the Crime Incident Report form. Prompt reporting will ensure timely warning notices on campus and timely disclosure of crime statistics.

Contact Campus Security if you:

  • Are a victim of a crime that has occurred on campus
  • See a suspicious activity or a suspicious vehicle on campus
  • Have information about a theft of property
  • Have been involved in an auto accident or have witnessed one
  • Smell smoke or fumes inside a building
  • See smoke or flames inside a building
  • Have been injured and/or need first aid
  • Notice any other safety or security related problems

The Clery Act

The Clery Act requires that colleges provide information to prospective and current students and employees about its campus safety policies, procedures and statistics on certain crimes in an Annual Security and Fire Report. CBC obtains data for the Annual Security and Fire Report that is required by the Clery Act through a collaborated effort with various law enforcement agencies and the local fire department. The Annual Security and Fire Report can be located on the Campus Security & Safety webpage.

Printed copies of this report are available by request from CBC Security. The report on safety and crime statistics is also available by contacting the Columbia Basin College Vice President for Administrative Services at 2600 North 20th Avenue, MS-A13, Pasco, WA, 99301 or at 509-542-4408.

Safety Alerts

In the event that a situation arises, either on- or off-campus, that, in the judgment of the President’s Cabinet and the Campus Security office, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus-wide timely warning will be issued. The notification could be in the form of media alerts (TV/radio), social media posts (Facebook/Twitter), email, text messages, posters/flyers and/or notices in the student bulletin. Sign up for emergency notifications via email and/or text message on the Campus Security & Safety webpage.

Disciplinary Action

Any student who commits an act in College facilities, which is punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, such as sexual assault, under Washington state law, may be subject to appropriate disciplinary process procedures outlined within the Student Code of Conduct. These proceedings may include the opportunity of the accused and accuser to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding and notification of the final determination resulting from the proceeding.

Sexual Offender Notification

Sexual offenders, Level I, II and III, are required by law to register with the county sheriff in the county where they reside. The law requires that they also inform the county sheriff if they register for school. The county sheriff, in turn, is required to notify the school of sex offenders who may have registered to attend classes. Any sex offender who wants to enroll at CBC must meet with the Assistant Dean for Student Conduct & Student Life prior to the start of their first classes. These notifications are intended to inform the campus community and to promote personal safety rather than create panic.

CBC is bound by state law to be an open door admission institution and only in those situations where a prospective or enrolled student is determined to be disruptive to the educational environment or would not benefit from enrollment will admission be denied or revoked.

Notifications of sex offenders enrolling at CBC are received from the Franklin or Benton County Sheriff ’s Department and are sent to CBC’s Campus Security office or the Assistant Dean for Student Conduct & Student Life. Notification to the College community will be made pursuant to CBC's Sexual Offender Notification Procedure, which can be located on the Sexual Offender Notification webpage. When a Level III sex offender is enrolled, their picture will be posted around campus, and a notification will be sent to all students and employees.

Title IX

CBC is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment. The College's Title IX Grievance Policy and Non-Discrimination & Harassment Policy and Procedure prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual misconduct, harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. We understand that sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success and we encourage students who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct to talk to someone about their experience, so they can get the support they need. The College offers information and referrals for victims of sexual misconduct. Victims of sexual misconduct are encouraged to report the incident as soon as possible to the Vice President for Human Resources & Legal Affairs/Title IX Coordinator located in the Human Resources office in the A Building on the Pasco campus. Reports can also be made by emailing vphr@columbiabasin.edu or by calling 509-542-5548. More information is available on the Title IX webpage.

Severe Weather

Although it is rare, if you suspect that CBC may be closed, please check one of these resources:

Information will only be posted or announced if CBC should close. Closures, delayed starts or early releases may be announced at any time due to changing weather conditions. However, we make every effort to announce morning closures by 5:15 am and announce evening class cancelations by 3:30 pm. Employees and students are expected to use reasonable judgment regarding traveling in inclement weather/adverse road conditions.

Student Identity Theft & Fraud 

Columbia Basin College reserves the right to revoke admission, reconsider an admissions decision, or re-evaluate an application if it is determined that the information provided by the applicant—whether related to admissions, enrollment, or financial aid—is materially incomplete or false. Based on such findings, the College may also rescind admissions, deny, cancel enrollment, or revoke eligibility for financial aid.
 
In accordance with State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) guidelines, information found to credibly fraudulent will be reported to SBCTC and Department of Education Office of Inspector General (OIG).