La CASA

Cultural Appreciation and Student Advocacy

Bienvenidos to the 2025-2026 academic year!

La CASA, Columbia Basin College's multicultural center, opened its doors in September 2024. It was designed to align with the college's Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation, the Title V Grant goals, and CBC's Inclusivo strategic plan. La CASA is committed to fostering a sense of belonging, empowerment, and community for individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, and intersectional identities with consideration for our growing Hispanic/Latine student population.

La CASA has dedicated spaces to study, relax, and build connections. Its diverse programming includes presentations, workshops, and resources that focus on cultural celebrations, financial literacy, professional development, and emotional well-being. By recognizing and celebrating students' identities as valuable assets, La CASA strives to foster student engagement, support academic success, and empower students to thrive both socially and professionally.

Fall Quarter Hours

Services

  • 🖥️ Computer stations and printing
  • 🍽️ Kitchen
  • 🛋️ Lounge areas to socialize
  • 📚 Meeting rooms to study
  • 🧘🏽Meditation/Prayer room
  • 🧭Guidance to help navigate CBC

Additional Services

Get Involved with La CASA

Community Agreements

  1. Always check in when entering La CASA.
  2. Respect this cultural space and everyone (even if you disagree).
  3. Use the front doors as the main entrance and exit.
  4. By using the community kitchen, you agree to take personal responsibility for your own safety and actions. The College is not liable for any injuries, damages, or losses that may occur while using this space or equipment.
  5. Reservations should be made in advance. Meeting spaces should only be used when reserved.
  6. Lead with inclusive and positive language.
  7. Create an inviting environment by being mindful of the space you take.
  8. Keep office hallway as a quiet space.
  9. Please be considerate that information in this space may be confidential.
  10. Clean up after yourself and return furniture and technology (game consoles, etc.) to its original place.
  11. Be an active ally and advocate when you see injustice.
  12. Understand that everyone is on a different education journey of cultural differences and encourage their growth

Meet the Staff!

 

Upcoming La CASA Events


 

Campus Resources

The Academic Success Center provides tutoring, peer mentoring, and other resources to help you unlock your academic potential on your journey towards academic success.

ASC

The purpose of student clubs at CBC is to provide opportunities for the enhancement of academic, cultural, social and recreational aspects of student life through participation in group programs and activities.

ASCBC

CAMP helps students who come from a migrant or seasonal farm-working background during their first year of college with life changing resources. CAMP offers academic, career, financial and support services to facilitate your transition into college.

CAMP

Disability Support Services (DSS) is dedicated to ensuring equal access and inclusion for all students with either provisional or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities. Accommodations may include adaptive equipment, technology, testing, classroom tools and information.

DSS

Our amazing partnership with Second Harvest allows us to stock our pantry with fresh produce, dairy products, bread, as well as dry and canned goods.

Food Pantry

CBC’s High School Equivalency Program (HEP) helps close the educational gap experienced by migrating families. Our program provides migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children with an intensive study program to earn their GED® and continue on to college or employment.

HEP

The goal of MESA is to increase the number of historically underrepresented community college students (including African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latinx, Pacific Islander and women) who are interested in pursuing a STEM bachelor’s degree. Ultimately, we aim to diversify the STEM workforce by addressing challenges students like you face in education and career development.

MESA

We are determined in advancing the academic success and holistic thriving of undocumented, Deferred action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and mixed-status families' students. We invite you to explore the support and resources available to you as a future and current student.

Undocu Resources

TRIO SSS students find that the extra support they receive helps them achieve success not only here at CBC, but also in their four-year graduation goals and careers beyond college.

TRIO SSS

Upward Bound students participate in both summer and school-year programs and, following high school graduation, are encouraged to enroll in the BRIDGE program—an intensive mentoring opportunity designed to guide students like you through your first summer quarter of college coursework.

Upward Bound

We know that sometimes life makes it difficult to concentrate in class which can keep you from being academically successful. These things aren’t your fault! CBC, and our surrounding communities, offer students valuable resources to support you through hard times and support your well-being. We encourage you to take advantage of these resources—it’s what they’re here for!

Well-Being Resources

You can gain access to five federally-funded grant programs that aim to help students like you successfully achieve your workforce education goals. Whether it is financial assistance, help with academic planning, access to computers or even learning about what jobs are available to you, WEC is here to support you!

WEC

 

La CASA Kitchen

La CASA’s Kitchen is the first communal kitchen facility available to students and employees at Columbia Basin College (CBC). The kitchen is located within the Pasco campus T-Building, Room T408.

As part of La CASA, its kitchen will provide an opportunity to respond to food and housing insecurity, and to create community amongst students and employees. With these efforts in mind, La CASA’s Kitchen will provide equitable and culturally sustaining practices aimed at student success.

The Kitchen will be open to all CBC students and employees to utilize during La CASA’s Hours of Operation. By using the kitchen, you agree to the rules and procedures of the kitchen.

Please refer to La CASA's Kitchen Manual for more information regarding La CASA's kitchen use, rules, and procedures.

La CASA Kitchen Manual

General Use

Students may use the following on-the-counter and low-risk appliances for individual cooking needs:
  • Sinks
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Keurig
  • Ice Machine
  • Disposable plates, bowls, cutlery

Students are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and each appliance they use. Cleaning materials will be readily available to students.

Reservations

Students interested in participating in cooking a shared meal or viewing a cooking demonstration must be supervised by a staff member. 

La CASA’s Kitchen may be reserved for cooking demonstrations and meals by staff and faculty who have completed the required training. The staff member who creates the reservation will be present, oversee the cooking process, and understand and ensure safety and cleaning regulations are followed during kitchen use.

Reservation requests should be made at least two (2) weeks in advance of the reservation date. Fill out the form below to put in a request to reserve the kitchen.

Kitchen Reservation Request Form

Confirmation of training need to be attached to the reservation along with waivers for students who will be accessing the kitchen.

La CASA Kitchen Waiver

Staff and students using La CASA’s Kitchen through the reservation process may use the following appliances:
  • All appliances listed in ‘General Use Only’ section
  • Stovetop
  • Oven
  • Knives
  • Rice Cooker
  • Hot Plates
  • Pots and Pans
  • Cutting Boards
  • All additional appliances with La CASA’s Kitchen Inventory

Staff and students are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen appliances and materials they used during their reservation. Cleaning materials will be readily available to use.

La Platica

La Platica is La CASA's newsletter and is it aims to provide useful, clear, and accessible information to support student development at Columbia Basin College(CBC). Here, you'll find resources, opportunities, and news that can make a difference in your academic journey.

Each issue will highlight a featured story, The Visual Voice – where we’ll share photos and highlights of students interacting with La CASA (Cultural Appreciation & Student Advocacy), La CASA’s monthly events, updates from CBC’s Undocumented Student Advocacy Specialist, campus resources and important dates, along with information on how to get involved on campus!  

Our goal is to help you stay connected with your community and make the most of what’s available to you here at CBC!

Past Issues

La Platica E-Newsletter - December 2025 - Issue 4
La Platica E-Newsletter - November 2025 - Issue 3
La Platica E-Newsletter - October 2025 - Issue 2

La Platica E-Newsletter - September 2025 - Issue 1

Subscribe to La Platica

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Students walking around CBC's Pasco campus