Big Bend Community College was authorized by the Washington State Board of Education in 1961. On September 12, 1962, BBCC held its first regular classes at night in Moses Lake High School; the opening of a permanent facility was delayed by a steelworkers' strike.[3] The college opened classes in a new facility located a short distance southeast of the city of Moses Lake in late 1963. In 1966, BBCC acquired a 159-acre (0.64 km2) tract of land on the former Larson Air Force Base from the federal government at no cost. It was designated as the college's north campus with some classes remaining at the existing south campus.[3] The north campus absorbed all classes and programs in 1975.[4]
The Washington State Legislature's Community College Act of 1967 designated BBCC as District 18 of the state community college system. The 4,600-square-mile (12,000 km2) district includes Grant and Adams counties and the Odessa School district in Lincoln County.
Campus
Dorm buildings at Big Bend Community College
Big Bend Community College's main campus is centrally located in the Columbia Basin of Washington state. The campus includes 25 buildings to facilitate more than 43 academic program areas.
Big Bend Community College competes in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) as the Vikings, fielding men's teams for baseball, basketball, and wrestling. Women's teams for softball, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling.[5]
