General Information

Mission Statement

Columbia College prepares every student personally and professionally for success through strong liberal arts and professional programs emphasizing service, social justice, and leadership development. 

In service to this mission, the student experience focuses attention on developing critical thinking, a high standard of intellectual rigor, experiential learning, life-long learning, and acceptance of personal responsibility in a diverse world. 

Location

Columbia College is located in Columbia, South Carolina, a metropolitan area with a population of 650,000. The 50-acre campus is on the north side of the city, with Highway 21 bordering the College’s west side. Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina, and as such it offers students advantages that many colleges do not. Cultural and historical attractions are plentiful, and the accessibility of both mountains and beaches makes it possible for students to enjoy a pleasant weekend off campus whenever they desire.

Accreditation and Memberships

Columbia College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Columbia College. 

The following provide independent accreditation to individual academic programs:

Council on Social Work Education
National Association of Schools of Dance
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Upon request, accreditation documents may be viewed in the Office of the Provost or the J. Drake Edens Library during normal business hours.

In addition to membership in the accrediting associations, Columbia College has membership in the following:

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Association of University Women
American Council on Education
Consortium for International Students
Council of Graduate Schools
Independent Colleges and Universities of South Carolina
National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church
National Council of Church Related Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges for Women
Southern Conference of Church Related Colleges
Southern Regional Honors Council
The University Senate of the United Methodist Church
Women’s College Coalition

Affiliation and Governance

Columbia College, a private college for women affiliated with the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, is a not-for-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the State of South Carolina. The purposes of the College are set forth in both the charter and the by-laws that govern the College.

Columbia College is related to the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, which, through its local churches, provides a measure of financial assistance for the programs of the College on a voluntary basis. Income is also derived from endowment, tuition and fees, and gifts from individuals and foundations.

Columbia College is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. The Board is solely responsible for the policies governing the operation of the College and for its legal and financial activities. Although the membership of the Board is elected by the South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, the Board holds title to the College and exercises its own independent judgment with respect to its own affairs.

J. Drake Edens Library

As the academic heart of the Columbia College campus, the J. Drake Edens Library provides professional guidance to students, faculty, and staff and houses materials to help students explore all aspects of the liberal arts. To support that research, the library maintains a core collection of books, periodicals, and media items.

The library provides students with access to tens of thousands of full-text articles through database subscriptions. Students can access these databases from anywhere by selecting the database, then entering their Columbia College e-mail address and password. Students can receive help from librarians in selecting keywords, choosing databases, or trouble shooing technical issues by e-mailing refdesk@columbiasc.edu.

The Research and Instruction Librarians are eager to assist students, faculty, and staff with their research. The Reference Desk is located on the main floor, and librarians are available to help on an individual basis, including nights and weekends. Individual and group study rooms are available on the main and top floors of Edens Library. Computers are located near the Reference Desk, on the top floor, and in the Overton Media Center on the bottom floor.

On the lower level of Edens Library is Educational Technology. Educational Technology supports instruction at Columbia College through the use of technologies such as Google apps, SMART Boards, video editing, social media, and the campus’s online learning management system, Koala Connection. Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome to make appointments to discuss the use of technology in the classroom. Educational Technology strives to troubleshoot technical issues as well as enrich curriculum through new tech tools. Many helpful resources can be found on Educational Technology’s website and through its social media channels on Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.

International Student Information

It is the policy of Columbia College to encourage and support the development of the many aspects of international/intercultural education. Therefore, the College has adopted the guidelines of the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA) and “is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.”

Alumnae Association

The aim of the Columbia College Alumnae Association is to establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the College and the members of the Association, to promote universal and systematic gifts for College purposes, and to advance the interests of the College. Established in 1882, the Association is the fifth oldest women’s college alumnae association in the United States.

Nondiscrimination

Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its Evening, Online, Associate’s to Bachelor’s, Online, or Graduate Programs. Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability in any of its educational programs, admissions procedures, or employment practices.

Facilities and Services for Students with Disabilities

Columbia College recognizes its responsibility to assist academically qualified students with disabilities in achieving their academic goals. The College makes every effort to ensure that its physical facilities are accessible to students with disabilities.

Columbia College is committed to ensuring access to academic programs and to non-academic programs when possible. Although the College will not lower its academic standards nor alter degree requirements, certain accommodations are available at no cost to students with disabilities, depending on their specific disability. Possible accommodations students may request include the following:

• Extension of the time allowed to earn a degree or substitution of one elective course for another.
• Adaptation of the manner in which specific courses, assignments, tests and examinations are conducted.
• Assistance with registration. Counseling, campus ministry, and career and placement services are also available.
• The College will seek volunteers to assist as note takers, readers, typists and attendants but cannot guarantee provision of personal services at no cost to the students involved.

After admission to Columbia College, students with disabilities may be required to document their disability to receive the special considerations cited above.

Title IX Compliance Statement

The Columbia College Board of Trustees confirmed at a meeting held at the College on October 23, 1975, that the College will continue to take such action and do such things as may be necessary to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 as amended and regulations issued pursuant thereto. The College has designated the Executive Committee of the College Board of Trustees as Compliance Officers to ensure that Columbia College remains an equal opportunity institution in all respects.

Student Complaint Process

Complaints about Columbia College policies, procedures, or practices should be discussed with the appropriate faculty or staff member in person prior to a formal written complaint. Concerns about academic issues should be reviewed with the faculty member involved, the Division Dean, then the Provost, in that order. Concerns about administrative issues should be reviewed with the area director then the Vice President for Finance. Concerns about student life should be reviewed with the area director then the Dean of Students. Concerns about admissions or financial aid issues should be raised with the appropriate director, then the leadership team member the area reports to.

If the problem cannot be resolved in person, written complaints should be sent to the Provost or the Vice President for Finance as appropriate. The resolution of written complaints will be communicated to the complainant in a timely fashion. If the complaint is impossible to address quickly, the Provost or Vice President for Finance will keep the complainant informed as to the progress of the resolution.

Columbia College Intellectual Property Policy

Background: Columbia College is committed to free and vigorous intellectual exploration and expression. Hence the College is committed to providing an environment that supports the research and teaching activities of its faculty, students and staff. In the course of professional duties, faculty members create intellectual property. As a matter of principle and practice, the College encourages all members of the Columbia College community to publish without restriction their papers, books, and other forms of communication in order to share openly and fully their findings and knowledge with colleagues and the public. The long-standing academic tradition that creators of works own the intellectual property resulting from their research, teaching and writing is the foundation of the College policy.

Policy: It is the general policy of Columbia College that intellectual property shall be the property of the author or creator. Exceptions to this rule will be handled as described in the AAUP Policy Documents and Reports, Tenth Edition on pages 214-216. To resolve emerging issues and disputes concerning the interpretation of this policy and/or negotiation of intellectual property rights, the Provost will convene a panel of faculty and peers to submit recommendations to be considered by the College administration.

Tuition Guaranty Bond for Prepaid Tuition

A copy of the Tuition Guaranty Bond is kept in the Comptroller’s Office on the Columbia College campus in Columbia, South Carolina. It is available for review by interested parties weekdays between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

Statement Regarding Health Services

Columbia College does not provide and does not take any responsibility for providing any health services to any students.

Student Identification Cards

All Columbia College students are issued a student identification card (ID). The ID card is used to access student residence halls, check out library materials, obtain reduced student rates at College events and theatre productions, allow students access to certain academic buildings on nights and weekends, and serve as the meal card for students on a meal plan. The ID is non-transferable and must be carried at all times. When requested by a College official, a student must present her/his ID. Further information about the ID can be found in the Student Conduct Code, Honor Code, and Policies section of this Bulletin.

Identification cards are issued by the Columbia College Police Department (CCPD) during normal business hours (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday). CCPD is located next to The Godbold Center. Office staff can be reached at 786.3343.

Lost or Stolen Identification Cards

Lost or stolen identification cards must be reported immediately to the Columbia College Police Department. If the card is not found by the end of the day, the student needs to have another identification card made. The cost for the replacement card is $15.

Student Employment Office

The Office of Student Employment helps students participate in the most beneficial work experience possible while at Columbia College.

The following describes two programs coordinated through the Office of Student Employment:

Federal Work Study (FWS)

Federal Work Study, as its name implies, is a federally subsidized program awarded to students based on financial need. Students are approved to receive Work Study awards as part of their financial aid package.

Workship (WS)

Workship is institutionally funded aid awarded to students based on their skills and the campus student work needs. This program also assists students who do not qualify for FWS funds but express a desire to work on campus.

Columbia College Police Department

Columbia College has a resident police force trained by the SC Criminal Justice Academy, which includes a Chief of Police, 5 police officers, who patrol the campus and its perimeter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure that all constituents on campus are safe at all times. We also have one contractual security officer on duty at all times to assist with these efforts. Regular office hours are 8:30 am - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Our office number is 803-786-3343.

After hours and on weekends and holidays, police officers patrol campus and are available by a telephone emergency line and by radio. They can be reached by calling 803-786-3333. The officers use a variety of transportation to access the campus including: police vehicles, bicycles, Segways, an all-terrain four wheel vehicle, and by foot. Code Blue Boxes located in parking lots A, E, and between Hudson/Wesley Hall allow students to call for Police assistance at all times.

The Columbia College Police Department is located at 4825 Burke Street.

Access to Buildings

Campus classrooms and administrative buildings are opened and closed by the Columbia College Police Department on a regular lock/unlock schedule. All main campus buildings, except residence halls, have open access during regular business hours. Residence halls are accessed by student identification cards controlled by Nexwatch at all times. Access to individual rooms within the residence halls is by keys which are issued to residents at check-in. Classroom buildings are locked after the last class period ends each day. The two largest classroom buildings, Bush Science Center and Breed Leadership Center, can be accessed after hours with the student identification cards.

Parking

Any student may bring an automobile to campus; however, all vehicles must be registered with the Columbia College Police Department and must display a permit in accordance with regulations. Parking decals can be purchased at the Columbia College Police Department. The cost of decals is $20.

Parking is located throughout the campus and is designated for students, staff, visitors, and the handicapped. Fines will be imposed for parking violations.

Certain clearly posted fire lanes must be kept clear at all times, and vehicular traffic in these lanes is prohibited except in emergencies. For additional guidelines, refer to “Automobile Regulations.”

Reporting a Crime

If you are a victim of a crime, or witness a crime, please contact our Department immediately by calling 803-786-3333. You may also contact our Department from one of the Code Blue Call boxes located in parking lots A, E, and between Hudson and Wesley Halls.”