Undergraduate Bulletin 2020 - 2021 
    
    Apr 25, 2024  
Undergraduate Bulletin 2020 - 2021 [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Student Affairs



Student Affairs is the collective name for a number of offices that work closely with students in the out-of-class learning environment. Student Affairs consists of the offices of the Dean of Students, Career Center and Applied Learning, Chaplain, Columbia College Police Department, Counseling Services, Multicultural Affairs & Community Resources, Residence Life and Housing, and Student Activities. Services provided by these offices are generally offered at little or no charge to students. Student Affairs staff members provide students with a variety of opportunities, activities, programs, and events that support learning in and out of the classroom, assist the student in becoming engaged in the campus community, enhance a student’s leadership skills, and promote success during and after college. Detailed descriptions of the individual offices can be found in the Student Handbook.

The policies listed below are related to the work of the Student Affairs division. These policies are reprinted here for convenience. If there are any discrepancies between the content in this section and similar material in the Student Handbook, the Handbook is considered to contain the correct wording of the policies.

Residency Requirements

A first-time college student (21 years of age or under) is required to live on campus during the first two years of enrollment at Columbia College (note that students who enter Columbia College directly from high school and have earned dual enrollment college credit are considered “first-time college students” at Columbia College). A first-year or second-year student may choose to live off campus if they are living with a legal guardian within Richland or Lexington Counties and are living at the address on record with the College as their permanent address. First-year and second-year students who are married will also be exempted from the residency requirement but may be asked to submit verification.

First-year and second-year students who are living with dependents will also be exempted from the residency requirement but may be asked to submit verification. All other exceptions to the residency requirement must be requested in writing and will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Residence Life and Housing and/or a committee. A form requesting an exemption to this requirement is available through the Office of Residence Life & Housing.

Immunizations: Required

All students entering Columbia College must present a valid immunization certificate (dated, signed, or stamped by a health care professional/office) documenting that the student has received those immunizations required by the College. Failure to comply will result in delayed registration for the subsequent semester.

Pursuant to South Carolina law, the Columbia College institutional policy, and endorsement by the American College Health Association, the following immunizations and screening tests are REQUIRED:

Students born after December 31, 1956:

  • 2 Measles (Rubella), 1 Mumps, and 1 Rubella (2 MMR doses meet this requirement)
  • Tuberculosis Screening (PPD) within the last 6 months. If you are an international student. If you have traveled outside the United States, a PPD is required three months after you return to the States. A PPD is required regardless of prior BCG inoculation.

Several options are available to achieve compliance with the Columbia College Immunization Policy.

  • Private Physician
  • Medical Centers
  • Your local Health Department can provide the second MMR, Td booster and tuberculosis screening.

Columbia College will keep a student’s immunization record on file for the duration of her tenure at Columbia College. Any student wishing to receive a copy of her immunization record should contact the Division of Student Affairs at 803.786.3856.

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is a three-part process, with the first session held in June or July and the second session held just prior to the start of the academic year in August. The final segment of the program is in the form of a two-hour credit course - LA 100 - First Year Experience I: Strategies for Success  - held during the fall semester. During Orientation, students become acquainted with other new students, faculty, and staff; receive information designed to assist them in achieving academic and personal success; and select courses for the fall semester. New students are expected to attend and participate in the entire three-part orientation process. Transfer students attend a specially designed Welcome Program offered in August (fall start) and January (spring start). Evening and Graduate students participate in a half-day Orientation program before the start of each semester. 

Intercollegiate Athletics

Columbia College is an active member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The College’s athletic teams compete in basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track & field, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball. Scholarships are offered to qualified athletes. For more information about the athletics program, please contact the director of athletics at 803.786.3723.

Post Office

Columbia College maintains a post office in the Harrelson Student Service Center to handle United States mail and intra-campus communications. Each student is assigned a campus post office box through the Office of Student Affairs. Postage may be purchased from the Campus Post Office during normal business hours (Monday through Friday 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM)

United Parcel Service (UPS) DHL and Federal Express delivers packages to the Campus Post Office daily (Monday - Friday except Holidays). Students receiving packages are sent notification via campus mail. The Campus Post Office does not process outgoing packages for UPS, DHL and FedEx. Students will be required to process their packages via the internet and then drop their packages off at the Campus Post Office for pickup.

Bookstore and Campus Shop

The C-Square Bookstore, located in the Harrelson Student Service Center, provides new and used textbooks. The Bookstore also sells insignia clothing and gift items, school supplies, computer software, food and sundries, and greeting cards. Books are bought back every day at the current guide value and as much as half of the purchase price at certain times of the year, usually at the end of each semester. Normal business hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Use of Automobiles

Properly licensed and insured vehicles may be operated on campus only if they are registered with the Columbia College Police Department. All vehicles operating on campus must display a College decal, which can be obtained from the Columbia College Police Department, located at 4825 Burke Street, during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) Vehicle use on campus is governed by the regulations provided by the Columbia College Administration and the Police Department. The regulations are distributed, posted and enforced by the Police Department. Columbia College does not assume liability for vehicles operated or parked on the campus.