Columbia College embraces its past while looking forward to the future

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Columbia College, founded in 1854. first opened its doors to only female students.

While men were allowed to take evening classes starting in the 1980s, the school only recently allowed men to attend full-time.

“Columbia College has its roots as a small liberal arts college that provides a personal experience tailored to every student’s needs,” said Dr. John Dozier, Columbia College president. “While growth is important, we want to grow strategically.”

Today, Columbia College enrolls around 1,500 students. 

“Students come here and we change their lives. Our faculty ratio is 11 to 1,” said Dr. Kristine Barnett, Columbia College provost. “Our faculty are about as dedicated as they can be. Students have more than 30 academic programs to choose from.”

The school also offers nine graduate programs as well as online and evening classes. 

“We’re striving to ensure that our programs are easy, flexible and affordable for our students,” Barnett said.

Since fully opening to male students, Columbia College has seen a lot of growth. It means a lot of changes at the school including the addition of a men’s basketball team and additional buildings going up on campus.”

“We have our education and speech language pathology programs getting ready to move into a new space,” Barnett said.

One education student from a small town in South Carolina has found a home here at Columbia College. 

“It really was the atmosphere. This is a really cool college that’s close knit,” said Faith Nettles, a junior at Columbia College. “The professors really care about their students. Students care about other students too. That’s the biggest reason I came here.”

Fellow junior Breanna Harris also came from a small town and has found academic and service opportunities through the school’s honors college. 

“It just showed me more about how to serve and love others. I really enjoy being here,” Harris said. “I’ve met a lot of great people who have taught me lots of things about myself as well as how the world works. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Both students aim to take their education to the next level after graduating. 

“After college… I want to go to grad school and then the classroom to be a teacher,” Nettles said. “I 100 percent think that this college has prepared me for that.”

Columbia College leaders say looking forward, the school hopes to add new majors as well as more on campus housing.