Resources

Alumni Association

The Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA), founded in 1963, offers benefits, programs, and activities to more than 95,000 members around the world. Its mission is to foster lasting relationships and to sustain the College’s traditions. Columbia College students become members of the CCAA upon graduation. There is no fee or registration process.

myPortal

myPortal allows students access to CougarMail (the official means of communication for the college) and to their Columbia College records via the internet. Students may view their Columbia College transcripts, grades, student schedules, and more. Enrollment processes, to include registration and adding and dropping classes, are also available through myPortal. Once students have completed an enrollment process online, an e-mail confirmation of their activity is sent, which should be reviewed carefully for accuracy.

Internet Access and Anti-Virus Software

Internet access is available to students for use as a resource in the student computer lab and lab classrooms, Stafford Library, and the residence halls. A wireless network is available for laptops and portable/mobile devices. Students using computers on the College network must have the latest version of anti-virus software. Registered students are eligible for free Microsoft Office 365. A link to free Microsoft Office 365 and anti-virus software is available in MyPortal, under Tools > Microsoft Office 365 for Students.

Center for Student Success

The Center for Student Success supports students by empowering them to reach their academic, personal, and professional goals through coaching, advocating, and vesting students with the confidence to succeed. We serve as a resource for various topics such as:

• Financial Awareness
  • Applying for and maintaining financial aid
  • Understanding your payment plan
  • Budgeting for school and personal expenses
  • Billing information
• Student Success Planning
  • Setting and completing goals
  • Identifying and overcoming barriers to success
  • Mastering effective study skills
  • Coping with academic stress
• Adjusting to Columbia College
  • Utilizing available resources
  • Resolving registration restrictions
  • Transitioning to Columbia College
  • Understanding the impact of attendance on success

Students can contact us during our open hours via phone, email, or by visiting us in MOH 205. Students are also encouraged to schedule a phone, virtual, or in-person (depending on your location) one-on-one meeting with a Student Success Coach. Learn more about our resources and contact the Center for Student Success today.

Grossnickle Career Services Center

Making the successful transition from college to the workplace can be challenging and Grossnickle Career Services Center is here to provide support.

Career Services works with students and alumni in all areas of career development through in-person or virtual meetings, online resources, and communications in areas such as: 

• Understanding the relationship between choice of major and career path
• Mastering job and internship search techniques
• Resume and cover letter development
• Developing interview skills
• Internships for credits
• Learning about graduate school options and the admissions process

Setting up a career counselor appointment can be done through Handshake or contacting the office directly by phone at 573-875-7425, email at careerservices@ccis.edu or by stopping by the office in Missouri Hall 219. 

Additionally, Columbia College students have access to a powerful, innovate career management system called Handshake. Handshake allows students to search through thousands of jobs, internships and employers throughout the country, find in-person and virtual hiring and graduate school events, and access resources to help them build resumes and cover letters. Handshake is free and easily accessible on all devices.  Get started with Handshake at www.ccis.edu/handshake

Honor Societies

Alpha Chi

Missouri Epsilon chapter of the national honor society invites graduate students who are in the top 5 percent of their class based on cumulative GPA, have earned at least 24 credit hours a Columbia College, and are enrolled for coursework at the time of eligibility. Available to all graduate students.

Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi is a national education society. Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of undergraduate and graduate education majors. The organization encourages excellence in scholarship, personal standards, and teaching preparation. Available to Main Campus only. 

Sigma Beta Delta

Sigma Beta Delta is an international honor society for students interested in business, management and administration. Membership is open to all students in the top 15 percent of their class. Members must also have at least a 3.5 GPA and 30 credit hours at Columbia College. Available to all graduate students. 

Library

The J.W. and Lois Stafford Library provides a place for students to connect with information. Librarians are available by phone, e-mail, chat, or text message. Library instruction is provided to individuals and to classes. Virtual instruction is available to those who reside off-campus. The library classroom can be used for group study and library instruction. There are four other study rooms in the library. Computers, printers, scanners and copy machines are available for student use. The library also has laptops available for check-out.

The library’s collection supports the curriculum of Columbia College with more than 60,000 physical items (books, videos, journals, newspapers, etc.), as well as more than 250,000 electronic books and over 55 databases. Our databases include full-text articles, as well as streaming videos and audio. All of the library’s electronic collections are accessible remotely 24 hours/day via the library website. Electronic delivery of inter-library loan articles is also available.

Columbia College is a member of the MOBIUS Consortium. This membership provides Columbia College students who reside in Missouri access to more than 29 million items in more than 80 academic, special or public libraries. Students can borrow books by using the MOBIUS online catalog or visiting a participating library.

Click here for library hours. Hours are subject to change when classes are not in session and during holidays.

Contact Information: (800) 231-2391 x7381, library@ccis.edu

Student Accessibility Resources

Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) leads the campus in the creation of inclusive learning environments and facilitates access through innovative services, programs, and partnerships. Disability is an aspect of diversity that is integral to our society and to the Columbia College community.  The SAR office collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create a campus environment that is usable, equitable, sustainable and inclusive of all members of the college community.

After admission to the college, students with a disability/condition who want to explore reasonable academic accommodations are encouraged to contact SAR to explore the possibilities and options without feeling a need to commit to utilizing any resources. 

Student Accessibility Resources can be reached at (573) 875-7626 or by emailing SAR@ccis.edu. The office is located in the Student Affairs suite on the second floor of Atkins-Holman Student Commons. For more information please visit Student Accessibility Resources.

Technology Solutions Center

The Technology Solutions Center is available to students via phone or face-to-face. Help desk analysts are available to assist students with Internet connectivity, issues with accessing CougarMail and myPortal, or other Columbia College owned systems. Please click here for Technology Services hours of operation.

Testing Services

The primary mission of the Columbia College Testing Center is to provide a comfortable, professional, uniform and secure testing environment for all customers.

The Testing Center conducts a variety of tests such as the CLEP, DSST, Online Proctored Exams, MOGEA, and testing for students with approved ADA accommodations. For more information regarding various exams Testing Services can be contacted at (573) 875-7485, or by e-mail at testingservices@ccis.edu.

Main Campus Graduate Only

Bookstore

The Campus bookstore, located on the main floor of the Student Commons, carries a wide range of clothing, snacks, and school supplies. Please visit their website or call: (573) 875-7341.

Computer Classrooms

Technology Services maintains two instructional use classrooms in Buchanan Hall. Classes using computing resources, such as English, Computer Programming, and Accounting are conducted in these facilities. Students may complete assignments outside of class using the computer resources in the Student Computer Lab. An instructional lab is also available in the Tenth Street Center and in Federal Hall.

Parking Permits

Students who park on campus in Columbia, MO are required to have a parking permit. Parking is free and the permit must be displayed in the vehicle. Parking permits can be ordered online at CCIS.edu/ParkingPermits. Log in to myPortal account to complete the form with the vehicle registration information including vehicle, make, model, year, color, and license plate number. All parking permits will be mailed. Contact the Center for Student Success at (573) 875-7252 for more information.

Recreation

The AHSC Commons, Southwell Sports Complex, Gene and Fran Koepke Fitness Center, common areas and residence hall lounges are available for a variety of recreational activities. The Fitness Center is located in Southy Building. It includes free weights, machine weights, and cardio equipment. The courts at Southwell Sports Complex are available for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Other college facilities, such as Launer Auditorium, the Jane Froman Dance Studio, classrooms, Dulany Hall and the AHSC Commons are available upon approval to any officially recognized student organization for meetings and programs. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available in the Plant and Facilities Office. Contact Athletics for more information.

Student Computer Lab

Technology Services maintains the Buchanan Hall Student Computer Lab, equipped with computers, scanners, and monochrome and color high-speed laser printers. It is available to currently enrolled students on a walk-in basis and offers extended hours. Software used in classroom instruction is available to students, and e-mail and Internet access is also provided.

The Student Computer Lab multi-media room is equipped with three computers: two Dell and one Apple, a color printer, a black and white printer, and scanners. These computers have video and photo editing software installed. This room is available for group study.

Tenth Street Center offers an open lab with computers and high-speed laser printers during various hours.

The Technology Solutions Center has digital cameras and digital video cameras available to checkout. Cameras may be checked out for a period of 24 hours. For more information about camera checkouts, contact the Technology Solutions Center at (573) 875-4357.

Wellness Services 

Wellness Services is located on the second floor of the Atkins-Holman Student Commons (AHSC, Room 210).

Confidential counseling is provided free of charge by licensed professionals to assist students with personal, developmental, or psychological concerns related to personal growth and making academic progress. Students use our services to seek assistance with matters such as anxiety/panic, test anxiety, depression, stress and time management, developing healthy relationships, sleep issues, conflict resolution, grief, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, attention difficulties, and more. Counseling Services is a confidential resource for dating violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and harassment. Our office also provides referrals to community resources when appropriate.

Elizabeth Toomey Seabrook Writing Center and Tutoring Services

Writing consultants can help students with any of the following and more:

• Brainstorming ideas and developing a thesis
• Organizing a paper and adding depth to analysis
• Revising and editing
• Avoiding plagiarism and mastering various citation styles

Professional and peer tutors are also available to enhance student learning experiences in various academic disciplines. This free service is available to current students enrolled in tutor-supported courses at Columbia College. Tutors are available on a walk-in basis at a variety of times each week to help students with the following tasks:

• Understanding concepts and productively reviewing notes
• Working problems
• Preparing for quizzes and exams

To view the current tutoring schedule, click here. For more information, call (573) 875-7616 or email writingcenter@ccis.edu.

Textbooks

Columbia College provides required course material for all students.  The options for students to access textbooks vary depending on the venue of their courses (i.e., Day vs. Columbia College Global).

I. Day Textbook Program  

As part of the cost of tuition, the College provides textbooks for undergraduate and graduate courses offered through the day program. All students are opted in upon admission to the College. Some books will be provided in an eText format through D2L while other courses will have physical text books. The eTexts will be available by the Friday before classes start or within 48 hours of registering on or after this date. Once the physical text books are available they will be picked up from the bookstore. These books will work under a rental model and will be required to be returned at the end of the course. If the books are not returned the student will be charged for them on their student account.

II. Columbia College Global Textbook Program  

As part of the cost of tuition, the College provides textbooks for undergraduate and graduate courses offered through Columbia College Global. All students are opted in upon admission to the College. Most textbooks for Columbia College Global courses are digital textbooks that students have access to through D2L no later than the Friday before the course begins, or within 24 hours of registration being finalized for the course if the student registers after the Friday before the course start date. In the event a digital textbook is not available, a printed copy of the textbook will be provided to the student by the college’s online bookstore. The printed textbook will be shipped to the student at least seven days before the course start date, or within 24 hours of registration being finalized for the course, should the student register late. The students can keep these books and will not be charged for them unless they drop the course.

• Students enrolled in Day and Columbia College Global courses will receive their physical material from two different bookstores based on the location of their course. 

III. Opting Out 

Students may elect to opt out of the textbook program. Day location students will communicate this intent to their academic advisor while Columbia College Global location students will talk with the Center for Student Success. They will then have to submit a completed Textbook Program Opt-out form before enrolling in courses at the College for the semester. After communicating intent to opt-out , the student will be sent an email with a link to the Opt-out form. Opting out of receiving textbooks through the textbook program applies to all courses for which the student registers after opting out (Day and Columbia College Global). Once a student registers for at least one course for the semester, the next opportunity to opt-out is before registering for the following semester. Students who opt-out will receive a $20 per credit hour reduction on their student account and will be responsible for obtaining all required textbooks and required materials on their own.

Students receiving Military Tuition Assistance who opt out of the Textbook Program will not receive a $20 per credit hour reduction on their student account because their textbook cost is in addition to tuition and covered by a $20 per credit hour institutional grant. Students who receive reduced tuition rates pursuant to the College’s Employee Educational Grant or Graduate Education Grant or MAT Tuition Waiver and opt-out will not be charged $20 per credit hour for the textbook program regardless of their tuition reduction amount; these students who opt out of the textbook program are responsible for purchasing required materials on their own. A student who opts out of the textbook program, but who would like to re-enroll in the program will have the opportunity to opt in at the beginning of each academic year by contacting the Center for Student Success.