Vision
Columbia State will be the "1st Choice" for citizens of South Central Tennessee seeking post-secondary learning and hailed as outstanding by students, community partners, and national benchmarks as a student-ready college.
Core Values
Columbia State Community College is committed to the core values of excellence, learning, success, integrity, access, leadership, responsibility, diversity, service, and community. These values guide and direct Columbia State as we pursue our vision.
Statement of Mission
Columbia State Community College nurtures success, and positively changes lives through teaching, learning, and service.
History
On June 22, 1965, the State Board of Education approved Columbia as the site of Tennessee's first community college. Once the Board of Education had approved the location of a college in Columbia, the Maury County Quarterly Court approved a resolution to purchase the two hundred four-acre Hickman farm and pledged $250,000 to aid in the construction of the college.
Columbia State graduated its first class in June 1968. These students had enrolled in 1966, when the College was temporarily housed in the Education Building of the First Baptist Church and other facilities throughout the city. The Columbia campus was occupied in 1967. At that time the facilities were comprised of the administration, gymnasium, library, maintenance, student center, and science buildings.
The two-story Frank G. Clement Building was completed in 1969, and the maintenance building was remodeled and enlarged in 1970. In 1971, the Jones Student Center was enlarged and an athletic track was built. In February 1972, the John W. Finney Memorial Library was completed, and in 2017-2019 the John W. Finney Memorial Library was renovated, adding offices for Evening Services, Trio, and the Tutoring and Learning Center. The redesign added an open first floor plan with 50 computers and a cafe. The second floor now has 2 large conference rooms, 7 study rooms, a computer lab with a teaching station, and several open reading areas. In the spring of 1976, the Health Sciences Building was completed. On August 10, 1989, the Natatorium, a mini-Olympic indoor swimming pool, was dedicated. The most recent building, the Waymon L. Hickman Building, was completed in 2001. In 2011 Columbia State completed a redesign of the original Natatorium into a Wellness Center, in 2014 the Jones Student Center was renovated and in 2019 the John W. Finney Memorial Library went through a renovation with the addition of multiple computer labs and conference rooms.
In January 1988, Columbia State began offering courses in the Yates Vocational Center in Franklin. In 1994, the facility was transferred to the Tennessee Board of Regents, providing a permanent location for the College's Williamson Campus. In 2016, the campus moved to a new location. Three additional semi-permanent sites have since been established in leased facilities: the Lawrence Campus, opened in 1988; the Lewisburg Campus, opened in 1996; and the Clifton Campus, opened in 1997. In 2016, an entirely new Williamson Campus opened at 1228 Liberty Pike, replacing the Yates Building location. In 2021 the Lawrence Campus moved to the Southern Tennessee Higher Education Center, which is located at 169 Southern Tennessee Lane.
Campus Locations
Columbia Campus
The Columbia campus provides access to educational offerings for students from Maury County and surrounding areas. It also houses the president's office and the administrative offices for academic and student programs and services, advancement, and financial and administrative services. The campus is located at 1665 Hampshire Pike at the intersection of State Highway 412 and Cayce Lane. For more information, call 931.540.2722 or email columbia@columbiastate.edu.
Clifton Campus
The Clifton Campus, established to provide access to post- secondary education to the citizens of Wayne County and surrounding areas, is located at 795 Main Street at the intersection of Highway 114 and Main Street in Clifton, Tennessee. The campus offers credit classes and degree programs, business and industry training, and other community services. For more information, call 931.676.6966; fax 931.676.6941; or email clifton@columbiastate.edu.
Lawrence Campus
The Lawrence Campus offers traditional and nontraditional educational opportunities for the citizens of Lawrence County and the surrounding areas. Courses are offered throughout daytime, afternoon, and evening hours as well as Saturdays. Evening services are available during the regular semester. Workforce development non-credit classes are also available throughout the year. The campus is located adjacent to Highway 43 and 64 at 169 Southern Lane, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. For more information, call 931.766.1600; fax 931.560.4122; or email lawrenceburg@columbiastate.edu.
Lewisburg Campus
The Lewisburg Campus, located at 980 South Ellington Parkway in Lewisburg, offers credit classes for students in Marshall and surrounding counties. Additional non-credit training programs, both general interest and employment-related, are conducted throughout the year. For more information, call 931.359.0351; fax 931.560.4118; or email lewisburg@columbiastate.edu.
Williamson Campus
The Williamson Campus provides both traditional and nontraditional educational opportunities for the citizens of Williamson County and surrounding areas. Courses are offered throughout the day, afternoon, and evening hours as well as Saturdays. Additional non-credit programs, both general interest and employment-related, are available throughout the year. The Campus is located at 1228 Liberty Pike, east of Carothers Parkway toward McKay's Mill, in Franklin, Tennessee. For more information, call 615.790.4400; fax 615.790.4405; or email WilliamsonCampus@columbiastate.edu.
Evening Services
Evening services are provided at every Columbia State campus location. For more information on services, please visit columbiastate.edu/evening-services. You are welcome to email EveningServices@ColumbiaState.edu. For available services on other campus locations, contact the administrative office at the respective campus.
Limitations and Reservations
The institution reserves the right to make changes as required in course offerings, curricula, academic policies and other rules and regulations affecting students. These changes will govern current and formerly enrolled students and will become effective whenever determined by the institution. Enrollment of all students is subject to these conditions.
The course offerings and requirements of this institution are continually under examination and revision. This catalog presents course offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication but does not guarantee that they will not be changed or revoked. However, adequate and reasonable notice will be given to students affected by any changes. This catalog is not intended to state contractual terms and does not constitute a contract between the student and the institution.
Current information about offerings and requirements may be obtained from the following offices:
- Admission Requirements: Admissions Office
- Course Offerings: Department or Division offering the courses
- Degree Requirements: Records Office
- Fees and tuition: Business Services Office
Columbia State provides the opportunity for students to increase their knowledge by providing instructional programs of instruction in the various disciplines using faculty who are trained and qualified for teaching at the college level. However, the acquisition of knowledge by any student is contingent upon the student's desire to learn and his or her application of appropriate study techniques to any course or program. The institution does not warrant or represent that any student who completes a course or program of study will necessarily acquire any specific skills or knowledge or will be able to successfully pass or complete any specific examination for any course, degree, or license.
Misrepresentation of Academic Credentials
It is a Class A misdemeanor to misrepresent academic credentials. A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of academic credentials who, knowing that the statement is false and with the intent to secure employment at or admission to an institution of higher education in Tennessee, represents orally or in writing that such person:
- Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas from an accredited institution of higher education;
- Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas from a particular institution of higher education; or
- Has successfully completed the required course work for and has been awarded one or more degrees or diplomas in a particular field or specialty from an accredited institution of higher education.
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender in Education Programs and Activities
It is the policy of Columbia State that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity on the basis of sex. Columbia State shall ensure that equal opportunity and nondiscrimination exist on the basis of sex for students in all education programs and activities, including but not limited to, the following: (1) recruitment and admission; (2) academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, health-related training, and other education programs; (3) rules on student life activities; (4) housing; (5) facilities; (6) access to course offerings; (7) counseling; (8) financial assistance; (9) employment assistance; (10) health and insurance benefits and services; (11) rules on marital or parental status; and (12) athletics.
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AdmissionsColumbia State - A great place to start!
AcademicsThe courses offered at Columbia State are gateways to growth. Through the gateways–and in those classes–you’ll learn about your world and about yourself; you’ll discover new careers and you’ll grow.
Campus LifeWe understand that your personal and professional growth isn’t limited to what you learn in the classroom. Or rather, at Columbia State, the entire campus and its surrounding community is your classroom.
AthleticsColumbia State fields five NJCAA Division I teams. The Chargers have routinely moved on to Division I programs, been drafted by Major League Baseball clubs, and more. Go Chargers!
Arts & EntertainmentWe celebrate the important role of the arts in a well-rounded education. In addition to the books read, tests taken and study groups formed that make up our students’ academic growth, we also provide a wide range of cultural and intellectual opportunities.
Workforce & Continuing EducationIf you want to develop new skills, improve your organization’s performance or just learn new things, you have found the right place!
