Columbia College-Springfield celebrates 15 years of educating southwest Missouri; Jan. 24 proclaimed "Columbia College-Springfield Day"

Members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce assist Dr. Gerald Brouder, president of Columbia College, and Kathy Gress, director of Columbia College-Springfield, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 24 celebrating Columbia College-Springfield’s new location on Battlefield Road. The campus relocated from Ozark, Mo., in January to better accommodate its growing student population.

Columbia College-Springfield celebrated 15 years of educating southwest Missouri with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a proclamation from Mayor James O’Neal naming Jan. 24, “Columbia College-Springfield Day.” The campus recently relocated from Ozark, Mo., to Springfield, Mo.

"We are excited to bring Columbia College to Springfield," said Dr. Gerald Brouder, president of Columbia College. "We’ve been in the Ozark area for 15 years having opened the former Christian County campus in 1996, but we decided to relocate the campus to better accommodate our growing student population.”

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Stephens (left) congratulates Dr. Gerald Brouder (right), Columbia College president, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new Columbia College-Springfield location at 3271 E. Battlefield Road. Stephens presented the college with a proclamation naming Jan. 24, “Columbia College-Springfield Day.”

Brouder provided remarks at the reception along with Kathy Gress, director of Columbia College-Springfield, and J.P. Morgan, adjunct faculty member. Mayor Pro Tem Bob Stephens presented the proclamation and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce assisted with the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Brent McCoy (left), vice president of membership for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, presents Dr. Gerald Brouder (right), Columbia College president, with a plaque celebrating 15 years of educating students in southwest Missouri Jan. 24 at Columbia College-Springfield’s new location on Battlefield Road.

“Columbia College is a great option for students in this area,” said Gress. “We offer quality degree programs in eight-week sessions, five times a year. It’s ideal for someone with work and family obligations."

Columbia College-Springfield is now located at 3271 E. Battlefield Road in Suite 250. The new location has four classrooms, one computer lab and a student lounge. Registration for the March Session begins Feb. 13.

Columbia College-Springfield offers four associate degrees and five bachelor’s degrees in business administration, criminal justice administration, fire service administration, general studies and psychology. Additionally, the college offers 23 associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees online.