Columbus State University is a just-the-right-size institution that serves workforce needs with a wide array of affordable, relevant programs — several of which have become nationally distinctive. Built on an exceptional history of partnerships, Columbus State has created two campuses that create a foundation for students to succeed in the communities where they ultimately will live and lead.
At Columbus State, community is their cornerstone. On campus, that means they model servant leadership and relentlessly focus on creating the best version of themselves. In the community around the university, which supports CSU in ways unmatched by most other universities, students benefit from $3 million in donor-funded scholarships, academic programs tied to high-demand workforce needs, and untold opportunities to network and connect with local companies and organizations. Students in fields ranging from cybersecurity to robotics and from nursing to teaching often are recruited before officially receiving their degrees.
The community insisted in the 1950s that Columbus have a public university; by 1958, it had provided the necessary funding and convinced the University System of Georgia to establish a junior college. Since then, CSU has made it its mission to reciprocate, and the latest figures show CSU’s regional economic impact has grown to almost $300 million annually.
Columbus State’s service to its community isn’t happenstance; it has required innovative, purposeful actions. President Stuart Rayfield recently instituted Community Impact — along with Student Success, Responsible Stewardship, and Economic Competitiveness — as an institutional priority in its new five-year strategic plan.
Some of the innovative ways Columbus State has given back to its community while also providing transformative educational opportunities for its students include:
- Developing the state’s first robotics engineering degree programs without having a college of engineering. Complementing manufacturing programs at a nearby technical college and a growing need for robotics engineering at U.S. Army Fort Moore, CSU’s undergraduate and graduate degrees equip students with the practical skills of an engineer, the technical know-how of a software coder, and a deep understanding of physics. Students experience hands-on learning and research opportunities in cutting-edge areas such as image processing, artificial intelligence, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
- Since 2012, soldiers participating in the Fort Moore-based Maneuver Captains Career Course have received pre-approved academic transfer credit toward specific Columbus State master’s degrees. Building on this partnership, Columbus State expanded its online master’s degree opportunities to give academic credit to graduates of all the Army’s active-duty Captains Career Courses nationwide.
- The university’s TSYS Center for Cybersecurity is a state-of-the-art facility designed to enrich students’ academic experiences, broaden industry partnerships, and meet workforce demands for high-tech cyber warriors. The center includes a first-of-its-kind “cyber range” in Georgia — designed for and available to train both industry professionals and college students.
- Some of the USG’s first Nexus degree graduates hail from Columbus State, and they are now putting this highly specialized academic credential to use in some of Georgia’s most high-demand career sectors. CSU offers Nexus degrees in Cybersecurity of FinTech (financial technology) and Film Production. Students can take extra courses in these areas for specialized workforce training and certification, regardless of major.
Find out more about how Columbus State University is innovating partnerships at www.ColumbusState.edu.
