About the Project

The Columbia community is already starting to take notice of the college’s latest efforts to beautify not only its campus, but the surrounding neighborhood. Below you will find the media coverage about New Hall. 

Columbia College announces naming of the School of Business

September 26, 2018, in Columbia, Missouri

Columbia College announced today that it has received a significant, seven-figure gift to name the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. Beginning in Fall 2019, it will be housed on the first floor of the new Academic and Residence Hall that has been under construction since March of this year. The facility will also include state-of-the-art classrooms and an event space on the first floor, as well as three floors of residential living area for 150 students in response to continued enrollment growth on the main campus over the course of the last three years.

“On behalf of the entire Columbia College community, we are extremely grateful for the generous contribution the Plaster Foundation has made to this endeavor,” said Web Bixby, chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees. “This gift allows our students to continue developing the skills they need to become the successful entrepreneurs and business leaders of tomorrow.”

The college’s business curriculum encourages students to build a solid foundation in business fundamentals that are crucial for success in today’s global economy. As a result, more than 28 percent of all degrees granted by the college last year were housed within the School of Business, making business degrees the most popular academic offerings at the college. From focuses on entrepreneurship to marketing to public relations and advertising, the programs available to students around the world are diverse and robust.

“My father would be very excited to see students on the Columbia College campus and around the country learning about business, entrepreneurship and America’s free enterprise system. They are preparing for the future of their dreams. It is important they understand how the free enterprise system provides them the opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of others around them along the way,” said Dr. Dolly Plaster Clement, Executive Director of the Robert W. Plaster Foundation. “The Robert W. Plaster Foundation is excited to continue its partnership with Columbia College, its faculty and students, and we can’t wait to see their accomplishments.”

The mission of the Robert W. Plaster Foundation is to promote expanded educational opportunities, pride in America and belief in the free enterprise system for the benefit of America’s youth through named capital projects

“This gift is the largest donation the college has received in its 167-year history,” said Dr. Scott Dalrymple, president of Columbia College. “We are proud to partner with the Plaster Foundation and its philanthropy will have a positive impact on our campus community for generations to come.”

The new structure will be located just south of the R. Marvin Owens Athletic Field on Cougar Drive. Fundraising for the building continues, with the Academic and Residence Hall set to open in August 2019. For more information or to support the building project, call (573) 875-7563.

Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 165 years. As a private, nonprofit institution, the college takes pride in its small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs. With more than 30 locations across the country, students may enroll in day, evening or online classes. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Columbia College educates more than 20,000 students each year and has more than 89,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit www.ccis.edu.


Columbia College to construct $20 million academic and residence hall 

Following the approval of its campus development plan by the Columbia College Board of Trustees and the Columbia City Council, the college is announcing the construction of a new academic and residence hall. The facility will serve as the new home for the School of Business and will also include a 150-bed residence hall.

With a 13-percent growth in student enrollment this past fall and continued projected growth in the fall of 2017, additional student housing is a top priority. The college will break ground on the structure in early spring 2018 with plans of welcoming students when the Fall Semester begins in August 2019. The approximately 60,000-square foot, four-story facility will be located just north of Brown Hall and south of R. Marvin Owens Field. Its estimated cost is $20 million. The cost of the project will be covered entirely through fundraising and existing college funds.

“Our rapid growth here in Columbia means we simply don’t have enough space to house our students, many of whom prefer to live on campus,” said Dr. Scott Dalrymple, president of Columbia College. “While there may be vacant rooms elsewhere in the city, those don’t help Columbia College students wishing to live and study on our campus. This is also an opportunity to provide a home for our growing School of Business.”

Click here to support the construction of the new Academic and Residence hall.

Media

"Groundbreaking at Columbia College to meet students' needs" - KOMU 

"Columbia College breaks ground on first residence hall in 50 years" - Columbia Missourian

"Columbia College holds ceremonial groundbreaking for new hall" - Columbia Daily Tribune

“College in Missouri to get new academic, residence hall”US News

“Columbia College set to build $20 million residence hall”KRCG TV

“New academic and residence hall for Columbia College coming in 2019”Columbia Missourian