Campus Housing

Living in a residence hall offers Columbia College students a wide variety of opportunities that contribute to their college experience and helps them prepare for life after college. Students are required to live on campus during their first two years at Columbia College.

The Residence Halls

Currently, there are six residence facilities at Columbia College, offering accommodations for approximately 600 students. Rooms are furnished with study tables or desks, chairs, single beds, dressers and closets. Each room is equipped with outlets for free basic cable, access to the Internet, local telephone service, and private voice mail accounts for each individual resident:

McNair Hall First Year Center is the residence hall for first year Columbia College students. Built in 1965, McNair was originally known as Asbury Hall, named for Francis Asbury the first American Methodist Bishop. It underwent major renovations and was rededicated on March 29, 2012, in honor of Robert and Janice Suber McNair '59. It is the largest residence hall with 144 rooms arranged in suites, two residence hall directors' apartments, two study lounges, a student meeting room, a central courtyard, a patio area and a lounge area in the lobby.

Mirse Hall has 50 residence rooms, a residence hall director's apartment, a study lounge, a lobby reception area, and a chapel. Residence rooms in Mirse are arranged in suites of two rooms with a connecting bath.

Built in 1964 and originally named for Epworth Parish, the birthplace of John Wesley, it was renamed Mirse Hall on April 22, 1992, in honor of Ralph T. and Blanche A. Mirse (president of the college 1977-88).

Hudson Hall has 50 residence rooms, a residence hall director's apartment, a study lounge, a lobby reception area, and a chapel. Residence rooms in Hudson are arranged in suites of two rooms with a connecting bath. Named for Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Hudson (trustee) of Orangeburg in 1974.

Wesley Hall has 50 residence rooms, a residence hall director's apartment, a study lounge, a lobby reception area, and a chapel. Residence rooms in Wesley are arranged in suites of two rooms with a connecting bath. Named for John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Built in 1964.

Knox Hall offers eight single-occupant rooms and six double-occupant rooms in a cottage-style living arrangement for qualifying seniors and juniors. The ground floor includes a common living area and kitchen. The second level includes an additional common living area with a balcony overlooking the garden court below. Knox Hall was made possible by contributions from the Knox family of Columbia and opened in 2002.

Kneece Hall offers eight single-occupant rooms and six double-occupant rooms in a cottage-style living arrangement. The ground floor includes a common living area and kitchen. The second level includes an additional common living area with a balcony overlooking the garden court below. Kneece Hall and Knox Hall are designed as a matching pair, facing each other across a private garden court.

Kneece Hall opened in 2002 and was made possible by a contribution from Martha Smith Kneece '55 of Gilbert, S.C.

Eligibility and Acceptance

To be eligible for residence placement, a student must have met her financial obligations to the College and must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Columbia College.

Full-time is defined as enrollment for 12 or more credit hours per semester or its equivalent. Individual housing eligibility is non-transferable. Resident students fulfilling approved student teaching or internship requirements, or who are in the final semester of their senior year, may not meet full-time enrollment standards, but are eligible for residency during the period. Part-time students may be granted eligibility by the director of residence life.

Students accepted into College residence by the Office of Admissions or Department of Residence Life must complete and submit the following:

Housing Application
Health forms and proof of Health Insurance returned to Student Health Services prior to occupancy
Room reservation fee
Room fee
Board fee

Room assignments for new students are made by the Office of Residence Life prior to the beginning of each semester. Upperclass student assignments are made each spring for current resident students through the room selection process.

Each spring semester, all current residents have the option of reserving room assignments for the next academic year by participating in the room selection process. Through the room selection process, students are able to choose their rooms. Seniors have first choice, juniors second, and sophomores third.

Some residence halls are designated with special privileges and therefore require and minium G.P.R. or other eligibility requirements of students who choose to live with those special options.