General Diversity and Inclusion 

  • When developing COVID-19 policies and procedures, the College was and will continue to be proactive in inclusive practices and considerations for students who are at-risk, high risk, and those who may lack access to necessary materials and services to be successful under temporary pandemic methods. 

  • The College will offer ongoing efforts to create greater awareness of accessibility services and promote ease of access so all students feel safe returning to the campus/classroom. 

  • Students at higher risk for COVID-19, or whose situation merits potential accommodations, may request reasonable accommodations, which may include online and hybrid class options. Students seeking accommodations should contact Sharon Murphy, Registrar at smurphy@columbiasc.edu.

  • The Office of Student Success will extend Q&A sessions for returning students to address additional concerns and questions.  

  • Per our commitment to social justice, the Courage Campaign will be extended to the entire campus in an effort to promote a stronger sense of community and civic-mindedness.  

  • A weekly campus-wide message will be shared to promote ongoing civility and accountability exercises, racial equity discussions, as well as a facilitation guide for hosting DiversiTea Dialogues on the weekly topic within one’s personal network or a small residential community cohort. 

  • Students who require academic accommodations should continue to request assistance from our Office of Student Success and collaborate with your instructors. Those who need housing accommodations should follow protocol provided with the latest residential updates or by contacting the Director of Residence Life & Housing.  

Working with Students Requiring Extra Precautions 

The information that follows is based upon suggested practices utilizing a qualitative synthesis of existing data regarding marginalized and minoritized groups. Not all members of the listed marginalized or minoritized groups may feel extra precautions are necessary; likewise, the extra precautions listed are not exhaustive, meaning members of the marginalized and minoritized groups may require additional precautions. 

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Community Members 

In order to best assist BIPOC community members during the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the long-standing social inequities regarding systemic health concerns for racial and ethnic minority groups placing the BIPOC community at higher risk for COVID-19. Additional and extra precautions are in place to assist our BIPOC community members. Support from the College includes: 

  • Transparency surrounding the statistics of higher risks associated with racial or ethnic minority groups 

  • Culturally responsive services, including but not limited to counseling services and culturally-responsive support services for students on social inequities and injustices experienced by marginalized and minoritized groups, including BIPOC community members 

  • Cultural and social support groups; such as race/ethnicity/spirituality-based student organizations 

High-Risk Community Members 

Community members who fall under the CDC’s higher risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus will not be placed in a position where they have to decide whether to continue their school at the expense of their health. The safest option for individuals in this category is to minimize potential risk of exposure by staying home. And when not able to stay home they, and all around them, should follow distancing and face covering guidelines. Columbia College can best meet the needs of these individuals by: 

  • Offering a virtual option for remote class with flexible scheduling, allowing telecommuting and online classes until COVID has been drastically reduced.  

  • Where possible, the College will assist individuals at high risk who choose to return to campus so as not to necessitate unnecessary exposure. 

  • Provide assurance that any reasonable accommodations made for someone based on health reasons shall be documented per health guidelines and will not be kept with their scholastic record where accessible by others who do not require such information. 

Chronically and Terminally Ill or Disabled Community Members 

Not all chronically or terminally ill and disabled community members may fall into the higher risk categories, but the College is prepared or the potential request of reasonable accommodations by individuals in this group.