Construction is underway on Columbia’s new Center for Student Success, a project that will consolidate several student support services, including advising, financial services and academic coaching into one centralized space scheduled to open in Fall 2026.
Located on the first floor of the 33 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. building, the center is intended to make it easier for students to access help in one place rather than navigating multiple offices scattered across the college’s urban campus.
The project is being funded entirely through a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
“These funds are tied to this physical space and do not come from existing college budgets nor do they impact existing college resources,” said Greg Foster-Rice, associate provost for student retention initiatives, adding that the funding arrangement is a “win-win” for both the college and students.
First-year theater major Owen Lewis said he was relieved to hear the center would not affect the college’s broader financial challenges.
“I think this project is going to go really well,” Lewis said, adding that he is curious to see what the space is going to look like next year.
Foster-Rice said the center will house staff from Advising, Student Persistence, the Scholars Project, Academic Coaching and Columbia Central.
“The Center for Student Success will centralize academic and financial services for students under one roof,” Foster-Rice said. “Right now, those offices are scattered across different buildings with more limited hours than we would like.”
Madison Rogers, a sophomore communication major, said she didn’t know what the construction was for.
“I was just very surprised that one day I just came in here and all of this was here,” Rogers said.
Temporary walls have been constructed around part of the lobby, and the former Academic Tutoring Center is a construction site, visible through the glass doors.
The first floor had previously housed the campus radio station, WCRX and the tutoring center.
WCRX remains in the building but has been moved to a temporary smaller space on the seventh floor during construction, the Columbia Chronicle previously reported. The radio station is expected to return to a more public-facing location on the first floor when the center opens this fall.
The new tutoring center is already finished and has moved from the first floor to the sixth floor., where it has views of Lake Michigan.
Jay Gujral, senior music technology major and academic tutor who helps students with audio-related subjects, said the space feels much larger than the previous center.
“I honestly think it feels bigger, and I think the natural light, because of the windows, is a big part of it,” Gujral said.
In addition to the administrative services offered in the new center, it will also include a food pantry and a kitchen area where students can prepare their meals.
Two other food pantries on campus will remain. One is located at 623 S. Wabash Ave. and the other at 624 S. Michigan Ave. Foster-Rice said the college is currently figuring out how to fund the new pantry.
Junior fashion design major Nakayla Newson said the space could help students who struggle with food access.
“The center will be beneficial for a lot of students here, especially those who don’t have access to or those who don’t have enough money to buy food,” Newson said.
Senior journalism major Andria Childress said she misses hearing music from the student-run radio station when walking into the building.
“I do miss the radio station being downstairs and just kind of getting that snippet of music when I would walk inside the building, but I’m excited to see what it’s gonna look like,” Childress said.
Copy Edited by Samantha Mosquera
