Governor Jay Nixon proclaims October to be Columbia College Online Education month

Office of the Governor
State of Missouri

Proclamation

WHEREAS, Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, began educating women in 1851, when the college was known as Christian College, and was the first women’s college west of the Mississippi River chartered by a state legislature; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, Christian College opened its doors to men, became a four-year co-educational college, and changed its name from Christian College to Columbia College; and

WHEREAS, in 1973, the institution became one of the first colleges in the country to embrace the opportunity to educate working adults and military students through accelerated evening classes; and

WHEREAS, in 2000, the college embraced a new method of teaching and learning when it began offering students an online education, providing students in Missouri as well as around the country an opportunity to further their education; and

WHEREAS, with more than 800 online classes and 20 online degrees, the online program serves nearly 25,000 students a year through its eight-week online education program; and

WHEREAS, students from all 50 states and more than 44 countries have been educated through the institution’s online education program.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, do hereby proclaim October 2010 to be

COLUMBIA COLLEGE ONLINE EDUCATION MONTH

in Missouri, and urge communities of the state to come together to participate in supporting the commitment Columbia College has made to educate students in Missouri, as well as around the world.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, this 14th day of September, 2010.