On mobile? Don’t forget to read your location director’s letter or the other articles in this semester’s newsletter!

As you read this, the Early Fall session is underway. We hope that you have started out strong and are doing well. Many students take a break for the summer months so if you are one of those students, we hope you are rested and ready to get back to work on your classes! You will never regret going to college and completing your degree. There is no other feeling like it when you finish that last class (and last final exam or research paper) and do well.

Hooray! We are back in the office! It took much longer than we anticipated and we missed every one of you! It is so much better to be able to see you and talk to you in person. The last year and a half really taught us that. So please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need to talk about classes or changing your degree or even adding another degree to your program. We are here and eager to talk to you in person once again! Of course COVID-19 and its nasty cousin, the new variant, remains an ever present threat. When you come to the office we will follow COVID protocols as outlined by the Navy. Please understand that we only want to keep ourselves and you safe and healthy.

Betsy Quade
Betsy Quade, director, Columbia College-Lemoore

We are currently processing registrations for the Late Fall session if you have not already enrolled. That session begins October 25. Keep in mind that if you are active duty and using Tuition Assistance, the deadline for requesting and approving TA for the Late Fall session is October 11. And here is the good news! The new fiscal year for the Navy began October 1, so you now have a new set of credits to use for the 2021-22 academic year. But wait! There is more good news! The Navy has increased the TA credit allotment to 18 credits per fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021! That is now 6 classes that the Navy will pay for! If you already know what class(es) you want to take in Late Fall, you can route your TA request now. It is not too early. Also, if you have your TA voucher for the Early Fall session, please email it to us at lemoore@ccis.edu.

Speaking of tuition, you may have heard about our new Military Affiliated Benefit tuition rates which have gone into effect with the Fall semester. Now, active duty students are not the only ones who benefit from the $250 credit-hour tuition rate. These undergraduate rates are also for military spouses, military dependents and installation employees. Installation employee spouses and installation employee dependents receive a 15% discount. Graduate-level military spouses, dependents, and installation employees will also enjoy tuition of $325 per credit hour. That is a savings of $165/hour or $495 per class. What a deal!

We have been getting a lot of calls about CLEP/DSST exams, asking if we are open again for testing. The answer is YES! We offer the exams on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12pm. Please contact us for more information and to get on the schedule.

Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Semester Dean’s List students: Maria Isabel Diaz, Jonathan Echevarria, Riccardo Luis Gonzales, Masille Graham, Lee Ochoa, Meridith Shivers, and Bryce Yost. Hats off to you as you continued to do well while the pandemic was still all around us. We are very proud of you! Keep up the great work!

On a final note, this is my last Director Greeting for the newsletter. By the time you see this I will have been retired a couple of weeks (August 27). I want to say to each one of you that it has been my distinct pleasure and joy to work with you and see you fulfill your dreams of attaining the title of “College Graduate.” I have said it many times, “Columbia College students are the best I have ever worked with!” You work hard, are dedicated, and prioritize the demands on your life, setting yourself up for success. For those of you who have a little way to go and some of you who are just starting off, hang in there, keep plugging along, session after session, and that dream will come true for you also. Your education is something that no one can ever take away from you so don’t ever give up on it!

All my best to each and every one of you for a bright, productive and fulfilling future!