Community is at the heart of Columbia International University, and that is exactly what some of the over 200 freshmen who moved into the CIU residence halls on Move-In Day 2023 said attracted them to the school.

As personal belongings from guitars to fishing poles to teddy bears were hauled out of car trunks and the backs of SUVs with the help of upperclassmen and athletes, parents began to assist in the arranging of the new home away from home for the Class of 2027.

Among the freshmen is Paris Acquah from Georgia who will major in nursing. After the unloading of the family car outside Founders Residence Hall, she told a local TV reporter that she only first heard about CIU last year, but God gave her multiple confirmations to enroll at CIU because “He knows what’s best for me.”

“I just can’t wait to be a part of the Christian community,” Acquah added.

Inside the Rossi Student Center, as Brooke Monfils was finishing up some freshman paperwork, she told another local reporter that she chose CIU “because of the Christ-centered community.”

“I’m kind of new in my faith,” Monfils said. “So being around Christ-centered people … who keep you accountable, who want to push you toward Christ, is a really great community to have.”

Meanwhile, Carter Pace was heading toward East Residence Hall carrying, among other things, a fishing pole. His parents’ car is tagged with Minnesota license plates.

“Minnesota has a lot of ice fishing. I’m ready to change-up the game,” Pace said as sweat beaded up on his face in Columbia’s nearly 100-degree heat.   

Pace is following in his parents’ footsteps. They are CIU alumni Tim and Jenita Pace who graduated in the early 2000s. They are glad their son chose CIU to study Youth Ministry, noting how influential the CIU community was to them.

“It is so exciting. We met here. We fell in love here. We got married (here),” said Mrs. Pace also noting that Youth Ministry director Dr. David Olshine was also one of their professors.   

“It’s a dream come true to see (Carter) study where it meant so much to us,” she added.

CIU enrollment is over 2,300 students in undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs, with several hundred students enrolled in online programs.

It’s a year of celebration for everyone at CIU as the school is commemorating its 100^th anniversary. Grand Finale events are planned for Homecoming Weekend Nov. 3-4.  

CIU consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.