SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENT
Dear Parents and Guardians
A message from Columbia President Dr. Steve Brown
As a new chapter begins for your family, I suspect you are navigating a wide range of emotions. When each of my two daughters started at Columbia, I experienced a mix of deep gratitude, nostalgic grief, excited anticipation and a dash of worry.
Whatever your emotions, let me share some words of encouragement…
At Columbia, our heartbeat is to come alongside your student as they lean into their faith and seek to launch their lives. We have an amazing team, and we count it a sacred trust to be on this journey with your student and with you.
Our 2024/25 theme is “following Jesus wholeheartedly”. Our prayer is that your student will grow in spiritual vibrancy grounded in God’s unchanging Word, develop Christlike and resilient character, learn to be rooted in community and be equipped to passionately serve and make a difference wherever they go and whatever they do. Our prayer is for your student’s CBC journey to be transformative and foundational for decades to come.
As you seek to support your student, please be sure to empower and encourage them in their growing independence. It’s a key part of their development for them to take responsibility for interacting with our team when they need help, have questions, need to make payments, etc. You can point them to the right person on our team (see our list of team members by department), but please let them take responsibility.
Let me also encourage you to pray. Praying for God’s provision and protection for CBC, for faculty and for staff. Pray that God will continue to shape your student as they lean into this community, the work of the classroom and the life of the campus.
Praying for and with you! Eyes on Jesus,
Dr. Steve A. Brown
President
“When I first came to CBC fresh out of high school, I was shocked that everything I was learning was directly applicable to my everyday life. Not only that, but my teachers were living examples of their lessons. This authenticity and practicality have profoundly changed how I experience and follow the living God every single day, from spiritual disciplines to relationships with my peers. CBC is great!”
—Michael F, QUEST
“I came into Columbia as someone who lacked conviction and didn’t even really know where I was headed in life- or why. At the same time, I desperately wanted to appear like I had it “all together”, so I often kept others at arms-length. The greatest growth I have experienced is in the fact that I now have a very solid sense of purpose, and I no longer live in a mindset of having to solve every problem by myself. This capacity to accept help and guidance has also allowed me to experience a greater sense of connection in my relationships, and to be more vulnerable. By God’s grace I was nudged out of my comfort zone and drawn into classes, roles, and relationships that allowed me to grow. Of course, I’ve had failures along the way, but there was always support to get back up and keep at it. It has truly reshaped how I see myself and others.”
—Donnel S, Psychology Program
Your Support Team
Our staff and faculty are here for you and your student every step of the way.
Student Development
Dean of Students
Adrian Warkentin oversees the Student Development Department and is responsible for the overall coordination and quality of Student Services which includes Athletics, Counselling, Chapels, and Residence and Commuter programming. Adrian also oversees student leadership. With a heart for mission and ministry, Adrian brings a pastoral presence to campus and is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support.
Women’s Residence Director
Donnel Schmidt oversees all the female students living on campus. She lives in Redekop Hall and is an alumna of Columbia. Donnel is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support and is also certified in first aid. Her focus is to provide leadership to the Resident Leaders and build relationships with the women on campus.
Men’s Residence Director
Ben Smith oversees all the male students living on campus. He lives in Redekop hall with his wife, Karah and his daughter Joanna, and is an alumnus of Columbia. Ben is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support and is also certified in first aid. His focus is to provide leadership to the Resident Leaders and build relationships with the men on campus.
Academics
Student Records & Accounts, Executive Assistant for Academics
Corina Penner helps with all academics related questions and will help students choose their courses for the second semester. She’s also your go-to person for student accounts. She makes sure that bills are accurate, up-to-date and sent out on time
Additional Support
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get information about my student?
We can’t give out any information, so we recommend reaching out to your student directly to ask them to provide the information. Our student handbook helps guide them in the right direction.
When are tuition payments due?
Payment deadlines and other information is available on our website on the Payment Information page. Please contact Corina Penner for any questions about payment info!
Where can I find the bill for each semester?
Students can log into their myCBC SONIS portal to see billing and transaction history.
How can tuition be paid?
Tuition payment information is available on the Payment Information page. Please contact Corina Penner for any questions about payment info!
Where can we request a statement for a bank withdrawal?
The student can send Corina Penner an email or a message on Teams, and she’ll pass along a semester statement PDF, usually via email.
How can I send a letter or parcel to a student?
Every student in residence has their own mailbox for letters. Please ask your student about their mailbox number. Add the students full name and mailbox number on the envelope along with Columbia’s address: 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford BC, V2T 2Z8.
Packages and letters that are too big for the mailbox can be picked up at Reception.