Columbus State University unveiled on Thursday its newest space on the RiverPark Campus, the Welcome Center. The space provides an official front door for future Cougars and their families to begin exploring the various academic and co-curricular opportunities the university offers.

The newly designed center creates a welcoming space for prospective CSU students to learn more about the university, speak with admissions counselors and begin their tours of uptown-based RiverPark campus. 

“This is not only the starting point for tours of the RiverPark Campus, it’s the starting point for future Cougars,” said Gary Bush, director of admissions. “As the community hears our student musicians practicing outside, sees advertisements for a student show, or sees our nursing students entering Frank Brown Hall, they now also have a location just blocks away to get more information about CSU and what we have to offer.”

“In addition to serving as an official front door to students who are planning the next chapter in their academic studies, this Welcome Center extends our presence here in Uptown Columbus,” said CSU President Chris Markwood.

CSU’s RiverPark campus, marked by many historic Uptown Columbus buildings, was first established in 2001. Today, the campus includes the College of the Arts and the College of Education and Health Professions, as well as many of the schools, departments and programs that comprise those colleges.

The campus offers student residential and dining areas, satellite locations of the university’s Police Department and Bookstore, and WCUG-FM 88.5’s broadcast studio. It also includes Woodruff Park, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Coca-Cola Space Science Center, many art galleries based in the Corn Center for the Visual Arts, and various event spaces available for rent from CSU.

The welcome center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a tour of CSU, visit https://admissions.columbusstate.edu/visit/. Campus visits are offered daily; Main Campus tours begin at 10 a.m., Riverpark Campus at 2 p.m., and a virtual information session at 12 p.m.