Updated February 27, 2019

Columbia State’s five locations reopened today (Wednesday) after a computer virus brought the community college to its knees.

According to President Janet Smith, an employee opened an email with a virus attached Feb. 13, and it spread to the college’s communications network. No student data has been compromised, she added.

Smith said Columbia State’s campuses in Columbia, Franklin, Lewisburg, Lawrencburg and Clifton were closed Monday and Tuesday as the virus spread to the college’s networks.

When students return to class today (Wednesday), they will not have access to campus WiFi. They can access college email through their own devices and personal WiFi.

Students were told Friday not to use campus technology, but few of them knew the college was closed because of the virus. Most assumed it was for flooding over the weekend.

Locker said the decision to close Columbia State branches was in the interests of caution and safety.