Just did the test in the 9i database still got the same thing. No way this test table is partitioned. Also I know it works in 8i because I have done it before:

SQL> create table test1 (b number(38));

Table created.

SQL> desc test1;
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- -------------------------

B NUMBER(38)

SQL> alter table test rename column b to a;
alter table test rename column b to a
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-14155: missing PARTITION or SUBPARTITION keyword