Spring Break
Shorter approved for transition to university status
Calvin Gibson
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: News
Members of the Georgia Baptist Convention approved Shorter College's transition into university status on Nov. 11, making Shorter Rome's first university.
"Going from Shorter College to University is going to be pretty cool and will look good on my diploma," said sophomore Natasha Woodruff.
The plan was approved by Shorter's Board of Trustees during their October meeting, in which they went to the convention for approval since the status change requires an amendment to the school's charter.
"University status reflects what Shorter has become through the extraordinary growth and progress of the last few years. The college's leadership team and I identified seeking university status as a centerpiece of our Strategic Plan," said Harold E. Newman, Shorter's president, in an e-mail sent out to all faculty, staff and students.
Other changes are expected to follow this name change.
"I believe this transition is essential to position us for future growth. It does not, however, change the nature of Shorter; we remain committed to providing a high quality educational experience that features personal interactions with faculty, a strong focus on students and excellence in all areas," said Newman.
As the word of the future transition spread around the Shorter College campus, many questions were raised by both lower and upper classman.
"The biggest question I have is whether or not tuition is going to go up, seeing how we will be a university and all," said freshman DJ Hughes.
"Will the café be bigger and have better food?" said sophomore Jessica Coons. "I wonder will the dorms and campus look any different; is it going to be bigger or stay the same?"
A major concern that upper classman had was what effect will the change have on the degrees earned under the status of "college."
According to track coach Ronnie Moore, "It shouldn't have an effect on those who graduated from here when the school was known as Shorter College; the University at the end just looks better on the diploma."
The transition to Shorter University will take effect on June 1, 2010.
"Going from Shorter College to University is going to be pretty cool and will look good on my diploma," said sophomore Natasha Woodruff.
The plan was approved by Shorter's Board of Trustees during their October meeting, in which they went to the convention for approval since the status change requires an amendment to the school's charter.
"University status reflects what Shorter has become through the extraordinary growth and progress of the last few years. The college's leadership team and I identified seeking university status as a centerpiece of our Strategic Plan," said Harold E. Newman, Shorter's president, in an e-mail sent out to all faculty, staff and students.
Other changes are expected to follow this name change.
"I believe this transition is essential to position us for future growth. It does not, however, change the nature of Shorter; we remain committed to providing a high quality educational experience that features personal interactions with faculty, a strong focus on students and excellence in all areas," said Newman.
As the word of the future transition spread around the Shorter College campus, many questions were raised by both lower and upper classman.
"The biggest question I have is whether or not tuition is going to go up, seeing how we will be a university and all," said freshman DJ Hughes.
"Will the café be bigger and have better food?" said sophomore Jessica Coons. "I wonder will the dorms and campus look any different; is it going to be bigger or stay the same?"
A major concern that upper classman had was what effect will the change have on the degrees earned under the status of "college."
According to track coach Ronnie Moore, "It shouldn't have an effect on those who graduated from here when the school was known as Shorter College; the University at the end just looks better on the diploma."
The transition to Shorter University will take effect on June 1, 2010.
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