SHORTER

UNIVERSITY
ROME, GEORGIA

Adopt A U Research Project: Jeff Patty

Georgia Southern University

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a

private, Christian, liberal arts university
with its main campus in Rome, Ga. and
remote campuses across Atlanta. Online
courses and degree programs are also
available.

Quick Facts
48 majors in a wide variety of academic
disciplines.
Total Enrollment: 2,636.
Rome Main Campus: 1,270.
Online Program: 359.
Adult Professional Studies: 1,007.

(Shorter University, 2013)

Brief History
1873 -

Founded by Luther Rice Gwaltney, pastor of Rome

Baptist Church as a Christian college for females,
named Cherokee Baptist Female College.

1877 -

Name changed to Shorter College after generous

donations by Alfred and Martha Shorter.

1910 allow

New contributions and a change in mission to

more students than females, the school is moved to

its
current location.
2010 -Officially changed its name to Shorter University to
better reflect the schools new programs and

University Mission
Advancing Gods Kingdom through a
commitment to academic excellence,
spiritual growth, Christian leadership,
and global service within the context
of a biblical worldview.
(Shorter, 2014)

Core Values
Christ-Centered.
Excellence-Focused.
Biblically-Based.
Service Oriented.

(Shorter, 2014)

Strategic Themes
Faith Integration.
Student Achievement.
Faculty/Staff Development.
Distance and Adult Education.
Institutional Identity.
Responsible Steward.

(Shorter, 2014)

Curricula
Degrees offered: Associates, Bachelors,
Masters.
Six schools: (Ledbetter College of Business,
College of Arts & Sciences, School of Christian
Studies, School of Education, School of Fine and
Performing Arts, School of Nursing).
Adult-degree programs, masters programs,
online courses including generic education as well
as degree programs.

(Shorter, 2014)

Locations
Degrees offered at the following locations:
Rome Campus (Main).
Marietta.
Duluth.
Riverdale.
Ledbetter College of Business MidTown Crossing
Shopping Center in Rome.
School of Nursing Romes Riverbend Center.
(Shorter, 2014)

Demographics

23% - African American/Black

3% - Hispanic/Latino
<1 % - Native American/Alsaskan
Native
66% - White
2% - Other
1% - Nonresident Alien
4% - Unknown

(Shorter, 2014)

Undergraduate Enrollment

College of Arts & Sciences: 38%

Ledbetter College of Business: 23%
School of Christian Studies:3%
School of Education: 11%
School of Fine & Performing Arts: 8%
School of Nursing: 17%

(Shorter, 2014)

Student Services
Residence Life

Counseling Services

Intramural Sports

Health Services

Fraternities and

Baptist Collegiate

Sororities

Ministries

Leadership Programs

Tutorial Services

Disability Services

Student Government

Music, Theatre, Visual

Fitton Activities Board

Arts
Athletics Events
(Shorter, 2014)

Organizational and Administrative

Structure
University President
Presidents Council
President
Executive Assistant to President
Executive VP & Provost
VP for Advancement
VP of Student Affairs
Athletic Director
CFO & VP of Finance
VP for Enrollment
Management

Deans and Directors

Their Offices and Staff

Governance
Shorter University is privately owned and is governed
by a Board of Trustees. The president reports to the
Board of Trustees, which are usually members
selected by the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Shorter was fully accredited once more on June 19,
2014 by the Board of Trustees of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges (SACSCOC).
(Shorter University, 2014)

Funding
Shorter University is funded by a variety of sources.
Some of their funding comes from the Georgia Baptist
Convention, in which they are members. Additionally,
students receive federal aid, state funding, alumni
donations, and scholarships from gifts of private
donors.

(Shorter University, 2014)

Analysis: Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs is headed up by the Executive
Vice President and Provost. Underneath this
structure, the Deans of the various six schools are
responsible for their respective disciplines,
programs, and majors. Additionally, the
Registrar, Director of IT, Director of Library
Services, and Student Engagement & Success
also reports through this side of the governance
structure.
(Shorter University, 2014)

Analysis: Student Affairs

Student Affairs is headed up by the Vice President
for Student Affairs & Dean of Students. Underneath
this structure, all student related departments
reside such as: (Student Support Services,
Residence Life, Career Development, Student Life, &
Health Services), as well as a number of other
widely unrelated areas. Student Life does sponsor a
Student Government Association commonly found
on campuses of this size.
(Shorter University, 2014)

Analysis: Administrative
Shorter University employees somewhere between
350-400 employees, with less than 100 serving as
faculty. On the administrative side of the house,
additional responsibilities flow from the president
down to the other vice presidents: (VP of
Finance/CFO, VP of Advancement, VP of Enrollment
Management, and the Athletic Director, who oversees
Athletics). All of the remaining departments of the
institution reside underneath one of these structures.

(Shorter University, 2014)

Analysis: Governance
The governance structure is pretty straightforward.
The Board of Trustees hold the most power and
control. Those ideas and objectives are given to the
president to hand down to the various vice presidents
that oversee operations of the various segments of
the institution. There is not a strong faculty or staff
governing body present in this structure. There are
various committees, but they possess very little
actual power or ability to manipulate or change policy.

(Shorter University, 2014)

Additional Information
In the fall of 2011, Shorter University adopted several
controversial requirements which require employees to sign a
statement of faith and a lifestyle pledge. Many faculty and
staff refused to sign this condition of employment and as a
result left the college. This caused huge emotional and political
battles between school administration, students, alumni, local
citizens, and the Board of Trustees. The Board supported this
new position put forth by president Dr. Donald Dowless. This
caused a rash of protests, countless editorial articles, loss of
funding from alumni and donors, an overall downturn in
enrollment, and the departure of many employees. In June of
2013, Shorter was placed on warning by SACS due to not
enough qualified faculty. In the end, the situation seems to be
resolved from an accreditation standpoint, as the school was
reinstated in June of 2014. Locally, most will not be over this
embroiled issue for some time. Enrollment does not appear to
(Shorter University, 2014)
have fully recovered as well.

Lifestyle Statement
A. Christian Commitment and Membership in a Local Church
Shorter University will hire persons who are committed Bible believing Christians, who are dedicated to
integrating biblical faith in their classes and who are in agreement with the University Statement of Faith.
Moreover, employees are expected to be active members of a local church.
B. Principles of Personal Conduct
I agree to adhere to and support the following principles(on or off the campus):
1. I will be loyal to the mission of Shorter University as a Christ-centered institution affiliated with the
Georgia
Baptist Convention.
2. I will not engage in the use, sale, possession, or production of illegal drugs.
3. I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to,
premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality.
4. I will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and I will abstain from serving, from using,
and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public (e.g. in locations that are open to use by the
general public, including as some examples restaurants, concert venues, stadiums, and sports facilities)
and in settings in which students are present or are likely to be present. I will not attend any University
sponsored event in which I have consumed alcohol within the last six hours. Neither
will University,
I promote or 2014)
(Shorter
encourage the use of alcohol.

References

Banks, A. (2012, May 18). Faculty leave Baptist school, Shorter University,
over
lifestyle statement. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://
su.shorter.edu/presidents-council/

Shorter University. (2014). About Shorter University. Retrieved September

18,
2014, from Shorter University: http://su.shorter.edu/about-shorter/
Shorter University. (2014, January 1). Academic Deans. Retrieved
September
18, 2014, from http://su.shorter.edu/academic-deans/

Shorter University. (2014). Accreditations. Retrieved September 18, 2014,

from
http://su.shorter.edu/accreditations/

Shorter University. (2014). Campus Life. Retrieved September 18, 2014,

from
http://su.shorter.edu/campus-life/

Shorter University. (2014). Convenient Locations. Retrieved September 18,

Shorter University. (2014). Mission. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from

http://
su.shorter.edu/mission/

Shorter University. (2014). Personal Lifestyle Statement. Retrieved

September
18, 2014, from http://su.shorter.edu/wp-content/uploads/
personal_lifestyle_statement.pdf

Shorter University. (2014, January 1). President's Welcome. Retrieved

September 18, 2014, from
http://su.shorter.edu/presidents_welcome/

Shorter University. (2014, January 1). President's Council. Retrieved

September 18, 2014, from http://su.shorter.edu/presidentscouncil/

Shorter University. (2014). Shorter university-Organizational chart.

Retrieved
September 18, 2014, from Shorter University:
http://su.shorter.edu/wpcontent/uploads/organizational_chart.pdf
Shorter University. (2014, January 1). Student Life. Retrieved September