SHORTER UNIVERSITY

Kelly BillingsEDLD 7430

Background

Quick Facts

Private, four-year, Christian University The main campus is located in Rome, GA

with three other campuses in Gwinnett, North Atlanta, and Riverdale.

Offers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Degrees are offered in Business, Arts & Sciences, Education, Fine & Performing Arts, Nursing, and Science & Mathematics.

Mission of the College

“The Mission of Shorter University is to provide quality higher education, enabling and encouraging student commitment to active life-long learning, personal spiritual values, responsible citizenship, and community and societal leadership in a global context.”

“The University seeks to accomplish this Mission through quality undergraduate liberal arts programs, specialized professional programs, and select graduate programs. Geographically distant locations and online classes provide educational opportunities to individuals who are unable to attend classes in a traditional setting. The University affirms a commitment to the Christian faith and strives to integrate Christian values within a nurturing community within its whole process of education.”

Philosophy of Christian Education “Shorter University is a Christ-centered

liberal arts university dedicated to academic excellence within the context of a biblical worldview. As a Christian university, Shorter is committed to keeping an emphasis upon a biblically sound, integrated, faith-based education that promotes a zeal for academic, spiritual, and professional growth.”

The Shorter Heritage

Founded by Luther Rice Gwaltney in 1873 as Cherokee Baptist Female College.

The college was renamed as Shorter College in 1877 after the generous donations of Alfred and Martha Shorter.

Originally, the school had three main areas: primary, preparatory, and collegiate.

The collegiate students originally studied the classics, science, music, art, and drama.

In 1950 the “Girl’s Creed” was abandoned as the college started enrolling it’s first male students.

The Shorter Heritage

In 1958 control over the board of trustees was granted to the Georgia Baptist Convention.

“On June 1, 2010, Shorter officially changed its name to Shorter University in a move designed to recognize the institution’s growth in recent years.”

In addition to the main campus in Rome, Shorter now has campuses in Gwinnett, North Atlanta, and Riverdale.

Students

Enrollment

Total Enrollment: 3,775 Main Undergraduate: 1,542 Main Master’s: 20 College of Adult and Professional Programs:

1,903 College of Adult and Professional Programs

Master’s: 312

Enrollment

College of Arts and Sciences: 274 School of Science and Mathematics: 269 School of Nursing: 142 Undecided/Other: 211 School of Business: 606 School of Education: 225 General Education/Associate Level: 916

Enrollment Demographics(Gender)

Entire College: 69% female, 31% male Main: 51% female, 49% male CAPP (Professional Studies): 80% female,

20% male

Enrollment Demographics(Age)

Enrollment Demographics(Race)

Student Organizations

Student Government Association Fraternities and Sororities Alpha Chi Honor Society Shorter Orientation Staff Shorter Relations Society Shortery University International Society

Faculty

Faculty

Full-Time Faculty: 99 Professor: 19 Associate: 15 Assistant: 55 Instructor: 10

Adjunct: 318

Faculty

Faculty

Faculty Years of Service and Age

Faculty

69 members of the Full-Time Teaching Faculty have earned their Doctorate degree. 40 male 29 female

22 Full-Time faculty are tenured.

Governance

President

As of June 1, 2011, Dr. Donald V. Dowless became the 19th President of Shorter University.

Previously served as Vice President for Academics for five years at North Greenville University, and previously taught at Charleston Southern University.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Baylor University.

Board of Trustees

Comprised of 30 men and women from the surrounding communities.

Divided into six subcommittees: Executive, Academic Affairs, Building and Grounds, Finance and Investment, Development, and Student Life.

Organizational Chart

Employment Requirements

Because it is a private institution with bonds to the Georgia Baptist Convention, all employees of the college are required to be professing Christians and to submit a personal statement of faith when applying for all positions.

Additionally, all employees are required to follow the “Personal Lifestyle Statement” which can be read here: http://www.shorter.edu/about/personal_lifestyle_statement.pdf.

Administration and Finance

Finances

Finances

Revenue Tuition and Fees (net of

student grants): $21,114,539 Federal Grants and

Contracts: $286,996 Private Gifts and Grants:

$5,822,233 Endowment Income:

$2,419,507 Other: $0 Auxiliary Enterprises:

$5,095,751 Total: $34,739,026

Expenditures Institutional Grants to Students

Unfunded: $9,140,432 Institutional Grants to Students

Funded: $593,500 Total Allowances Against

Tuition: $9,733,932 Instruction/Departmental:

$9,630,795 Academic Support: $3,441,286 Student Services: $6,691,176 Institutional Support:

$8,586,749 Other Expenses: $1 Auxiliary Enterprises:

$3,354,098 Total: $31,704,105

Tuition

(Based on full-time enrollment and living on campus) Estimated Total Price of Attendance:

$28,000 Tuition and Fees: $16,300 Estimated Room and Board: $7,800 Estimated Books and Supplies: $1,000 Estimated Other Expenses: $2,900

Tuition Comparisons

University of Georgia:$3,641

Georgia Tech: $3,641 Georgia State: $3,641 Southern Polytechnic:

$2,564 Georgia Southern:

$2,367

Kennesaw State: $2,367

West Georgia: $2,367 Clayton State: $2,201 Georgia Gwinett:

$1,648 Georgia Perimeter:

$1,235

Developmental Education

Developmental Education

Despite having admissions standards of at least a 2.25 high school GPA and the submission of SAT or ACT scores, Shorter University does offer extremely limited remedial courses.

“Remedial courses in English and Mathematics are offered for students who need additional preparation in these areas. These classes carry no credit towards graduation.” ENG 0990-Remedial Freshmen English MAT 0990-Remedial Mathematics Course descriptions can be found here:

http://www.shorter.edu/academics/catalog/2010-2011_Catalog.pdf.

Developmental Education

Classes below the 099 level, such as 098, 097, and 096 are not offered at this institution.

Likewise, there are no remedial reading courses offered.

Developmental Education

The average combined verbal and math SAT score of students is 987.

The average ACT score is 20. The average high school GPA is 3.29. Students are placed in the appropriate

levels of English and math classes according to their SAT or ACT scores.

Students will move on to college level courses after passing the institutional grammar exam.

Community Education

Community Education

Because it is a private institution, Shorter University does not offer regular community education courses or continuing education opportunities.

Previously, short-term classes in art have been offered to the community, however, they are not regularly offered through a continuing education department.

Effectiveness

Retention

For FY 2009, Shorter University had a retention rate of 74.9%. This is the highest rate the school has had since 2003.

The year previously, 2008, the retention rate was 67.4%. This is an increase of 7.5%.

Graduation Rates

On average, 62% of an incoming freshmen class will graduate from Shorter University.

Of that 62%, 2% will graduate in 3 years. Of the remaining student population in

that cohort, 41% will graduate in 4 years.

National Distinction

In 2010, Shorter University was listed for the 10th consecutive year in a row, on the list of “Great Schools, Great Prices” for the South in U.S. News and World Report.

They were ranked at number 6, one spot up from 2009.

Shorter was also listed as 17th on the South’s top baccalaureate colleges by U.S. News and World Report.