Overview
Shorter College Gives Students a Place to Learn Societal Leadership While Remaining Grounded in Christian Values
Shorter College is a small private Christian college in Rome, Georgia, that offers undergraduate education in the liberal arts. Originally founded as an all-girls school named Cherokee Baptist Female College, Shorter College went co-ed in the early 1950s, but maintains its dedication to Baptist principles and the Christian faith. Shorter College is slated to become Shorter University in 2010, but while the name will change, the educational experience will remain the same.
Residence Halls at Shorter College are single-sex, and each one offers students the option to take part in hall programs offered by the residential staff. Sexually explicit materials and alcohol-related posters are not allowed, in keeping with the Christian morality that Shorter wishes to promote. Students are encouraged to discuss the values that hold together the Christian community as well as society at large.
Shorter College promotes the enrichment of life through art and religion, as well as reminding students of their responsibilities as members of the world community. Shorter's location in Rome, GA, allows students to take advantage of all the Georgia cultural opportunities in the local area, ranging from free concerts and historical tours to rides down the Coosa River
Student Activities at Shorter Include Leadership Programs, Community Service, Greek Life, and More
Shorter College has a wide range of student activities, ranging from the typical to the atypical. Numerous fraternities and sororities are on campus for students to join, and each sorority has a specialized philanthropic mission to support a particular charity, such as breast cancer awareness. For students not interested in Greek life, a number of student organizations exist where students can participate and even take leadership roles.
The Fitton Activities Board (FAB) is a group of students who help select entertainment opportunities on campus, such as dances, films, music concerts, and other special student events. Freshmen are encouraged to apply for the HillClimbers leadership program, to learn how to become effective student leaders on campus, while the Northwest Crescent Leadership Alliance (NWCLA) looks to develop ethical student leaders. Other organizations range from the Model U.N. to the dance team. Intramural sports range from bowling to whitewater rafting.
Students interested in community service can join S.A.V.E. (Students Advocating Volunteer Efforts), and help to organize student volunteering to benefit the local community. Students who wish to spread Christianity can join the student-led Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), which asks students to be the hands and feet of Christ, or by joining the Baptist ministries to lead discipleship groups and join mission trips. Students in the BCM are encouraged to be actively involved in a local church, joining weekly worship services, bible studies, community ministries, and prayer groups.
Finally, in a very unique opportunity, female Shorter students can compete in the Miss Shorter Pageant, where women compete in such categories as talent, interview, and evening wear. The winner is crowned Miss Shorter and receives a scholarship to help fund her education. The winner of the Miss Shorter Pageant goes on to compete for the title of Miss Georgia.
Shorter College Gives Students a Solid Grounding in the Liberal Arts with a Comprehensive Core Curriculum
All students at Shorter College begin in the School of Liberal Arts, taking a core curriculum known as the liberal arts foundation. Students will study religion, health and physical education, chemistry, history, business, and more. These courses form the cornerstone of the Shorter College education, providing Shorter students with the broad knowledge, skills, and versatility required for success in the modern world. Some students choose to continue in the liberal arts, graduating with majors in communications, public relations, English, French, Spanish, or recreation.
Other schools at Shorter in which students can find majors include business administration, education, nursing, the arts, and science and mathematics. Degrees are available in various sciences from biology to ecology, educational focuses such as childhood and middle school, business administration and sport management, and others.
Motivated students who excel can also participate in the honors program known as the Academy of Aristaeus, which offers an enriched academic experience by way of completing a thesis and being noted as honors graduates.
Shorter College Offers Numerous Financial Aid Opportunities Based on Such Criteria as Talent, Academics, and Need
Shorter College offers a wide range of scholarships to assist students in paying for their college education. Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded based on GPA and SAT and ACT scores, as well as a few Competitive Scholarships awarded based on outstanding academic credentials. Students who excel in music, theatre, art, or athletics should contact the appropriate department about scholarships.
The HOPE scholarship program is available to Georgia residents who graduated from a Georgia high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA, while Baptist Appreciation Scholarships are available to some students who are active members of GBC churches.
Numerous other grants are available on a state and federal level, as well as a work study program and various loan options.
