Shorter College Receives $200,000 Grant to Help Establish Nursing Program

The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation has awarded Shorter College a $200,000 grant to assist with establishing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the college. Shorter's president, Dr. Harold E. Newman, recently accepted a check for the $200,000 grant from the foundation. The check was presented by Dr. Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville who serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation.

"This grant is a significant step in our quest to establish this new degree program," Dr. Newman said. "We thank the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation; Dr. Cox and the foundation trustees; and Frank Upchurch, the foundation's president and chief executive officer, for their confidence in us."

According to its Web site, the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation is a supporting organization that primarily provides financial support to the health care ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Secondarily, the foundation assists Georgia communities and others with worthwhile health care-related programs.

Earlier this month, Shorter College announced its plans to submit a proposal to the Georgia Board of Nursing for approval to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The proposal will be submitted to the state nursing board later this spring with a goal of beginning to offer the first nursing courses in August 2010. In keeping with its mission as a Christian college, Shorter plans to include a medical missions experience in its nursing curriculum.

Individuals interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Shorter College are asked to e-mail nursing.students@shorter.edu or contact Dr. John Head at 706-233-7342. Potential nursing faculty members who are interested in learning more about the program may e-mail nursing.faculty@shorter.edu or contact Shorter College Provost Dr. Craig Shull at 706-233-7203.