2010 Dawns Brightly for Shorter College
 
January 4, 2010 - Five years since he took the helm of Shorter College, President Harold E. Newman is eyeing the new decade with a great sense of optimism. The veteran educator, now in his 25th year at Shorter, recently shared his views on the accomplishments of the first five years of his presidency and on 2010, which he describes as promising to be “one of the most exciting times in Shorter’s 137-year history.”

According to Dr. Newman, the key to the college’s success is a firm commitment to its mission to be a Christian college committed to academic excellence. “Not too long ago, I ran across a quote, attributed only to an anonymous source, that spoke volumes to me. It said, ‘An educational system isn’t worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living, but doesn’t teach them how to make a life.’ I am very proud to have spent the last 25 years of my life at Shorter College because the education we offer is about more than job titles and salaries. Shorter truly is a place where young people and working adults alike are equipped to reach their fullest potential.

“God is richly blessing Shorter, and we are grateful for those blessings and the support we have received from alumni, friends, and other supporters, including the Georgia Baptist Convention. External support for the institution has grown during the past five years and has fueled a remarkable sense of momentum that is helping us achieve the goals we mapped out in our strategic plan.”

Shorter College President Dr. Harold E. Newman

“It is also a time in which we reaffirm many of the things that have made Shorter College unique and that will continue to be hallmarks of the Shorter University experience; those include the commitment to providing a top-quality educational experience in a personal, caring environment as well as our commitment to nurturing spiritual growth alongside academic excellence.”

Also noteworthy are forthcoming changes involving some of Shorter’s academic programs, including the move of the School of Business to space in the MidTown Crossing Shopping Center and the launch of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. “Both of these changes will happen beginning in the fall semester, and both represent the college’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the local community,” Dr. Newman said. “Another key area of focus for us is the continued nurturing of spiritual development and the encouragement of Christian service and volunteerism among all members of the Shorter family.

“Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our expectations for the continued success of our athletic program. Having earned four national championships in just three years, Shorter athletes are achieving at new levels, and we are optimistic about their continued success. Also, we encourage alumni and friends to mark their calendars now for Sept. 2, when the Shorter Hawks football team opens its 2010 season in the Georgia Dome as the first-ever opponent for Georgia State’s football team.”

The optimistic outlook for 2010 builds upon the positive momentum of recent years. Since 2005, Shorter has had increasing enrollments each year, with the traditional student enrollment topping 1,000 students for the first time in 2007, the same year that the male/female ratio reached 50/50. In 2009, Shorter enrolled a record freshman class, a record number of transfer students, and a total of 3,200 students, including adult-degree and master’s-level students.

In 2007, the college constructed a new building for student housing and began a three-phase renovation of its front circle into a pedestrian-friendly gathering spot. Also that fall, the Rome branch of the Professional Studies program moved into a new facility located at 408 Shorter Avenue. In 2008, Shorter began developing facilities for its School of Nursing in the Riverbend Center.

New academic initiatives undertaken include the addition of majors in sport management and nursing and the launch of online programs in 2009. In 2008, Shorter celebrated its 15th anniversary of offering undergraduate education opportunities for working adults. In November 2008, Shorter announced its plans to transition to university status. In the area of intercollegiate athletics, Shorter added football, competitive cheerleading, cross country, and track, with the addition of wrestling and lacrosse slated for fall 2010.

Shorter has been ranked among the top tier Southern baccalaureate institutions by U.S. News & World Report annually since 2002. The 2010 rankings list Shorter as No. 17 in the South and as No. 7 among Southern baccalaureate institutions in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” list. The latter considers academic quality and the net cost of attendance. In addition, for five years, The Princeton Review has included Shorter on its list of the “Best in the Southeast” and “Best Value Colleges.”

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