June 27 - Crews from McCord Communications in Anniston, Ala., began installation of a new emergency warning system on the Rome campus, which will give campus officials the ability to alert and inform the entire campus at once should a crisis situation develop.

The Student Alert Mass Notification System offers siren alerts as well as pre-recorded and live-voice announcement capabilities. The siren can be utilized in case of severe weather. Other emergency announcements would be made through a pole-mounted speaker system located near the heart of the campus. Repeater systems inside outlying campus buildings will spread the alerts to the Professional Studies Center and the Art House.

The custom-built emergency warning system is battery operated so that it will remain operational should the electrical power on the campus fail. The system is a product of Whelan Engineering Co., Inc., and is designed specifically for college and university use.

Other efforts undertaken to heighten campus safety during the past 12 months include a review and revision of the college’s Crisis Response Plan, the creation of an updated Crisis Response Manual, the recent purchase of an electric ATV and electric Segway for greater access by campus safety officials, and the addition of the Shorter2U text message and email notification system, which is available for faculty, staff, and students at all Shorter College campuses.

Photo by Tracy Batchelor, assistant director of institutional relations

June 20 - Shorter College's campus safety office is going green!

Campus Safety Director Terry Wheeler displays Shorter’s electric all terrain vehicle (ATV), and Assistant Campus Safety Director James Hall uses the college’s electric Segway. Campus safety personnel were trained on these new additions today. Shorter President Dr. Harold E. Newman considers the ATV and Segway as important enhancements to the security of the college because they provide efficient mobility to a variety of areas that vehicles cannot access. Additionally, their electric power is environmentally-friendly and quiet.

Photo by Tracy Batchelor, assistant director of institutional relations

June 18 - Representatives from Shorter College visited with many alumni and friends, prospective students, and pastors and delegates from across the nation during the 2008 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, held June 9-11, in Indianapolis, Ind.

Shorter’s booth was manned by Dr. John Head ('87), vice president of enrollment management; Ken Fincher (’84), vice president of institutional advancement; and Tracy Batchelor, assistant director of institutional relations. The annual meeting drew more than 7,200 registered delegates, known as "messengers," and their families.

Photo by Robbie Batchelor

June 11 - Shorter College's Panhellenic Council was recently welcomed as the newest member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). The NPC is the premier advocacy and support organization for college panhellenics and will be the umbrella association for Shorter's three sororities on campus.

Pictured above are National Panhellenic Conference Chairman, Julie Burkhard;
Southeast Advisor to New CPHs, Mary Ann Stark; along with the Panhellenic officers and delegates of NPC's newest College Panhellenic - Shorter College.

Click here for more information on Greek Life at Shorter College.

Photo provided by Emily Messer, director of student activities

June 4 - The Shorter Orientation Staff (SOS) has been working hard to prepare for
SUMMIT 2008, Shorter's new student orientation program, which begins next week.
New students will participate in advising, learn about campus opportunities and
get acquainted with the friendly and helpful SOS members.

For more information on SUMMIT and the SOS staff, click here.

Photo by Tracy Batchelor, assistant director of institutional relations

For other photos of spring commencement, click here.