Academics
Shorter University, a 鈥渟mall, Christian, liberal arts university鈥 in Rome, Georgia, provides an 鈥渁tmosphere that not only develops the student academically, but invests in their lives spiritually.鈥 Overall students say they are 鈥渃ompletely satisfied with [their] overall academic experience鈥 and 鈥渁bsolutely enjoy every one of [their] professors.鈥 The small student body and low student-to-faculty ratio means that everyone gets plenty of attention: 鈥淪mall class sizes encourage relationships with professors, who are then able to give individual help to each student.鈥 In the classroom 鈥減rofessors are very interactive and want to involve the students鈥 in lectures and discussion, and they take time to get to 鈥渒now each and everyone of their students.鈥 Faculty are also 鈥渨illing to help you outside of class,鈥 and make themselves 鈥渁vailable not only for class purposes, but also for spiritual uplifting purposes, which is very encouraging for students.鈥 Indeed, many students are attracted to Shorter鈥檚 faith-based education and explain, 鈥淲e do our best to transform lives through Christ by using Christian-centered critical thinking.鈥 However, some students clamor for a greater variety of academic offerings and a greater availability of classes that cover specialized subjects. Many students 鈥渇eel like the facilities need to be improved.鈥 One student complains that 鈥渢he science labs are abysmal and need to be restructured,鈥 while another agrees that the school needs to increase science funding 鈥渟o that we can have undergraduate research opportunities and have state-of-the-art labs.鈥
Student Body
Most students are 鈥渨hite and Southern Baptist鈥 and demonstrate 鈥渢he typical Southern hospitality.鈥 Students say that everyone on campus 鈥渋s nice and small-talk friendly鈥 and 鈥渦sually students fit in pretty well . . . because everyone tries to take the time to get to know others.鈥 But students often find 鈥渃lose friends within [their] departments鈥 because 鈥渟mall class sizes have the same people in a lot of your same classes.鈥 Shorter maintains a close-knit community, and 鈥渕ost of the students here are also athletes or heavily involved in the school somehow.鈥 One student explains, 鈥淥utside of academics, there are three main veins of activity that the majority of students are involved in: Greek life, athletics, or theater. There is overlap between these social groups, which allows for relationships between students outside of their normal circle.鈥
Campus Life
鈥淭he environment is uplifting and interactive鈥 at Shorter. Students say life on this faith-based campus 鈥渞evolves around fellowship,鈥 and 鈥渂ecause it is a smaller school you tend you get to know everyone.鈥 鈥淲e stay up late playing guitar and singing or playing board/card games,鈥 one student explains, but Shorter maintains a strictly dry campus and 鈥渢here isn鈥檛 much of a night life like there would be in other cities.鈥 Nonetheless, 鈥淒owntown Rome is beautiful, with a bridge lit up every night and an old 鈥淢ain Street USA鈥 offering a safe and relaxing setting for an afternoon or evening off campus.鈥 On campus students 鈥渂ring homework or guitars outside on a nice day; sometimes the faculty and staff join in these spontaneous outdoor gatherings.鈥 For adventure 鈥渟tudents go on hikes in the nearby woods and mountains, stroll down old downtown, have movie nights, and even take over a building for nerf night.鈥
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