Shorter University breaks ground on new residence hall

February 27, 2012 - Shorter University held an official groundbreaking ceremony Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. to commemorate the start of construction on the university’s new student residence hall.

The 100-bed building will be located behind the Sheffield-Thompson Building between the Newman Hall and Hazel Eubanks Hall residence facilities. Plans are to have the facility completed for use during the fall semester.

 “It is with great delight that we see all of the planning for our new dorm coming to fruition,” said Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless. “We strive to continue to provide the best for our students in academics, facilities, and in their spiritual life. We thank the Lord Jesus Christ for this new endeavor.”

Shorter University students, administration, board members and special guests take part in the groundbreaking ceremony. They are, pictured from left to right: Tim Fish of Cooper Carry architectural firm; students Jeffrey Rice and Cheryl Culp; Dr. Debra Faust, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Students; Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless; Jonathan Ginn of Fifth Third Bank; Dr. Nelson Price, Shorter University Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus; Joe Frank Harris Jr., Shorter University Board of Trustees Chairman and Allen Hornback of ADE Builders.

A group of approximately 100 students, faculty, and staff members gathered for the event. Two students took part in the ceremony. Junior biology pre-med major Jeffrey Rice delivered the opening prayer. Shorter’s Student Government Association president Cheryl Culp spoke about the importance of the new facility for campus life. “This dorm will help bring everyone back on campus and complete our Shorter family,” she said. Culp also thanked Dr. Dowless and the university leadership for making the residence facility a priority.

Trustee chairman Joe Frank Harris Jr. delivered the prayer of dedication, asking for God’s blessing on the project, the safety of all workers who will build the facility, and the well-being of all who will someday live in the facility.

For the actual groundbreaking, Harris was joined by Dr. Dowless, Trustee Chair Emeritus Dr. Nelson Price, Mr. Tim Fish of Cooper Carry architectural firm, Mr. Allen Hornback of ADE Builders, Mr. Jonathan Ginn of Fifth Third Bank, Mr. Rice, Ms. Culp and Dr. Debra Faust, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

Shorter’s continued record enrollment prompted the new building. "Shorter University has had tremendous growth, and in the fall of 2011, our record enrollment included approximately 120 students who wanted to live on campus that we were unable to accommodate with on-campus housing,” said Dr. Dowless. “The student experience is enriched by being part of the campus community, and we are excited that this new construction will allow us to have even more of our student population reside in our Christ-centered campus environment.”

The new residence hall is one of two current construction projects taking place on the university’s campus. Shorter’s new library expansion is entering in to its final stages as well. Once complete, the expansion will create an additional 18,000 square feet of library space that will feature a two-story cathedral atrium, a fireplace, soft seating, and study areas.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.



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