Dr Chuck Pearson

Shorter College has come a long way from its modest beginnings 132 years ago. It has been fortunate to have trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who have been dedicated stewards of the College’s educational and financial well-being.

Today, Shorter College is at a crossroads. And, its faculty, staff and students are in the intersection. If there has ever been a time when the Shorter family needs to keep its perspective, it is now.

Briefly, the Georgia Supreme Court by a 4 to 3 vote has ruled improper the Shorter College dissolution which was central to its trustees’ effort to bring the college outside of the control of the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC). This ruling became final today. The Shorter dissolution was in response to the position of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). SACS, as part of an accreditation review, questioned whether under the fifty year old version of the Shorter College charter the Shorter trustees met the independence requirements of SACS accreditation standards.

Ours has been a long fought battle in the courts. We have been aided by some of the best legal minds available. I single out for special thanks former Shorter President Ed Schraeder for his devotion to this cause and former Governor Roy Barnes for his uncompensated vital assistance in the later stages of the case.

We must now face the fact that we have lost the court struggle. Complete, absolute control of Shorter College will shortly be in the hands of new trustees selected by the GBC. The leadership of the GBC has on numerous occasions in the courts taken the position that Shorter really did not really have an accreditation problem with SACS. We will soon see whose position is valid.

To the Shorter faculty and staff, I do not need to remind you that you need to brace yourselves for the likelihood of difficult days ahead. I thank you for your steadfast devotion to Shorter despite considerable personal sacrifice. Be open minded in dealing with the new management. Your support system of Shorter Alumni and former trustees will not cease because of the change in control.

To the new trustees elected by the Georgia Baptist Convention and Shorter’s likely new President, Rev. Nelson Price, I say that you have my good wishes as you undertake to run a wonderful private, Christian college during a difficult time. You are being given control of a Shorter that shows more promise than at any time in her long history. I will remind you, however, that with your new power comes both responsibility and liability. Be prudent.

I must also be candid with present and past Shorter trustees. After the change in control, there will not be opportunities of effective service for many who have dedicated much of their lives to this small college. Though less significant, my family’s involvement with Shorter would also appear to be at an end. I am sure I await new challenges elsewhere in my Christian pilgrimage.