Shorter College will become Rome’s first university in 2010 after the move was approved at the Georgia Baptist Convention on Tuesday.

“Shorter University — that’s cool — it’s got a nice ring to it,” said Dylan Chancellor, 19, a freshman. “And, I think it would look a lot better on my diploma.”

The status change was approved by the Shorter College Board of Trustees at its October meeting but the convention’s approval was necessary because the status change requires an amendment to Shorter’s charter.

“Our aim is to create a Christian university where students will receive a top quality education in an environment that fosters spiritual growth,” said President Harold E. Newman. “University status reflects what Shorter has already become through the extraordinary growth and progress of recent years.”

Today, the college enrolls approximately 3,000 students who study on four campuses in Rome, North Atlanta, Lawrenceville and Riverdale.

According to Newman, the change will require little internal restructuring since the college already follows a university-style structure with separate schools headed by deans, and offers graduate programs.

Shorter University will be comprised of three separate colleges: the traditional college of arts and sciences; the college of professional programs; and a new college of nursing.

“I personally think it’s a good change,” said sophomore Jesse Wood, 20. “It will probably bring in more money and more accreditation.”

Newman said the college has a goal of expanding the student population to 4,500 students during the next four years.

Freshman Heather Boaz, 18, is excited about Shorter changing to university status because she thinks it will look better.

“I think it’d be cool, but it makes me a little sad because I like Shorter being so small, it’s a big reason why I came here,” she said.

Newman said that he and the college’s leadership team identified the change to university status as a centerpiece of Shorter’s strategic plan three years ago

“Achieving recognition as a regional teaching university, as a Christ-centered community and as a community committed to globalization are the central pillars of our strategic plans for the future growth and development of Shorter,” he said.

Nelson Price, chairman of the Shorter College Board of Trustees, expressed enthusiasm for the transition.

“From the inception of my working with Shorter, we have had the bold ambition to see it excel, and we feel the title of university will enhance the understanding of the level of academic excellence offered at Shorter,” he said.