Every student has the right to:

• expect the highest quality education
• properly ask about modifying institutional rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that affect his/her welfare         
• develop his or her potential to their best ability
• a fair hearing and appeal if disciplinary action is taken
• express academic freedom appropriately
   

Every student has the responsibility to:

• know the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that govern Shorter College
• maintain appropriate conduct
• protect the rights and property of others and Shorter College
• ask for help when needed
   

If a rule or policy is violated:

• a hearing before Disciplinary Committee, if requested, will occur
• the decision of the committee will be given to the student in writing
• violators will be notified of the hearing in writing one week prior to the hearing date
• the decision of the committee will be given to the student in writing within 3 days
• hearing appeals can be submitted to the President of Shorter College
• the violator may be placed on probation, dismissed, suspended, or expelled from Shorter College
• If a violation is severe enough, the student may be prosecuted

 

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 I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT AND APPLY MY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE TO THIS PAGE.

The Following individual(s) are authorized to access the information indicated above: (Please Print Full Name)

Although I understand I am not required to release this information, I am giving it to Shorter College to disclose these records. I also understand that this release remains in effect for one calendar year from the date signed, unless I revoke my consent in writing and deliver it to the Division of Enrollment Management at Shorter College.

PLEASE NOTE: A clear image of your picture ID is required to verify the authenticity of this release. Enrollment Management can make a copy if you deliver this form in person. Otherwise, you may upload a picture of your ID below to expedite your submission.

FERPA pertains to the release of records only. It does not give others the right to act on your behalf or change your records. Original must be kept on file in the Division of Enrollment Management. A copy will be provided to the student.

By my signature below, I do acknowledge and affirm that I have been informed and that I clearly understand that the Shorter College Student Academic Catalog and the Shorter College Student Handbook are on the Shorter College website at shortercollege.edu. I further acknowledge and affirm that I clearly understand that it is solely my responsibility to read and understand the policies, procedures and information contained in both documents and that I am bound by the rules therein.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Shorter College is to provide accessible, affordable, high-quality education for students to accomplish their academic and career goals, by offering programs that meet the learner’s need in a challenging and nurturing Christian environment.

STATEMENT OF CORE VALUES AND STANDARDS

“Shorter Colleges Core Values are foundational to the mission. These central and enduring values define, inform, and guide the philosophy and practices of the college.

We hold the following core values, adopted by the Board of Trustees and followed by college administration, faculty, staff, and students to be the foundation of our identity as a community:

Faith
We value faith and learning as inescapably linked and that an exploration of faith and religion is essential to education.

Integrity
We value mutual respect, honor the dignity of each individual and foster a civil and ethical environment. We will be fair, honest and ethical and assume responsibility for our actions in all dealings with and on behalf of the college. Shorter College will never knowingly mislead or deceive members of the college community, its various publics, or stakeholders. The college will practice transparency in all of its dealings. The college will represent its programs and services fairly and accurately. We value learning and a working environment that encourages and supports open sharing of information, empowerment and shared responsibility for decision-making, and a culture that emphasizes continuous improvement and growth. We believe in the sanctity of the individual in the mutually supportive community of a small college. We believe in a focus on each person as an individual with inherent worth. We will work in partnership with one another, encouraging broad participation and active engagement of all, to build a sense of shared purpose about the importance and value of the College.

Shorter College is committed to the principle of academic freedom as it seeks to carry out its teaching and learning programs. Scholarly investigation is encouraged through research. Faculty, administrators, and students are responsible for upholding the high morals and ethical standards of academic honesty.

Learning
We value and encourage innovation, creativity and commitment in achieving and sustaining a quality educational environment through continuous improvement.

We believe that learning is best based on open inquiry and the liberal arts. We value learning as a lifelong process and strive to adapt and be responsive to new challenges and opportunities. We will conscientiously strive for excellence in our programs and services as well as foster a commitment to the highest standards in all areas of the college’s mission.

Inclusiveness
We value others and ourselves as unique individuals and celebrate both our commonalities and differences. We promote open communications, ongoing collaboration and the free exchange of ideas. We respect diversity and strive to reflect the communities that the college serves and to enrich our understanding and appreciation of different people, cultures, and ideas.

Service
We seek non-violent resolution of conflict and just treatment of the world’s resources, both human and physical. We believe we are called to educate morally and ethically responsible citizens of a pluralistic society. To this end, we are guided by the idea of service. We value social responsibility; seek non-violent resolution to conflict and hold ourselves accountable for the efficient and effective use of the human, physical and fiscal resources entrusted to us.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Shorter College is an African Methodist Episcopal Church sponsored school and is shaped by the Methodist traditional understanding of sin, grace, and the possibility of full salvation for Christ-like living. Shorter College embraces the equality, dignity and worth of all persons and endeavors to be a campus community that reflects both the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.

We believe that there is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. In unity of this God-head, there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the God-head and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men.

We believe that Christ did truly rise again from the dead and took again his body with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he returns to judge all men at the last day.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son is of substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

We believe that the Holy Scriptures contained all things necessary to salvation; and that the bible is the inspired word, infallible and authoritative word of God.

By my Signature below, I affirm that I have read, understand and will respect the Biblical Foundations of Shorter College.

Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Non-Institutional Charges

Federal student financial aid can only cover "institutional charges" as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. This definition includes current year charges for tuition and fees, and on-campus room and board. It also includes other fees such as: lab fees, workshops, university registration fees, facilities usage fees, and other specialized departmental or college fees associated directly with taking a class. Unless authorization is received, federal financial aid cannot be used to cover non-institutional charges such as: health insurance, bookstore charges, library fines, breakage fees, returned check fees, deferred fees for short-term installment plans or any charges not directly tied to taking a class.  

The only way federal student aid funds can be used to pay for "noninstitutional charges" is to obtain your written authorization to pay those charges. This form will allow Student Accounts to apply your federal financial aid to your noninstitutional charges.

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I authorize Shorter College to apply my federal student financial aid to any non-institutional charges on my student account.  

I understand that this authorization will remain in effect until I submit a written request to cancel this authorization. I understand that I will be responsible for paying any outstanding debts to Shorter College if I cancel this authorization. 

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Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Prior-Year Charges

Federal student financial aid can only cover the "current" academic year institutional charges as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, in order to pay "prior year" charges with your current academic year's financial aid up to a maximum of $200.00, you must provide written authorization for the college to do so. If you have enough financial aid to cover your current year charges and have excess financial aid that you would like to apply to pay off a prior year balance due on your student account, you may do so by completing this authorization form and returning it to Student Accounts.

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I authorize Shorter College to apply my federal student financial aid to pay off my prior year charges within the limits as defined by federal regulations.

 I understand that this authorization will remain in effect throughout my Shorter College student career until such time as I submit a written request to cancel this authorization.

Classroom computers and network facilities are provided as training resources for the courses offered by the College. We take pride in providing our students access to this technology, and we will continue providing our students with every advantage to prepare them for a new tomorrow. In order to maintain the highest possible level of availability and functionality of this equipment, the following guidelines have been established. It is the responsibility of every student to read, understand and return a signed copy of this document to Financial Aid during Orientation. Each instructor is responsible for reminding the student of these guidelines and that the signed guidelines are a part of that student’s academic record. The instructor is responsible for insuring that the computer use is limited to academic purpose.

1.     No software or files of any type are to be installed, executed, copied (to, on or from) the classroom computers or the network except when expressly instructed to do so by a member of the Information Technology (IT) staff. You may, however, print files from the Internet.

2.     Internet access is provided for the sole purpose of course related research. It is not intended for e-mail and other personal correspondence. No file of questionable taste (pornography, explicit sexual language, or any material that may offend others) is to be viewed on or downloaded to the school computers or network. In addition, the School routinely blocks access to all social networking sites and known Web sites that offer access to music files, movie files, and other copyrighted materials. School computers may not be used to download or share unauthorized copies of copyrighted materials. Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including but not limited to downloading and peer-to-peer file sharing, is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply with these policies will subject a student to disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal. Violation of copyright laws also may subject a person to civil and criminal liabilities, including significant fines, attorney’s fees, and imprisonment.  Federal law may determine a person liable for actual damages and lost profits attributable to the infringement, including statutory damages from $200 up to $150,000. If a copyright owner hired an attorney to enforce his or her rights, the violator may also be liable for the attorney's fees as well as court costs. Criminal penalties may also be assessed against the liable party and, depending upon the nature of the violation, may include jail time.

3.     The student is to save homework on a floppy disk or flash drive rather than the classroom computer’s hard drive or the network drive unless the instructor directs otherwise.

4.     Any floppy disk, CD, or flash drive memory device that has been used in off-campus computers MUST be virus scanned BEFORE being used in school computers. If a shortcut to Virus Scan is not on your computer desktop, please see your instructor.

5.     No maintenance utilities that may reside on the classroom computer or the network are to be executed by the student unless expressly instructed to do so by IT staff. This includes, but is not limited to, running Disk Defragmenter or other utilities that come with the operating system software.

6.     No modifications to the CMOS setup, hardware setup, or software setup and configuration of any kind shall be made by the student on classroom computers or the network unless expressly instructed to do so by the IT staff. This includes, but is not limited to, the following functions:

·         Changing screen savers

·         Changing screen colors

·         Changing the arrangement of icons

·         Changing the wallpaper

·         Moving or deleting files and/or programs

·         Changing the .ini files, the registration files or other system files

·         Moving mice, keyboard, monitors, and other accessories from one computer to another

7.     No flyers, posters, banners, menus, or other documents not directly related to the course being attended or to school activities and programs shall be printed utilizing classroom computers, the network, or the reproduction or facsimile equipment at the School unless expressly instructed to do so by the course instructor or a member of the School’s Administration.

8.     Students may not use school software, classroom computers, the network, or campus access to the Internet for profit.

9.     Students should report any problems or maintenance issues to their instructor immediately so that the proper actions can be taken. Students are asked to give their e-mail address to their instructors for classroom communications.

10.   The College is dedicated to provide the resources required for educational and research use. Legal alternatives to downloading and acquiring copyrighted materials are listed below.

ECUCAUSE.edu and CAMPUSDOWNLOADING.com provide links to websites that provide legal alternatives to downloading music, movies, and more.

·         http://www.educause.edu/Resources/Browse/LegalDownloading/33381 

·         http://campusdownloading.psu.edu/resources.htm 

Please contact Shorter College should these alternatives not provide the means needed for education or research.

Please complete the DocuSign signature to certify your completion of the entire application packet. While you were asked to type your name as a signature for each portion of the application, this signature releases the full packet to the Office of Admission and allows the proper sharing with the Offices of Finacial Aid and Registration.