Shorter University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Rome, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1873, it is a Christian university historically affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention (part of the Southern Baptist Convention). Shorter offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through seven colleges and schools and has current enrollment of 3,500 traditional and non-traditional students. The 155-acre (0.63 km) main academic and residential campus is located 72 miles (116 km) northwest of Atlanta, Georgia in Rome. There are adult education and graduate programs at distance learning facilities in Lawrenceville, North Atlanta, and Riverdale. In addition Shorter operates the Robert H. Ledbetter College of Business and the School of Nursing at off-campus facilities in the Rome area. Fielding athletic teams known as the Shorter Hawks, the university is in the process of transitioning athletics from the NAIA and member of the Southern States Athletic Conference to NCAA Division II, at which time it will join the Gulf South Conference. The official school and athletic colors are blue and white.