Belmont University Lauds Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 5

Belmont graduates largest class in University’s history

Belmont University will hold its spring 2012 commencement ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students on Saturday, May 5 in the Curb Event Center.

For the second consecutive year, the University will have two ceremonies on the same day. At 10 a.m. candidates from the College of Pharmacy, the College of Health Sciences & Nursing, the College of Business Administration, the College of Entertainment and Music Business and the School of Religion will have their degrees conferred. At 2 p.m. candidates from the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies and University College will have their degrees conferred.

Belmont celebrates the graduation of a total of 1,018 students, marking the largest graduation in the University’s history to date. During the graduation ceremonies, 723 undergraduate, 211 master’s and 84 doctoral degrees will be conferred. Among the graduates is the Belmont University College of Pharmacy charter class, with 65 members receiving their Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Tickets, which have been distributed to the graduating students, will be required for guests wishing to attend either event. The ceremonies can be watched live at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at  this link.

Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, will preside over the events and present the commencement address at both ceremonies.

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper Joins Belmont, TSU, Lipscomb Students for Joint Service Project

More than 200 university students carried on the legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. and other Civil Rights Movement workers when they spent five hours volunteering at Red Cross and Feed the Children, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper told the group.

“(King) visited Nashville not to give inspiration but to gain inspiration. That is the single greatest compliment that any community ever could be paid,” U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper said before they began their service projects. His brief speech highlighted the works of King, U.S. Rep. John Lewis and other Nashville students who marched throughout town and held sit-ins during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. “Thank you for carrying on Dr. King’s dream, even though we have not reached it today.”

The students from Belmont, Tennessee State and Lipscomb Universities gathered Jan. 14 at the American Red Cross of Middle Tennessee to celebrate and honor King through a day of community service. The MLK Day of Service is a nationally recognized event intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems and move individuals closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community.

“Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent most of his time serving others. Belmont, TSU and Lipscomb University are collaborating together once again to bring together people in the community as well as students who might not ordinarily meet or work together to honor his legacy,” said Summer Elliott, community partnership resource coordinator for Belmont’s Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Service-Learning. (more…)

Belmont University Celebrates MLK Day with Week of Special Events

In celebration of the Jan. 15 anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth date, Belmont University will hold a week of special events. As part of the 16th annual series of Commemorative Programs, our theme for 2012 is Jazz, Freedom, and Democracy:  Living Dr. King’s Symphony of Brotherhood. The University’s commitment to Martin Luther King Jr. Week through classroom and special events began in 1997 and continues to grow today.

“Dr. King poetically coined his vision a ‘symphony of brotherhood’ in his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, and the beauty and complexity of jazz highlights the struggles and achievements of American diversity.  Today, Belmont University sets the stage for such unity where students, staff and faculty of diverse backgrounds work, serve, study and pray together. This week of events merges the faith and talents of the Belmont community in honor of Dr. King’s legacy,” said Cheryl L. Slay, assistant professor of music business and chair of Belmont’s 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee.

The following events are free and open to both the Belmont community and the general public. For additional information, visit Belmont’s MLK Web site at www.belmont.edu/mlk.

• Wednesday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. – MLK Chapel Service in Neely Dining Hall. Fisk alumna Carolyn McKinstry will share her message of hope and the story of her survival of the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.
• Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m. – MLK Worship Service in Neely Dining Hall. The Black Students Association will lead an evening of praise and worship in honor of the legacy of Dr. King.
• Friday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m. — MLK Convocation in the Lila Bunch Library Multimedia Room. Music and music business professors will present images and sounds of jazz, popular music and the civil rights movement as they explore the connections between music and protest movements. (more…)

Belmont Ranks No. 7 in U.S. News List of America’s Best Colleges

Belmont lauded as ‘Up and Comer’ and for ‘Strong Commitment to Teaching’

Belmont University landed at No. 7 on U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of America’s Best Colleges. Announced today, Belmont placed in the Top 10 of the Regional Universities-South listing for the third consecutive year and was also lauded for the fourth year in a row as a top “Up-and-Comer,” indicating the university has made “promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” Moreover, Belmont was praised by its peers for its “unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “I am both humbled and honored to be president of Belmont University. These rankings are meaningful to me because they recognize the immense dedication and talents of Belmont’s faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees who commit themselves daily to making this institution one of the finest in the country.”

In the Best Regional Universities-South category, Belmont is again the highest-ranked university of the 15 ranked Tennessee institutions and in the top seven of the 127 schools included from the South. On some of the most important indicators used to determine the ranking, Belmont has improved over the previous year in its freshman retention and graduation rates. Other regional institutions in the Top 10 include Rollins College, Elon University, Stetson University, Samford University, The Citadel and James Madison University.

Provost Dr. Thomas Burns added, “Though I have only been part of the Belmont community since January, I have admired the high quality of Belmont’s academic programs and the faculty’s commitment to teaching for many years. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with colleagues who are passionate about engaging Belmont students in transformative learning every day.  Receiving recognition like this from our peers around the country is both a recognition of our commitment to excellence and a measure of the quality of our students, faculty and staff.”

At the start of the semester Belmont reached a record-breaking enrollment number for the eleventh straight year with approximately 6,400 students on campus, representing an eight percent increase since last year. Moreover, the incoming freshmen’s credentials continue to increase in strength with an average ACT score of 26.3 for the Class of 2015. In addition, 33 percent of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 61 percent were in the top quarter.

In addition to the Class of 2015, Belmont also welcomed its charter class to the College of Law last month. A total of 130 students are enrolled for the program’s inaugural year, beating projected goals by nearly 30 percent. Moreover, the strength of the initial class has exceeded expectations as well with incoming students holding a median LSAT score of 154.

Belmont University: Here We Grow Again!

Fall 2011 enrollment tops 6,300 including 130 Law students

With classes beginning today for the Fall 2011 semester, Belmont University reached a record-breaking enrollment number for the eleventh straight year: 6,374 students. This year’s enrollment marks an increase of eight percent from last year and a rise of 114 percent since 2000 when the school enrolled 2,976 students. The Belmont student body currently consists of 1,370 graduate and professional students and 5,004 undergraduates, representing record figures in both categories. In fact, for the first time, the University will enroll more than 2,000 new undergraduate and graduate/professional students this fall.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Every day I see more young adults and their families walking in the front door to visit Belmont, and I tell them that this university’s mission is to empower students to use their talents and passions to transform the world. To see so many of those faces return in August, accepting that challenge, makes me feel incredibly blessed.”

This year’s incoming freshman class represents 43 states and eight foreign countries, with 72 percent of the class originating from outside of Tennessee. The University received a record number of applications for graduate and undergraduate programs, a total of 8,013, including 3,882 applications for freshman admission, up 17 percent from last year. The average ACT score for the 2011-12 freshman class is 26.3. In addition, 33 percent of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 61 percent were in the top quarter. This year’s freshman class of 1,171 students held an average un-weighted cumulative high school GPA of 3.53, including 28 valedictorians and 17 salutatorians from schools reporting rankings. Also, a record number of 490 transfer students are joining the Belmont community this semester.

“The fall 2011 admission cycle at Belmont was tremendously successful by any measure. Interest in all that Belmont has to offer remains very high, and the response from prospective students this past year was incredible,” said David Mee, associate provost and dean of enrollment, who recently completed his first year at Belmont.

In addition to the Class of 2015, Belmont also welcomes its charter class to the College of Law this fall. A total of 130 students are enrolled for the program’s inaugural year, beating projected goals by nearly 30 percent. Moreover, the strength of the initial class has exceeded expectations as well with incoming students holding a median LSAT score of 154.

College of Law Dean Jeff Kinsler said, “Today is the day we’ve been waiting for and working toward, the day when we welcome our charter class to the College of Law. We are committed to preparing professional, practice-ready attorneys for today’s global legal market, and now we can implement that mission.”

Final enrollment figures won’t be available until mid-September following the university’s official drop/add/withdraw period.

The University’s record-breaking enrollment news is being met by the construction of several new buildings to help balance the ever-increasing demand for a Belmont education. Both the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center (future home of the College of Law) and a new residence hall are being built on the campus’ eastern side off 15th Avenue. Both facilities will include underground parking garages to accommodate a total of more than 1,000 cars. Belmont is also in the midst of a renovation of Belmont Heights Baptist Church’s main sanctuary to transform the space into a classical Concert Hall. All three projects are scheduled to be complete by next summer.