News and Media

Belmont Student-Athletes Rank High on NCAA Report

Bruins Once Again Set the Pace in Graduation Success Rate Report

Belmont University student-athletes received high marks in the 2009 Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report released Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). By any means of comparison – to other Atlantic Sun member institutions, the NCAA national average or to the general Belmont student population – Bruin student-athletes stand tall.

The two-pronged report contained both Federal graduation rates, which are based solely on freshman scholarship student-athletes enrolling between 1999 and 2002, and a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) that takes into account transfers in and out of the institution for the same time period. Both surveys are based on the student-athletes having six years to graduate from the time of their initial enrollment.

Five Belmont programs – baseball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s golf and women’s tennis – not only ranked among the nation’s best but paced the Atlantic Sun Conference in GSR within their respective sports. Four had perfect scores of 100 for the reported cohort. Click here for more on this story.

Belmont Students Develop Water Conservation Program for Elementary Students

Belmont students in Dr. Kim Daus' Honors Analytics class and the University's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter developed a program for elementary students that promotes water conservation. In an effort that originated with the city of Franklin's campaign to encourage ecologically-conscious water consumption, the Belmont students created an in-class program that implements peer-to-peer teaching to reinforce its message. The classroom program is presented in conjunction with a children's book developed by Belmont's SIFE students that explains to children the benefits of water conservation. This book, entitled Don't Be a Water Hog, is SIFE’s second in a series on environmentally sustainable practices and was written by Jen Hermansen and illustrated by Clare Cannon, both Belmont students.

As part of the program for elementary schoolers, 5th graders learned material relating to the project's theme and then presented it, as teachers, to younger students in 2nd grade classrooms. The 5th graders used an experiment-style lesson to teach the 2nd graders, allowing them to be actively involved in the instruction. The program is designed to encourage this cooperation between peers in an effort to promote leadership and enhance understanding.

“This is an unprecedented partnership between the City of Franklin, Belmont University and the Williamson County School District,” said Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey. “Our goal is to get the water conservation message out to as many young people as we can, and as this partnership grows we’ll also move it into the Franklin Special School District. By reaching our youngest citizens they can take the message into their homes and teach their parents the benefits of conserving water and becoming a sustainable household”

The students' work was featured in a Channel 5 News story. Click here to see the story.

Leading Expert Discusses History of Black Gospel Music

Dr. Cedric Carl Dent, Professor of Music Theory at Middle Tennessee State University, discussed the evolution of black gospel music Monday in a convocation sponsored the School of Religion. Dr. Dent is a leading expert in black gospel music and a member of TAKE 6, a Grammy award-winning gospel group. He is a baritone vocalist, music arranger and producer.

Dr. Dent discussed the history of black gospel music by tracing its roots back to the 1870s, when quartets formed across the country at historically black colleges and universities. Groups like the Fisk Jubilee Singers gained widespread popularity and set the tone for gospel music. The quartets often put contemporary spins on older hymns, such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” and “David and Goliath,” and Dr. Dent played older recordings as examples.

“The period of the 1870s to 1920s established the tradition of the jubilee chorus,” said Dent. “This style of singing incorporated Negro arrangements and was characterized by the barbershop style.”

The second development of black gospel music in America occurred as the barbershop quartet style spread from college campuses to communities, where they were often closely tied to churches. The focus of group harmony continued as groups like the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet gained widespread popularity.

Another major development occurred in the 1940s, as gospel music shifted to incorporate a Pentecostal style of sound, emphasizing a highly emotional style with a lead singer rather than a focus on group harmony. Dent played a sample of the popular 1950s group The Swan Silvertones to describe the shift.

Contemporary black gospel music continued to grow and evolve in the 1970s and 80s, with the emergence of popular groups like the Winans. Black gospel music continues to be a popular genre and blends with new musical styles.

Dr. Dent’s lecture was a part of a convocation series, titled, “Funding the Christian Imagination” which seeks to consider ways in which the arts influence faith.

Belmont’s School of Nursing Hosts 83-Year-Old First-Time Student for ‘Second Wind Dream’

Belmont University’s School of Nursing made the dreams of an 83-year-old woman come true. Ruth Ramsey, a resident at Morningside of Belmont Assisted Living, always dreamed of attending nursing school, but her parents refused to let her go once the U.S. became involved in World War II. More than 50 years later, Ruth joined Belmont nursing students in an “Introduction to Nursing” lab and participated in their practice procedures for the day taught by Dr. Lynne Shores and Martha Ezell.

This opportunity was made possible to Ramsey through Second Wind Dreams, a national non-profit organization that focuses on senior citizens in assisted living or nursing homes and helps them achieve what they never had the opportunity to do in their lives. Ramsey, who spent her career as a school teacher, often talked with Morningside Program Services Director Jana Pistole about how her lifelong desire to become a nurse never diminished.

“When Morningside connected with Second Wind, I immediately thought of Mrs. Ruth’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a nurse,” said Pistole.

Morningside staff surprised Ramsey with the news that she would be attending nursing class just minutes before her departure for Belmont. Belmont provided Ramsey with a lab coat monogrammed with her name, white surgical scrubs and an official badge to wear for her “nurse for a day” experience. The labs were set up much like a hospital room, and she and the other students were taught how to dress wounds through glue, steri strips, sutures and staples. She was able to practice the techniques she learned in class on mannequins in the lab.

“Ruth smiled the whole way through her class,” said Pistole. “She will tell the story [of coming to class at Belmont] over and over.”

Former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Presents Healthcare Reform Briefing

Tommy Thompson, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will present a healthcare reform briefing on Mon., Nov. 16, 2009 at 4 p.m. in the Gordon E. Inman Center at Belmont University.

Thompson, who served in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 until early 2005 after four terms as Governor of Wisconsin, will focus his remarks on how reform will impact providers, payers and individuals.

“As a country, we are closer than we have ever been to a major overhaul of the healthcare system, but there are still many questions surrounding the final legislation and its implementation,” remarked Thompson.

Stuart McWhorter, co-founder of Medical Reimbursements of America, the primary organizer of the briefing, said, “Tommy Thompson brings a unique insider perspective to the healthcare debate. He played an instrumental role in the passage and implementation of Medicare Part D, one of the most recent major expansions of healthcare coverage.”

Other sponsors of the briefing, in addition to Medical Reimbursements of America, include the Nashville Health Care Council, Clayton Associates and the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing at Belmont University. The event is part of the University’s Diagnosing Our Future Speaker Series.

The event is open to the public, but seating is limited and an RSVP is required. To RSVP, go to www.belmont.edu and follow the link to the Diagnosing Our Future Speaker Series.

Massey MBA Program Nationally Ranked by BusinessWeek

Belmont University announced today that its part-time MBA program has achieved a Top 30 first-tier national ranking in BusinessWeek’s 2009 report on “Top Part-Time MBA programs.” Belmont’s Massey School program ranked No. 18 in the U.S. between Richmond University (No. 17) and the University of Southern California (No. 19). Belmont also joined Emory University (No. 11) and Elon University (No. 6) as the top three ranked programs in the South. Nationally, other notable programs in the top 10 included the University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Berkeley and University of Michigan. BusinessWeek began ranking part-time MBA programs in 2007 in an effort to recognize the best MBA programs designed specifically for working professionals.

“The student satisfaction rankings and teaching quality metrics indicate that our Massey professors are doing an outstanding job in the classroom,” said Dr. J. Patrick Raines, dean of Belmont’s College of Business Administration. “And to be in the company of this group of national peers is simply tremendous.”

Massey School Associate Dean Dr. Joe Alexander added, “Our students and alumni will be very pleased with this recognition. Furthermore, for our business community and employers who long ago embraced Mr. Massey’s vision of a flexible, high-quality part-time MBA program for Nashville, what a way to signify that dream becoming a reality.”

]]> BusinessWeek uses a highly comprehensive methodology for its rankings calculations that includes measures of student satisfaction, academic quality and post-graduation outcomes. The magazine surveyed 12,414 part-time MBA students at participating schools, including those who had recently graduated or were nearing graduation. To assess academic quality, consideration was given to average GMAT score, average student work experience, the percentage of teachers who are tenured, average class size in core business classes, the number of electives available and the percentage of students who ultimately graduate. As for post-graduation outcomes, BusinessWeek determined the percentage of respondents from each school who reported their part-time MBA program was “completely” responsible for them achieving their career goals.

The BusinessWeek report singled out Belmont for highest marks in “quality of teaching” and “curriculum,” and the Nashville program ranked 7th in the U.S. in overall student satisfaction. The school was also rated highest for “career advancer” students, as opposed to “job changers” or “career switchers.”

“This recognition reinforces the quality of a Belmont education,” said Belmont Provost Dr. Marcia McDonald. “The Massey School is delivering on its commitment to students and fulfilling Belmont’s mission to provide an academically challenging education that will empower our students to engage and transform the world.”

BusinessWeek’s complete rankings of the “Best Part-Time MBA Programs” is available on-line (http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/) and includes expanded content, including the full rankings methodology, interactive tables, in-depth profiles, and a discussion forum.

About Belmont University’s Business Programs
The College of Business Administration offers undergraduate and graduate degree programming through its Undergraduate School of Business Administration and The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business. Undergraduate students pursue the bachelor of business administration (B.B.A.) degree, with study options in accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, information systems management, international business, management and marketing. Graduate students choose between a master of business administration (M.B.A.) or master of accountancy (M.Acc.) degree.

The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business also offers undergraduate and graduate degree programming. Undergraduate students pursue the bachelor of science (B.S.) or bachelor of arts (B.A.) degrees in audio engineering technology, entertainment industry studies or songwriting. The College also offers music business coursework that applies toward the bachelor of business administration (B.B.A) or master of business administration (M.B.A.) degree

University College Celebrates National Adult Student Appreciation Week

On Nov. 1-7, Belmont University’s University College celebrated its second annual Adult Student Appreciation Week. Designed to recognize non-traditional students on campus, as well as highlight efforts that have improved the adult student environment at Belmont, Belmont’s Adult Student Appreciation Week coincided with National Adult Student Appreciation Week, which is coordinated by the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education.

Highlights of the week included Adult Student Art Show at Belmont@Cool Springs, Late Night Academic Advising, Walk-in tea and treats at several locations on campus prior to evening classes, Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee Food Drive and making thank you cards for those who support Belmont’s adult students. In addition, several convocation events were held including Making an Effective Career Transition as an Adult led by Gary Boling in the Office of Career Services and a Stress Management Workshop Session led by Director of Counseling Services Peg Leonard-Martin.

To cap off the week, University College recognized several adult students in the program based on nominations received from their instructors and University College staff. Individual awards were as follows:

Henri Burton, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Janice Malone, RN-BSN program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Karen Elizer, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Remarkable Perseverance
Kim Lewis, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Personal Achievement
Ronshea Clark, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Excellence
Robert Blake, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Dedicated Involvement

Lakota Author Challenges Audience to Broaden Perspective

Lakota author Richard Twiss visited Belmont this morning, bringing with him a personal mantra that he asked the full Neely Dining Hall audience to repeat: “I am ethnocentric, narrow-minded and have limited vision.” (Click here to view the photo gallery from this event.)

Twiss is the co-founder of Wiconi International, a nonprofit Christian organization that seeks to provide assistance to Native Americans, as well as the author of One Church, Many Tribes, a book that examines how studying First Nations Christ followers can teach new ways of living with nature and one another. His “mantra” seeks to challenge individuals to recognize their own cultural biases and to open their minds to seeing God from Native perspectives.

Twiss shared the story of his own transformation from a drug user who hated Christians to a man who “experienced peace that can’t be humanly comprehended.” After overdosing on mushrooms in 1974 while living in Maui, Twiss noted that God was made known to him one day on the beach. “Even though Jesus looked a lot like Captain Jack Sparrow at the time, I’m pretty sure it was still Jesus.”

Inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, Twiss began to realize that God wasn’t represented by the Christians he had formerly encountered or that his family had suffered from on the reservations and in boarding schools. Instead, he began to see God through the eyes of his own cultural background. “The Bible gives him all kinds of Indian names: Bright and Morning Star, Lily of the Valley, Chief Cornerstone… God was speaking to the Lakota, the Cherokee, Shawnee [and other tribes] long before we discovered Christopher Columbus drifting around in the ocean.”

]]> Twiss concluded his talk by challenging his listeners, “All of you have prayers to dance. In what ways are you allowing yourself to be challenged to see God as bigger than you think?”

Co-sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Development and the College of Health Sciences and Nursing, Twiss’ appearance reflects Belmont’s deepening commitment to Native American cultural experiences. During the past 18 months, groups from Belmont have visited Pine Ridge Indian Reservation seven times for cultural awareness training, relationship building and project development, with more trips planned for 2010.

Jeff Kinsler Named Founding Dean for New College of Law

Former Dean, Yale graduate to join Belmont faculty in 2010

Belmont University announced today that Professor Jeffrey Kinsler will serve as the founding dean for the new College of Law. Currently a professor of law and senior scholar with Elon University School of Law in North Carolina, Kinsler previously served as dean of Appalachian School of Law, which he led to full American Bar Association (ABA) approval during his tenure. Kinsler already knows Belmont well, serving as a consultant in the plans for opening the new college. He will begin his tenure at Belmont in early 2010.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Jeff Kinsler is a perfect fit for Belmont. He is highly respected in the legal community and has previously provided leadership as dean in the creation of another law school. Most importantly, he understands our dreams and aspirations for creating a College of Law that is driven by the mission and core values of Belmont University."

Kinsler graduated first in his class from Valparaiso University School of Law (’89) and obtained a master of laws degree (LL.M., ‘96) from Yale Law School, where he served as senior editor of the Yale Journal of International Law. The winner of nine teaching awards, Kinsler has taught at several law schools in the United States and Australia. He also has served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Queensland in Australia. Kinsler was a partner with Katten, Muchin & Zavis in Chicago, “of counsel” at Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago and, more recently, “of counsel” at the Kingsport, Tennessee law firm of Hunter, Smith & Davis. A member of the Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois and Wisconsin bars, he has co-authored ten books and has published numerous law review articles in journals at law schools such as the University of North Carolina, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University. In 2006, he was named a “Virginia Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. In September, Kinsler was elected to the American Law Institute (ALI), the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and otherwise improve the law. Election to the ALI is limited to one third of one percent of lawyers in the country and is considered by many to be the most prestigious legal organization in America.

Kinsler said, “I’m honored to have been chosen as the founding dean and look forward to helping Belmont University build an excellent law school. I joined Belmont because it is determined to create a new kind of law school, one that produces professional, practice-ready attorneys for today’s global legal market. I’m convinced that Belmont University College of Law will be able to attract first-rate faculty and students.”

Leary Davis, founding dean emeritus of Elon University School of Law, said, “Jeff Kinsler is an outstanding lawyer and legal educator. As dean at Appalachian and as a member of the founding faculty at Elon, he is fully aware of what needs to be done to establish an excellent law school while navigating the path to provisional and then full American Bar Association approval. He has played key roles in both processes at two different schools.”

]]> Belmont announced Oct. 7, 2009 that the university is opening a College of Law, the first new law school in Middle Tennessee in nearly 100 years. Belmont’s College of Law represents the university’s seventh college and fourth doctoral program. The College will begin classes in fall 2011, and when at full capacity, it will enroll approximately 350 students.

Belmont’s College of Law provides a natural extension of the university’s mission and vision, which emphasize challenging academics, a service-minded approach, real-world experience and community leadership. Belmont law graduates will be practice-ready attorneys, empowered by their education and co-curricular experiences to provide legal counsel in a variety of settings, with commitment to high standards of expertise and ethics. The College of Law will be housed on campus in a new building that will include a state-of-the-art law library. For more information on the College of Law, visit www.belmont.edu/law.

Belmont's Steve Lasley Wins CFO Award

Steve Lasley, Belmont's vice president of finance and operations, was named today as a winner in the Nashville Business Journal's (NBJ) inaugural CFO Awards in the Nonprofit category. The awards banquet was held downtown at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

Lasley said, "I am so honored to be selected Nashville Business Journal CFO of the Year. It is particularly humbling to be in the inaugural group. Belmont is such an exciting and dynamic organization. Not only do I direct the finances of a great institution, but I also get the privilege of working with outstanding people across the entire campus."

NBJ's CFO Awards honor financial professionals in Middle Tennessee for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards. The nomination letter for Lasley noted, "[Steve's] financial management skills have supported the university’s core functions and resulted in significant achievements in the areas of revenue generation, cost savings, new construction, debt management and endowment growth. "

Lasley was chosen as one of 23 finalists in five categories who set the standard of excellence for Middle Tennessee CFOs. Judges then selected one winner from each group of finalists. Other nominees in the Nonprofit category included Robert K. Stillwell, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; Michael Kirby, Nashville Symphony; Mary Jo Wiggins, American Red Cross, Nashville Area Chapter; and Spence Maners, Fisk University.

Belmont Students Join Hanson’s ‘Take the Walk’ Tour to Raise Awareness of Poverty and AIDS in Africa

On Tues., Oct. 27, students from Belmont and Vanderbilt universities joined the band Hanson for its ‘Take the Walk’ tour, a barefoot optional, one-mile walk to raise awareness of poverty and AIDS in Africa. About 300 participants gathered in Belmont’s Beaman Student Life Center where Hanson addressed the crowd and started the walk. Walkers, many of whom chose to go without shoes, started at the Bell Tower and ended at the Vanderbilt University bookstore where Hanson signed their book, Take the Walk, and performed three acoustic songs. Click here to view video of the event on Belmont's official YouTube channel.

The walk raised funds to support one of five causes, with one dollar donated by the ‘Take the Walk’ campaign for each walker. The band educated students on the issues surrounding the walk and also promoted existing efforts on the Belmont and Vanderbilt campuses and in the Nashville community such as United: For Change.

To see a gallery of images from this event, click here.

IEBA Provides Scholarships for Curb College Students

Belmont University announced today that the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) is funding new scholarship opportunities for students in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. In addition to the Harry A. “Hap” Peebles/IEBA Scholarship Endowment established in 1998, IEBA has established three new endowed scholarships at Belmont: The J.P. Williams/IEBA Scholarship Endowment, The Don Romeo/IEBA Scholarship Endowment and the George Moffett/IEBA Scholarship Endowment. Collectively totaling more than $200,000, the IEBA scholarships will provide much needed financial support to Curb College students. Picture l-r in the photo are Clyde Rolston (CEMB), Tiffany Davis (IEBA), Barry Jeffrey (IEBA), Gil Cunningham (IEBA) and Harry Chapman (Development).

"IEBA is proud to support the next generation of music industry leaders while paying homage to those that have shaped live entertainment into the force that it is today,” said Tiffany Davis, executive director, IEBA. “We are so happy to partner with Belmont University through the Harry A. Peebles, Don Romeo, J.P. Williams and George Moffett Scholarships. Our goal is to nurture students to become thriving members of the entertainment community, and Belmont is a perfect partner."

In addition to generous financial contributions, IEBA executives Barry Jeffrey of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Gil Cunningham of Neste Event Marketing recently shared their expertise on talent buying with Curb College students at a recent “Insider’s View” seminar.

Dr. Wesley Bulla, dean of the College of Entertainment and Music Business, expressed Belmont’s gratitude for the support, “We appreciate IEBA investing in the lives of the aspiring entertainment professionals at Belmont University and are grateful for our ongoing partnership.”

]]> About IEBA
IEBA provides networking, showcasing and educational opportunities to strengthen relationships, foster growth and increase revenue for the live entertainment industry. IEBA is known for showcasing the best and brightest talent in all genres of music and all fields of entertainment—exposing buyers to the freshest acts for the buying season. IEBA is an intimate organization that makes a huge impact. IEBA pays tribute to the trailblazers of entertainment at the annual IEBA Honors ceremony. We salute those that have shaped where we are and those that continue to reinvent the entertainment industry. Past honorees have included: Loggins and Messina, ZZ Top, Ronnie Milsap, Patti Page, Loretta Lynn, Lou Rawls, Brenda Lee, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Wayne Newton, Barbara Mandrell, Styx, Porter Wagoner, LeAnn Rimes and numerous others. http://www.ieba.org/

Belmont Launches Extensive ‘Be a Fan’ Campaign to Promote Basketball Season Ticket Sales

With the start of basketball season only weeks away, Belmont University has launched the most extensive marketing campaign in Athletics history to promote men’s and women’s basketball and sell season tickets. Numerous efforts are underway in the “Be a Fan” campaign to raise awareness of Belmont basketball. For the first time, all season ticket buyers will receive the “Bruin Edge,” a coupon book with an estimated $250 value, double the price of the ticket itself. Deals include discounts to numerous local hotels and restaurants as well as to entertainment venues like the Nashville Zoo and TPAC.

“While the ‘Bruin Edge’ certainly adds extraordinary value, it’s only one of a number of reasons fans should consider purchasing a season ticket to Bruin basketball,” said Pamela Johnson, director of university marketing and special initiatives. “Most importantly, the proceeds the university receives from season tickets go toward athletic scholarships, making those tickets an easy, affordable way to support Belmont’s fine student-athletes. Plus, anyone who’s ever attended a Bruins game will tell you that it’s hard to find a better night of competitive sports and family-oriented fun.”

In addition to the “Bruin Edge” coupon book, the “Be a Fan” basketball campaign includes 10 billboards placed around Nashville, all featuring Belmont mascot Bruiser holding a mask of his own face. Similarly themed ads will soon begin running in Nashville’s City Paper and on the Belmont.edu Web site with numerous celebrities appearing with their own Bruiser masks as part of a season-long contest. Individuals will be asked to guess who is behind the mask in each monthly advertisement, Nov.-Feb. They can then turn in the official form with their guess at any Belmont home basketball game for a chance to win a getaway weekend for two to anywhere in the continental United States. The prize will be given away at the Bruins’ last home game on Feb. 27, 2010.

]]> The “Be a Fan” campaign kicked off several weeks ago with a partnership with the Nashville Scene to do the first major “freeze” event in Nashville. Nearly 100 Belmont students joined mascot Bruiser to "freeze" in place for five minutes in Hillsboro Village in an effort to build buzz for Belmont's upcoming basketball season. Click here for video of the Bruin Freeze. In addition to the Freeze, the partnership with the Scene included having a Bruiser mask placed in each of the publication’s 52,000 copies in the Oct. 15 “Best of” Nashville issue.

Finally, back by popular demand, men’s basketball will host its second annual “Meet the Bruins” night Thurs., Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. CT in the Curb Event Center. Sponsored by Pepsi, the event will serve as the first opportunity for the campus community and general public to see the 2009-10 Belmont Bruins in action. The event also allows season ticket holders an opportunity to choose their seats. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative basketball roster card and T-shirt. To purchase season tickets, call 460-BALL or visit the season ticket table that will be located outside the Belmont cafeteria on Nov. 2-3. Click here for more on “Meet the Bruins” night.

Belmont Tops Out New Health Science Building, Home for Schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy

Ceremony celebrates completion of $30 million building’s frame

Nearly one year after breaking ground, Belmont University today celebrated the “topping out” its new $30 million health sciences building, which will serve as the future home for the School of Pharmacy, a Belmont program which welcomed its second class this fall. The building, which has an anticipated completion date of June 2010, will also house the School of Physical Therapy and will include expansion space for the Schools of Nursing and Occupational Therapy as well as the Social Work and Psychology programs. (Click here to view a photo of gallery of today's event.)

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “In addition to providing a time to celebrate and thank all the workers behind this immense project, a topping out is also a time to look forward to when this structure is complete. This building will be a model, 21st century academic facility, providing a venue where our students and faculty resources can intersect in service to help meet the medical needs of our community and our world.”

Designed by Earl Swensson Associates with construction by R.C. Mathews, the 90,000-square-foot building will continue the innovation for which Belmont University has become known, containing top-notch laboratories. The facility will emphasize integrated, “hands on” experiential learning components including a licensed, state-of-the-art campus pharmacy which will provide services to students, faculty and staff while also serving as a training site for student pharmacists. Of special note are the simulation labs, where students and community clinicians can practice skills either on actors who simulate patients or on high tech manikins; this simulation suite is interdisciplinary, and programs will be encouraged to work in simulated scenarios that involve several health disciplines. In addition, faculty will have sophisticated research labs set aside for research studies, and students will be able to assist in these studies.

Dr. Jack Williams, dean of Belmont’s College of Health Sciences and Nursing, said, “Together with the Gordon E. Inman Center, this new structure will unite Belmont’s health science studies in one strategic location on campus. By completing and enhancing our health sciences complex, the university is providing inter-professional education opportunities for all of our health science students and preparing them to be both competent and compassionate practitioners.”

]]> In addition to the educational influence, the building’s innovations also serve to complement Belmont’s efforts toward environmental sustainability. For starters, the building’s four-level underground parking garage reduces the structural footprint, saving four acres of land that would have been lost to surface parking. The building’s total footprint, including the garage, is less than an acre. Another significant “green” feature is the 20,000 gallon water storage tank, which will have the ability to capture excess ground and storm water that would otherwise be pumped into the storm system. The collected water will be recycled and used to irrigate the campus. The new building will also feature a green roof which at this time is planned to mimic a cedar glade with a wide variety of plant life.

Belmont’s School of Pharmacy, which will graduate its first class in spring 2012, will help alleviate the significant shortfall of qualified pharmacists needed both in the state and country at large. The School of Pharmacy seeks to become a nationally-recognized practice and leadership center with a four-pillared approach that will afford students additional focus areas of management, informatics, pharmacotherapy or missions.

State-of-the-art facilities, challenging medical-model curriculum and varied clinical education sites all contribute to making Belmont’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) one of the premier programs in the country. The PT curriculum emphasizes both research and business, and students are given opportunities to practice at clinical sites locally and internationally. The School of Physical Therapy is currently located on the campus’ south side, near the corner of Delmar and 15th Avenues. Moving to the new building in 2010 will augment the School’s connection with Belmont’s other health programs.

The Gordon E. Inman Center, currently the main health sciences building on Belmont’s campus, officially opened at Belmont in June 2006 after 20 months of construction. The $22.5 million facility now houses Belmont’s nursing, social work and occupational therapy programs as well as several general education classes and community conference space. Together with the Inman Center, this new structure will provide a consolidation of all the university’s health science studies—pharmacy, nursing, social work, occupational therapy and physical therapy—on the campus’s northeast corner.

Alumnus Gorley Takes Home Top Honor at ASCAP Awards

Ashley Gorley, a 1999 Belmont graduate from the College of Entertainment and Music Business, received the Songwriter of the Year award at Monday night's ASCAP Country Music Awards held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, an invitation-only gala that salutes the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed country songs of the past year.

Gorley wrote or co-wrote Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This,” Brad Paisley and Keith Urban’s “Start a Band” and Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like This for Long.” “You’re Gonna Miss This” was also named one of ASCAP's five most-played songs in the past year and Country Song of the Year. For his wins, Gorley was presented with a special, limited edition Gibson Les Paul guitar. In referencing "You’re Gonna Miss This," Adkins told NewsChannel5, "[Ashley's] had a great year, not just with this song. He still has hits. He's got new hits on the radio right now. I mean he's on a roll."

ASCAP also recognized a distinguished group of songwriters with the Silver Circle honor in recognition of 25 years or more of ASCAP membership. Among those honored were Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, a graduate of Belmont's Masters of English program and a Writing Center tutor, and Bob Regan, an adjunct in the College of Entertainment and Music Business who teaches "Fundamentals of Songwriting."

]]> Several alumni also performed at the event including Gorley, Sarah Buxton, Chris Rodriguez and Lee Ann Womack. In addition, numerous alumni were noted for writing songs in ASCAP's Top 25 most performed category: Connie Harrington ("Every Other Weekend"), Josh Turner ("Everything Is Fine"), Jeremy Stover ("How 'Bout You Don't"), Kelley Lovelace and Brad Paisley ("I'm Still a Guy"), Gorley ("It Won't Be Like This for Long"), Hillary Lindsey ("Just a Dream" and "Last Name") and Gorley and Lovelace ("Start a Band").