Belmont University
Encyclopedia
Belmont University is a private
, coeducation
al, liberal arts university located in Nashville
, Tennessee
, United States
. It is the largest Christian
university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University
.
was the home of Adelicia Hayes Acklen Cheatham, a wealthy Nashville socialite and businesswoman. Built starting in 1849, it was one of the most elaborate antebellum
homes in the South, with 36 rooms and 19000 sq ft (1,765.2 m²) in size. The estate contained an art gallery, conservatories, bowling alley, lavish gardens, aviary
, lake and a zoo (which was then subsequently opened to the public). In 1887 Acklen Cheatham sold the estate to a group which intended to develop it into a subdivision, but in 1889 the mansion and 13 acres of its grounds became the home to a women's school run by a Miss Hereon and Miss Hood. This school merged with Ward Seminary in 1913 and was known as Ward-Belmont College, which included both a junior college and college-prep (or high) school for women. Today it is owned by Belmont University but maintained by the Belmont Mansion Association, a non-profit group. The mansion is open for tours and features Victorian art
and furnishings. The gardens, with surviving gazebos and outdoor statuary from the Acklen era, are part of the college campus.
radio station's chief engineer, 1932–1942, and president, 1947-1968.
ranked it number 5 of masters-degree universities in the South. For the applicant class of 2008-09, Belmont admitted 63% of its applicants (only 35% of business students admitted as freshman), and half of those students matriculated. The average ACT score for the admitted class is 26. One-third of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 61 percent were in the top quarter. This includes 28 valedictorians and 17 salutatorians with the incoming class holding an average cumulative high school GPA of 3.5. Approximately 81% of entering freshman return for their sophomore year. The overall graduation rate for Belmont is 66%.
created a health sciences consortium with local universities to alleviate the shortage of nurses and health care professionals in the local community, and provides students with shared office space and mentoring from faculty, local entrepreneurs and attorneys. New Century Journalism students have gained work experience at The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Daily Show, CBS Evening News, and British Broadcasting Corp.
Belmont's Mike Curb
College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB) consists of current/former authors, performers, expert witnesses (for industry lawsuits), artist managers, lawyers, record label
executives, songwriters, and others. The former dean of the CEMB, Jim Van Hook, is a legendary Nashville label head, especially as part of the Christian music industry
. He is currently CEO of Word Entertainment. One of the hallmarks of the program is its internship program, which sends hundreds of students annually out into the Nashville music industry to intern for record labels, management companies, publishing companies, booking agencies, publicists, recording studios, law firms, and other businesses. Belmont recently began a university-affiliated publishing company, Bruin Publishing, to give student songwriters, engineers, and musicians the chance to create and publish student music directly funneled into the music industry and to give students a genuine industry experience. Bruin Publishing was founded by student Kevin Grosch.
Besides having three professional-quality recording studios on campus, Belmont owns the Belmont Studios (including Ocean Way Nashville), part of which is operated for-profit (used by such artists as Dave Matthews
, Sheryl Crow
, and Bob Seger
), and part of which is used by students. Belmont also operates historic RCA Studio B
(formerly used by Elvis Presley
, Roy Orbison
, and Dolly Parton
), in conjunction with the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb Family Foundation. In addition, the music business program operates Belmont West and Belmont East, which enable students to spend a semester learning about and interning in the entertainment industries in Los Angeles
and New York City
, respectively.
In June 2006, Belmont opened the new $18 million Gordon E. Inman Center that now houses the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing.[10] A state-of-the-art facility, which was financed primarily by Nashville businessman Gordon E. Inman and the HCA TriStar Health System, the building has three stories of classroom space that contain learning labs equipped with Sim Man mannequins that respond to the actions of the nursing students. Additionally, there are classrooms centered on both adult and pediatric occupational therapy, maternity and neonatal care complete with Sim Man babies and a birthing Sim Woman, orthopedics lab, and many classrooms of various sizes.
Belmont also houses the Curb Event Center, a 5000-seat multi-purpose arena, which is used for basketball games, concerts, and other events like the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CMT Awards, and the 2008 Presidential Debate. The facility is connected to the Beaman Student Life Center and Maddox Grand Atrium—collectively, a $52 million development.
The largest student organization on campus is Service Corps, which focuses on volunteer work inside the Music Industry and is open only to students enrolled in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
Belmont's Greek community consists of four sororities and four fraternities. The sororities are Alpha Gamma Delta
, Alpha Sigma Tau
, Delta Sigma Theta
, and Phi Mu
. A fifth sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta
, is scheduled to be added in fall 2011. The fraternities include Alpha Tau Omega
, Phi Beta Sigma
, Phi Kappa Tau
, and Phi Delta Theta
. Approximately 10% of the student body is Greek. Belmont Panhellenic
is the second largest student organization on campus with over 300 members. There is also an interest group for Kappa Alpha Psi
.
Belmont has a large Music program, and a variety of musical ensembles exist on the campus. There are currently 13 vocal ensembles and 22 instrumental ensembles. In addition, there is a student-run, co-ed a cappella group called The Beltones. Belmont is also home to two Greek-lettered music fraternities, Sigma Alpha Iota
and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
.
Belmont operates four private television stations called BTV (local Comcast stations for its residents), as well as one student newspaper called The Vision, published monthly.
Students may also become involved through special interest organizations including, but not limited to Bolting Belmont Bruins running club, Service Corps, the Psychology Club and The M.O.B. (Motivational Organization of Belmont) which supports athletics. Students are encouraged to get involved. If a club does not exist for a student's interests, they are encouraged to start one, though not all student-proposed groups are officially chartered right away. In the 2009 and 2010 academic years, the university decided not to charter Belmont Bridge Builders (whose purpose would have been to explore various LGBT issues and Christian faith), and a university dialogue group was started instead. However, the Bridge Builders group was finally approved in the spring of 2011.
Notable supporters of Belmont include Mike Curb
(substantial donor/namesake of CEMB and Curb Event Center/founder and head of Curb Records
), Jack C. Massey
(substantial donor to and namesake of BU's business building and graduate business program, former head of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a founder of Hospital Corporation of America
), and Vince Gill
(country music artist whose annual charity event has raised thousands in scholarship money).
Belmont is a member of the NCAA
Division I and at present is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference
, a non-football
conference. Starting in the 2012-2013 season Belmont University will start competing in the Ohio Valley Conference
in all sports except Men's Soccer.
In the mid-1990s, Belmont adopted the mascot
"Bruin
s", replacing the earlier mascot of Rebels due to the latter's association with the Confederacy
.
The school has a feverish basketball rivalry with Lipscomb University
and currently plays them at least twice per year on a home-and-home basis (even more frequently in some years) in games nickname
d the "Battle of the Boulevard". In 2006, likely the most important Battle of the Boulevard game to date was played. With both teams battling for their first-ever NCAA Tournament
berths, the Belmont Bruins nipped Lipscomb in overtime to win the Atlantic Sun conference championship 74-69. The Belmont Bruins were seeded 15th in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to the UCLA Bruins.
In 2007, Belmont won the Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball championship for the second year in a row, defeating East Tennessee State University
in Johnson City
94-67. The Bruins continued to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, losing in the first round to the Georgetown
Hoyas.
In 2008 The Bruins advanced for the third straight year to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, after winning the Atlantic Sun Regular Season as well as Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship, again earning a 15 seed against the #2 seeded Duke Blue Devils
. Belmont had their best tournament showing ever in this game, falling short by a score of 71-70 to the Blue Devils, nearly pulling off an incredible upset.
In 2009 The Bruins posted their first post season, men's basketball, victory by beating Evansville University in the CollegeInsider.com Post Season Tournament (CIT).
In 2010 The Bruins won the Atlantic Sun Regular Season Men's Basketball Championship for the third time in four years. However, due to the Conference Tie Breaker, Belmont did not receive a bid to the NIT Tournament after losing in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
In 2011 The Belmont Bruins Men's Basketball programm posted a 19-1 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference, won the regular season conference championship, and won the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship by the largest margin (41 points) in conference history. The Bruins entered the NCAA Tournament as a 13th seed, losing to Wisconsin 58-72. The Bruins' 30-5 record for the season set a new, NCAA era record for the program.
In 2011 Belmont student-athletes won the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Trophy for the eight time in ten years with 76.32 per cent of the student-athletes achieving at least a 3.0 grade-point average .
On November 19, 2007, The Commission on Presidential Debates
officially chose Belmont University to host one of three Presidential election debate
s on October 7, 2008. President Bob Fisher gave a press conference on November 19 announcing the news, expressing great excitement towards the opportunity to be a part of something so historic. He added: "It is an amazing honor, a tremendous responsibility and a fantastic opportunity for all of us. We will be privileged to see the frontlines of the political process and engage with a vast array of professionals and scholars, all while witnessing the significant benefits this event will have on our university and the local Nashville community."
Belmont was chosen out of sixteen finalists.
The Debate at Belmont was different from the others in that it was a "town-hall" style debate. In a Town-Hall debate, questions are fielded from the audience. Belmont announced in April 2011 that they have applied to host one of the 2012 presidential election debates.
In 1951, Ward-Belmont College
, the finishing school operated in Nashville by Ward-Belmont, Inc., was facing severe financial difficulties. To relieve those problems, the school entered into a relationship with the TBC. Under the terms of that relationship, the Tennessee Baptist Convention provided the school with financial support and in exchange was granted certain management rights related to the school. In particular, all of the members of the school's Board of Trustees were required to hold membership in a Baptist church.
In 2005 Belmont's Board of Trustees sought to remove Belmont University from the control of the Tennessee Baptist Convention while remaining in a "fraternal relationship" with it. Advocates of this plan presented a blueprint for change in which all board members would be Christians but only 60 percent would be Baptists in order to affirm a Christian affinity while acknowledging the diversity of both the faculty and the student body. The head of the TBC would continue to be an ex officio board member. The TBC rejected this plan.
In November 2005 The Tennessean
reported that the TBC would increase its funding of two other institutions, Union University
and Carson-Newman College
by the amount previously given to Belmont and Belmont would replace the three percent of its budget that was funded by the TBC; this announcement seemed to mark the end of the matter. However, on April 7, 2006 The Tennessean reported that the TBC would seek to oust the existing board and replace it with one consisting entirely of Southern Baptists and amenable to ongoing TBC control.
After settlement talks failed, the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board filed a lawsuit on September 29, 2006 against Belmont seeking the return of approximately $58,000,000.
On November 14, 2007, Nashville media reported that a settlement of this suit had been reached before trial. Under its terms, the TBC and Belmont would disaffiliate amicably, with Belmont agreeing to pay one million dollars to the convention immediately, and $250,000 annually for the next forty years, for a total cost of $11,000,000. The University has stated its intent to maintain a Christian identity, but no longer a specifically Baptist one.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
, coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al, liberal arts university located in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the largest Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
.
Belmont Mansion
Belmont MansionBelmont Mansion (Tennessee)
Belmont Mansion, also known as Acklen Hall, and originally known as Belle Monte, Belle Mont or Belmont, is a historic mansion located in Nashville, Tennessee on the campus of Belmont University that today functions as a museum....
was the home of Adelicia Hayes Acklen Cheatham, a wealthy Nashville socialite and businesswoman. Built starting in 1849, it was one of the most elaborate antebellum
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
homes in the South, with 36 rooms and 19000 sq ft (1,765.2 m²) in size. The estate contained an art gallery, conservatories, bowling alley, lavish gardens, aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
, lake and a zoo (which was then subsequently opened to the public). In 1887 Acklen Cheatham sold the estate to a group which intended to develop it into a subdivision, but in 1889 the mansion and 13 acres of its grounds became the home to a women's school run by a Miss Hereon and Miss Hood. This school merged with Ward Seminary in 1913 and was known as Ward-Belmont College, which included both a junior college and college-prep (or high) school for women. Today it is owned by Belmont University but maintained by the Belmont Mansion Association, a non-profit group. The mansion is open for tours and features Victorian art
Victorian decorative arts
Victorian decorative arts refers to the style of decorative arts during the Victorian era. The Victorian era is known for its eclectic revival and interpretation of historic styles and the introduction of cross-cultural influences from the middle east and Asia in furniture, fittings, and Interior...
and furnishings. The gardens, with surviving gazebos and outdoor statuary from the Acklen era, are part of the college campus.
Nashville's first radio station
The first radio station in Nashville went on air in May 1922 when John "Jack" DeWitt, Jr., a 16-year-old high school student, installed a twenty-watt transmitter at Belmont. The station, WDAA, was born when Doctor C. E. Crosland, Associate President, realized the potential advertising value to the college of a radio station. The WDAA program on April 18, 1922 marked the first time a music program was broadcast in Nashville. The broadcast could be heard 150 to 200 miles (321.9 km) from the school. DeWitt later became WSM (AM)WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
radio station's chief engineer, 1932–1942, and president, 1947-1968.
Rankings and recognition
Belmont was cited as "School to Watch" in 2009 for its innovative programs. U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
ranked it number 5 of masters-degree universities in the South. For the applicant class of 2008-09, Belmont admitted 63% of its applicants (only 35% of business students admitted as freshman), and half of those students matriculated. The average ACT score for the admitted class is 26. One-third of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 61 percent were in the top quarter. This includes 28 valedictorians and 17 salutatorians with the incoming class holding an average cumulative high school GPA of 3.5. Approximately 81% of entering freshman return for their sophomore year. The overall graduation rate for Belmont is 66%.
Academic programs
Belmont University offers 7 bachelor’s degrees in over 75 academic majors in 6 colleges and 1 school along with 20 master’s and 4 doctoral programs. Belmont and HCAHospital Corporation of America
Hospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world, It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is widely considered to be the single largest factor in making that city a hotspot for healthcare enterprise.-History:The founders of HCA include Jack C....
created a health sciences consortium with local universities to alleviate the shortage of nurses and health care professionals in the local community, and provides students with shared office space and mentoring from faculty, local entrepreneurs and attorneys. New Century Journalism students have gained work experience at The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Daily Show, CBS Evening News, and British Broadcasting Corp.
Music and music business programs
Belmont is home to the only AACSB International accredited Music Business program in the world.Belmont's Mike Curb
Mike Curb
Michael Curb is an American musician, record company executive, NASCAR and IRL race car owner. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr...
College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB) consists of current/former authors, performers, expert witnesses (for industry lawsuits), artist managers, lawyers, record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
executives, songwriters, and others. The former dean of the CEMB, Jim Van Hook, is a legendary Nashville label head, especially as part of the Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
. He is currently CEO of Word Entertainment. One of the hallmarks of the program is its internship program, which sends hundreds of students annually out into the Nashville music industry to intern for record labels, management companies, publishing companies, booking agencies, publicists, recording studios, law firms, and other businesses. Belmont recently began a university-affiliated publishing company, Bruin Publishing, to give student songwriters, engineers, and musicians the chance to create and publish student music directly funneled into the music industry and to give students a genuine industry experience. Bruin Publishing was founded by student Kevin Grosch.
Besides having three professional-quality recording studios on campus, Belmont owns the Belmont Studios (including Ocean Way Nashville), part of which is operated for-profit (used by such artists as Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
, Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, and Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
), and part of which is used by students. Belmont also operates historic RCA Studio B
RCA Studio B
RCA Studio B is a noted recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Situated at 30 Music Square W and originally known simply as RCA Studios, it became famous in the 1960s for being a part of what many refer to as the Nashville Sound...
(formerly used by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
), in conjunction with the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb Family Foundation. In addition, the music business program operates Belmont West and Belmont East, which enable students to spend a semester learning about and interning in the entertainment industries in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, respectively.
Schools and colleges
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
- College of Business Administration
- Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing
- The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business (CEMB)
- University College
- Graduate School
- Massey Graduate School of Business Administration
- School of Religion
- School of Pharmacy
- College of Law
Main Campus (Nashville)
Belmont also houses the Curb Event Center, a 5000-seat multi-purpose arena, which is used for basketball games, concerts, and other events like the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CMT Awards, and the 2008 Presidential Debate. The facility is connected to the Beaman Student Life Center and Maddox Grand Atrium—collectively, a $52 million development.
Student life
Belmont has over 80 student organizations. These include Student Government, Program Board, Greek Life, as well as other special interest organizations.The largest student organization on campus is Service Corps, which focuses on volunteer work inside the Music Industry and is open only to students enrolled in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
Belmont's Greek community consists of four sororities and four fraternities. The sororities are Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Delta is an international women's fraternity, who are mainly sluts, founded in 1904 at Syracuse University. The Fraternity promotes academic excellence, philanthropic giving, ongoing leadership and personal development, and a spirit of loving sisterhood. Also known as "Alpha Gam" and...
, Alpha Sigma Tau
Alpha Sigma Tau
Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...
, Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
, and Phi Mu
Phi Mu
Phi Mu is the second oldest female fraternal organization established in the United States. It was founded at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. The organization was founded as the Philomathean Society on January 4, 1852, and was announced publicly on March 4 of the same year...
. A fifth sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta , also known as Theta, is an international fraternity for women founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury...
, is scheduled to be added in fall 2011. The fraternities include Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
, Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
, and Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
. Approximately 10% of the student body is Greek. Belmont Panhellenic
National Panhellenic Conference
The National Panhellenic Conference , founded in 1902, is an umbrella organization for 26 national women's sororities.Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alumnae...
is the second largest student organization on campus with over 300 members. There is also an interest group for Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
.
Belmont has a large Music program, and a variety of musical ensembles exist on the campus. There are currently 13 vocal ensembles and 22 instrumental ensembles. In addition, there is a student-run, co-ed a cappella group called The Beltones. Belmont is also home to two Greek-lettered music fraternities, Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota , International Music Fraternity for Women. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public...
and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
.
Belmont operates four private television stations called BTV (local Comcast stations for its residents), as well as one student newspaper called The Vision, published monthly.
Students may also become involved through special interest organizations including, but not limited to Bolting Belmont Bruins running club, Service Corps, the Psychology Club and The M.O.B. (Motivational Organization of Belmont) which supports athletics. Students are encouraged to get involved. If a club does not exist for a student's interests, they are encouraged to start one, though not all student-proposed groups are officially chartered right away. In the 2009 and 2010 academic years, the university decided not to charter Belmont Bridge Builders (whose purpose would have been to explore various LGBT issues and Christian faith), and a university dialogue group was started instead. However, the Bridge Builders group was finally approved in the spring of 2011.
Notable alumni
- Jay AyresJay AyresJay Ayres is an American soccer defender.Ayres played college soccer at Belmont University, and for Nashville Metros in the USL Premier Development League, before being signed by the San Jose Earthquakes....
, Professional soccer player - Didi BenamiDidi BenamiVered "Didi" Benami is an American singer/songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee, who was the tenth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist - Diane BlackDiane BlackDiane Lynn Black is the U.S. Representative for . The district includes several suburban and rural areas east of Nashville. She is a member of the Republican Party. She is formerly a member of the Tennessee Senate for the 18th district, which encompasses Robertson County and part of Sumner County...
, U.S. Representative from Tennessee - Jimmy BowenJimmy BowenJimmy Bowen is an American record producer and former pop music performer.Bowen was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico. He began as a teenage recording star in 1957 with "I'm Stickin' With You," originally the flip side of the hit record "Party Doll" by Buddy Knox, but ultimately a Top 20 recording...
, American record producer and former pop music performer - Ricky Braddy, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist - Sarah BuxtonSarah BuxtonSarah Buxton is an American country music artist, formerly signed to the independent Lyric Street Records...
, Country music artist - Chuck CannonChuck CannonCharles Marion "Chuck" Cannon, Jr. is an American country music songwriter. His compositions include hit singles for Toby Keith and John Michael Montgomery. Cannon has also received awards for Broadcast Music Incorporated, as well as an Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year...
, Songwriter - Travis CottrellTravis CottrellTravis Cottrell is an American contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader.- Biography :Cottrell was raised in Boone, North Carolina. In 1990, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to study at Belmont University. After graduating in 1992 with a degree in music, Cottrell...
, Christian artist - Steven Curtis ChapmanSteven Curtis ChapmanSteven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
, Grammy award winning Christian artist - Cowboy CrushCowboy CrushCowboy Crush is an American country music band signed to Curb Records' Asylum/Curb division. The group is composed of Trenna Barnes , Debbie Johnson , Becky Priest , and Renaé Truex . Until 2006, Darla Perlozzi was also a member of the group...
, country music band; all five members are alumni. - Denver and the Mile High OrchestraDenver and the Mile High OrchestraDenver and the Mile High Orchestra is a horn-driven band based out of Nashville, Tennessee. DMHO was formed by a group of friends at Belmont University in 1999. They have traveled across the world, playing at churches, conferences, and festivals...
, "big band" featured as a finalist on The Next Great American BandThe Next Great American BandThe Next Great American Band is a reality television talent show. The show premiered on October 19, 2007 and aired on FOX at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times Friday nights...
. - MikeschairMIKESCHAIRMikeschair is an American contemporary Christian band signed to Curb Records. The group has charted on the American Contemporary Christian music charts with the song "Can't Take Away", which was the seventh most played Contemporary Christian music song in the United States for the week of June 13,...
, Christian band - Melinda DoolittleMelinda DoolittleMelinda Marie Doolittle is an American singer who finished as the third place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol...
, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist. - Jace EverettJace EverettJace Everett is an American recording artist. Signed to Epic Records in 2005, he released his debut single "That's the Kind of Love I'm In" in 2005, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and was the first single from his self-titled debut album. He also co-wrote Josh...
, Recording artist - Stephen GauseStephen GauseStephen Gause is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, but has lived in Nashville, Tennessee since August 1993. He came to Nashville originally to attend Belmont University where he earned a degree in commercial music with emphasis in performance and production...
, Record Producer - Sharon GilchristSharon GilchristSharon Gilchrist is an American bluegrass musician, singer, and the sister of Troy Gilchrist, also a bluegrass musician..-Youth:...
, Bluegrass musician and singer - Ashley GorleyAshley GorleyAshley Gorley is an American songwriter and producer. Gorley graduated from Belmont University in 1999, and in 2001 signed with Combustion Music...
, Songwriter and producer - Stu GrimsonStu GrimsonA. Stuart Grimson is a former Canadian ice hockey forward. Grimson played in the National Hockey League from 1989 to 2002. During this time, he played for the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings,...
, former NHL enforcer. - Andrew GreerAndrew GreerAndrew Greer is a nationally touring independent singer-songwriter and writer currently living in Nashville, Tennessee.- Background :Greer grew up in Azle, Texas before moving to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Belmont University. After graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Music , he worked at...
, singer-songwriter - Helen HemphillHelen HemphillHelen Hemphill is an author in the Children's Literature genre.-Biography:Helen Delane Hemphill was born in Bridgeport, Texas July 1, 1955. She received her BA from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls in 1977...
, Author - H. L. HixH. L. HixHarvey Lee Hix , who signs his work H. L. Hix, is an American poet and academic.Hix is the author of books of poetry, criticism and essays and has been awarded a fellowship from the NEA. He has also won the KCAI Teaching Excellence Award and the T. S...
, American poet and academic. - Jeff IrwinJeff IrwinJeff Irwin is an East Nashville, Tennessee based multi-instrumentalist. He has performed with Griffin House, Cerys Matthews , Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken, Mat Kearney, Taylor Sorensen & the Trigger Code, and many others including the Counting Crows.-Biography:Born in Creve Coeur, Missouri, Irwin...
, Musician - Tamara "Taj" Johnson-GeorgeTamara Johnson-GeorgeTamara "Taj" Johnson-George is a singer, actress, and author. Best known as one-third of the singing group SWV, she was also a contestant on Survivor: Tocantins.-Background:...
, member of R&B group SWVSWVSisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, author, and Survivor: Tocantins contestant. - Drew Johnson (politics), Political commentator
- Jesse Lee (singer)Jesse Lee (singer)Jesse Lee is an American country music singer. Signed to Atlantic Nashville in 2007, she released her debut single "It's a Girl Thing" in 2009, which debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated for June 6, 2009. A second single, "Like My Mother Does," was released in 2010, which failed...
, Country music singer - Kimberley LockeKimberley LockeKimberley Dawn Locke is an American singer-songwriter and model. She has recorded in the dance, pop and adult contemporary music genres....
, American Idol finalist, music star, and plus-size model. - Gordon KennedyGordon Kennedy (musician)Gordon Kennedy is a multi Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer, world-class guitarist and visionary at the forefront of Nashville’s music community....
, Co-writer of Eric Clapton song "Change the World" and Grammy winner (1996 Song of the Year, 2006 Best Pop Instrumental Album) - Levi KreisLevi KreisLevi Kreis is an American recording artist and actor from Oliver Springs, Tennessee.-Music career:His debut album was released on November 17, 2005, accompanied by an appearance on a special XM radio edition of NBC's The Apprentice. Four hopefuls were chosen from thousands of submissions...
, Tony Award Winning music artist - Willie MackWillie MackWillie Mack is a country music singer-songwriter born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in Chico, Texas. He has had his songs recorded by Sara Evans, Collin Raye, The Oak Ridge Boys and Mark Wills, among others...
, singer-songwriter - Sandra McCrackenSandra McCrackenSandra McCracken is an independent singer-songwriter. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and fellow singer-songwriter Derek Webb.-Background:...
, 1999, singer-songwriter. - Ginny OwensGinny OwensVirginia Leigh Owens is a Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter. "Ginny" Owens was born in Jackson, Mississippi, with poor eyesight and has been blind since the age of two. She earned her bachelor of music education in 1997 from Belmont University, but found that most people were...
, Christian music artist. - Brad PaisleyBrad PaisleyBrad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
, country music artist. - Ricardo PattonRicardo Patton-External links:*...
, head basketball coach at Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P... - Minnie PearlMinnie PearlSarah Ophelia Colley Cannon , known professionally as Minnie Pearl, was an American country comedienne who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.-Early life:Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee,...
(real name Sarah Cannon) of Grand Ole Opry and Hee HawHee HawHee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
fame; attended Belmont's predecessor, the Ward-Belmont SchoolWard-Belmont CollegeWard-Belmont College was a women's college, also known at the time as a "ladies' seminary," located in Nashville, Tennessee on the grounds of the antebellum estate of Adelicia Acklen....
. - Tucker PerryTucker PerryTucker Nichol Perry is a beauty queen from Franklin, Tennessee who held the Miss Tennessee USA title and competed in the Miss USA pageant in 2010.-Pageants:...
, Miss Tennessee USAMiss Tennessee USAThe Miss Tennessee USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant.Since 2001 the pageant has been held in the auditorium at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee....
2010, and Top 10 finalist at Miss USA 2010Miss USA 2010Miss USA 2010, the 59th edition of the Miss USA pageant, was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 16, 2010. Miss USA 2009, Kristen Dalton of North Carolina, crowned her successor, Rima Fakih of Michigan as Miss USA 2010 at the... - Jill PhillipsJill PhillipsJill Phillips is an American Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, Tennessee, who brings a folk-rock sound.Phillips got her start in a music career when she graduated from Belmont University in 1998. Her first, self-titled album was produced by grammy-award winning Wayne...
, Christian music artist. - DJ Qualls, actor.
- Julie RobertsJulie RobertsJulie Roberts is an American country music singer. Signed to Mercury Nashville in 2004, Roberts made her debut that year with the single "Break Down Here", a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and the first track from her self-titled debut album...
, country music artist. - J. P. RodriguesJ. P. RodriguesJohn Paul "J.P." Rodrigues is an American-born Guyanese footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-College and amateur:...
, Professional soccer player - Frank RogersFrank RogersFrank Rogers may refer to:*Frank Rogers , American record producer*Frank Lewis Rogers , New Zealand politician*Frank Rogers , fictional character in TV soap Brookside...
, Record Producer - Duane SimolkeDuane SimolkeDuane Simolke is an American writer based in Lubbock, Texas, who has authored The Acorn Stories, Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure, Holding Me Together, The Return of Innocence , and New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio, based on the original Sherwood Anderson classic...
, American writer - Rachel SmithRachel SmithRachel Renee Smith is an American beauty queen and television personality from Clarksville, Tennessee, who won the Miss USA pageant in 2007 and who previously had competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant.-Early life:...
, Miss Tennessee Teen USAMiss Tennessee Teen USAThe Miss Tennessee Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Tennessee in the Miss Teen USA pageant....
2002, Miss Tennessee USAMiss Tennessee USAThe Miss Tennessee USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant.Since 2001 the pageant has been held in the auditorium at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee....
2007, and Miss USA 2007Miss USA 2007Miss USA 2007, the 56th Miss USA pageant, was held in Hollywood, California, on March 23, 2007, after two weeks of events and preliminary competition. The winner of the pageant was Rachel Smith, of Tennessee.... - Larry StewartLarry Stewart (singer)Larry Stewart is an American country music singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop band Restless Heart...
, country music artist, lead singer of Restless HeartRestless HeartRestless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's original members were John Dittrich , Paul Gregg , Dave Innis , Greg Jennings , and Verlon Thompson... - Pam TillisPam TillisPamela Yvonne "Pam" Tillis is an American country music singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis....
, country music artist - Josh TurnerJosh TurnerJoshua Otis "Josh" Turner is a country music singer and actor signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2003, Turner has released four studio albums for the label. The first of these was 2003's Long Black Train, whose title track was his breakthrough single release...
, country music artist. - Troy VergesTroy VergesTroy Verges is an American country music songwriter. His credits include the singles "Who I Am" by Jessica Andrews, "Blessed" by Martina McBride and "Wasted", all of which went to number one on the country music charts...
, songwriter - Tony VincentTony VincentTony Vincent, born Anthony Peter Strascina, is an American actor, singer and songwriter born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and based out of New York City, New York. He took the stage name Tony Vincent when he was preparing to release his first EP in 1993 .-Early career:Vincent's professional career...
, actor - Lisa Williams (poet)Lisa Williams (poet)-Life:She is from Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Belmont University, from the University of Virginia, with an M.F.A. and from the University of Cincinnati, with an M.A.She is an associate professor of English at Centre College....
, poet - Lee Ann WomackLee Ann WomackLee Ann Womack is an American country music singer and songwriter, who is best known for her old fashioned-styled country music songs that often discuss subjects such as cheating and lost love....
, country music artist. - Trisha YearwoodTrisha YearwoodPatricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, country music artist. - Ashlyne HuffAshlyne HuffAshlyne Huff is an American singer-songwriter and dancer. She is the daughter of Nashville producer and session-guitarist Dann Huff.- Early life :...
, singer-songwriter - Masood Ashraf RajaMasood Ashraf RajaOriginally from Pakistan, Dr. Masood Ashraf Raja is an Assistant Professor of Postcolonial Literature and Theory at the University of North Texas and the editor of Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies, a journal that he founded in 2009...
, Assistant Professor University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067... - Julienne IrwinJulienne IrwinJulienne Irwin is an American singer from Bel Air, Maryland. Irwin was a finalist on the second season of America's Got Talent.-Biography:...
, America's got TalentAmerica's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
finalist
Notable supporters of Belmont include Mike Curb
Mike Curb
Michael Curb is an American musician, record company executive, NASCAR and IRL race car owner. A Republican, he served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979-1983 under Democratic Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr...
(substantial donor/namesake of CEMB and Curb Event Center/founder and head of Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
), Jack C. Massey
Jack C. Massey
Jack Carroll Massey , Venture capitalist and entrepreneur, born 1904 in Tennille, Georgia. In 1964, after a career in the medical supply industry, he bought Kentucky Fried Chicken from its founder, Harland Sanders, for $2 million. Seven years later he sold it for $239 million...
(substantial donor to and namesake of BU's business building and graduate business program, former head of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a founder of Hospital Corporation of America
Hospital Corporation of America
Hospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world, It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is widely considered to be the single largest factor in making that city a hotspot for healthcare enterprise.-History:The founders of HCA include Jack C....
), and Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
(country music artist whose annual charity event has raised thousands in scholarship money).
Main campus attractions
- Belmont Mansion (Tennessee)Belmont Mansion (Tennessee)Belmont Mansion, also known as Acklen Hall, and originally known as Belle Monte, Belle Mont or Belmont, is a historic mansion located in Nashville, Tennessee on the campus of Belmont University that today functions as a museum....
- The Bell Tower—The first carillon in Tennessee and in the first 25 installed in North America.
- Curb Event CenterCurb Event CenterThe Curb Event Center is a multipurpose arena on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.The facility was completed in 2003. It is the home venue of Belmont's men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams and hosted the 2004 and 2005 Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball...
Off-campus facilities
- Greer Stadium -- Belmont's baseball team utilizes this stadium for its games.
- The Boulevard—Fine dining and events on Belmont Blvd.
Athletics
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I and at present is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
, a non-football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
conference. Starting in the 2012-2013 season Belmont University will start competing in the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
in all sports except Men's Soccer.
In the mid-1990s, Belmont adopted the mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
"Bruin
Bruin
Bruin or BRUIN may refer to any of the following:* Bruin, the bear in the Reynard cycle fables, whence the word was introduced into English* A bear, especially a Eurasian Brown Bear* Brown University Interactive Language, a programming language...
s", replacing the earlier mascot of Rebels due to the latter's association with the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
The school has a feverish basketball rivalry with Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville between Belmont Boulevard to the west and Granny White Pike on the east...
and currently plays them at least twice per year on a home-and-home basis (even more frequently in some years) in games nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d the "Battle of the Boulevard". In 2006, likely the most important Battle of the Boulevard game to date was played. With both teams battling for their first-ever NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
berths, the Belmont Bruins nipped Lipscomb in overtime to win the Atlantic Sun conference championship 74-69. The Belmont Bruins were seeded 15th in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, losing in the first round to the UCLA Bruins.
In 2007, Belmont won the Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball championship for the second year in a row, defeating East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
in Johnson City
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
94-67. The Bruins continued to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, losing in the first round to the Georgetown
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Hoyas.
In 2008 The Bruins advanced for the third straight year to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, after winning the Atlantic Sun Regular Season as well as Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship, again earning a 15 seed against the #2 seeded Duke Blue Devils
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. Belmont had their best tournament showing ever in this game, falling short by a score of 71-70 to the Blue Devils, nearly pulling off an incredible upset.
In 2009 The Bruins posted their first post season, men's basketball, victory by beating Evansville University in the CollegeInsider.com Post Season Tournament (CIT).
In 2010 The Bruins won the Atlantic Sun Regular Season Men's Basketball Championship for the third time in four years. However, due to the Conference Tie Breaker, Belmont did not receive a bid to the NIT Tournament after losing in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament.
In 2011 The Belmont Bruins Men's Basketball programm posted a 19-1 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference, won the regular season conference championship, and won the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship by the largest margin (41 points) in conference history. The Bruins entered the NCAA Tournament as a 13th seed, losing to Wisconsin 58-72. The Bruins' 30-5 record for the season set a new, NCAA era record for the program.
In 2011 Belmont student-athletes won the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Trophy for the eight time in ten years with 76.32 per cent of the student-athletes achieving at least a 3.0 grade-point average .
Presidential debate
- See also Nashville Townhall Debate of the 2008 Presidential Election
Commission on Presidential Debates
The Commission on Presidential Debates began in 1987 by the Democratic and Republican parties to establish the way that presidential election debates are run between candidates for President of the United States...
officially chose Belmont University to host one of three Presidential election debate
United States presidential election debates
During presidential elections in the United States, it has become customary for the main candidates to engage in a debate...
s on October 7, 2008. President Bob Fisher gave a press conference on November 19 announcing the news, expressing great excitement towards the opportunity to be a part of something so historic. He added: "It is an amazing honor, a tremendous responsibility and a fantastic opportunity for all of us. We will be privileged to see the frontlines of the political process and engage with a vast array of professionals and scholars, all while witnessing the significant benefits this event will have on our university and the local Nashville community."
Belmont was chosen out of sixteen finalists.
The Debate at Belmont was different from the others in that it was a "town-hall" style debate. In a Town-Hall debate, questions are fielded from the audience. Belmont announced in April 2011 that they have applied to host one of the 2012 presidential election debates.
Separation from the Tennessee Baptist Convention
Belmont severed its ties from the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2007, when the university announced it would be a Christian university without any denominational affiliations.In 1951, Ward-Belmont College
Ward-Belmont College
Ward-Belmont College was a women's college, also known at the time as a "ladies' seminary," located in Nashville, Tennessee on the grounds of the antebellum estate of Adelicia Acklen....
, the finishing school operated in Nashville by Ward-Belmont, Inc., was facing severe financial difficulties. To relieve those problems, the school entered into a relationship with the TBC. Under the terms of that relationship, the Tennessee Baptist Convention provided the school with financial support and in exchange was granted certain management rights related to the school. In particular, all of the members of the school's Board of Trustees were required to hold membership in a Baptist church.
In 2005 Belmont's Board of Trustees sought to remove Belmont University from the control of the Tennessee Baptist Convention while remaining in a "fraternal relationship" with it. Advocates of this plan presented a blueprint for change in which all board members would be Christians but only 60 percent would be Baptists in order to affirm a Christian affinity while acknowledging the diversity of both the faculty and the student body. The head of the TBC would continue to be an ex officio board member. The TBC rejected this plan.
In November 2005 The Tennessean
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
reported that the TBC would increase its funding of two other institutions, Union University
Union University
Union University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown, Tennessee, and Hendersonville, Tennessee...
and Carson-Newman College
Carson-Newman College
Carson–Newman College is a historically Baptist liberal arts college located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, United States. Enrollment as of 2006-2007 was about 2,050. The college's students come from 44 U.S. states and 30 other countries. Studies are offered in approximately 90 different academic...
by the amount previously given to Belmont and Belmont would replace the three percent of its budget that was funded by the TBC; this announcement seemed to mark the end of the matter. However, on April 7, 2006 The Tennessean reported that the TBC would seek to oust the existing board and replace it with one consisting entirely of Southern Baptists and amenable to ongoing TBC control.
After settlement talks failed, the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board filed a lawsuit on September 29, 2006 against Belmont seeking the return of approximately $58,000,000.
On November 14, 2007, Nashville media reported that a settlement of this suit had been reached before trial. Under its terms, the TBC and Belmont would disaffiliate amicably, with Belmont agreeing to pay one million dollars to the convention immediately, and $250,000 annually for the next forty years, for a total cost of $11,000,000. The University has stated its intent to maintain a Christian identity, but no longer a specifically Baptist one.
Lisa Howe controversy
Belmont University became a catalyst for anti-discrimination protests in December 2010, when women's soccer coach Lisa Howe allegedly lost her job at the university because she is a lesbian. Howe's dismissal sparked protests from students and from local and national gay-rights advocates. These events led to a city-wide anti-discrimination ordinance being passed by the Nashville City Council in January 2011. On January 26, 2011, President Bob Fisher announced that Belmont has added sexual orientation to the university's non-discrimination policies.External links
- Belmont University — Official website
- Belmont Student Government Association
- Official Belmont University Alumni Association
- Official Athletics website
- Belmont Academy — Official website
- Civil War History of the Mansion