Belmont University facts for kids
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Former names
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Belmont College for Young Women (1890–1913) Ward–Belmont College (1913–1951) Belmont College (1951–1991) |
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| Motto | "Purpose Character Wisdom" |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1890 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Religious affiliation
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Christian (nondenominational) |
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Academic affiliations
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NASAD NAICU |
| Endowment | $356.8 million (2022) |
| President | L. Gregory Jones |
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Academic staff
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534 Full-time and 401 Part-time (2023) |
| Students | 8,910 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 7,384 |
| Postgraduates | 1,526 |
| Location |
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United States
36°07′59″N 86°47′38″W / 36.133°N 86.794°W |
| Campus | Urban, 75 acres (30 ha) |
| Newspaper | Belmont Vision |
| Colors | Red and blue |
| Nickname | Bruins |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – MVC |
| Mascot | Bruiser the Bruin |
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Belmont (Acklen Hall)
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| Location | Belmont Blvd. Nashville, Tennessee |
| Built | 1850 |
| Architect | William Strickland |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000816 |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
Belmont University is a private Christian university located in Nashville, Tennessee. It started as the Belmont Women's College in 1890. Two schoolteachers, Ida Hood and Susan Heron, founded it. Later, in 1951, it became Belmont College.
As the school grew and added more programs, it changed its name to Belmont University in 1991. Today, about 8,900 students attend Belmont. They come from all over the United States and many other countries. In 2007, the university became independent from the Tennessee Baptist Convention. However, it still focuses on its Christian identity.
Contents
- What is the History of Belmont University?
- What Can You Study at Belmont University?
- Where are Belmont University Campuses Located?
- What is Student Life Like at Belmont?
- What are Some Interesting Places at Belmont?
- What About Sports at Belmont?
- Presidential Debates at Belmont
- Who are Some Famous People from Belmont?
- Who are Some Famous Teachers at Belmont?
What is the History of Belmont University?
Belmont University began as the Belmont Women's College in 1890. It was founded by Susan Ledley Heron and Ida Emily Hood. The college was built on the land of the historic Belmont Mansion. This mansion was originally built by Joseph and Adelicia Acklen.
When Heron and Hood retired, Belmont Women's College joined with Ward Seminary in 1913. It was then called Ward—Belmont College. This new school included both a junior college and a high school for young women. Belmont University now owns the Belmont Mansion. A non-profit group helps take care of it. You can even take tours of the mansion to see its old art and furniture. The water tower, gardens, and statues from the Acklen era are also part of the campus.
In 2020, the university received a special award. The Japanese Foreign Minister honored Belmont for helping Japan and the U.S. understand each other better.
Nashville's First Radio Station
Nashville's very first radio station started broadcasting in May 1922. A 16-year-old high school student named John "Jack" DeWitt Jr. set it up at Belmont. He was a Boy Scout. Dr. C. E. Crosland, an Associate President at the college, saw how useful a radio station could be.
The station, WDAA, aired its first music program on April 18, 1922. This was the first time music was broadcast in Nashville. People could hear the broadcast up to 150 to 200 miles (320 km) away from the school. John DeWitt later became a chief engineer and president for another famous radio station, WSM.
Becoming Independent from the Tennessee Baptist Convention
In 1951, the Tennessee Baptist Convention bought Ward–Belmont College. The college was having serious money problems. The convention then started Belmont College in March 1951, which allowed both male and female students. R. Kelly White was chosen as its first president.
In 1959, Herbert Gabhart became president. Under his leadership, Belmont became officially recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The number of students grew from 365 to 2,000. The college also started a new music business program. Bill Troutt took over as president in 1982. At 32, he was the youngest college president in the country. In 1991, the school changed its name to Belmont University.
In 2005, Belmont's leaders wanted the university to be independent from the Tennessee Baptist Convention. They still wanted a friendly relationship. They suggested that all board members be Christians, but only 60 percent needed to be Baptists. This would show that Belmont was Christian but also welcomed different beliefs. The head of the Convention would still be on the board. However, the Convention did not agree to this plan.
In 2007, Belmont officially became independent from the Tennessee Baptist Convention. They agreed that Belmont would pay the Convention $1 million right away. Then, Belmont would pay $250,000 each year for the next forty years. This totaled $11 million. Belmont stated it would remain a Christian university but without a specific Baptist connection.
Belmont in the 21st Century
In February 2018, Belmont University took over the O'More College of Design. Then, in March 2019, Belmont announced a change. Its College of Visual and Performing Arts would split into two separate colleges. One would be the College of Music and Performing Arts. It would include music, theater, and dance. The other would be the O'More College of Architecture, Art and Design. It would house architecture, art, fashion, and other design programs.
Two years later, Belmont University announced another merger. They would join with Watkins College of Art, Design & Film in Nashville. Belmont planned to welcome Watkins students. In May 2021, Belmont sold the former Watkins College campus for $22.5 million. The university said this money would help fund scholarships for art students.
Who are Belmont University's Presidents?
- L. Gregory Jones (2021–present)
- Robert Fisher (2000–2021)
- Bill Troutt (1982–2000)
- Herbert Gabhart (1959–1982)
- R. Kelly White (1951–1959)
What Can You Study at Belmont University?
Belmont University offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in over 90 subjects. They can also get more than 25 master's degrees and five doctoral degrees. These programs are spread across nine colleges.
Belmont and HCA worked together to help with a shortage of nurses and healthcare workers. They created a health sciences group with other local universities. This group helps students get office space and advice from teachers and local business leaders. Journalism students at Belmont have also gained experience working at major news and entertainment companies.
How Does Belmont University Rank?
| USNWR National University | 236 (tie) of 394 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 367 of 442 |
In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Belmont was tied for 236th place. This was out of 394 National Universities.
Music and Music Business Programs
Belmont has a very famous Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB). The people who teach here are experts in the music industry. They include authors, performers, managers, lawyers, and record label executives. Mike Curb, the CEO of Curb Records, is the college's namesake. He is a very successful music producer and songwriter.
A key part of the program is its internship program. Hundreds of students each year get to work in the music industries of Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. They intern for record labels, management companies, and recording studios.
Belmont has three professional recording studios on campus. It also owns the Belmont Studios, which includes Ocean Way Nashville. Famous artists like Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow have recorded there. Ocean Way Nashville was bought by Belmont in 2001. It has recorded music for thousands of projects, including the score for the popular game The Last of Us.
Schools and Colleges at Belmont
- College of Education
- College of Law
- College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
- College of Sciences & Mathematics
- College of Music & Performing Arts
- Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
- Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education
- Jack C. Massey College of Business
- The Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB)
- O'More College of Architecture & Design
- Watkins College of Art
Where are Belmont University Campuses Located?
Main Campus in Nashville
Belmont's main campus is in a city area near Nashville's Midtown district. It is close to several neighborhoods like Hillsboro-West End and Music Row. You can easily walk to shopping and dining areas like 12South and Hillsboro Village.
In June 2006, Belmont opened the Gordon E. Inman Center. This $18 million building houses the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing. It has special learning labs with Sim Man mannequins. These mannequins help nursing students practice their skills. There are also classrooms for occupational therapy, maternity care, and more.
Belmont also has the Curb Event Center. This is a large arena with 5,000 seats. It hosts basketball games, concerts, and other events. The CMT Awards and a Presidential Debate have been held here. This center is connected to the Beaman Student Life Center. Together, they cost $52 million to build.
In 2015, the university opened its R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center. This building is home to Belmont's Curb College and its Department of Media Studies. It also has the Harrington Place Dining area.
Regional Campus
Belmont has a "Williamson Center" in Franklin, Tennessee. This center opened in January 2015. It is used for adult education programs and business meetings. It replaced an earlier center in Cool Springs.
National Campuses
- Los Angeles (Belmont West)
- New York City (Belmont East)
What is Student Life Like at Belmont?
Belmont has over 190 student groups. These include the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB). There are also Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities) and many other clubs.
The largest student group is Service Corps. This group focuses on volunteer work within the music industry. It is only for students in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
Belmont's Greek community includes five sororities and four fraternities. About 17% of full-time undergraduate students were part of these groups in 2017.
Belmont has a large music program with many musical groups. There are 15 vocal groups and 23 instrumental groups. There are also three student-run a cappella groups: The Beltones, Prismatics, and Pitchmen. These groups often compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). The Pitchmen won 1st place at the ICCA Finals in 2023.
Belmont has a student newspaper called The Vision. It is published every month.
What are Some Interesting Places at Belmont?
Main Campus Attractions
- Belmont Mansion
- The Bell Tower – This was the first carillon in Tennessee. It was also one of the first 25 installed in North America.
- Curb Event Center
Off-Campus Facilities
- E.S. Rose Park – This park is owned by Metro Nashville Parks. Belmont University partners with them to use it. It hosts NCAA Division I baseball, soccer, softball, and track events.
What About Sports at Belmont?
Belmont is part of the NCAA Division I. Its sports teams are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. This includes all of Belmont's sports except men's soccer. The men's soccer team joined the Horizon League in 2014.
In the mid-1990s, Belmont changed its team nickname to the "Bruins". Before that, they were called the "Rebels." The name "Rebels" was changed because it was linked to the Confederacy. "Bruin" is an old English word for bear.
Belmont student-athletes have a strong record in academics. In 2011, they won the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Trophy. This was their eighth win in ten years. About 76% of student-athletes had at least a 3.0 grade-point average. In 2012, they won the Ohio Valley Conference Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the first time. They won this award for the fourth year in a row in 2015. This award goes to the school with the most student-athletes earning a 3.25 GPA or higher.
Presidential Debates at Belmont
On November 19, 2007, Belmont University was chosen to host a Presidential election debate. They were one of sixteen finalists. The debate took place on October 7, 2008. It was a "town hall" style debate, where audience members asked questions.
In 2019, Belmont was chosen again to host a presidential debate. This was the third and final debate for the 2020 election. It happened on October 22, as planned. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden participated. Kristen Welker from NBC News was the moderator.
Who are Some Famous People from Belmont?
Who are Some Famous Teachers at Belmont?
- Alberto Gonzales, who used to be the United States Attorney General, teaches law.
- Mark Volman, a founding member of the band The Turtles, is a professor of entertainment industry studies.
- Alan Shacklock, a music producer, is a professor of audio engineering technology.
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Mark Volman
