Community Commitments:  The Core of a Belmont Education

As an expression of the institution's vision, mission and values, Belmont students commit themselves to individual worth; personal integrity; critical thinking; self-control; and community responsibility.

Acknowledging each person's freedom and responsibility, each student should also recognize the occasional need to modify her/his behavior for the good of the Belmont community or of society at large. In this sense, all students should strive to behave responsibly in an effort to create a climate of mutual respect. A student's continued enrollment and participation in university life is conditioned upon her/his adhering to the behavioral expectations of this statement. Students who engage in behavior that betrays these commitments will be subject to disciplinary action.

In affirming these commitments, the Belmont community expects each student to exemplify behaviors consistent with these commitments in all facets of university life: academic classes, convocation programs, musical and dramatic performances, athletic competitions, lectures, presentation and off-campus events and programs associated with Belmont, as well as to exemplify them within all university facilities including housing, academic buildings, library, offices, student center and other activity centers.  Additionally, students are expected to exemplify these commitments and to comply with federal, state and local laws in their conduct off campus.   Off campus behavior inconsistent with these commitments is likely to be addressed through university disciplinary action when such behavior poses a substantial or continuing threat or disruption to the community.

1.  Individual Worth
The Belmont community is committed to the dignity and worth of every individual, recognizing that each person is unique with certain rights and responsibilities. Such respect for the individual calls for toleration of differing opinions, attitudes and cultures and insistence on fair and just treatment for all individuals

As members of the Belmont community, students can expect reasonable action will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behaviors that compromise this commitment. Such behaviors include, but are not limited to, physical abuse, threats, intimidation (verbal or otherwise), harassment, hazing, coercion and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.

2.  Personal Integrity
The Belmont community is committed to personal integrity as the foundation of university life and as the cornerstone of a premier educational experience. The community believes trust among its members is essential to scholarship and is basic to effective interactions and operations of the university. 

As members of the Belmont community, students can expect reasonable actions will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behaviors that compromise this commitment. Such acts include dishonesty, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or forgery, furnishing false information; alteration or misuse of any official document, record or instrument of identification; abuse of computing resources. 

3.   Critical Thinking
The Belmont community is committed to the pursuit of truth and the communication of knowledge. The community encourages individuals to develop the on-going capacity for critical independent thinking and judgment. The community believes in the individual's right to teach and to learn, as well as in the individual's responsibility to prepare adequately.

As members of the Belmont community, students can expect that reasonable actions will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behaviors that compromise this commitment. Such acts include, but are not limited to, disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, convocation/campus life programs, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other university activities, including public-service functions and authorized non-university activities that occur on university premises.  Other acts which compromise this commitment includes participation in campus demonstrations which disrupt the normal operations of the university and infringe on the rights of other members of the community, leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction that unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus.

4.  Self-Control
The Belmont community is committed to self-control and respect for self and others that enable all individuals to develop intellectually, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically. The community believes in the ongoing developmental process of individuals' assuming responsibility for the effect their behaviors have on themselves and others.

As members of the Belmont community, students can expect that reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that their experience is free from behaviors that betray this commitment. Such acts include, but are not limited to, violations of the stated university policies in regard to alcohol and drugs, smoking or sexual conduct.

5.  Community Responsibility
The Belmont community is committed to positive interpersonal relationships among all members of the university community and members interactions within the community beyond campus. In so doing, the community respects the rights and properties of all individuals and the community itself. The community also respects the laws of the society and the just administration of those laws. The community encourages responsible citizenship and involvement of each individual and seeks to serve and to be faithful stewards of all its resources.

As members of the Belmont community, students can expect reasonable action will be taken to ensure their experience will be free from behaviors that betray this value. Such acts include, but are not limited to, gambling, attempted or actual theft and/or damage to property of the university or any member of the community or any other public or private property; unauthorized possession, duplication, use of keys to any university premises or any unauthorized entry or use of university premises; illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, knives of unlawful length, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on university premises. In addition, students are expected to comply with all university policies, as well as comply with federal, state and local laws. Persons the university believes to have engaged in illegal activity on and off campus may be subject to disciplinary action.

Based on these commitments, Belmont University has developed a number of policies to assist its members in understanding what is expected of them, and to assist the community at large to operate more smoothly, effectively, and safely. Becoming aware of these policies or expectations is your responsibility and will enable you to navigate successfully within our community. These policies are outlined in the Bruin Guide online.  Should you have questions about any of these expectations, please contact the Coordinator for Student Conduct & Academic Integrity at 615-460-6407.

Community Commitment Pledge

“As a member of the Belmont University community, I commit myself to affirm individual worth, uphold personal integrity, apply critical thinking, practice self-control and accept community responsibility.  In committing myself to these principles, I agree to exemplify behavior which is consistent with the university’s Community Code of Conduct."