Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse background to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.
The Welcome Home Diversity Council, Belmont's interdisciplinary council, is devoted to diversity and inclusion efforts across campus and is focused on enhancing and embedding a culture of inclusive excellence, meeting community members where they are. To facilitate this important work, the Council landed on a new, overarching tagline, the Belmont State of Mind: Initiative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This tagline houses all of the Council's diversity and inclusion initiatives, while featuring other on campus events that are focused on similar outcomes (i.e. diversity and inclusion).
The Belmont State of Mind is inclusive, it's celebratory, it's open-minded and welcoming, it's transparent and honors differences, it challenges ideals and encourages dialogue—these major tenets of the Belmont community have always been in place, the Council is eager to bring them to the forefront. The WHDC is excited to devote its time, effort and resources to recognizing, publicizing and celebrating the Belmont State of Mind throughout campus and encouraging all members of the Belmont community to do the same.
Belmont's definition of diversity is as follows:
"We are all created in the image of God, living as Christ’s body on earth with respect to differences that include, but are not limited to, ethnicity, gender identity, race and sexual orientation. The institutional definition of diversity at Belmont is consistent with our mission to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, courage and faith. Our words and actions toward everyone must be embodied with respect, dignity and compassion."
Here are just a few examples of steps Belmont’s taken in the last year to build a more inclusive campus:
- Hosted a 2020 MLK Week Celebration with the theme “A Call for Unity,” featuring keynote speakers, a candlelight service, a film presentation, campus dialogues and a day of service.
- Held a workshop with Sodexo’s Global Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility Dr. Rohini Anand covering workforce trends and the importance of diversity in higher ed
- Partnered with Sodexo for a Diversity Summit for key campus leaders
- Held the 5th Annual Diversity Week featuring spoken word poet Amena Brown, an Ability Exhibit, student panels and listening sessions as well as guest lecturers
- Presented “Minding the Gap: Diversity in Entertainment Symposium,” day-long campus and community exploration of inclusion topics in the entertainment industries.
- Faculty and staff participated in 45 Diversity and Inclusion workshops, and student leaders participated in Belmont State of Mind diversity training.
- Continued our support of scholarship programs designed to recruit diverse students to Belmont
Follow the links below to download Belmont's latest Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Progress Reports: