Belmont University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Students in Environmental Science and Biology classes are participating in air quality studies on campus. Belmont also has green roofs where we conduct research on a variety of issues including air quality and climate impacts on plant life.

Green roofs and gardens are frequently used by classes and research students.

Student residence halls have a competition annually on energy reduction. Students also conduct energy assessments in Environmental Science classes and provide novel solutions for how Belmont can improve buildings on campus using new technologies.

Student Affairs programs are delivered on wellness and nutrition. The Gen Ed program has a required course on nutrition and wellness. Students in Environmental Science classes develop techniques in growing their own food both on green roofs and using aeroponic and hydroponic techniques.

The ITQ grant, funded by TN Department of Education, and managed by faculty in the department of education offered CEU's to local teachers on gardening and sustainability. Through their efforts MNPS has created a curriculum in environmental sustainability; the grant has been extended twice; and, the university was awarded arboretum status by the Nashville Tree Foundation.

University offers bus passes and low emission rental cars through student affairs. We have also actively involved students in advocating for mass transit in Nashville and identifying new ways in which we can get students to use alternative transportation means.

An annual program of weighing waste generated by food operations informs the students of the need to reduce consumption and only take what they can eat. The result was the addition of food waste dehydrators for the new cafeteria opened in 2015, which reduces food waste volume by 85%. Students participate in service learning projects related to waste and dining services.

The annual sustainability convocation presents detailed data to students on water consumption and savings. Students are conducting surveys on campus about water quality and reduction of plastic bottles.

Student membership in the university sustainability committee and the ECO club. Multiple courses include service learning components where they work on campus and with environmental non-profits in Nashville to discuss coordination and planning for sustainability projects.

The office of service learning and civic engagement offers programs throughout the year on public engagement and sustainability.

The College of Law is at the forefront of public engagement in the legal field through its pro bono activities. The College of Law strongly encourages its faculty and students to participate in pro bono activities, and it offers a wide array of credit-granting and non-credit-granting pro bono opportunities for students.

Credit-Granting Pro Bono Opportunities. Law students are encouraged to complete a live-client experience (field placement) before graduation. Most of the live-client experiences involve traditional pro bono activities by providing law-related service to persons of limited means or assisting organizations that serve such persons. These organizations include the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Justice for Our Neighbors, Legal Aid Society, Southern Migrant Legal Services, and Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Non-Credit-Granting Pro Bono Opportunities. Law students have a number of substantial opportunities to perform non-credit granting, law-related pro bono service. First, a primary purpose of the Student Bar Association (“SBA”) is to facilitate student pro bono opportunities. SBA officers are required to complete 20 hours of pro bono service each academic year. Second, all student organizations must complete at least one faculty-approved pro bono project each academic year. Third, all Belmont Legal Aid Society members may take the Pro Bono Pledge (“Pledge”). Students who take the Pledge commit to completing 50 hours of pro bono service prior to graduation. All of the hours must be completed through legal pro bono work. Last academic year about 35 percent of the student body were members of the Belmont Legal Aid Society. Using an approach that focuses on building relationships with local partner organizations, the Belmont Legal Aid Society has created multiple opportunities for students to become involved in pro bono work under the supervision of local attorneys. The most significant of such endeavors are the Magdalene/Belmont Legal Aid Society Clinic, the Waller Lansden pro bono partnership with Belmont Legal Aid Society, the Justice For Our Neighbors/Belmont Legal Aid Society Alternative Spring Break Clinic, the Belmont Legal Aid Society’s clinic and internship partnership with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and an emerging street law program. Over the last two years, more than 30 Belmont University College of Law students have received the highest recognition bestowed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for law students’ pro bono service through designation as a “Law Student for Justice.” Most impressively in 2014 the President of the Belmont Legal Aid Society was recognized by the Tennessee Bar Association with its Law Student Volunteer of the Year Award.

Student Affairs offers programs addressing these topics as does the office of career and professional development within the university convocation programs.

The community pharmacy located on the first floor of McWhorter Hall, serves as a full service pharmacy to provide services and products to the students of Belmont, the staff and faculty of Belmont, and to the immediate family of Belmont. The pharmacy also provides over the counter therapies and supplies to be used for self-care and wellness. The pharmacy serves to support the clinic, adjunct to the pharmacy. The pharmacy provides services year round, forty hours per week, and on special days during student orientation and move in days. The pharmacy is a preferred provider pharmacy for the self-insured program of the University, and provides product at reduced prices to employees and their immediate families. Immunization records and various immunizations are available for health maintenance and travel health needs. At various times, the pharmacy sponsors health screening and health fairs. And, finally, the pharmacy services as a living laboratory for student pharmacists, to learn the processes, legal requirements, and patient care expectations under the direction of the pharmacy manager.

The College of Pharmacy offers many scientific and patient care resources to the students and faculty in health sciences. Members of the community are also encouraged to utilize these resources at any time. Three hundred students, over 90 health science faculty and over 700 volunteer faculty across the USA have access to resources through the center. Managing the center are highly trained individuals. Also in the drug information center are persons in training in post-graduate residencies and fellowships, associated with area hospitals and industry. These resources are used as living laboratories, supporting the work of many persons in the community on a daily basis. Some of our most interesting patients are actually animals which are patients of local veterinarians and zoo keepers. Research and animal care often includes animals in the zoo (anteaters, elephants, reptiles and others), as well as many domestic animals, which are treated with human medications or compounded medications.