Belmont University
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Belmont University is committed to embracing and fostering a culture characterized by rich diversity, an inclusive spirit and a welcoming environment that demonstrates respect, dignity and compassion. The University’s Welcome Home Diversity Council is charged with diversity and inclusion and serves in an advisory capacity to senior leadership, focusing on recruitment, retention and engagement of diverse individuals across campus. The Welcome Home Diversity Council is made up of students, faculty and staff from many areas across campus and is facilitated by a member of our senior leadership team.

Belmont has launched its Belmont State of Mind: Diversity and Inclusion Initiative across campus, an initiative that will house all of the campus’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Belmont State of Mind is inclusive, celebratory, open-minded and welcoming. It’s transparent, honors differences, challenges ideals and encourages dialogue—all major tenets of the Belmont community. Every faculty and staff member is required to take part in Belmont InClusion Training, a multi-part initiative that ensure that our values are lived out by the entire community The following activities are a part of the “Belmont State of Mind:” Required online courses for all new hires joining the Belmont community -- the courses are title “Diversity Made Simple” and “Harassment Prevention Made Simple”; New Faculty Orientation with a discussion of diversity and inclusion as a strategic priority for the institution, reviewing programs and resources, as well as how new faculty can become involved with these efforts; New Staff Orientation includes a discussion of diversity and inclusion as a strategic priority for the institution, reviewing programs and resources, as well as how new staff can become involved with these efforts; For the 2018 calendar year, all full-time employees are expected to complete two in-person Diversity & Inclusion courses. More than 60 in-person Diversity & Inclusion sessions are offered with close to 1,000 participant completions to-date. Since Diversity and Inclusion is a core university competency, training sessions are offered to all employees through our Be You U professional development program with an expectation that all staff and faculty will attend. These sessions are facilitated by volunteer staff and faculty who have participated in additional training to become prepared. Additionally, each October Belmont University sponsors “Diversity Week” for our campus and the Nashville community. Diversity week includes a variety of topics, speakers, and activities, and invites participation from all students, faculty, and staff.