News & Media

Official News From the Office of Communications

Emergency Communications

Reporting an Emergency

The fastest way to report an emergency is to call Campus Security at 615-460-6911 or extension 6911 from a campus phone. Campus Security will notify the proper Nashville authorities – if necessary – and direct them to the specific location on campus as needed.

Emergency Notifications

Belmont University actively uses a variety of tools to communicate emergency information to campus. We will implement a different option depending on the circumstances. These options include the following:

Urgent Communication Tools
  • Social Media: Social media is often the quickest way to communicate important information in a time of crisis or campus closure. Follow @BelmontUniv on Twitter or become a fan of Belmont University on Facebook to receive official communications in an emergency situation and to stay current on Belmont news and information.
  • Belmont Alerts: For more significant and urgent threats, Belmont also uses an emergency alert system to quickly notify a mass audience through emails, text messages and/or voice calls. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up to get important news quickly in the event of an emergency. Belmont Alerts are only used for emergency communications.
    To enter or update contact information used for Belmont Alerts, sign in to your MyBelmont account and select the Belmont Alerts Sign Up link from the Campus Security and Safety  folder. Your Belmont-affiliated email address is automatically set to receive all emergency alerts. You may want to add notifications via text messages and calls to your cell and/or landline numbers as well as to the phone numbers and email addresses of other family members. Please add the emergency contacts you want notified in the fields provided. For more information, click here.
Additional Venues for Emergency Information
  • Messages/Announcements on MyBelmont
  • The www.BELMONT.edu home page
  • Newsline: 615-460-5000
  • Campus-Wide Voicemail
  • Loudspeakers may be used by security vehicles to target specific areas of campus
  • Door-to-door verbal communication from Residence Life, Campus Security staff
  • Local Media Outlets

Inclement Weather Information

Unfavorable weather conditions, particularly snow and ice in the winter, can occur from time to time in Middle Tennessee. Belmont employees and students are encouraged to check all communication outlets (listed above) for the most up-to-date information regarding the impact on campus operations. Because weather conditions can vary greatly within our region, students, faculty and staff are urged to use individual discretion when making the decision to travel to campus in snow or icy weather.

Tornado Watch/Warning Information

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A Tornado Warning is an alert issued by weather services to warn that a tornado may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted or if there are radar indications of tornado formation.

The Belmont Alert system will issue a “Seek Shelter” text message when a Tornado Warning has been issued for Davidson County AND when the main University campus appears to be in the path, or polygon, of projected impact. You may also want to sign up for weather alerts from local media outlets that can make you aware of developing weather conditions that threaten any part of Davidson County (or your primary location)–All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take responsibility for monitoring conditions within your immediate area.

Upon receiving notification to Seek Shelter, go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center or lowest floor of the building away from glass. Belmont University has placed blue “Storm Shelter” signs throughout campus to assist you in determining a safe location, and a listing of those sites can be found on our Risk Management site. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.