TaxProf Blog has ranked the Belmont University College of Law as the No. 5 private law school in the mid-South trailing Duke, Vanderbilt, Emory and Wake Forest universities.
“We are very proud of the progress we’ve made in our first three years. We could not have accomplished so much without a first-rate faculty, staff and student body,” said College of Law Dean and Professor Jeffrey S. Kinsler.
In its overall ranking of the 202 American Bar Association-accredited law schools by student selectivity weighted by LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs using the U.S. News methodology, Belmont placed in the top half of the list at No. 95. At that level, Belmont is ranked higher than every new private law school to open in the country in the past 35 years.
Since enrolling its charter class in 2011, Belmont’s College of Law is the first law school in Nashville to be accredited by the ABA since 1925. Its inaugural commencement is scheduled for May 10, 2014 for approximately 120 graduates from the three-year program; the commencement speaker will be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The College of Law provides a natural extension of the University’s mission and vision, which emphasize challenging academics, a service-minded approach, real-world experience and community leadership. The College of Law is housed in the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, which is Gold LEED-certified and and includes a state-of-the-art Law Library. It is integrated into Belmont’s main campus and offers specialties in areas that complement the university’s nationally-known undergraduate program offerings, including healthcare and entertainment/music business.
Matthew Thompson, a senior Social Work student at Belmont University, recently was honored as the undergraduate Student of the Year by the Middle Tennessee branch of the National Association of Social Workers. The award honors a student who has created a positive influence on classmates for the profession and maintained academic achievement.
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Beverly Schneller presented a guest lecture via web March 5 for the Faculty of Technology at Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Lahti, Finland on “Gamification and Student Engagement.” Schneller discussed how principles of game design can increase student interest in course work and how through innovation students can be motivated to provide creative solutions to a range of campus issues.
Dr. Jennifer Thomas, professor of biology, spoke at the Nashville Library’s Nashville Reads event on March 6. Thomas and Dr. Rory Dicker, Vanderbilt professor of women’s and gender studies, discussed the book “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves” by Karen Joy Fowler. Nashville Reads is a way of bringing the entire city together to read great literature, in an attempt to broaden the literary horizons of the city and open up a forum for discussion.
Dr. Sybril Bennett, professor of journalism, was the 
Members of Belmont University’s Nurses Christian Fellowship recently gathered to fill 62 boxes with school supplies and treats for the children of Safe Haven. The students asked for donation of fun age appropriate items and treats and the students gathered to wrap and fill the boxes, making the event a great time to spend with one another while serving others.
Bridges to Belmont Director René Rochester, Associate Director Annita D’Amico and Support Specialist Robby Quarles presented the scholarship and mentoring program during the “Building Bridges of Cultural Pedagogy: Enhancing Student Self Efficacy for Academic Empowerment” workshop at the Best Practices for Student Success, Inclusion and Retention Summit at Middle Tennessee State University on March 1.
On Sun., March 2, eight current Belmont West students and four Belmont alumni served as part of a staff of 30 who ran the “Oscar Fan Experience.” About 800 fans were chosen to sit in the stands along the red carpet and enjoy The Academy Awards’ arrivals. The fans arrived at the Dolby Theatre early Sunday morning and were welcomed by the Bruins who handed out gift bags and served breakfast. The Oscar Fan Experience included massages, make-overs and a photo booth while the fans waited for the celebrity arrivals. Despite the rainy weather, it was a great experience for the fans who came from all over the world. During the arrivals, the students and alumni managed the fan stands. Once the carpet was closed, the fans were led across the street to The El Capitan Theatre where they were served dinner and watched The Academy Awards live.