Belmont University rose five spots in the latest annual ranking of America’s best colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report and is now ranked 10th in the South in the “Best Universities – Masters” category. Belmont has risen 11 spots in the annual U.S. News ranking since 2003 when the university ranked 21st; at No.10, this is Belmont’s most impressive showing yet in the annual publication. Other Master’s institutions in the top 10 include such schools as Rollins College, James Madison University, Samford University, Elon University and The Citadel.
“We are thrilled to be recognized in the top 10 in an impressive community of colleges and universities,” Belmont President Bob Fisher said. “Belmont has experienced unprecedented physical growth over the past several years, but we have also grown in quality, with each new freshman class more academically gifted than the last. Our commitment to retaining our focus on academic excellence is reflected in this year’s ranking.”
The rankings in America’s Best Colleges 2007 are based on several quality indicators including student retention rates, graduation rates, student-faculty ratios and scores on college entrance exams. The Master’s category includes institutions that provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s programs but a limited number of doctoral programs.
“Belmont is rapidly becoming the college of choice for students seeking a creative and challenging academic environment with learning that is steeped in real world experience,” University Provost Dr. Dan McAlexander said. “Our outstanding faculty and staff are committed to creating a premier teaching university that integrates the best of liberal and professional learning. As Belmont rises in national prominence, we are attracting increasingly qualified students who choose Belmont because of our unique academic atmosphere and vibrant campus community.”
Belmont’s high rankings come after several years of remarkable growth and accomplishment at the university. In 2000, Belmont’s enrollment was 2,970 students. Last year’s fall enrollment numbered over 4,300, and this fall is expected to top 4,500 students. As Belmont’s enrollment has grown the qualifications of incoming students has increased. The projected average ACT score for the 2006 incoming freshman class is 26, up from 23.6 just five years ago. In June the university opened the doors of the Gordon E. Inman Center, a $22.5 million facility that houses Belmont’s health sciences programs. Thrailkill Hall, a new residence facility, opened this month and will house 322 students.
Belmont’s growing student body continuously receives accolades for its commitment to academic discipline and success. For the fifth year in a row, Belmont’s athletic department won the Atlantic Sun All-Academic trophy for having the greatest percentage of student-athletes to earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the 2005-06 academic year. Last March Belmont’s men’s basketball team, which had 12 team members make the Atlantic Sun All-Academic team, made history when it made its first appearance in the NCAA Championship Tournament. In its first year, the Belmont Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team won the Rookie of the Year award at the SIFE national competition as well as runner-up in the entrepreneurship category.
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To read the article in The Tennessean, click here.
To read the article in the Nashville City Paper, click here.
“Baptist higher ed prominent in U.S. News annual rankings” – Baptist Press, September 28, 2006
Belmont University Rises to Top 10 in Annual U.S. News Rankings
PT Student Honored by American Physical Therapy Association
Belmont student Justin Smith, BSN, RN and doctoral candidate in physical therapy, was recently honored by the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association with the award “Physical Therapy Student of the Year” for 2006. The award was presented by the chairman of the Sports Section Nominating Committee during the annual Sports Physical Therapy Section business meeting held in San Diego. The award is presented annually by the Sports Section to a student nominated by a Sports Section member. Nominees must be students enrolled in an accredited entry level physical therapy program and be a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and Sports Physical Therapy Section.
Sturgis Featured Interview, Guest at Conference
Amy Sturgis, adjunct instructor of liberal studies at Belmont University, was the featured interview on the popular science fiction site RevolutionSciFi.com regarding her newly edited book, The Magic Ring. To read the article, click here.
Also, Amy was the keynote speaker at MythCon XXXVII, The Map & The Territory: Maps and Landscapes in Fantasy, the annual meeting of the Mythopoedic Society on August 4-7 at the University of Oklahoma. She was the academic guest of honor along with award-winning science fiction author Lois McMaster Bujold. Click here for more information.
Belmont Graduates 193 at Summer Commencement
Belmont University graduated 193 students in its summer commencement ceremonies Friday night in the Curb Event Center. The summer class of 2006 is the largest class to graduate from Belmont in August.
Curb Event Center Hosts Ballroom Kids
The Curb Event Center at Belmont University hosted the Music City Ballroom Kids, 124 children from different parts of the city, who took ballroom classes throughout the summer in the inaugural season of the dance program offered by Nashville’s Metro Parks & Recreation. Click here to read a story in The Tennessean about the program.
Wollaber Instrumental in Signing of Senate Bill
Pictured here, Dr. Debra Wollaber, Dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing, with Governor Bredesen and Senator Henry at the signing of Senate Bill 447/House Bill 1295. Dr. Wollaber, as past president of the Tennessee Center for Nursing, was instrumental in the passing of this bill which establishes scholarships for graduate nursing students.
Phi Kappa Tau Wins Awards at Centennial Convention
The Belmont Colony of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity recently sent seven of its members to the fraternity’s Centennial Convention on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. At this Convention, Belmont was presented with the following awards:
Fletemeyer Prize
• Reserved for the most outstanding colony in the national organization. The prize is the highest honor bestowed on a colony of Phi Kappa Tau.
The Order of the Star Community Service Award
• The Belmont Colony was presented the Order of the Star Community Service Award, in part because six Belmont students traveled to California to volunteer as camp counselors at The Painted Turtle. Founded in part by actor, philanthropist and Phi Kappa Tau member Paul Newman, The Painted Turtle serves children with life-threatening illnesses who would otherwise be unable to enjoy the summer camp experience. Several Belmont students will be returning to volunteer at The Painted Turtle in October.
Herrera Interns at Word Records
David Herrera, an instructor in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, participated in a “professional internship” at Word Records this summer in addition to his regular teaching duties. In his experiences at Word, Herrera was able to observe the day-to-day operations of a record company and gain a unique perspective of the music industry to pass along to his students.
Belmont Alum Josh Turner’s Second Album Certified Platinum
Belmont alum and MCA recording artist Josh Turner‘s second album, Your Man, was certified platinum last Friday for selling over one million units. After seven months of release, Your Man remains in the top ten at No. 7 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Turner’s debut alum, Long Black Train, was certified platinum in 2004.
Turner and his wife Jennifer both graduated from Belmont in 2001. Josh received the School of Music’s Curtain Call Award in 2004 for success in the commercial music industry. Josh and Jennifer hosted the 2005 Christmas at Belmont concert that was broadcast nationwide on PBS.
Wujcik Selected ABET Scholar
Dan Wujcik, instructor of Audio Engineering Technology, recently received confirmation that he is 1 out of 40 participants selected to become an “ABET scholar.” He has been participating this week in the Institute for the Development of Excellence in Assessment Leadership [IDEAL] which is being held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 31 – August 4, 2006.
