Belmont University has successfully completed the NCAA certification process, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced today.
The NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification announced that Belmont has completed the Association’s second cycle of athletics certification, the purpose of which is to ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics program and to assist institutions in improving their athletics departments.
“This process affirms the strength of Belmont’s athletic program and its integration throughout the academy,” says Dr. Robert Fisher, president of Belmont University. “I would like to thank the steering committee for their exceptional work and the entire athletics department for continuing to make our program exemplary.”
The certification process is a self-study led by an institution’s chief executive officer and includes a review of these primary components: governance and commitment to rules compliance; academic integrity; fiscal integrity; equity; welfare; and sportsmanship. The NCAA says a designation of certified means that an institution operates its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the Division I membership.
“I’m so proud of our athletics department,” says Belmont University Director of Athletics Mike Strickland. “This certification is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication of our coaches, staff and student-athletes. Also, I would like to thank the steering committee for all their hard work during the process as well as the other segments of campus that were involved. The NCAA wants this to be an encompassing process and I think it will benefit both athletics and the university as a whole.”

Belmont’s 2004 Sports Evangelism Team left Monday for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Team members include: Back row (l-r): Nick Otis, Jese Snyder, Dan Oliver, Adam Mark, Andrew Preston, Brandon Owen. Front row: Debbie Chenoweth, Vann Patton, Destri Bockey, Jenny Conkle, Betty Wiseman, Hollie Davis, Angel Jones. The photo was taken by Paul Chenoweth, who also is part of the Rio mission trip team. You can follow their progress at The Rio Journal, here.

The largest graduating class in Belmont University’s history received their diplomas Saturday morning in a commencement celebration in the Curb Event Center on the Belmont campus. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees were presented to 457 students, including 363 undergraduate degrees, 94 master’s degrees and 18 doctorates.
In addition, Belmont University President Dr. Robert Fisher presented the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award and University Provost Dan McAlexander presented the Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, two retiring faculty members were honored, and the Class of 2004 presented its Senior Class Gift.
Click here for a graduation photo slide show by university staff photographer Michael Krouskop.

Belmont University will graduate the largest class in the university’s history, with 457 students set to join the ranks of Belmont University alumni. Commencement is set for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 15, at the Kitty B. West Amphitheatre on the Belmont Campus, or inside the Curb Event Center if it rains.
The record graduating class caps a year in which Belmont’s enrollment set new records in both the fall and spring semesters. Enrollment surged more than 10 percent for the fall semester, for the third year and fifth semester in a row, with more than 3,660 students enrolled. Belmont also set a spring semester enrollment record with 3,477 students enrolled, more than 13 percent higher than the spring semester a year earlier.
Belmont awarded 407 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the spring of 2003, 382 degrees in the spring of 2002, and 376 degrees in the spring of 2001.

Belmont University students, faculty and staff participating in a 10-day evangelistic mission trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this month will be providing regular updates online at a new weblog created just for the trip.