Campus has sprung back into action with incoming freshmen and transfer students beginning their Welcome Week.
New students moved into residence halls Aug. 19. During the five days before classes begin, incoming freshmen and transfer students worked in Tower Teams with upperclassmen guidance to learn “to explore, embrace and engage all that Belmont has to offer.”
“It is that idea of exploring, engaging and embracing the University,” said Director of New Student and Parent Programs Ben Lion. “Hey, now you are a Bruin and you are really part of this community. The charge going out of Welcome Week is how can they engage in their community and make the most of their Belmont experience.”
Belmont University began Welcome Week in the 1990s to acclimate new students to their collegiate experiences. This year’s incoming class of approximately 1,185 freshmen is the largest class in Belmont’s history. Some 136 upperclassmen have dedicated a semester to help freshmen and transfers transition into the university through their roles as Tower Team leaders.
There is one Tower Team leader for every 10 students to make the growing University feel like a close-knit community where people feel connected to each other and events, Lion said. Tower Team leaders facilitate discussions among the new students during Welcome Week and throughout the fall semester host four reunions to promote outreach, holistic wellness, leadership and community & culture.
“What I learned during Welcome Week was the benefit of getting out of my shell. When you come into Welcome Week with a fun and relaxed attitude, you realize just how awesome a time it is,” said Tower Team leader Seth Ross-Granda, now a senior studying history. “With the events, the food and the people, it’s hard not to have fun and be excited to start your college career.”
Welcome Week began Aug. 20 with The President’s and Trustees’ Welcome and Dinner. Staff, faculty, students and families celebrated the heritage of Belmont University and their commitments to community, faith and learning during the annual Matriculation Ceremony Sunday morning Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. All new undergraduate students gave three hours of community service throughout Nashville on Aug. 22 during the SERVE Project. The academic year’s first convocation is 8:45 a.m. Aug. 23. Welcome Week also includes a carnival, Bruin Blitz with the Athletic Department, church and activities fairs as well as forums on student life. Click here for a complete schedule.
“I loved Welcome Week. Since I didn’t know a lot of people, I used that time to meet people,” said Tower Team leader Samantha Hodge, a junior from Oregon studying entertainment industry studies. My leaders were wonderful and now one of my leaders is one of my best friends. It is an awesome experience to make sure students are getting connected as soon as they get on campus.”
