Officials at Belmont University and Watkins College of Art, Design & Film recently signed an agreement that benefits students at both institutions as well as the arts community in Nashville and beyond.
Through this agreement, which became effective this semester, Belmont will broaden opportunities for its students by allowing them to pursue a minor in film through the Film School at Watkins. Additionally, students in the Belmont Honors Program may take supplemental courses at Watkins. Watkins will broaden opportunities for its students by offering them the chance to take courses in Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. Per this agreement, Watkins students may also pursue more diverse course offerings though Belmont’s Department of General Education. Watkins students may use these courses as free electives or courses for specific substitution.
According to Ellen Meyer, president of Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, “With the role that both institutions play in Nashville’s creative culture, this is a natural partnership that further integrates Watkins’ leadership and resources in art, design and film into Nashville’s broader creative community. Given Belmont’s leadership in music and entertainment, as well as its broad general education program, this is a great opportunity to build upon the strengths and resources of both institutions to benefit students, expanding upon the natural connection between the visual and performing arts.”
Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns added, ““Belmont is pleased to be able to formally collaborate with Watkins College of Art, Design, & Film through this agreement. With this partnership we not only create unique opportunities for students at both of our institutions, but we also hope to foster novel academic, cultural and creative collaborations through our shared commitment to students and to Nashville.”
Belmont University junior Hope Cooper was named at the College of Arts and Sciences Award Ceremony on Monday as the fifth recipient of the AT&T Advertising Solutions Scholarship in Public Relations (formerly known as the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Scholarship in Public Relations). AT&T Advertising Solutions is supporting Belmont University’s public relations program with a five-year scholarship commitment, with the inaugural award given in 2007. The $2,500 prize is presented annually each spring to the public relations major who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service and professionalism. Applicants must also write an essay that effectively responds to the question, “What role should public relations play in corporate social responsibility?”
Belmont University recognized students and faculty at Wednesday’s annual Scholarship and Awards Day ceremony in the Massey Performing Arts Center. 
In addition to student award winners, Dr. Jennifer Thomas, associate professor of biology, was named the 2011 Chaney Distinguished Professor. The Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, determined on the basis of superior teaching, is presented each year to a faculty member who best represents the vision of the university to be a “premier teaching institution.”
The student team from Belmont University won the Grand Prize for the first ever “Values & Ventures Business Plan Competition” held April 15 at the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Entrepreneurship students Emily Hollingsworth and Emilie Lico and Finance and Accounting student Ayesha Ghaffar presented their business plan for Mattress Works – a mattress recycling venture created to provide employment opportunities for local homeless men while also diverting waste from landfills – to a panel of experienced new venture investors and consultants. The Belmont team impressed the five judges with their concept, presentation and business plan and was awarded $10,000 for the Grand Prize. They also were honored for Best Oral Presentation and Best Values-Based Concept.
Belmont Greek Life recently held another successful Greek Week, resulting in more than $10,000 raised for the Rose Park scholarship recipients. Using the theme of “The Greek Network” to help bring chapters together for the week, the Greek organizations came together to raise money to provide the Rose Park scholarship recipients with laptops, as well as computers for the Easley Community Center and underprivileged high school seniors attending college in the fall.
The Belmont University Guitar Ensemble performed on WPLN’s “Live in Studio C” program on April 13. The program and photos from the event are available 
On Sat., April 2, the Belmont Department of History in partnership with the Belmont Mansion hosted its Second Annual History Teaching Symposium, “Nashville and the Civil Rights Movement: A Teaching Symposium.” Social studies teachers from Metro-Nashville, Sumner County and Rutherford County schools earned professional development credit through attendance at panel presentations and participation in discussions. Department of History faculty Brenda Jackson-Abernathy and Pete Kuryla co-chaired this year’s symposium.