the mission of belmont university

The Mission of Belmont University

Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith

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The Vision of “Welcome Home”

Through the work of the Welcome Home Team, Belmont strives to become a model for creating and sustaining a culture of racial and ethnic diversity, producing a welcoming environment among its students, faculty and staff

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Belmont’s Welcome Home Team

Established by Senior Leadership to support the university’s goal of becoming more diverse and broadly reflective of our local and global communities

Belmont students, faculty and staff serve in an advisory capacity to senior leadership

Meets regularly to explore initiatives and plan strategies to create a culture of inclusion

Ensure learning experiences that enable students to gain strong intercultural competencies

Actively and intentionally recruit faculty, staff and students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds

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Welcome Home: Team Strategy

Utilize a tactical approach to increase racial and ethnic diversity by recognizing and supporting on-going campus diversity initiatives and establishing tiered initiatives and goals

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Welcome Home: Ongoing Campus Initiatives

Web site developed that features Belmont’s Diversity and Global Initiatives

http://www.belmont.edu/diversity/welcome-home.html

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Welcome Home: Tier One Initiatives

WHT Vision: Recruit faculty/staff from diverse racial & ethnic backgrounds (Human Resources)

Establish a racially diverse group of faculty and staff who offer insight on recruiting diverse faculty:

Meetings with minority faculty held to discuss recruiting methods to increase diversity within the faculty

Follow-up survey asking that any other written responses be shared

Action items created with the goal of creating a formalized strategic plan for the Provost’s review6


Require diversity training for faculty and staff:

On-line courses required with significant completion by all faculty and staff

New faculty orientation to include a diversity discussion with a diverse faculty member to co-facilitate the discussion

New staff orientation workshops include diversity components with open discussion

Departmental sessions for OCS and FMS on Harassment and Diversity

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Establish a process for connecting with alumni to obtain recruitment recommendations and referrals of diverse individuals for job openings:

Alumni Relations to increase stories and images of diverse alumni in their publications

Network with diverse alumni and communicate open job positions at Belmont

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Add a diversity competency to staff performance evaluations:

“Diversity” added as a competency expected of all staff Actively encourages others to keep diversity as a primary goal in

recruitment and retention of members of the Belmont community Values and serves as a role model for supporting Belmont’s

emphasis on diversity Applies policies consistently Treats everyone equitably and fairly Embraces diversity in daily work life, realizing that diversity is

multifaceted (learning styles, generational, gender, racial, religious) Understands and complies with Belmont’s Affirmative Action Plan Works with diverse groups of employees comfortably and willingly

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Add a diversity competency to 360 degree provost, assistant provost, dean, associate dean, and assistant dean evaluations:

“Demonstrates leadership in recruiting and hiring diverse faculty and staff”

Added to the spring 360 degree evaluation instrument for all 27 evaluations

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Welcome Home: Tier One Initiatives (Admissions)

WHT Vision: Recruit Students from Diverse Racial and Ethnic Backgrounds (Admissions)

Support the “Bridges to Belmont” program:

30 new Bridges scholarships were added for fall 2014 – 26 enrolled fall 2013

Selection, review, and interview processes enhancedNew cohort to attend Be Belmont Day and FoundationsEnhanced mentorship program and outreach Progress reports and oversight

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Ensure diverse membership of the Ambassadors, Bruin Recruiter groups, Resident Assistants, Orientation Council, Towering Traditions leaders, Student Government Association(SGA), Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB), and Greek Council

3 of 22 Belmont Ambassadors (14%) are from a diverse background as of Spring 2014

14 of 107 Bruin Recruiters (13%) are from a diverse background as of Spring 2014

14% of the current 37 SGA members, 19% of the 111 Resident Assistants, 20% of the 10 Orientation Council members, and 10 % of the 157 Towering Tradition leaders are from diverse backgrounds

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Expand involvement of diversity-based student organizations in undergraduate and graduate recruitment:

Black Student Association (BSA), Chinese Cultural Club, and Hispanic Alliance to participate in undergraduate admissions events such as Preview Days and Be Belmont Days

BSA phone-a-thon held for admitted diverse students

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Require diversity training for students (Student Affairs):

12 Steps toward Appreciating Diversity session held during Welcome Week

Training for student leaders completed prior to fall semester

Research online diversity training opportunities for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion intended for all student leaders

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Enhance diversity options for students:

Increased minority-based student organizations More diverse faculty/staff have volunteered as

advisors Multicultural council in process under the

direction of Assistant Dean of Students

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Provide focused professional development and training for diverse faculty to assist with teaching, promotion and tenure issues (Provost Council):

Reviewed diverse faculty “three year reviews” and diverse faculty applications for promotion and tenure

Improved the recruitment process of diverse faculty Recommendation to provide training designed for

diverse faculty

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Develop a “Supplier Diversity Pilot Program” to mutually benefit minority and women-owned businesses and Belmont (Community Relations)

Pilot program initiated for 2014-2015 for facility and event services vendors

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Conduct regular focus groups and/or surveys consisting of faculty, staff and students related to diversity issues in order to solicit recruiting and advertising recommendations as well as to inform institutional marketing staff and Senior Leadership (Marketing/Communication):

Planning to conduct student, faculty and staff focus groups in the fall semester to gain insight into recruiting and advertising initiatives. (Focus groups conducted prior to development of new admissions material)

Incorporate questions into existing and future climate surveys

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Highlight and communicate university diversity efforts (Marketing/Communications):

Belmont Diversity and Global Initiatives website includes Welcome Home


Communicate diversity initiatives

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Welcome Home: Next Steps

Seeking approval forTier Two Initiatives in 2014

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Welcome Home Team

Questions?

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the mission of belmont university

Documents

ethnic diversity

diversity competency

diversity components

diverse faculty member

fairlyembraces diversity

diverse group of faculty

diversity discussion

diversity training