Fisher will meet with faculty senate leadership

Belmont President Bob Fisher reaffirmed sexual orientation’s non-role in Belmont personnel or student admission matters in an open letter sent to faculty and staff Friday.

Fisher, citing the community and media attention given to Belmont’s employment policy, was “truly saddened by the pain and fear that has resulted” during the past week.

In the letter, Fisher said he is “committed to working… to dialogue about our policies and practices to ensure that our actions are consistent with our values and to ensure that our campus remains a welcoming place for all.”

In addition, Fisher requested a meeting with faculty senate leadership to discuss these policies and was open to further comments and questions.

Text of the letter:

Dear Faculty and Staff, This has been an intense week for Belmont University as our employment practices have become the focus of a great deal of community and media attention. As I said Wednesday night, I am truly saddened by the pain and fear that have resulted. With that in mind I want to take a moment to reiterate to you that sexual orientation is not considered in making hiring, promotion, salary, or dismissal decisions at Belmont. Sexual orientation is also not a consideration in student admissions. While I cannot comment on individual personnel matters, I am committed to working with all of you as well as our students, alumni, board members and the community-at-large to dialogue about our policies and practices to ensure that our actions are consistent with our values and to ensure that our campus remains a welcoming place for all. To that end, I have requested a meeting with the Faculty Senate leadership to further pursue dialogue. I welcome your comments and questions as we move forward. In the meantime, I look forward to a strong finish to this semester culminating with our December graduation ceremony next Friday. I do see each of these students and the entire Belmont community as an extended family. I am grateful for the presence and dedication of each of you, and I wish you a very peaceful and meaningful Christmas season. Bob Fisher

The original can be found here.