While at Bellarmine, you could almost always find recent graduate Anderson鈥疪eeves playing clarinet, singing and composing original music.
He found lots of ways to get involved at Bellarmine that allowed him to flourish as a musician while developing skills needed for a career in arts administration.
Whether it鈥檚 the arts, like Anderson loves, or something completely different, Bellarmine鈥檚 small, welcoming campus and numerous supportive groups makes for an environment rich in relationships.
鈥淎t Bellarmine,鈥痺e鈥痟ave such a tight-knit community, it鈥檚 so inviting for people to express themselves in whatever way they feel comfortable,鈥濃�疉nderson鈥痵aid.
There are more than 70 student-created and led groups on campus and most students belong to at least one of them.
叠别濒濒补谤尘颈苍别鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;learning communities and specialty programs also help students get connected and make friends, receive support from faculty and staff, and get involved at Bellarmine and beyond. The Office of Identity and Inclusion, and numerous other student groups, engage the Bellarmine community in identity exploration and social justice.
鈥淲hether you are looking for a community focused on an area of study or your beliefs you can find your place here,鈥� said Helen-Grace Ryan, vice president of Student Affairs.
The university also maintains a 12-1 student ratio, which means classroom connections are also easily made with other students and professors.
鈥淥ur professors truly care about your success,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淭hey know when students are struggling or need answers, and they make themselves available. Whether it鈥檚 sticking around after class to work through a problem or being available after hours, you will get the support you need.鈥�
Robbie鈥疛ones,鈥痑 senior majoring in鈥痓usiness and鈥痵ports鈥痑dministration, experienced that close classroom attention first-hand.
"I was supposed to meet with one of my professors for 40 minutes, but it turned into a two and a half hour conversation about everything in life,鈥� Robbie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just awesome to be connected with somebody like that who wants to know you not just as a student but as a friend."
Paya Yazdanpanah, a recent graduate in biology, found that Bellarmine鈥檚 relationships made all the difference when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma, a rare cancer, his junior year. His professors were instrumental in supporting him through his treatments and helping him finish his education, so he could graduate on time. His Bellarmine friends rallied around him, too, providing community when he needed it most.
鈥淏ellarmine has been top-notch in caring,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not an empty platitude. It鈥檚 real to me. That鈥檚 what I love about this school.鈥濃��