Greetings from the University Staff Advisory Council!

April Meeting Highlights

USAC was joined for a conversation with Shea Ralph, Women's Basketball Head Coach, to discuss the intersection of student athletes, athletic staff, and mental health and well-being support. Coach Ralph shared her journey that led to a career in coaching, and how she has focused on the development and well-being of her staff. She noted the wealth of opportunities we have to connect the broader campus community to the athletics community and looks forward to expanding our relationships to provide a well-rounded experience for our student athletes, staff community, and Nashville community.
Maria Portelli, Senior Director of Campus Dining, shared details about Vanderbilt's Reusable Container Program, Fill it Forward. As one of campus dining's sustainability initiatives, staff can purchase a reusable dining container for $5 at any of the residential dining halls (Commons, E. Bronson Ingram, Rothschild, and Zeppos). With the Fill it Forward app, you can rent and return the reusable food containers, and track your impact! Each time you use the program, you unlock a donation to a charitable foundation and divert waste from our landfills. Used containers can be returned at any of the locations identified above to be cleaned and sanitized by the campus dining teams.

USAC Elections 2023

Thank you to the Vanderbilt staff who nominated their colleagues to participate in the Spring 2023 USAC elections. Your participation in the process is very important. This year’s election cycle includes members in ODD groups. Those elected will begin their two-year term on July 1, 2023.

As we move into the confirmation period (April 10 - April 21), each nominated staff member will receive an email asking them to either confirm their participation in election or decline the nomination. Current elected representatives for ODD groups must seek and win re-election to continue their service.

Find Your Group

Learn more about USAC membership by visiting our website.

Meet a Member:

Sarah Poteete

Associate Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship
Development & Alumni Relations, Law School

"I enjoy Vanderbilt because of how caring the staff, faculty and students are towards one another, and how brilliantly we approach challenges. I'm happy that the collaborative approach is really encouraged here."

For Sarah's full feature and to connect with USAC representatives from around the university, visit our Blog.

Employee Hardship Fund is now
the Employee Critical Support Fund

Vanderbilt's Faculty and Staff Hardship Fund has provided assistance to qualifying faculty and staff who are experiencing a temporary hardship due to a significant life event since 1994. Previously housed within VUMC, the fund has transitioned to Vanderbilt University ownership and now renamed the Employee Critical Support Fund - providing employees peace of mind during times of uncertainty and to demonstrate the power and values of the Vanderbilt community.

Employees are encouraged to contribute to the fund through
the Kroger Community Rewards Program.

Donate on Giving Day!

When it comes to supporting Vanderbilt, you’ve always led the way. This year, individuals are able to contribute to the Employee Critical Support Fund on Giving Day, April 27. If you'd like to give early, you can do so here by typing in "Employee Critical Support Fund".

Complete the staff experience survey by May 1, 2023 to share your feedback on your experience as a staff member at Vanderbilt. Results will help develop action plans to address areas of concern. Questions should be directed to human.resources@vanderbilt.edu.

HR ELE | Career Growth Series

Join the ELE team for their first session of their Career Growth Series: Navigating Career Journeys at Vanderbilt.

April 19, 1 - 2pm | Enroll for the virtual session here

Grow Your Career

Interested in seeing what opportunities are available across campus? Looking for a new role? Visit the Vanderbilt job board!

Vanderbilt Job Board

Share your event!

Do you have an event, activity, or resource relevant to university staff that would benefit from promotion via the USAC social media channels (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook)? Let us know!

Submit Your Info

Whether you are working from home or are back on campus, know that USAC remains committed to being a champion for staff, and our digital door is always open. Do not hesitate to share your feedback or experiences via usac@vanderbilt.edu or via our contact form.

All are welcome! USAC Meetings are held virtually from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and are always open to staff members served by the council. Email usac@vanderbilt.edu for a Zoom link.

Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.