Welcome letter from G.L. Black
Dear Vanderbilt families,
Congratulations on joining our Vanderbilt community! We are excited to welcome you and your student. In my role as vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, I am privileged to take a central role in your student’s learning, development and experience as an undergraduate. My office creates opportunities to involve students in diverse learning communities and provides a critical structure for enriching the overall student experience.
To help students navigate the expansive opportunities and inevitable stressors of their first year at Vanderbilt, our Student Affairs division seeks to promote a culture of connection, care and flourishing that enables students to achieve their academic and interpersonal goals.
Vanderbilt’s health and wellness infrastructure is intended to provide the care, guidance and support for your student to grow and thrive at Vanderbilt and beyond. Please read the rest of this newsletter for more information on all aspects—physical, mental and emotional—of student well-being at Vanderbilt.
Again, we could not be more thrilled to welcome your student to campus in August.
Sincerely,
G.L. Black
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
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Your New VU webinars
There have been a variety of informational webinars hosted by the Office of Student Transitions and Community Engagement this summer. If you missed any sessions, recordings are available at the link below.
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Transfer Student Move-in and OrientationTransfer Student Orientation is designed to offer your student a robust introduction to life at Vanderbilt, including informational sessions and small-group discussions that will help them navigate their academic program, campus resources, extracurricular activities and student life on Vanderbilt’s campus. Through TSO, they will also have the opportunity to connect with Transfer Student Leaders (juniors and seniors who transferred to Vanderbilt themselves) and other incoming transfer students. Additionally, they will meet their personal Transfer Student Leader, who will serve as a guide throughout their first semester at Vanderbilt.For a hub of all information relating to your student’s first few days on campus, visit the Welcome Week website.
Transfer Student Orientation begins on Transfer Move-In Day (Friday, Aug. 19) and concludes at the end of the first week of classes.
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Family Weekend Registration is Open
We can’t wait to host you for a memorable Family Weekend celebration on Vanderbilt’s campus, Sept. 9–11, 2022. It will be a weekend full of fun activities and opportunities to learn about your student’s college experience. Make plans to come early as information sessions, panels and open houses begin on Friday, Sept. 9.
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Where to Eat on Campus
Your student’s Vanderbilt Meal Plan can be redeemed in a variety of locations, including residential dining halls, retail dining centers, on-campus cafés and Munchie Marts. Most locations also take cash or credit card, if you would like to join them for a meal.
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Transportation around Campus and Nashville
Vanderbilt offers a variety of transportation options for travel around campus and Nashville for students, including bike racks around campus for personal use, free rides on Nashville’s bus system via the Commodore Card, the VandyRide nighttime shuttle service around campus, designated ridehail pick-up and drop-off locations and more.
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VandySafe App
The VandySafe app, available for iPhone and Android, integrates with the university's safety and security systems to provide students with added safety on campus. With VandySafe, users can contact VUPD via phone call or real-time chat, trigger a mobile Bluelight that shares their location instantly with VUPD, initiate a "Virtual Walkhome" where VUPD can monitor their walk and many more features.
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Everything You Need to Know About...
As Vanderbilt prepares to welcome students back to campus for a new academic year, the health and safety of the university community are a top priority.
Vanderbilt University was founded almost 150 years ago. As the university has evolved and grown with each class, many favorite traditions have sprung up that celebrate the community and diversity that make Vanderbilt unique.
Campus support:
At Vanderbilt, resources supporting student needs are everywhere. Knowing where to look and whom to ask can help students navigate the university and set them on the right course to success.
Hidden gems on campus:
Vanderbilt boasts many special places on campus worth exploring. Learn about a few of them at the link above.
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Discount Code for College Care Packages
Parents and Family Programs has partnered with a college care package company that provides gifts themed to six pillars (personal finance, life hacks, making connections, wellness, mindset and productivity) of college life. Gifts include task planning pads, small-space exercise equipment, organization products, healthy snacks and more.
If you would like to purchase a care package for your student, use the code Vanderbilt22 to receive a 10 percent discount.
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A Special Note from Sandra Robinson, Director of Parents and Family Programs
This is the last of the special Commodore Connection series for incoming parents and guardians. We hope that these newsletters have been informative as you have been preparing to send your student to Vanderbilt. Starting in September, you will receive the same monthly Commodore Connection as all parents and families, and you will continue to do so until your student graduates. We are so glad to have you as part of our Vanderbilt community!
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