Greetings from the University Staff Advisory Council!

May Meeting Highlights

USAC was joined by Julie Hanna, Benefits Operations Manager in Human Resources, who gave an overview of c hanges being made to benefits administration beginning July 1. Those updates include a new benefits administrator, a new process for dependent verification, and the migration of flexible spending accounts to Fidelity.
Associate Vice Chancellors Cleo Rucker and Pam Jones joined to discuss Employee Affinity Groups (EAGs) at Vanderbilt. EAGs at Vanderbilt are employee-led groups formed around interests, backgrounds, identities, and common bonds. There are now fifteen EAGs at Vanderbilt, with new groups forming each summer.
USAC elected new leadership for the 2024-2025 year. Congratulations to newly elected USAC Officers Jennifer Bennett (Vice-President/President-elect), Danny Coradazzi (Treasurer), and Lynn Maddox (Secretary), who will join incoming President Sara Putnam in USAC leadership beginning July 1. A big thanks to all of them, and to all USAC co-chairs, for their leadership!

Employee Critical Support Fund

The Employee Critical Support fund provides assistance to qualifying faculty and staff who are experiencing a temporary hardship due to a significant life event. This is a valuable offering that provides employees peace of mind during times of uncertainty and demonstrates the power and values of the Vanderbilt community.

Employees are encouraged to contribute to the fund in whatever ways you can through direct one-time gifts, payroll deduction, or
the Kroger Community Rewards Program.

Register now for May 29 Spring Staff Assembly

All Vanderbilt University staff are invited to attend the Spring Staff Assembly at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 in Langford Auditorium. The event will celebrate university staff and their many contributions to the university’s mission.

New this year, starting at 2:15 p.m. in the Langford lobby, there will be refreshments and giveaways—including tickets to a Vanderbilt football game—before the start of the program at 3 p.m. A full reception will follow the program for those in attendance.

If you are not able to attend in person, the program will be livestreamed on the Vanderbilt Employee Appreciation webpage and recorded for later viewing. 

Facilities University @ Vanderbilt

The Facilities Department at Vanderbilt University strives to be the BEST facilities department in the country by providing outstanding and innovative services to the community. We achieve this thru our Values: our commitment to Service, Stewardship, Community, Innovation, Accountability.

We are a highly decentralized service organization not only responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of Vanderbilt University’s buildings, but we also ensure that they meet legal requirements and health & safety standards.

To better help our customers (YOU) understand the intricacies of all we do, we have developed Facilities University. Facilities U is a 6-week Learning Experience platform that enables the learner to better understand the inner workings of the Facilities department. This extensive course will show you the many aspects of the Facilities Department while leaving you with real world knowledge you can use at home. We believe that every employee in the Facilities department brings value to our institution. We welcome you to join us in one of our next sessions as we unleash new possibilities.

For more information and to enroll visit our website!

People, Culture and Belonging has launched the Curious Bar, a new in-person hub for employees. Located in rotating locations throughout campus, the hub will pop up every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Inspired by the Apple Genius Bar, the Curious Bar will provide a dynamic approach to fostering belonging and continuous learning and innovation among members of the Vanderbilt community. No appointments are needed.

Meet a Member:

Jeffrey Keever

Faculty and Academic Affairs Coordinator, College of Arts & Science

"My favorite part of Vanderbilt is the opportunity to meet and connect with an array of individuals and learn about their journey and passions outside of work. There are so many people with unique and interesting stories, and Vanderbilt cultivates that community like no other."

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

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

Update your personal devices to the VUIT wifi network

If you connect any of your personal devices to Vanderbilt’s Wi-Fi network while you are on campus, it is now time to re-onboard that device to the new network. Personal devices are noted as any device that is not managed by VUIT, such as your cell phone or tablet. One of VUIT’s latest projects has involved making our network safer with better Wi-Fi authentication technology.

You will need to complete enrollment for each of your personal devices by July 1, 2024. Detailed instructions are provided by device type on the wireless network website. VUIT managed devices like your laptop do not require re-onboarding at this time.

VUIT can assist you with this process. Please contact the help desk.

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.