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• Reserve Your Place in the Class of 2016

  

  To Become an Official Student at Vanderbilt:

  • Sign Candidate Reply Form and mail matriculation deposit in Vanderbilt-provided envelope to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by May 1.
  • Mail final high school transcript, as soon as it becomes available, to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Make sure your graduation date is clearly indicated.
  • Send AP, IB, Cambridge Pre-U, or SAT Subject Test scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  • Visit vanderbilt.edu/classof2016 for detailed information on housing and course registration.

  Read: "The Choice: One Year Later." Discover how Vanderbilt sophomore and Cornelius Vanderbilt scholarship recipient Michael Greshko navigated the decision process on the New York Times' popular Choice blog and why he ultimately committed to Vanderbilt over other top universities.

• Important Dates

  Important Dates for 2012-2013 (Dates are Tentative)

  2012

  • June 1: Housing applications due
  • June 4 - 22: Advising and course registration period
  • August 1: Housing assignments mailed
  • August 18: Move-In Day
  • August 18 - 26: CommonVU
  • August 22: Classes begin
  • October 4 - 5: Mini Fall Break
  • October 12 - 14: Family Weekend
  • October 27: Homecoming
  • November 17 - 25: Thanksgiving Break
  • December 6: Last day of classes
  • December 7 - 15: Reading days and final exams

  2013

  • January 4: Residence halls open at noon
  • January 7: Classes resume
  • March 2 - 10: Spring Break
  • April 22: Last day of classes
  • April 23 - May 2: Reading days and final exams
  • May 10: Commencement
• Visit

  Haven't Visited Campus?

  

  It's not too late. We host group information sessions and tours every weekday and most Saturdays. Make your reservation now.

  Or, Come be a 'Dore for a Day

  We invite you to spend a half-day with a current Vanderbilt student. The month of April is reserved for admitted seniors only, and space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot.

• YES: Your Enrollment Services

  Learn more about Vanderbilt's online course registration system and search our course catalogue and course offerings.

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Living at VU

• The Ingram Commons Experience

  

  As Dean of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons Frank Wcislo explains, “The Ingram Commons is more than a collection of residential Houses. It is a dynamic community of scholarship, engagement, and learning. The Dean, Faculty Heads of House, and educators from across campus share the life of the university with first-year students. By living and working together, we create places for challenging assumptions, encountering new ideas, and sharing fun.”

  Watch a video about The Ingram Commons:

  All first-year students at Vanderbilt live exclusively on The Ingram Commons in one of ten residential Houses, in doubles and triples, with easy access to The Commons Center and the Dean of The Ingram Commons residence. The Commons Center offers a dining hall, academic counseling, the Writing Studio, Career Center, a fitness center, a 24/7 mini-market, post office, meeting rooms, a concert baby grand, and plenty of open space to hang out with friends.

  The Ingram Commons sponsors several major events during the year including Fall for the Arts, the Eid al-Fitr celebration, Magic Cool Bus trips, The Commons Ball, and an end-of-the year Commons Carnival. Students also participate with their individual Houses in a variety of activities, which last year included:

  • A Habitat for Humanity build
  • Critical dialogues on current issues
  • Salsa lessons
  • Tutoring in area elementary schools
  • House movie nights
  • Sponsorship of a harvest festival benefitting Big
  • Brothers and Big Sisters

  As the Faculty Head of Gillette House Frank Dobson explains, “In a time when it is customary to hustle and bustle, to eat and run, The Ingram Commons represents something distinctively different; it signifies the spirit of sitting together, eating together, learning and living together as a Vanderbilt University family.”

  Watch a video of Move-In Day below -- this is the warm welcome you can expect when you arrive on campus on August 18, 2012!

• CommonVU

  

  This week-long orientation for first-year students begins with Move-In Day on Saturday, August 18, and ends Sunday, August 26. The week includes special advising sessions, community-building activities, academic classes, and ample opportunities to make friends.

  During CommonVU, you can begin to experience and explore the university by building new communities—on your floor, in your House, across The Ingram Commons and the entire campus. You will be engaged in activities with fellow first-year students, peer mentors, and Vanderbilt upperclassmen. Faculty Heads of House, academic advisers, and other Vanderbilt professors will join you and your classmates as you begin to discover the personal, academic, intellectual, and social opportunities that await you at Vanderbilt.

  Commons Seminars

  These optional, one-credit seminars are offered in the spring semester and are open to all first-year students. Each seminar meets for approximately 15 hours of class time.

  Topics for spring 2012 included:

  • The Changing Face of Medicine in Film
  • Music Making in Music City
  • Power to the People: Community Organizing in Nashville
  • Law and Warfare: Understanding Modern Methods
  • I Need to Fix That! Problem Solving and Designing Change

  Vanderbilt Visions

  As a one-semester, university core program, Vanderbilt Visions is designed to help first-year students become empowered and responsible members of the Vanderbilt University community. Students are assigned to one of 92 Visions groups which connect students from all ten Houses of The Ingram Commons and all four undergraduate colleges. Teams of upperclass peer mentors and faculty members (student and faculty VUceptors) mentor these small groups as they explore the transitions of moving from high school to university. Groups meet for weekly hour-long discussions and activities during the fall semester.

• Housing
  
  

  Living on campus is an integral part of a Vanderbilt undergraduate education. Residential life at Vanderbilt supports and complements the academic experience and furthers a student's growth and development. Vanderbilt's commitment to residential education is expressed in the residential requirement:

  “All unmarried undergraduate students, except those who live with their families in Davidson County, must live in residence halls on campus during the academic year, Maymester, and Summer Sessions. Authorization to live elsewhere is granted at the discretion of the Director of Housing Assignments in special situations or when space is unavailable on campus.” (2011–2012 Student Handbook)

  How to Apply for Housing

  • Send matriculation deposit to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
  • Obtain VUNetID and password at vanderbilt.edu/epassword
  • Go to vanderbilt.edu/ResEd
  • Click First-Year Housing Application link
  • Log in using your VUNetID
  • Click “My Apply”
  • Complete the contact information section
  • Complete the first-year housing application

  House Amenities

  • Study lounges and music practice rooms
  • Common kitchen facility
  • Custodial service in common baths, lounges, and corridors
  • Easy access to laundry facilities
  • Fire-safety sprinkler systems
  • Secure access with the Commodore Card
  • Cable television service
  • Camera surveillance at entry and common areas on main floors
  • Fully accessible for special needs

  Room Furnishings

  • Loftable, single bed
  • Desk and desk chair
  • Chests (two, one with lockable drawer)
  • Closet
  • Window blinds

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Nashville

With great dining, outdoor activities, music venues, and the performing arts, Nashville provides an amazing backdrop to your college experience. Here are just a few favorites:

Centennial Park
222 25th Avenue North
Located just a few blocks from campus, Nashville's premier urban park is home to the world's only full–scale replica of the Greek Parthenon.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Fifth Avenue South · (615) 416–2001
Discover the hidden gems of a vast collection that illustrates country music's story through the turns of two centuries.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway · (615) 244–3340
Touring and exclusive exhibitions of national and International acclaim arrive at the Frist every six to eight weeks.

Nashville Predators
501 Broadway · (615) 770-2355
Originally a National Hockey League expansion team, the Nashville Predators have matured into a playoff franchise with a reputation across the nation.

Tennessee Titans
This NFL team's strong and loyal fan base is an essential part of the team in town and on the road.

LP Field
One Titans Way
With seating for almost 69,000 fans, LP Field is home to the Titans, the Music City Bowl, and numerous concerts.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center
1 Symphony Place
Catch performances for as little as $10 at this spectacular concert hall, home to the Nashville Symphony.

Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC)
505 Deaderick Street · (615) 782–4000
In addition to the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Tennessee Repertory Theatre, TPAC hosts Broadway series, musical artists, and other shows.

Bridgestone Arena
501 Broadway · (615) 770-2000
With seating for up to 20,000 people, this is the venue for concerts, family shows, and sporting events throughout the year, as well as home ice for the Nashville Predators.

Music Row
Just blocks from campus are streets lined with songwriting houses, production companies, and studios where hits for Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, and more were created.

Ryman Auditorium
116 Fifth Avenue North · (615) 889-3060
Known for its rich history and superb acoustics, the Ryman, original home of the Grand Ole Opry, now hosts musical talent of all genres, from country and bluegrass to indie and alternative.

Learn more about Nashville

Additional Resources

• The Tennessean
• Nashville Scene
• Nashville City Paper
• Nashville Post
• Nashville Lifestyles
• Nashvillest Blog

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• Show Your Gold

  

  Vanderbilt University is an NCAA Division I program and the only private school in the legendary Southeastern Conference (SEC). Since 2000, Vanderbilt has claimed 18 individual and team SEC championships in one of the nation's toughest conferences. Vanderbilt teams consistently battle for SEC supremacy and advance to NCAA postseason play. Vanderbilt boasts success both on and off the fields: our teams achieve the highest graduation rate in the SEC and one of the top rates in the country, and former Commodores consistently fill the professional ranks.

  More than 330 of your classmates are student athletes, engaged in the Vanderbilt community—in the classroom, through service, and on study abroad experiences. You can support them at any home game by simply showing your Vanderbilt ID. For official coverage of Vanderbilt athletics and schedules of upcoming events, check out vucommodores.cstv.com.

  Athletic events also present a great opportunity to hear the Spirit of Gold Marching Band, which includes five performing ensembles with members who major in 40 different fields of study in Vanderbilt's undergraduate and graduate schools. Musician peers from other area universities and colleges also participate in the marching band. Visit vanderbilt.edu/vuband for more info.

• Varsity Sports

  Men's Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Tennis

  Women's Sports

  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
• 2012 Football Schedule

  

  Schedule is accurate at time of site launch

  • 8/30 — South Carolina (Home)
  • 9/8 — at Northwestern (Away)
  • 9/15 — Presbyterian (Home)
  • 9/22 — at Georgia (Away)
  • 10/6 — at Missouri (Away)
  • 10/13 — Florida (Home)
  • 10/20 — Auburn (Home)
  • 10/27 — Massachusetts (Home)
  • 11/3 — at Kentucky (Away)
  • 11/10 — at Ole Miss (Away)
  • 11/17 — Tennessee (Home)
  • 11/24 — at Wake Forest (Away)

  12th Man Tailgate

  New students gather near the stadium for a pregame tailgate at the first home football game of the season. They eat, mingle, learn VU cheers, and receive their official class T-shirt. The tailgate concludes with the Vanderbilt tradition of first year students leading the Commodores onto the field.

  Watch a video about the Commodore nation's recent trip to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl:

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The Four Schools

Vanderbilt is a community comprised of over 12,000 students (6,800 undergraduates) and 2,500 faculty members, where promising scholars connect with top innovators in every discipline. The undergraduate education here provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage in research, global study, and independent projects as you prepare to join a network of 122,000 alumni who serve at the forefront of their industries across the world.

Throughout your years at Vanderbilt, you will have the ability to take courses in all four schools, regardless of your major. A student in the School of Engineering can take a class on the History of Rock and Roll in the Blair School of Music or Origins of the Universe in the College of Arts and Science. Want to add a major or minor in another school? No problem. Vanderbilt nurtures a versatility in our students that allows them to apply vast skill sets to an ever-changing workforce.

• College of Arts and Science

  As the largest of the four undergraduate schools, with approximately 4,200 students, the College of Arts and Science (A&S) offers more than 45 majors, including a wide range of interdisciplinary programs. In addition to a required major in one area of concentration, many students double major and 40% add an optional minor.

  The most popular A&S majors are economics, political science, psychology, biological sciences, and English, but majors span the horizon from anthropology to women's and gender studies. Interdisciplinary majors include the popular medicine, health and society, as well as African American and diaspora studies, communication of science and technology, and Spanish and European studies. (View the complete list of majors.)

  A&S Fundamentals

  • The AXLE (Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education) curriculum exposes students to a range of disciplines, fostering critical thinking, analytical expertise, and writing skills.
  • A faculty-led, writing-intensive seminar is required of all first-year students. At least two other writing courses are needed for graduation.
  • The College of Arts and Science boasts an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
  • Undergraduate students may work alongside professors on new research as early as their first year.

  Recent A&S Highlights

  The Nashville Scene profiles art professors Vesna Pavlovic and Mark Hosford.

  Campus symposium explores ties between sustainability and creative writing.

  Physics professor John Daniel documented an early discovery involving X-rays.

  Student Nate Marshall uses his time at Vanderbilt to strengthen his abilities as a writer and teacher, talents initially honed on the streets of Chicago:

  Learn more about the College of Arts and Science

• School of Engineering

  The School of Engineering's 1,300 undergraduate students grow in a dynamic, close-knit learning and research environment. Students work alongside faculty in engineering research centers and laboratories on projects ranging from robotics and nanoscale materials to technology-guided surgery and environmental management.

  The people you meet and the courses you take within the School of Engineering and at Vanderbilt give you the context to connect your engineering studies to other fields, positioning you to be a leader in the world of engineering and beyond.

  Nineteen engineering-based student organizations and student chapters of professional organizations offer additional networking, brainstorming, and design opportunities, and include the Society of Women Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, VU Motorsports, and Vanderbilt Aerospace Club.

  First-year seminars, internships, undergraduate research, and senior design help set Vanderbilt engineering students apart. Through the senior design experience, interdisciplinary teams work on year-long projects provided and judged by partners such as Air Force Research Laboratory, Engineering World Health, Lexmark, NASA, Nissan, and Roche Pharmaceuticals.

  Study Abroad

  Engineering students may study abroad at one of 29 universities in Australia, China, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, and South Africa.

  Exchange programs are available with the Budapest University of Technology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, and Politecnico di Torino.

  Integrated Bachelor/Master of Engineering

  With judicious planning, students may earn a master’s degree in five years through this program.

  • Admission is selective; students must complete at least 75 hours with a B average or higher.
  • The last two years, generally of five, are planned as a unit.

  Recent School of Engineering Highlights

  On the occasion of its 125th anniversary, the School of Engineering launches an interactive website that, among other things, details its long, storied history.

  Engineering Dean Kenneth F. Galloway was recently invited to the White House to celebrate the efforts of engineering deans for their commitment to retain and graduate more engineerings students.

  The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) celebrates attracting more than $75 million in federal funding for nanoscience research over the last decade.

  Vanderbilt researchers in the School of Engineering develop the first truly bionic leg for a young man who endured a savage shark attack:

  Learn more about the School of Engineering

• Peabody College of Education and Human Development

  Vanderbilt University's Peabody College is marked by many distinctive qualities, including a tradition of educating teachers that reaches back to 1875. Today Peabody is a respected voice in education whose expertise is sought by teachers and administrators from around the world. Peabody attracts students who share a deep concern for education and the human condition.

  Quick Stats

  Number 1 Graduate School of Education

  - U.S. News and World Report, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012

  Ranked among the Top 10 education programs for the last 16 years

  Host to four National Research Centers

  - National Center on Performance Initiatives

  - National Center on School Choice, Competition, and Achievement

  - National Research Center on Learning Disabilities

  - National Center on Scaling Up Effective Schools

  Peabody students study people—how they learn and how they lead. With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,700, Peabody offers many different programs of study— early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education; human and organizational development (HOD); child development; child studies; and cognitive studies. The HOD major offers five specialties and is the largest undergraduate major at Vanderbilt. Regardless of what path a student takes, hands-on, real-world learning experiences are an essential part of the Peabody curriculum. Peabody graduates have succeeded in a variety of people centered careers—teaching, education administration, public policy, business, research, and government—reflecting a longstanding commitment to making a difference on the local, national, and global level.

  Recent Peabody College Highlights

  Undergraduates help make history through Peabody's groundbreaking Next Steps program.

  Peabody Dean Camilla Benbow appointed to lead national commission on educator preparation.

  Vanderbilt professor and children's literature expert Ann Neely discusses the enduring value of 'Dr. Suess'.

  Watch a video about Peabody's groundbreaking Next Steps program:

  Learn more about Peabody College online or on Facebook and Twitter

• Blair School of Music

  

  The beauty of Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music is the unparalleled opportunity to pursue conservatory-quality music training within a full liberal arts curriculum. Blair offers the Bachelor of Music degree in performance, composition/theory, musical arts, or musical arts/teacher education with a student-to-faculty ratio of 4:1.

  Students receive individual attention from music professionals and scholars in a nurturing environment where they thrive musically and academically. Blair students may pursue music exclusively or in combination with another major or minor. While students may participate in all Vanderbilt study abroad programs, Blair has special affiliations with programs in Vienna, Amsterdam, Sydney, and Aix en Provence.

  Undergraduates from all four schools may take Blair courses, often taught by internationally renowned musicians and scholars. Courses taken by music and non-music majors range from Music and Global Health to Exploring the Film Soundtrack to Music and the Fall of Segregation. All students have opportunities for private or group instruction and may audition for Blair ensembles, including Sankofa, the African Performing Ensemble, jazz ensembles, the Vanderbilt Orchestra and Choirs, and Vanderbilt Opera Theatre. And with 300-plus performances each year, the Blair School of Music provides Vanderbilt University and the city of Nashville with an everchanging array of music.

  Blair graduates can be found working professionally in performance, research, teaching, and composition. They are admitted to some of the finest graduate music programs in the world and have pursued graduate work in disciplines as diverse as business, law, medicine, and dentistry.

  Blair School of Music Teacher Licensure Program

  • Students earn B. Mus. and M.Ed. in five years.
  • Program includes emphases on music performance, music theory, and music literature and history.
  • Program participants apply for continuation in the program in the junior year.

  3+2 Bachelor of Music/MBA Blair-to-Owen Program

  • Students earn B.Mus. and MBA in five years.
  • Students must apply for admission to the Owen Graduate School of Management during junior year.
  • Acceptance into the five-year program is extremely competitive and requires advanced standing in undergraduate courses.

  Recent Blair School of Music Highlights

  Blair String Quartet presents debut performances of Michael Hersch Commission.

  Blair students prefer letting the public take part in Student Showcases.

  Blair students perfect the chamber music experience.

  Learn more about the Blair School of Music online or on Facebook and Twitter

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Fast Facts

Commodore Athletics

Varsity Men's Teams: 6
Varsity Women's Teams: 10
NCAA Championships: 1 (Women's Bowling)
Club Sports: 38
Intramural Sports: 40+

Campus Life

Student Organizations: 350+
Student Service Groups: 60+
Cultural and Religious Groups: 60+

Estimated Cost of Attendance 2012/2013

Tuition: $41,732
Housing: $9,170
Meals: $4,930
Books and Supplies: $1,370
Activities Fee/Rec Center Fee: $1,042
Personal Expenses: $2,446
Travel Allowance: Varies
First-year Experience Fee: $688
New Student Transcript Fee: $30
Engineering Lab Fee*: $650
Engineering Laptop Allowance*: $1,500

*Charged to Engineering students only

View our Fast Facts page for more information

Additional Resources

• Class of 2016 Page
• Contact a Current Student
• The Ingram Commons
• Class of 2016 Facebook Page
• Housing
• Financial Aid

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• Student Resources

  The Office of the Dean of Students

  Serving a central role in student learning and development at Vanderbilt, the Office of the Dean of Students advances the university's mission of teaching, research, and service by fostering academic and social networks through which students develop as intentional learners and global citizens. Committed to promoting the well-being, safety, and growth of students, the Office of the Dean of Students involves students, faculty, and staff in diverse learning communities and provides a critical support structure for enriching the overall student experience.

  Academic Support

  Tutoring Services

  Students may enhance their academic performance in classes offered by the College of Arts and Science in the following departments: biological sciences, chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, and a number of foreign languages. Services are free of charge and available by appointment. To learn more, visit vanderbilt.edu/cas/supportservices. In addition, the National Science Foundation, the School of Engineering, and the College of Arts and Science offer free, drop-in tutoring sessions for students taking courses in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Peer undergraduate students provide help in freshman- and sophomore-level courses. Learn more.

  Writing Studio at Vanderbilt

  The Writing Studio fosters conversation, collaboration, and critical reflection on writing. Open to all members of Vanderbilt's scholarly community, the Writing Studio provides opportunities to receive constructive feedback from trained consultants and to develop strategies for all stages of the writing process. Learn more.

  Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Disability Services Department (EAD)

  EAD helps students, faculty, and staff with a range of disabilities to be full participants in the Vanderbilt community. EAD can assist with accommodations for a variety of disabilities including mobility impairment, learning disabilities, deaf/hard of hearing, and visual impairment. View a complete explanation of their services.

  View a full listing of academic support services

  Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support

  Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (ADAP)

  ADAP provides programs and services to the Vanderbilt community to enhance existing knowledge and skills needed to make healthy choices regarding alcohol. Programs include: Koala Week (Respect the Decision to Not Drink), Alcohol Awareness Week, Safe Spring Break, Event Management and Social Responsibility Training, Recovery Support, and educational presentations on responsible alcohol use and substance abuse prevention. View additional information.

  Office of Religious Life

  Religious Life functions in educational, spiritual, religious, and ceremonial capacities, providing individual spiritual/pastoral counseling, a bereavement support group, weekly religious services, spiritual study, and venues for meditation and reflection. View a listing of services and local places of worship.

  Psychological and Counseling Center (PCC)

  The PCC provides individual counseling for personal, social, academic, and emotional concerns. Psychiatric services are available free of charge. Most counseling is free of charge. View additional information.

  Student Health Center

  Nurse practitioners and physicians are available Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon when classes are in session. Students may be seen by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Services span preventive and sick care, chronic disease management, nutrition counseling, and international travel consultations. View additional information.

  Green Dots

  Dots is a campus-wide campaign to end power-based, personal violence (sexual assault, stalking, intimate partner violence, and bullying). Learn more.

  Social and Cultural Support

  LGBTQI Life in the K.C. Potter Center

  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life at Vanderbilt is a place of affirmation for individuals of all identities and serves as a resource for information and support about gender and sexuality. View additional information.

  Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center (BCC)

  This on-campus center provides educational and cultural programming on the African and African American experience. Located in a beautifully renovated building, the BCC hosts an array of events every year—including symposia, lectures, musical performances, and art exhibitions, provides meeting space, and advises student organizations. View more information.

  Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center

  Founded in 1978, the Women's Center is located in the heart of West Side Row, and provides programs and services around gender, body image, sexual health, pregnancy, parenting, violence prevention, and more. Home to the Gender Matters and Project Safe programs, the Women's Center welcomes everyone on campus. View additional information.

  

  Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life

  As the center for Jewish life on campus and the meeting place for Vandy Hillel, the Schulman Center seeks to provide a home away from home for every Jewish student. Programming includes weekly Shabbat dinners and services, a range of services for most major holidays, travel programs, as well as frequent meetings, service projects, lectures, dances, and informal gatherings. Grins, a popular vegetarian kosher café, can also be found in the Schulman Center. Learn more.

• Healthy 'Dores

  

  Student Health and Wellness

  The Office of Student Health and Wellness works collaboratively with the Vanderbilt community in promoting student development, healthy living, and well-being.

  The office serves as an integral component of the structural support system that focuses on the health, safety, and success of all students as they endeavor to reach their personal and academic goals. View additional information.

• Safety

  Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD)

  The VUPD is dedicated to the protection and security of the university and its diverse community through services and programs that include:

  Vandy Vans—GPS-enabled shuttles that provide transportation along designated routes on campus from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. An additional van that accommodates downtown venues operates Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Arrival times may be monitored at vandyvans.com and can be tracked via iPhone.

  Walking escorts are available to and from any point on campus. Requests can be made by dialing (615) 421-8888 or 1-8888 from a campus phone. Emergency Phones—More than 100 phones are located throughout campus that dial automatically into VUPD's communications center.

  AlertVU—Notification via voice, email, or text for emergencies posing an imminent threat to the Vanderbilt community is available on a voluntary, opt-in basis. We encourage you to sign up at www.warnsignup.com/alertvu.

  Non-Emergency
  Campus Phone 2-2745
  Cell Phone (615) 322-2745

  Emergency Campus Phone 911
  Cell Phone (615) 421-1911

  Visit police.vanderbilt.edu for more information

• Dining and Meal Plans

  The Food Gallery in The Commons Center offers everything a hungry first-year student could want. With choices from the grill to chilled salads and wok, vegan, and vegetarian options—and of course, pizza—first-year students never have to go very far to find a great meal. Vanderbilt Dining includes 20 restaurants, delis, cafes, and markets across campus.

  Meal Plan

  As an incoming student, you will automatically be on the First Year Meal Plan which provides three meals a day. You'll also receive five "Flex Meals" each semester, which you can use any time at any Vanderbilt Dining location, along with $200 "Meal Money" to purchase groceries and snacks on campus or for purchases at 28 offcampus restaurants through the Taste of Nashville program. Our award-winning chefs and culinary teams provide delicious food choices and diverse menus in 20 locations on campus. With the assistance of a registered dietician, we support healthy eating habits and promote community among students, faculty, and staff.

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• Commodore Card

  The Commodore Card will serve as your primary form of student identification. It provides access to residence halls, academic buildings, and sporting events, and is used for meal plans, debit spending at dining locations, campus markets, the bookstore, vending, copying, laundry machines, and even a cab ride home.

• Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt

  Located at 2525 West End Avenue, Barnes & Noble at Vanderbilt is your one stop for textbooks (new, used, digital, and rental), computers, supplies, Nook e-readers, dorm accessories, licensed Vanderbilt apparel, and best-selling books. Order online or in-store and have the assurance of receiving your course materials accurately, conveniently, and on time. The bookstore features extended hours of operation and hosts regular special events. Visit the café and enjoy Starbucks coffees, snacks, and sandwiches while you study!

  Learn more online or on Facebook and Twitter

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• Student Employment

  Students may work at Vanderbilt through either the Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) or through the Vanderbilt Institutional Employment Program (IE). Students can find jobs through Hire-A-Dore, Vanderbilt's online job bank, and the Office of Student Employment hosts an annual job fair on campus every fall for students who qualify for Federal Work Study. Learn more.

• Parents

  Parents and Family Programs

  The Parents and Family Programs Office is an important resource for all families of incoming and current students, as well as host to the Parents and Family Association, actively linking the university and the parents of undergraduate students through various resources and activities. Learn more.

  Watch a video featuring Parent's Weekend 2011:

  Parent Helpline

  A toll-free number and email are provided as a resource for parents. Get advice on how to celebrate your student's birthday from a distance, ask questions about campus services, or inquire about transportation options.

  Parent Publications

  The OverVU parent newsletter is mailed to parents three times a year to keep families up to date on the latest campus happenings. Parents may also opt to receive an e-newsletter, the Parent PreVU, with important dates and deadlines.

  Volunteer Opportunities

  Sign up to participate in one of the many volunteer opportunities provided for parents to get involved on campus and provide support for other new parents! Greet new parents on Move-In Day, assist with registration at Family Weekend, or write welcome letters to new families in your region.

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• Vanderbilt Traditions

  

  Founders Walk: Stepping Into Tradition

  First-year students formally enter the Vanderbilt community during this procession through our front gates. Led by a bagpiper and cheered on by student groups, faculty, and staff, new students celebrate with the entire Vanderbilt community before becoming official 'Dores the following day with the signing of the Honor Code.

  Watch a video featuring Founders Walk 2011:

  More Vanderbilt Traditions

  • V-U Hand Sign: Extend your thumb, index, and middlefingers of the right hand (palm facing out) to form a “V” and “U”.
  • Memorial Magic: Memorial Gym's elevated floor, deafening sound, and benches on the baseline give it a mystique and aura known to Commodore fans as Memorial Magic.
  • Rites of Spring: An annual music festival held on Alumni Lawn the weekend before finals. Past performances include Drake, Phoenix, Ben Harper, The Flaming Lips, The National, Dave Matthews Band, Kid Cudi, and Ben Folds.
  • Commodore Quake: An annual concert for students in Memorial Gym that kicks off Homecoming weekend. Past headliners have included My Morning Jacket, Kanye West, Ludacris, Brad Paisley, and Jay-Z.
  • Senior Day: Commencement festivities begin with this address to the senior class by winners of Vanderbilt's Nichols Chancellor's Medal. Past recipients include alumnus and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and musician/political activist Bob Geldof. Noted journalist Tom Brokaw is scheduled to recieve the medal at Senior Day 2012.
  • Step Show: This showcase of the art of stepping and the creative abilities and distinctive themes of Vanderbilt's National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations is held each spring in conjunction with MOSAIC weekend.
  • Lambda Association Drag Show: Developed 17 years ago, this annual favorite features drag queens and kings from Nashville and surrounding areas to celebrate diversity.
  • Diwali: For this annual celebration of the South Asian Festival of Lights, students enjoy a traditional Indian dinner and are treated to a performance of traditional music and dance by members of Masala-SACE (South Asian Cultural Exchange).
  • Homecoming: Students and alumni enjoy a weekend filled with events ranging from Commodore Quake to tailgating and football on an autumn afternoon.
  • Family Weekend: Students, parents, grandparents, and siblings reconnect every year at more than 80 events, including tailgates, football, and meetings with faculty and deans.
• Honor Code

  

  In 1875, when the first final examinations were administered at Vanderbilt University, two faculty members proposed an honor system based on the simple pledge, "On my word and honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received help on this examination." This Honor Code is still upheld today, and its preservation is the responsibility of every student.

  The night before classes start, you will participate in the Honor Code Signing Ceremony, joining all other first-year students in a visible commitment to the code's values and principles. This pledge will be displayed in Sarratt Student Center alongside declarations from previous years as a symbol of our community's trust and integrity.

  Read the Honor Code in its entirety to learn more about the Honor System.
  
  

• Community Creed

  Individuals who join the Vanderbilt community embark on a lifelong journey toward greater intellectual enlightenment and personal growth. Those who aspire to this purpose share an obligation to honor the principles that define Vanderbilt. The university's enduring tradition of excellence is preserved, augmented, and united with our community's common set of values.

  Scholarship is the pursuit of knowledge in an environment of academic freedom. Members of our community engage in a partnership of learning in which the exploration of ideas is encouraged and protected.

  Honesty is a commitment to refrain from lying, cheating, and stealing. Recognizing that dishonesty undermines community trust, stifles the spirit of scholarship, and threatens a safe environment, we expect ourselves to be truthful in academic endeavors, in relationships with others, and in pursuit of personal development.

  Civility is the genuine respect for the rights of others. We value constructive disagreement and are mindful of the potential impact of our words and actions.

  Accountability is taking responsibility for our actions and their consequences. We accept the duty to actively participate in the decisions that affect our academic and personal lives and we honor our commitments to ourselves and to others.

  Caring is the concern for the well–being and dignity of others. We are dedicated to supporting one another within our community. We make a lifelong commitment to channeling service, knowledge, and experience toward the betterment of humanity.

  Discovery is the exploration of the wonders of self in relation to a larger world. We embrace the opportunity to take risks, challenge assumptions, and understand disparate experiences at Vanderbilt and beyond.

  Celebration is the active appreciation of Vanderbilt University's tradition of excellence. We support endeavors and recognize the achievements of our community members. In celebrating the expressions of our differences, we delight in the spirit that unites individuals throughout the community.

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Get Involved

• Internship and Research Opportunities

  Internships

  The role internships play in today's competitive job market has never been more critical.

  Internships can be conduits to full time job offers, resume builders, sources for building professional networks, and portals to explore the ever changing world of work. According to the 2011 graduating senior survey, almost 70% of respondents had participated in an internship by the time they graduated and 36% indicated they had more than two internships during their four years at Vanderbilt. A recent Vanderbilt Career Center survey indicated that nearly 20% of freshmen had an internship before their sophomore year.

  Every year, Vanderbilt students intern at companies and organizations across a wide spectrum of fields. Last year, Vanderbilt students were found at the following companies:

  Bain and Company, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capgemini, CNN, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, General Electric, IBM, Medtronic, Microsoft Corporation, NASA, NBC, Northrop Grumman, Procter & Gamble, Roche Diagnostics, Schlumberger, Spirit AeroSystems, and Time Warner.

  The Vanderbilt Career Center (VCC) prepares students for these opportunities by offering an arsenal of internship resources including industry-specific career fairs, networking events, and databases that list internship postings, company information, and how to connect with alumni anywhere in the world.

  Career center coaches are available to teach students the essentials of an internship search, including resume writing, interview skills, job market research, salary negotiation, and a variety of other topics.

  You can find the VCC offices on the second floor of the Student Life Center, online, or by calling (615) 322-2750.

  Research

  

  Undergraduate research is an important and growing part of the Vanderbilt student experience. Opportunities include generous university-funded summer research stipends, departmental honors programs, and faculty excited about working with undergraduates in high-level research across multiple disciplines, including natural and social sciences, humanities, engineering, and education.

  The following projects were conducted by undergraduates with the assistance of faculty mentors:

  Peabody College of Education and Human Development

  • Jill Dona, '13, Monroe, LA: The Influence of Parental Depression on Child Psychopathology
  • Sara Germansky, '12, New York, NY: Phonological Awareness in Children with Down Syndrome
  • Lindsay Kramer, '12, Winter Haven, FL: Coping with Stress and Adversity and Reforming One's Assumptive
    World after a Stressful Life Event

  College of Arts and Science

  • Michael Cross, '12, Memphis, TN: Investigative Role of 5-HT2C Receptor in Cognitive Defects Resulting from Schizophrenia
  • Justin Menestrina, '12, Knoxville, TN: The Missing Radiation Problem and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
  • Karolina M. Majewski, '13, Warsaw, Poland: A Comparative Study of the Lives and Works of Poets Halina Poswiatowska and Sylvia Plath

  Blair School of Music

  • Erin Steigerwald, '11, Jericho, NY: Sampling as a Postmodern Africanism in Hip-Hop and Mash Up
  • Patrick McGovern, '12, Austin, TX: Inanga: A Song of Survival in a Daughter's Rwanda
  • Robert Hill, '12, Birmingham, AL: Unity is Power: An Ethnomusicological Study of the Shepherds of Lesotho

  School of Engineering

  • Erin McManus, '12, Potomac, MD: Perceiving Alterations in Trajectories while Throwing in a Virtual Environment
  • Philip D. Ingram, '12, Greenwood Village, CO: Developing Plant-Based Photoelectric Cells that Use
    a Photosystem Found in Spinach Chloroplasts to Convert Sunlight into Energy
  • Scott Nill, '12, Nashville, TN: Developing an Active Cannula as a Novel Surgical Instrument

  Learn more about undergraduate research at Vanderbilt and watch a video about undergraduates working in the Structural Biology Lab below:

• Study Abroad

  

  Explore other cultures, languages, and landmarks for a year, summer, semester, or Maymester through the Global Education Office (GEO) at Vanderbilt. GEO offers 100 direct credit programs on six continents, and nearly two-thirds of our students spend a semester or a year abroad. Host countries include: Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain, among others. In 2010–2011, over 650 Vanderbilt students studied abroad.

  You can take an in-depth course at Vanderbilt followed by a summer of community service in a distant location through VISAGE (Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement), or spend a semester taking classes at a host university and living with local students. You might even participate in a language immersion semester with courses taught in the local language. Regardless of how or where you choose to spend your time abroad, you can find the perfect fit for developing cross-cultural competencies and unique skill sets to enhance future career opportunities and expand your perspective of the world.

  Watch a video about Vanderbilt's great study abroad opportunities:

  Learn more about Study Abroad online or on Facebook and Twitter

• Student Organizations

  

  Vanderbilt has more than 350 organizations for you to consider joining. If none of those suit your taste, we encourage and support students to create something new.

  Arts

  The Vanderbilt Performing Arts Council (VPAC) consists of representatives from 34 of Vanderbilt's student performing arts groups. Organizations include everything from vocal groups such as Concert Choir, Vandy Taal, Dodecs, Swingin' Dores, Melodores, Jeremiah Generation, and Voices of Praise; dance organizations Rhythm & Roots Performance Company, VIBE, VITA, Momentum, and VDT; the well-known theatrical troupes Vanderbilt Off-Broadway, Vanderbilt University Theatre, Original Cast; to the ever popular Juggling & Physical Arts Club. Sarratt Studio Art and Vanderbilt Dance Program sponsor co-curricular classes at all levels, and the International Lens Film Series sponsors free film screenings in Sarratt Cinema. View more information.

  Cultural

  Asian American Student Association · Black Student Alliance · Vandy Taal · Masala-SACE · Vanderbilt Lambda Association · Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students · Caribbean Students Association · Multicultural Leadership Council · Vanderbilt Undergraduate Chinese Association · Community Vanderbilt · African Student Union

  Programming

  Vanderbilt Programming Board · CityVU · Great Performances at Vanderbilt · Vanderbilt University Speakers Committee · Homecoming Committee The Music Group · The Venue · Vandy Fanatics

  Religious

  Alpha Omega · Baptist Collegiate Ministry · Beta Upsilon Chi · Campus Crusade for Christ · Chabad · Commodores for Christ · Every Nation Campus Ministries · Fellowship of Christian Athletes · Hillel · Intervarsity Asian-American Christian Fellowship · J. Reuben Clark Law Society · Jeremiah Generation · Latter-Day Saints Student Association · Lutheran Student Fellowship · Meditation Group · Muslim Student Association · Orthodox Christian Fellowship · Ozark Christian Ministries · Presbyterian Student Fellowship · Reformed University Fellowship · Sigma Phi Lambda · The Navigators · The Word on Campus · Vandy CATHOLIC · Vandy Karma · Victory Christian A Cappella Choir · Voices of Praise · Wesley-Canterbury Fellowship · Young Life · Zion's Inspiration

  Service

  Alternative Spring Break · Alpha Phi Omega · Vandy CARES · Habitat for Humanity · Circle K International · Manna Project · Artreach · Vanderbilt Students Volunteering for Science (VSVS) and well over 40 more student service groups.

  Additional Campus Involvement Opportunities

  First Friends

  This cross-cultural exchange, coordinated by Vanderbilt's International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS), connects international students with Americans on and off campus through friendship. International students at Vanderbilt join this annual program to experience American life and culture. At the same time, these students share experiences from their home countries with their new American friends.

  Holocaust Lecture Series

  As the oldest university-sponsored Holocaust education program in the United States, the Holocaust Lecture Series at Vanderbilt mixes events, lectures, and appearances to remind us of the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. Learn more about the series.

  IMPACT Symposium

  Created in 1964 at the height of the civil rights movement, this student-coordinated series gives prominent speakers the chance to address political topics of national significance. Past guests have included Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Muhammad Yunus, and Salmon Rushdie.

  International Education Week

  This nationally designated observance encourages international education exchanges and features lectures, panels, and films to highlight the contributions of international students and scholars to research and teaching.

  

  Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series

  Established in celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the MLK Series presents lectures and events that address Dr. King's historic achievements and enduring influence. In honoring Dr. King, Vanderbilt affirms its commitment to the goals of peace and racial justice.

  Project Dialogue

  This year-long, university-wide program seeks to involve the entire Vanderbilt community in public discourse and reflection. Project Dialogue also encourages interaction among student organizations through lectures, debates, films, art displays, theater productions, panel discussions, and reading.

  Speakers for Project Dialogue have included Sandra Bernhard, Naomi Wolf, Cornel West, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Oliver Sacks, Danny Seo, Mary Lucking-Reiley, Neil Howe, Scott Turow, Adrienne Outlaw, John Douglas, Barbara Ehrenreich, T.R. Reid, Al Franken, John Ashcroft, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Elie Wiesel. Learn more about Project Dialogue.

  National Coming Out Week

  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied members of the Vanderbilt community celebrate LGBTQI visibility during this annual series of events in mid-October.

  World on Wednesdays

  This weekly lunchtime series promotes international awareness through informal student, staff, and faculty presentations, informal conversations, and topical lectures that highlight global issues.

  Learn more about student organizations and campus involvement opportunities at Vanderbilt

• Greek Life

  

  Greek letter organizations have been part of campus life for more than a century. About 42 percent of all undergraduates join sororities or fraternities each year, participating in a variety of community service, philanthropic, and social activities and holding an array of leadership roles in the Greek and Vanderbilt communities. Vanderbilt is home to 37 chapters of sororities and fraternities from the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Panhellenic Council.

  Go inside the Vanderbilt Greek scene and watch a video about this very popular element of the student experience:

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Talk to a Current Student

Also be sure to read our student blog Inside 'Dores for an unfiltered look at the life of a Vanderbilt student!