Some lessons are best learned outside class. At Vanderbilt, our emphasis on community brings students, faculty, and staff together in a living and learning environment where scholarship and friendship thrive side-by-side.
Balance is key to any Vanderbilt student’s success. While the academics are challenging, our students still find time to take a break and enjoy their college experience. With more than 450 student organizations, intramural and club sports, the vibrant city of Nashville, and frequent concerts and guest lectures, you always have plenty of opportunities to recharge and stay inspired.
“I chose Vanderbilt because as soon as I stepped on campus I could tell how supportive, kind, and invested the community was.”
Housing and Dining
The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons is composed of ten houses designed exclusively for first-year students and their faculty heads of house, a dining center, seminar/study rooms, generous public spaces, and endless opportunities for engagement, enrichment, and leadership.
The experiences while living on The Commons promote a sense of community, personal wellbeing, self-discovery, intellectual development, and cultural awareness—setting up students for the beginning of their journey through a Vanderbilt undergraduate education.
“Something that is ‘Common’ is something that is familiar, frequent, and ubiquitous. It is something that you can count on, something that happens every day. Whether it’s a quick smile and hello as you grab a coffee on the way to class, a longer conversation over a meal, or a late-night study session in close proximity to snacks, The Commons Center is our place for our community to grow and thrive.”
Many upper-division students extend the dynamic living-learning experience of The Commons through Vanderbilt's growing residential college system including Carmichael College, E. Bronson Ingram College, Moore College, Nicholas S. Zeppos College, Rothschild College and Warren College. Other residential options for upper-division students include suite-style, apartment-style, or themed housing.
Dining together creates a sense of place and kinship, not only sustaining our bodies, but our community and environment as well. Vanderbilt Campus Dining provides a key element of the residential experience by serving high-quality, nutritious dining options, with award-winning chefs and culinary teams.
Belonging and Community
At Vanderbilt, we want everyone in our community to know they belong. That means helping students find a sense of belonging and providing the resources needed to succeed not only academically, but in every area of life.
The broad and diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of our Vanderbilt community members enrich the educational experience and provide important avenues for growth and development for every member of our community.
“Our mission includes finding, choosing, and enrolling talented and accomplished students who bring countless experiences and perspectives, and represent a broad array of diverse backgrounds. Our promise is to provide a residential educational experience that challenges our students to listen to many different perspectives and learn from each other. The result is a community that produces graduates who are ready to make an impact on the world.”
Nashville
As the symbol for Southern cosmopolitan charm, Nashville knows how to shine on the international stage while retaining the hospitality that quickly turns new arrivals into locals. While you are as likely to hear hip-hop as honky-tonk country or discover an up-and-coming ethnic restaurant beside a classic Nashville meat-and-three, you can just as easily catch an NFL or NHL game, wander through an art exhibit, or take in the symphony, all practically on the same block.
“My favorite Nashville experience has been taking advantage of the lively music scene and spontaneously attending concerts with my friends. Nashville is truly such a vibrant and exciting city!”
Health and Wellness
Vanderbilt supports student’s physical and emotional well-being through these campus resources:
- Center for Student Wellbeing
- University Counseling Center
- Student Health Center
- Student Care Coordination
- Project Safe Center for Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response
- David Williams II Student Recreation and Wellness Center
“I love that Vanderbilt has a great support system for students that makes a balance between fun and academics possible.”
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33
club sport teams
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20+
intramural sports leagues
Athletics
Sport is a proving ground for passion, discipline, focus, and determination. We turn out to support Vanderbilt’s sixteen varsity teams, who face some of the country’s fiercest opponents in the legendary SEC with the same focus and perseverance they bring to the classroom.
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9
NCAA championships
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35
SEC and league championships
Honor Code and Community Creed
The goal of our honor system has always been for all students to leave Vanderbilt as graduates and citizens of integrity. Members of each new Vanderbilt class assemble shortly after moving in for the Honor Code Signing Ceremony. You can see their signatures on display in Sarratt Student Center along with those of all the current undergraduates.
Vanderbilt’s student-created Community Creed is a statement of the values we hold in common:
Academic – We strive to pursue intellectual knowledge with curiosity and humility. We engage in a partnership of learning and discovery, where the scholarly exploration of ideas is not only protected, but encouraged.
Neighborly – We strive to be ambassadors of goodwill within our campus and beyond. We serve, uplift, and empower the members of our global neighborhood.
Courageous – We strive to be courageous, acting with bold authenticity. We embrace taking risks, challenging assumptions, and persevering in the face of adversity.
Honest – We strive for honesty in our academic endeavors and relationships with others. We commit to integrity and accountability across all aspects of life—personally, professionally, and academically.
Open – We strive to openly engage with ideas, experiences, and with one another. We welcome every background and story through celebration of the diversity that enriches our common experience and active participation in constructive conversations about our differences.
Respectful – We strive to promote a culture of civility grounded in equity, inclusivity, and respect. We hold each other’s passions and perspectives in high regard, endeavoring to live a life of personal growth and service.