Frequently Asked Questions

Arrival

• I'm a new student. When will I know my room assignment for the fall?
  
• When can I move in?
  
• I want to bring my car to campus. Where can I park?
  
• What transportation is available to and from the campus?
  

• What should I bring to campus?
  
• What furnishings will be provided in my room?
  
• Can we bring extra furniture? Will it fit?
  
• Is there anything else I shouldn't bring to campus?
  
• Are vacuum cleaners, mops, brooms or cleaning materials provided?
  
• Are ironing boards and irons provided in the laundry area?
  
• Are shower curtains provided?
  
• What about storage?
  

• Will my room be carpeted?
  
• What are the colors of paint, carpet, walls, drapes, blinds and desk chair?
  
• What about cable TV service? Is there an outlet for cable TV?
  
• How can we best set up a computer and still have study space?
  
• How can we hook a computer up to the campus network?
  
• What will be the dimensions of my mattress?
  

Survival

• I would like to change my room assignment. What can I do?
  
• I have a maintenance problem in my room. What do I do?
  
• To whom can I turn for help or advice?
  

• How does a student make long-distance calls? What about the roommate?
  
• Does Vanderbilt have a laundry or dry cleaning pick-up/delivery service?
  
• How can I ship boxes by UPS or U.S. Mail to campus?
  
• Is it necessary to have a bank account in Nashville?
  
• How does a student cash checks?
  
• Where is the closest ATM?
  

Answers:

I'm a new student. When will I know my room assignment for the fall?
Housing assignments are mailed to new students in early August 2008. The information provided will include the residence hall, room number, telephone number, P.O. Box number and the name, address and phone number of roommate, if applicable. To safeguard students' privacy, housing assignment information is not available by phone.

When can I move in?

First-year move in for the Class of 2012 will be Saturday, August 16, 2008. Students will be assigned specific times to move in. Detailed move-in instructions will be sent to students with their assignment letters mailed on or about August 1. Please visit the Move-in Web Site for lots of great information about move-in day.

I would like to change my room assignment. What can I do?
Since every living space on campus is assigned to a student prior to move-in, room changes are not considered prior to the beginning of school. Approximately two weeks after the beginning of classes, students are permitted to make room changes. A student seeking a room change should schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director responsible for his or her residence hall during the period from September 17 until September 20, 2007. For spring semester 2008, the room change period will be held from January 28 until January 31, 2008.

I want to bring my car to campus. Where can I park?
University policy requires that all students, faculty and staff who operate vehicles on campus, register them with the Office of Traffic and Parking in the Wesley Place Garage. First-year students are not permitted to park vehicles on campus. A variety of reserved- and permit-parking options are available for upperclassmen. For more information, call the parking office at 615/322-2554 or email parking@vanderbilt.edu.

To whom can I turn for help or advice?
Students with problems or questions often turn to their resident advisers (RA) or head residents for help. A resident adviser is assigned to each student. Resident advisers are students who live in the residence halls and who have been specially trained to provide appropriate assistance to other residents. All resident advisers are supervised by a head resident and one of seven Residence Life Coordinators (RLCs). RLCs live on campus and are cell phone equipped 24 hours per day, seven days a week. In addition, the Dean of Students, three Associate Directors of Residence, and four Assistant Directors of Residence Life live on the campus. At any hour of the day or night, there will always be a staff member available to help you by providing information, advice, counsel, referral or assistance in emergencies.

I have a maintenance problem in my room. What do I do?
Routine maintenance problems should be reported to your Area Maintenance Supervisor (AMS). There are 8 residential areas on campus and each one is staffed by an AMS. Each AMS has an office open during business hours. A 24-hour voice mail service is also available. In cases of emergency, please contact your AMS, resident adviser, or Assistant Director.

To report a maintenance problem via email, please use the Maintenance Request Form.

How can we hook a computer up to the campus network?
The Residential Computing Network (ResNet) is available in all residence halls. All residents will have direct, on-line access to the campus network through hard-wired jacks in their residence hall rooms. All residence halls are equipped with WiFi, also. To learn more about ResNet, including information about the minimum technical requirements of the system and instructional services, visit http://www.vanderbilt.edu/resnet, e-mail resnet@vanderbilt.edu, or call the ResNet Information Line at (888) 310-6466.

What about cable TV service? Is there an outlet for cable TV?
TeleVU, the university's cable TV network, is available through a hard-wired jack in each single room, double room or apartment on campus. In all residence halls in Kissam Quadrangle, on Alumni Lawn and at the Commons, certain lounges are equipped with televisions linked to the TeleVU system.

How can we best set up a computer and still have study space?
In general, desks can support a computer. Many students bring a printer stand. The University Book Store is familiar with residence hall furnishings and can help students arrange their study/work space.

What furnishings will be provided in my room?
For information concerning room furnishings in various residence halls, please select the name of the residence hall at the Tour the Halls! page.

What will be the dimensions of my mattress?
The mattresses provided in University residence halls measure 36" in width and 78" in length.

What are the colors of paint, carpet, wall-covering, drapes, blinds and desk chair?
In student rooms, paint, wall covering, drapery, mini-blinds and desk chair tend to be neutral in color, ranging from beige to tan. Nothing is white. Carpets have multi-colored specks on a neutral (beige or tan) background.

Can we bring extra furniture? Will it fit?
We do not recommend bringing any extra furniture until you survey your assigned space. University furniture may not be removed from student rooms, so furniture you bring will have to share space in your room with University furniture. Many students find that refrigerators, TVs, stereos, etc., take up more space than they thought. If a roommate is involved, it is best to confirm what space his or her belongings require.

Is there anything else I shouldn't bring to campus?
Please do not bring:

• a powerful sound system (a personal-size system with headphones is fine)
• wireless acces points (routers, AirPorts, etc.)
• a mattress (University mattresses and boxsprings may not be removed)
• a hot plate, popcorn popper, a toaster oven, grill (like a George Foreman grill) or any appliance with an exposed heating element
• halogen lamps
• a loft or waterbed
• pets (except fish)
• fireworks
• firearms and other weapons
• dartboards
• concrete blocks

What should I bring to campus?
Please feel free to bring:

• headphones for sound systems
• linens, including sheets, towels, pillows, pillowcases, and blankets
• clothing, including a bathrobe; toiletries, personal items, books, an alarm clock, and a study lamp
• a bicycle with lock (the Department of Security recommends a U-shaped lock and requires you to register your bicycle)
• an 800-watt microwave with an interior capacity of no more than one cubic foot
• a three-way adapter for electrical outlets
• multi-outlet power strips with circuit breaker protection and minimum ratings of 15 amps and 1800 watts

Will my room be carpeted?
Student rooms in all residence halls are carpeted, except Crawford, Gillette, Stambaugh, Sutherland, and Ingram where hallways and common areas are carpted but student rooms have tile floors.

Are vacuum cleaners, mops, brooms or cleaning materials provided?
A vacuum cleaner will be available for check-out at the reception desk. Housekeeping provides trash bags; no other cleaning materials are supplied. Housekeeping services are provided for suite and common area bathrooms.

Are ironing boards and irons provided in the laundry area?
No.

Are shower curtains provided?
Yes. Shower curtains are provided in private bathrooms; common area bathrooms may have shower curtains or doors.

What about storage?
Limited storage is available in some residence halls on a first-come, first-served basis. Each student is limited to two items. Consider using luggage, trunks, or trash cans (plastic or galvanized that you can secure with a chain and lock) for storage. Fire regulations prevent the storage of cardboard containers such as computer or speaker boxes. These items may not be stored before a student's arrival in the fall.

How does a student make long-distance calls? What about the roommate?
Vanderbilt Telecommunications can open a V-Net account with a special code to charge calls from any campus phone, or students can use their own long-distance calling card. No calls can be charged to a student's phone. A V-Net application and Voice Mail information will be included in the housing assignment materials for first-year students.

Does Vanderbilt have a laundry or dry cleaning pick-up/delivery service?
Yes. Dry cleanering and bundled laundry service is available on campus. Information about the sevice is available at www.commodorelaundry.com.

What transportation is available to and from the campus?
Students can travel to/from campus by cab, shuttle service, or by public transportation. Average taxi fare between the airport and University area is approximately $20-$25 (approximately 20 minutes driving time).

Shuttle service information can be obtained from the airport or near-by motels/hotels. Reserved fares average $9 one way to $15 round-trip. Various student groups sponsor a shuttle service during holiday breaks.

The Metropolitan Transit Service will mail bus schedules for public transportation to and from the University area by calling 615-862-5950.

How can I ship boxes by UPS or U.S. Mail to campus?
Boxes shipped by U.S. mail and UPS should be addressed to the student's Vanderbilt box address. The box will be inventoried at Stations B or Peabody and a claim slip will be placed in the student's mail box. Parcels can be claimed at the Package Window: Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Package Window Hours for move-in weekend are:

Station B will be open:
Friday-Saturday, August 24-25, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26, 2007, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Peabody Mail Room in the Cohen Building will be open:
Friday, August 24, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 25, 2007, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Mail Service will place a pick-up notice in the student's box each day to notify the addressee of the package. Packages will be held 14 days before they are returned.

Family and friends should address packages in the manner illustrated below. Historically most first-year students have been assigned Station B boxes. However, some students have a Peabody Mail Room address (PD is for Peabody).

Jane Doe Vanderbilt University VU Station B #35(and your 4 digit box number) Nashville, TN 37235-(your 4 digit box number)

Jane Doe Vanderbilt University Peabody # (and your 3 or 4 digit box number) 230 Appleton Place Nashville, TN 37203-5701

** Never send cash in letters or greeting cards.

Call Station B Post Office at 615-322-2934 for more information or if your have questions.

Is it necessary to have a bank account in Nashville?
No, but representatives from local banks are present on campus during the first few days of orientation to assist students with their banking needs. It is advisable to seek assistance from your home bank representative about what services they may provide while considering an account at home or in Nashville (bank card fees, transferring funds from your account to student, etc). Two banks, Sun Trust (888-390-BANK) and Regions Bank (800-342-8240) have offered toll free numbers for inquiries about their services.

How does a student cash checks?
The University Bookstore and many local groceries will cash checks with a driver's license and a student ID card.

Where is the closest ATM?
ATMs are located at Sarratt Student Center, Hill Student Center, Music Rehearsal Hall(drive-thru), Branscomb Quadrangle, The Vanderbilt Clinic and Medical Center North. Sun Trust and Regions have full service branches within walking distance of campus.