Parents and Family Programs

Student Services

dining hall photo

Dining at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Dining's Meal Plans serve the University community with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and markets tailored to the needs of students. Restaurants include twelve concepts at Rand Dining Center in the heart of campus (fast food, made-to-order salads and create-your-own salad bar, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, Mexican, New York Deli, and more), The Pub restaurant and Stonehenge deli in the Sarratt Student Center, a food court in Carmichael Towers residence hall featuring C.T. West and Quiznos, and Grins Vegetarian Cafe, a kosher restaurant located in the Schulman Center for Jewish Life.

For convenience groceries, snacks, or a quick meal, visit one of six Varsity Markets located throughout campus in the residence halls and student centers. Expanded services include bookstore supplies, health and beauty items, VU Meal Plan grab-and-go items, dry cleaning, and more. Varsity Marketplace in Branscomb residence hall is open 24 hours and features Ro*Tiki, a quick-service restaurant. The Market and Chef's Table at Cohen on the Peabody campus offers specialty sandwiches, made-to-order salads, and homestyle entrees. Cohen's market is open 24/7.

To help students become more involved in campus life and build a sense of community within the first-year class, the University requires all first-year students living in residence halls to participate in the Lunch and Dinner VU Meal Plans for both the fall and spring semesters. The plans offer lunch and dinner seven days a week at multiple locations on campus with a wide variety of foods. The Breakfast Plan is also available for purchase. Special features of the plans include rollover money for missed meals, Taste of Nashville program, special events, and an all-you-care-to-eat brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Meal plan and other details are available from Vanderbilt Dining's Web site: www.vanderbilt.edu/dining

Health Services

The Student Health Center (SHC) is closely affiliated with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and its staff members include professionals skilled in treating the physical and mental needs of young adults. The SHC is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters. Students should call for appointments, but students with acute illnesses are seen on a same-day appointment or on a work-in basis. Office hours are reduced during breaks and the summer. Staff professionals are on call when the SHC is closed, except during summer months. Students may use the Vanderbilt Medical Center Emergency Department at any time. However, charges generated by visits to the VMC ED are the responsibility of students/parents.

Some routine office laboratory tests done at Student Health are provided at minimal charge. Charges will be incurred for lab tests or X-rays performed by the Vanderbilt Medical Center or other facilities. Many charges will be covered by insurance. It is recommended that parents and students clarify their insurance coverage and that students be provided with insurance and pharmacy ID cards. The Student Health Center does not include in-patient facilities. Therefore, overnight or extended inpatient care will be provided at the Vanderbilt Hospital; insurance coverage is required. Visit the Web site, www.vanderbilt.edu/student_health.

Residence Life

The Office of Housing and Residential Education provides students with a residential experience that will enhance their growth and development and complement their academic experience. Residential staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to offer advice, counseling, and referrals to all students who live on campus.

Mail/Shipping

All U.S. first-class mail is posted to student boxes immediately. Boxes, packages, or mail requiring a signature are inventoried, and a claim slip is placed in the student's mailbox. Parcels are claimed at the package window Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-noon.

Address ALL mail (U.S.P.S. first-class and all packages or boxes) in the following manner:

Station B address:
Name of Student
Vanderbilt University
VU Station B #350000*
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37235-0000*

Peabody address:
Name of Student
Vanderbilt University
Peabody #0000*
230 Appleton Place
Nashville, TN 37203-5721*

*Remember to put the box number in place of the zeros. The Station B "zip plus four" number also includes the box number.

Most freshman students have Station B Post Office boxes, but some may have a Peabody Mail Room address. Each student is notified of his or her box number in the housing assignment letter around August 1.

Station B Post Office in Rand Hall and the Peabody Mail Room located at the Cohen Plaza will have special hours during move-in weekend.

Station B Post Office in Rand Hall will be open:

Peabody Mail Room located at the Cohen Plaza will be open:

Station B Post Office offers a central pick-up during the first three weeks of the semester to enhance the package delivery system. Beginning Friday, August 19, through Friday, September 9, 2005, packages will be picked up from a trailer located at the Olin Hall Terrace, 2400 Highland Avenue (across from Central Garage).

Before August 19 and after September 9, all student packages will be delivered to Station B Post Office or the Peabody Mail Room. Packages will be held for fourteen days before they are returned to the sender.

You may use any carrier. Insure all packages up to the value of the contents. Number the packages if sending more than one. Example: 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4, and 4 of 4.

Do not send cash. Do not place cash in greeting cards. Use money orders or personal checks instead.

For more information or if you have questions, call the Station B Post Office at (615) 322-2934. Students who need assistance shipping items from Vanderbilt should visit Station B Post Office or the Peabody Mail Room.

Opportunity Development Center (ODC)

The Opportunity Development Center (ODC) is Vanderbilt's equal opportunity, affirmative action, and disability services office for the University and Medical Center.  The ODC is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations for Vanderbilt students with documented disabilities.  The ODC's Disability Services Program serves over 400 students with disabilities, both graduate and undergraduate, with the goal of empowering students to advocate for themselves and to be better prepared for employment after graduation.

All reasonable accommodations are individualized, flexible, and confidential based on the nature of the disability and the academic program.  Students who will be requesting accommodations must contact the ODC's Disability Services Program to inquire about registering for services (615) 322-4705 and visit www.vanderbilt.edu/odc for further information.

Police

The Vanderbilt University Police Department, (615) 322-2745, is a professional law enforcement agency dedicated to the protection and security of Vanderbilt University and its diverse community.

The Police Department provides several services and programs:

Vandy Vans - The Police Department administers the Vandy Vans escort system at Vanderbilt University. The Vandy Vans escort system provides vehicular escorts to designated locations on campus.  The service consists of two vans that operate from dusk to 5 a.m. 

One van makes a continuous loop around campus, taking approximately every 30 minutes, making the following ten stops: Police Headquarters, Lupton residence hall at Branscomb Quad, 24th Avenue between Carmichael Towers East and West, Kissam Quad at Hemingway, Terrace Place Garage, Wesley Place Garage, North Hall, the Blair School of Music, Highland Quad at Morgan Circle, and McGugin Center.

A second van runs an express route stopping at the following locations: Lupton dormitory at Branscomb Quad, 24th Avenue between Carmichael Towers East and West, Kissam Quad at Hemingway, North Hall, and Highland Quad at Morgan Circle.

Stops were chosen based on location, the accessibility of a secure waiting area and student input.  Freestanding signs are located on existing structures to identify each stop.  A walking escort can be requested to walk a student from their stop to their final destination.  A van is also accessible to students with mobility impairments.  Additional information about Vandy Vans can be found at http://police.vanderbilt.edu/services.htm or by calling (615) 322-2558

As a supplement to the SafeTrips van service, walking escorts are available for students walking to and from any location on campus during the nighttime hours. Walking escorts are provided by VUPD officers. The telephone number to call for a walking escort is 421-8888 (off campus) or 1-8888 (on campus)

Emergency Phones - Emergency telephones (Blue Light Phones) are located throughout the University campus and Medical Center.

Each phone has an emergency button that when pressed automatically dials the VUPD Communications Center.  An open line on any emergency phone will activate a priority response from an officer.  An officer will be sent to check on the user of the phone, even if nothing is communicated to the dispatcher.  Cooperation is essential to help us maintain the integrity of the emergency phone system.  These phones should be used only for actual or perceived emergency situations. 

An emergency response can also be received by dialing 911 from any campus phone.  Cell phone users can call (615) 421-1911 to illicit an emergency response on campus.  Cell phone users should dial 911 for off campus emergencies.  All callers should be prepared to state their location.

Security Alerts - Security Alerts are distributed throughout Vanderbilt to make community members aware of significant unsolved crimes that occur at the University.  They are distributed by mail, postings on public bulletin boards, through Vanderbilt e-mail lists, and through the department's web page.

Educational and Assistance Programs - The Community Relations Division of Vanderbilt Police Department offers programs addressing issues such as sexual assault, domestic violence, workplace violence, personal safety, RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes, and victim assistance.

For further information on available programs and services, call (615) 322-2558 or e-mail crimeprevention.atwood@vanderbilt.edu

Additional information on security measures and crime statistics for Vanderbilt is available from the Police Department, 2800 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN  37212.  Information is also available at www.police.vanderbilt.edu.

Parking

Vanderbilt University has a unique and strong first year experience. The campus setting provides easy access for most freshman needs. It is University policy that freshmen not have a car on campus. Freshmen are not eligible to register a car for on-campus parking spaces. Please visit the T&P Web site at www.vanderbilt.edu/traffic_parking. The Office of Traffic and Parking is located in Wesley Place Garage at 2403 Scarritt Place.

Cabs and Shuttles

Students can travel to/from campus by cab, shuttle service, or bus. Average taxi fare between the airport and University area is $20-$25 (approximately twenty minutes driving time). Students may purchase Cab Cash from Varsity Markets using their Commodore Cash Account to ensure a safe ride home any time, night or day. Shuttle (van) service information can be obtained from the airport or nearby motels/hotels. Reserved fares average $11 one way to $17 round trip. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will mail bus schedules for public transportation to and from the University area; call (615) 862-5950. Vanderbilt Student Government Association also offers a free shuttle service to the airport before Thanksgiving, end-of-semester, and spring breaks.