Community Messages
Sept. 28, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Sep. 28, 2020—Fall is officially here. While the weather and scenery are changing, the university’s policies and guidelines currently in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19 will stay the same. The university will remain in Phase 2+ of the Vanderbilt Return to Campus Plan as the city of Nashville plans to transition to phase 3 of its...
Sept. 23 – Staying Strong
Sep. 23, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, As hard as it is to believe, we are already one-third of the way through our fall semester. We have made it this far thanks to your flexibility and adaptability and the sheer hard work you have contributed during the past six months of this pandemic. You, the faculty of this great...
Sept. 21, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Sep. 21, 2020—As the fifth week of classes begins from the August 24th semester start, progress is being made across the university to ensure students, whether on campus or studying remotely, are continuing to build connections and create meaningful experiences while following campus protocols and guidelines. As Chancellor Diermeier and Provost Wente discussed in their Friday message to students, this progress is a...
Sept. 21, 2020 – Staying Strong
Sep. 21, 2020—Dear colleagues, As hard as it is to believe, we are already one-third of the way through our fall semester schedule. Whether you have been working on campus or remotely, none of this has been easy. But our staff members’ commitment and sustained effort have made the start of the year a great success. You...
Sept. 18, 2020 – Stay Strong
Sep. 18, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt community, As hard as it is to believe, we are already one-third of the way through our fall semester schedule. Those on campus have been wearing face masks, physically distancing, limiting gathering sizes, checking for symptoms, getting tested, and quarantining and isolating when needed. We asked you to Anchor Down and Step Up....
Sept. 18, 2020 – A reminder about student quarantine and isolation policies
Sep. 18, 2020—Dear Students, Our office has received inquiries regarding our quarantine and isolation policies. We are sending this message to remind students that these policies are in place to help protect the health and safety of the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities. The university will not grant individualized exceptions to our quarantine and isolation policies; public health...
Sept. 14, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Sep. 14, 2020—As the Vanderbilt community moves another week forward with fall semester classes, we should all take a moment to reflect on the tremendous efforts of everyone to get us to this point. Students, faculty and staff are making immense efforts to keep each other as safe as possible and continuing to focus on campus protocols...
Sept. 7, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Sep. 7, 2020—The new routines for the fall semester are rapidly becoming the “new normal.” Students, faculty and staff are adapting to the current reality of campus life during the COVID-19 pandemic—and learning to thrive and support each other while doing so. From following health and safety guidelines for in-person experiences to finding new ways to...
Sept. 4, 2020 – Message to Parents
Sep. 4, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt families, We have now completed our second week of in-person, on-campus classes for the fall semester. Despite our new guidelines, many things appeared as they normally do this time of year. Students immersed themselves in learning and class schedules, while making new friends and re-connecting with those they haven’t seen in months. Not...
Aug. 31, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Aug. 31, 2020—Last week was a week of firsts. As Chancellor Diermeier said in his video message on Friday, not one of us has ever attended college, or worked together on campus, during a global pandemic. But as a community, as One Vanderbilt, we are rising to the challenge, every day, and will continue to do so...
Aug. 28, 2020 – After a strong first week, let’s keep it going
Aug. 29, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt community, We’ve successfully concluded what was the first week of classes for many of our students—a week of immersion in new courses and schedules, meeting new friends and reconnecting with others after long months apart. In the lead-up to this week, we asked you to do your utmost to keep each other safe...
Aug. 27, 2020 – Message to undergraduates and parents: Undergraduate mandatory weekly testing starts Monday, August 31
Aug. 27, 2020—Dear students and families, As we’ve discussed throughout our Return to Campus Plan communications, frequent testing is key to our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. With that goal in mind, we have expanded our periodic campus testing to include mandatory, weekly testing of all undergraduates starting Monday, Aug. 31. Currently,...
Aug. 24, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Aug. 24, 2020—Today, Aug. 24, all of Vanderbilt’s schools and colleges will have classes in session on campus for the first time since March 9. Plans developed with diligence and care over the summer to ensure campus is ready for faculty, staff and students to return are now fully in place. We are employing a robust and layered approach to create an environment that is as safe...
Aug. 19, 2020 – URGENT: Message about start of classes
Aug. 19, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt students and families, As the headlines fill with stories of universities being forced to suspend in-person classes after reopening due to outbreaks on campus, we write to reiterate the utmost seriousness with which you, and every single member of the Vanderbilt community, must take our public health and safety requirements. Every student must...
Aug. 19, 2020 – Student Accountability Actions for COVID-19 Policy Violations
Aug. 19, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt Students, Last night you received a message from me regarding arrival testing and guidelines for on- and off- campus gatherings. In light of the cancellation of in-person activities we have seen at other universities, I want to emphasize the importance of abiding by any and all University policies. Given the importance of safety...
Aug. 17, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Aug. 17, 2020—It’s officially move-in week, and we are pleased to be welcoming back students for the semester. While this fall will look different than in years past, we remain steadfast in the constant pursuit of our mission and ideals outlined in our Academic Strategic Plan. As the university prepares to welcome more students, faculty, staff and...
Aug. 12, 2020 – A message to faculty on fulfilling our mission as we return to campus
Aug. 12, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, As we are welcoming more faculty, staff and students back to campus and preparing for the first days of classes and activities, we do so while facing one of the greatest challenges higher education has ever seen. The COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended nearly every aspect of how we teach, how we...
Aug. 10, 2020 – Update on Research Ramp-up/Phase II+ Announcement
Aug. 10, 2020—Dear colleagues, As you know from the Return to Campus Update on Aug. 3, the university has moved into Phase II+ of its Return to Campus Plan. Likewise, research will move into Phase II+ as part of our 4-Phase Research Ramp-up Plan starting Friday, Aug. 14. The goal of Phase II+ is to provide additional...
Aug. 10, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Aug. 10, 2020—UPDATE: Undergraduate students living off campus will pick up their arrival test kits on Aug. 20 and 21, not Aug. 22 as stated in the email. The university is on track to continue welcoming students back to campus over the next two weeks. In-person classes for several professional degree programs have already launched and undergraduate, graduate...
Aug. 6, 2020 – Follow-up message from Faculty Senate Chair Catherine McTamaney
Aug. 6, 2020—Dear colleagues, These are challenging times and I appreciate the eager involvement of faculty in helping to discern our university’s best path forward, especially with so much uncertainty before us. Each of you is an invaluable voice in Vanderbilt’s shared governance. As Chair of your Faculty Senate, I affirm the important role of the Senate as...
Vanderbilt Phase II continues with readiness for further on-campus activities
Aug. 3, 2020—Vanderbilt University has continued successful implementation of Phase II of its Return to Campus Plan, and as of August 10 will have the criteria and systems in place to begin on-campus classes on August 24 for all undergraduates and many graduate and professional students (some graduate and professional programs will have started before that date)....
Aug. 3, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Aug. 3, 2020—This weekly Return to Campus Update is part of our ongoing effort to provide you with the latest information regarding the fall 2020 Return to Campus Plan. While some of this information may not directly affect you, we wanted to ensure everyone in our community has easy access to this information. WHAT’S COMING UP Vanderbilt Phase...
July 27, 2020 – An update on the Campus Connection Program
Jul. 27, 2020—Dear undergraduate students, We hope you are doing well and are looking forward to the beginning of the academic year. We are writing to follow up on a message that was sent in April introducing the Campus Connection Program. This inaugural program is being launched to provide all undergraduate students with personalized support and guidance in...
July 27, 2020 – OHARE provides housing move-in sign-up update
Jul. 27, 2020—Dear Student, Due to unforeseen technical issues, the OHARE website and Student Housing Portal crashed earlier today. Although the OHARE website is now functional, the Student Housing Portal is running extremely slowly due to the volume. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. At the recommendation of our software vendor, we have decided to...
July 27, 2020 – Return to Campus Update
Jul. 27, 2020—UPDATE: OHARE has sent the following message to undergraduate residential students regarding the move-in sign-up process. — This new weekly Return to Campus Update is part of our ongoing effort to provide you with the latest information regarding the fall 2020 Return to Campus Plan. While some of this information may not directly affect you,...
July 20, 2020 – Fall semester 2020 COVID-19 Acknowledgement for Remote-only Undergraduate Students
Jul. 20, 2020—Dear Students, Although you have elected remote-only instruction for the fall 2020 semester, you remain an important part of the Vanderbilt University community. Because you may have questions about what is happening on campus, and because you may be engaged in experiential learning activities—such as an internship, externship, clinical placement, or other activity in your...
July 20, 2020 – Fall semester 2020 COVID-19 Return to Campus Acknowledgement for Undergraduate Students
Jul. 20, 2020—Dear Students, As you saw in this morning’s email from Provost Wente and have seen in the Fall 2020 Return to Campus materials, before returning to campus, all undergraduate students returning to campus for in-person instruction, whether living on-campus or off-campus, must complete the COVID-19 Return to Campus Acknowledgment for Undergraduate Students. The Acknowledgment explains...
July 20, 2020 – Important Updates on Fall Semester and Return to Campus for Staff and Postdocs
Jul. 20, 2020—Dear colleagues, Since we first announced our Return to Campus plans in May and June, the COVID-19 situation has continued to evolve. We want to assure you that we are monitoring all developments closely and are continuing to plan for students to return to campus as safely as possible. As discussed in the virtual town...
July 20, 2020 – Important Updates on Fall Semester and Return to Campus for Graduate and Professional Students
Jul. 20, 2020—Dear graduate and professional students, Since we first announced our Return to Campus plans in May and June, the COVID-19 situation has continued to evolve. We want to assure you that we are monitoring all developments closely and are continuing to plan for students to return to campus as safely as possible. As discussed in...
July 20, 2020 – Important Updates on Fall Semester and Return to Campus for Faculty
Jul. 20, 2020—Dear colleagues, Since we announced our Return to Campus plans in May and June, the COVID-19 situation has continued to evolve. We want to assure you that we are monitoring all developments closely and are continuing to plan for students to return to campus as safely as possible. As discussed in the virtual town halls...
July 20, 2020 – Important Updates on Fall Semester and Return to Campus for Undergraduate Students
Jul. 20, 2020—UPDATE: All first-year students will receive their housing assignments on July 22. Unassigned continuing upper-division students will continue to receive room assignments into early August as we complete the housing assignment process. — Dear students and families, Since we first announced our Return to Campus plans in May and June, the COVID-19 situation has continued to...
July 17, 2020 – Updates on phased approach to ramping up on-campus research activities
Jul. 17, 2020—Dear colleagues, I’m writing to you today with updates on our phased approach to ramping up on-campus research activities that cannot be performed remotely. If you recall, we transitioned to Phase 1 on May 18 and approved 1,755 personnel for on-campus research activities during that phase. On June 11 we transitioned to Phase 2. Across...
July 8, 2020 – A message to faculty from Provost Wente on supporting school and college decision-making for the fall
Jul. 8, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of all we have already been through and the continued significant burdens our faculty are carrying in planning for our fall semester. And, at the same time, I know we are all worried about our health and safety and that of our...
July 6, 2020 – Important fall 2020 housing updates for students previously assigned to Chaffin and OHARE at the Village at Vanderbilt
Jul. 6, 2020—Dear Students, We write you to share new information about our housing plans for the fall semester, which includes the addition of quarantine and isolation space on campus. We implemented a number of changes to the housing process to protect your health and safety as much as possible this semester. We are thankful for your...
July 6, 2020 – Important fall 2020 housing updates for students not yet assigned on-campus housing
Jul. 6, 2020—Dear Students, We write you to share new information about our housing plans for the fall semester. We implemented a number of changes to the housing process to protect your health and safety as much as possible this semester and are committed to working with you through this process in a way that meets the...
July 6, 2020 – Important information for the faculty with regard to fall planning
Jul. 6, 2020—Dear faculty, These are challenging times—our university, our city and our nation are addressing unprecedented challenges. This is true in terms of the complexity of the issues we are confronting and the sheer scope of how they affect all of us in fundamental ways. On our campus, we all feel the immediate impact of these...
July 2, 2020 – Vanderbilt Phase 2 of Return to Campus Plan remains in place as Nashville reverts to prior phase
Jul. 2, 2020—The university remains in Phase 2 of its Vanderbilt Return to Campus plan as Mayor John Cooper announced today that Nashville will revert to phase 2 of its Roadmap to Reopening Nashville Plan with modifications. Vanderbilt moved to Phase 2 of its Return to Campus Plan on Monday, June 8. The university’s plan can be...
June 22, 2020 – Vanderbilt Phase 2 of Return to Campus Plan remains in place as Nashville begins Phase 3
Jun. 22, 2020—While Nashville will enter the third phase of its Roadmap for Reopening beginning Monday, June 22, Vanderbilt University will continue to follow its own Return to Campus Plan, which is currently in Vanderbilt Phase 2. The university will continue to ramp up various operations in orderly, sequential phases and will communicate with the Vanderbilt community in advance of...
June 16, 2020 – Our Plan for the Fall Semester
Jun. 16, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt community, We appreciate your patience while we have developed our return to campus plans. We understand uncertainty about the fall semester may have compounded the stress you have been under during these extremely challenging times, and we know all are eager for information that will allow us to look forward and plan for the future....
June 16, 2020 – A message for faculty on the Vanderbilt Return to Campus Plan
Jun. 16, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, Over the past three months, we have experienced many changes and transitions across nearly every aspect of campus and faculty life. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and economic downturn, our progress comes from teamwork across the entire university and our most sincere commitment to serve our students, faculty, staff and postdocs...
June 11, 2020 – Details of Research Ramp-Up Phase 2 Process
Jun. 11, 2020—Dear colleagues, Now that we have completed our preparations for transitioning to Phase 2, I am writing to follow up with you as promised in my June 5 email. We have developed our Phase 2 process with deep engagement by all those in the Vanderbilt University Multi-phase Research Ramp-up Working Group, and with the goal...
June 5, 2020 – Transition to Phase 2 of Research Ramp-Up Plan Begins Next Week
Jun. 5, 2020—Dear colleagues, As I’m sure you all have seen, the university will begin transitioning into Phase 2 of the Return to Campus Plan on Monday, June 8. Thanks in large part to the responsibility and care around COVID-19 protections demonstrated by our pioneering researchers in Phase 1 of our research ramp-up and to the incredible...
June 5, 2020 – Transition to Vanderbilt Phase 2 of Return to Campus Plan begins June 8
Jun. 5, 2020—Vanderbilt University will begin transitioning to Phase 2 of its Return to Campus Plan on Monday, June 8. The Return to Campus Plan is tailored to Vanderbilt’s own unique density, operations and other considerations as a residential education institution. The first phase of the Return to Campus Plan began Monday, May 18, and operations that resumed were on-campus research...
June 3, 2020 – Deadline extended to decline off-campus housing authorization
Jun. 3, 2020—Dear student, Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through our plans for the resumption of on-campus classes for fall. These plans include adjustments we are making to housing to follow the best public health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We know many of you have questions and concerns. Several...
May 28, 2020 – Streamlined process for faculty accommodation requests due to COVID-19
May. 28, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, Informed and creative teaching is central to the mission of Vanderbilt University, and faculty and staff across campus are working hard to ensure that we continue to fulfill our mission during these challenging times. We all are eager to return to the classroom, but we must do so in a thoughtful and...
May 22, 2020 – A message to the Class of 2020: Celebrating together next May
May. 22, 2020—Dear graduates and families of the Class of 2020, I am writing you today with great news. The date for your on-campus Commencement and graduation festivities has been set for the weekend of May 1–2, 2021. Please mark your calendars! These dates were selected based on the careful evaluation and recommendations of the Commencement 2020...
May 21, 2020 – Vanderbilt Phase 1 of Return to Campus Plan remains in place as Nashville reopens further
May. 21, 2020—While Nashville will enter the second phase of its Roadmap for Reopening beginning Monday, May 25, Vanderbilt University will continue to follow its own Return to Campus Plan, which is currently in Vanderbilt Phase 1. The Return to Campus Plan is tailored to Vanderbilt’s own unique density, operations and other considerations as a residential education...
May 18, 2020 – Working toward our goals for the fall
May. 18, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt students and families, Wherever this note finds you, I hope that you are doing well. At times like these, our Vanderbilt values of open inquiry, equality, compassion and excellence in all endeavors are more important than ever. Please know that I am thinking about all of our undergraduate community, including our newest members,...
May 15, 2020 – Fall 2020 Study Abroad Suspended
May. 15, 2020—Dear prospective fall study abroad students, I write to inform you that Vanderbilt has made the difficult decision to suspend participation in all Global Education Office study abroad programs for Fall 2020. Many factors make study abroad challenging at this time, including not only the logistics of travel between countries but also the difficulty of...
May 14, 2020 – Take Action: Returning to retrieve your belongings currently in storage
May. 14, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt Student, You are receiving this message because we have identified that you have items that were moved to campus storage as we made your residence hall available to VUMC staff. We understand that some of you are anxious to retrieve your belongings, and we have a plan and procedures that will allow students...
May 14, 2020 – Take Action: Returning to retrieve your belongings from your space
May. 14, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt Student, You are receiving this message because we have identified that you still have belongings in your residence hall space. We understand that you are anxious to retrieve your belongings, and we have a plan and procedures that will allow students to return to campus to pick up items in a safe and...
May 13, 2020 – VIEW: Virtual Town Hall Presentation Slides
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May 12, 2020 – Planning for the fall semester
May. 12, 2020—Dear faculty colleagues, In the typical cycle of our academic calendar, the end of the annual Commencement week celebrations marks a pivot point for many of our efforts—moving from reflection on the prior year to strategic planning and visioning for the next academic year and sessions. The upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic mean that planning...
May 8, 2020 – Ramping up on-campus research activities
May. 8, 2020—Dear colleagues, As you all know, on-campus research activities were ramped down in mid-March as part of efforts to protect our community and curb the spread of COVID-19. Over the past two months, and with guidance from the Public Health Advisory Task Force, leaders across the university have been working to develop a phased and...
May 7, 2020 – Next steps for Vanderbilt campus as Nashville enters Phase 1 of reopening
May. 7, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt community, Today Mayor John Cooper announced that on Monday, May 11, Nashville will begin Phase 1 in his Roadmap for Reopening Nashville. I encourage all of you, particularly those who are residents of Nashville, to read and familiarize yourselves with the city’s Phase 1 plans. Most importantly, I want you to know that...
May 6, 2020 – Update on remote work for staff
May. 6, 2020—Dear colleagues, The university normally enters a time of transition at this time of year—Commencement on May 8 marks the end of the academic year and begins summer break for many staff who work a partial-year schedule. This is, of course, not a normal year—this week also marked the conclusion of the Voluntary Staff Departure...
May 4, 2020 – Open Mind: Taking a moment to celebrate
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May 1, 2020 – Information forthcoming on returning for belongings
May. 1, 2020—Dear Campus Residents, We know many of you are eager to make plans to retrieve your belongings. We are currently finalizing a plan for return visits and will communicate that plan in the coming days. At this time, the Nashville Mayor has extended the Stay-At-Home order until May 8. While the Governor of Tennessee has...
April 30, 2020 – Introducing the Campus Connection Program
Apr. 30, 2020—Dear undergraduate students, I hope you are all well. I am writing to check in as the spring semester comes to a close and we begin looking towards next fall. While there are still many unknowns at this time regarding what next semester may bring, one thing we do know: We’re fully committed to supporting...
Apr. 27, 2020 – Open Mind: Learning from the unexpected
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Apr. 24, 2020 – Remote work for staff extended to May 8
Apr. 24, 2020—Dear colleagues, As the end of April rapidly approaches, and as we begin to look ahead to our next chapter as a university, we write to update you on next steps regarding potential changes to the “stay at home” orders for our Vanderbilt community. Many questions remain, however it is possible that Vanderbilt’s first phase...
Apr. 17, 2020 – A Message from Interim Chancellor Susan R. Wente: The Economic Impact of COVID-19
Apr. 17, 2020—Dear Vanderbilt colleagues, This is an incredibly difficult time for all of us, but through it all, I am proud of how our Vanderbilt community has come together to ensure that our education and research mission can continue. Faculty and staff all across Vanderbilt have responded with volumes of outstanding work in response to the...
Apr. 16, 2020 – Vanderbilt to use $2.8 million in CARES Act funding to support students affected by COVID-19
Apr. 16, 2020—Vanderbilt University will use $2.8 million it receives as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to directly support students who have demonstrated need and are facing significant financial challenges due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The disbursement, from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the CARES Act...
Apr. 13, 2020 – Open Mind: What comes next
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Apr. 7, 2020 – Vanderbilt University prepares to assist VUMC; Housing to send students updates
Apr. 7, 2020—Dear Undergraduate Students, I sincerely hope this message finds you healthy and well as you continue your studies remotely. I wanted to share some updates on activity in the residence halls, spaces we know are your homes at Vanderbilt University. First, in consultation with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the university has decided to use...
Apr. 6, 2020 – Open Mind: VU and VUMC—stronger together
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Apr. 3, 2020 – Remote work period extended through April 30
Apr. 3, 2020—Dear colleagues, As we near the end of our third full week of remote work for many staff members, we want to thank you again for your ongoing efforts, flexibility and ingenuity as we navigate these unprecedented circumstances. In response to current guidance from public health experts and in alignment with local, state and federal...
Mar. 29, 2020 – Message from the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office for Inclusive Excellence
Mar. 30, 2020—Many in our community are likely experiencing moments of anxiety and concern given the unprecedented times we are living in as a result of COVID-19. We also acknowledge that an unfortunate reality has emerged in communities around the world—an increase in expressions of xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiments, especially targeting the Chinese community. Please know that...