Dear graduate students,

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente updated you earlier today about the upcoming spring semester.

Based on the general university academic spring schedule, the first day of classes is Monday, January 25 with instruction concluding on Friday, April 30.  To limit travel-associated disease transmission, we ask that students stay in the Nashville area and not travel away from campus for weekend trips through the end of in-person classes and finals.

As we have done this fall, the university will continue to offer in-person, on-campus classes using the established safety protocols. Some programs also may have remote study options through virtual/alternative platforms.

The Director of Graduate Studies for your program will be your most valuable resource in planning for the spring semester.  Your DGS will inform you if the academic schedule will vary from the general academic spring schedule and will be able to clarify details regarding remote study options offered through virtual or alternative platforms. We appreciate your patience as program leadership develops their spring schedules, and you will receive additional details once they are finalized.

Continue to monitor the frequently asked questions on the Vanderbilt Return to Campus website for additional information.  Expect additional communications from the Graduate School regarding overarching details affecting all graduate students as the spring semester approaches.

To reiterate the sentiments of the Chancellor and the Provost, I too am proud of your collective efforts to keep yourselves and fellow Vanderbilt community members safe.  Our ongoing success relies on our continued focus on this path, allowing us all to make progress on our academic mission.  Thank you for your dedication in the face of these challenging times.

Best,
Bunmi

Bunmi Olatunji
Interim Dean of the Graduate School

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^{Stay informed:  visit the Return to Campus website, FAQ page for graduate students,  Research@Vanderbilt and the COVID-19 Dashboard for current updates on the Vanderbilt community. Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19—learn more at Anchor Down, Step Up.}