Jan. 27, 2021 – Graduate and professional student Return to Campus Update
Welcome back to campus! As we begin another semester, we want to keep you informed of important changes, new offerings and other information to help you have a successful spring.
Lessons learned from the fall semester
In her Open Dore newsletter, Provost Susan R. Wente shared lessons learned from the fall semester that we will carry forward as a community into the spring.
Weekly testing for graduate and professional students launches Jan. 31
Weekly testing for graduate and professional students begins Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Testing Center. More information about the testing program can be found on the Return to Campus website.
Testing coordinator information added to website
Graduate and professional students who have questions about campus protocols, and particularly the asymptomatic testing program, should contact their school’s testing coordinator. These coordinators and their contact information have been added to the Return to Campus website.
COVID-19 public dashboard to launch for spring on Feb. 3
We will launch the COVID-19 public dashboard on Wednesday, Feb. 3, with an update on the results of our arrival testing program, which ends on Jan. 28. We will update the dashboard on Wednesdays throughout the semester, with each week’s numbers spanning from Sunday to Saturday of the previous week.
New outdoor tents to open for the spring semester
In response to student and faculty feedback, the three large tents on campus have been replaced with five tents that are smaller in size, heated and lighted with several electrical outlets and Wi-Fi access.
- The new tents also include spaces specifically designated for nondining purposes, with a number of layouts available that are compliant with campus physical distancing requirements.
- Outdoor tents opened for use at half capacity on Jan. 25. We anticipate tents will open at full capacity beginning Thursday, Feb. 4.
- While the reservation system opened Jan. 25, the earliest available reservations will begin on Feb. 4.
More information can be found on the Return to Campus website.
WATCH: Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines
Ask an Expert: Why is it still important to follow COVID-19 safety protocols after receiving the vaccine?
Vanderbilt University Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Professor of Medicine Donald W. Brady discussed the importance of continuing to follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols even after receiving the vaccine during the Spring Return to Campus Town Hall on Jan. 13, 2021.
Ask an Expert: How can you spot misinformation about COVID vaccines?
Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor of Psychology Lisa Fazio discusses how to distinguish between valid and false information about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Other News and Updates
Jan. 23: Cluster outbreak due to shelter-in-place violation message to undergraduate students
Jan. 25: Shaping the outcome of this semester message to students
Jan. 27: Undergraduate student Return to Campus Update
Jan. 27: Postdoc Return to Campus Update
Jan. 27: Faculty Return to Campus Update
Jan. 27: Staff Return to Campus Update
-The Return to Campus Team