Immediate

• Bookmark vu.edu/classof2027, your portal for all relevant information
• Register for your VUnetID
• Apply for housing
• Families: Look out for the Commodore Connection newsletters from the Parents and Family Programs office!

May 2023

• May 15: Recommended date to submit completed immunization and tuberculosis information (Link to online forms)

June 2023

• June 1: Deadline to submit completed housing application online
• June 1: Deadline to submit housing requests for special accommodations to Student Access (SA) (students with disabilities or medical or psychological conditions)
• June 15: Deadline to submit roommate requests
• June 30: Deadline to submit requests for reasonable classroom and academic accommodations to Student Access (SA) (students with disabilities or medical or psychological conditions)

July 2023

• July 15: Deadline to submit Commodore Card photo by mail or online
• July 15: Deadline to select Commodore Cash funds online for Commodore Card
• July 18: Deadline to request Vanderbilt Visions group change for specific nonacademic reasons

August 2023

• August 1: Deadline to waive student health insurance plan
• August 2: Packages may begin being shipped to campus for move-in
• August 16: First-Year International Student Move-In
• August 19: Move-In Day
• August 19: CommonVU Orientation begins
• August 31: Deadline for payment of fall tuition, fees, and other charges
• August 31: Deadline to enroll in the VANDY Plan for the fall semester

You can expect to receive regular updates from the university throughout the summer in the form of email newsletters. In addition to these important messages, you can also expect to receive the following communications. 

• Early May Acknowledgement of receipt of the matriculation fee, request to submit photo for your Commodore Card
• May, June, July Information about health insurance waiver deadline (email from Academic HealthPlans)
• Late May - Early June Registration materials and instructions from your school (mail or email)
• Early June Meal Plan (postcard, domestic mailing only)
• June Instructions to complete the Campus Reading essay assignment (mail or email)
• July - Early August Weekly video shorts sharing key information about campus resources (Residential Colleges Instagram) + Vanderbilt bookstore information on ordering textbooks and course materials (email)
• Mid-July Be Smart–Be Safe mandatory online modules information (email)
• Late July Letter from your VUceptors (mail/email)
• Early August Email from student health insurance provider

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WITH YOU:

• A valid photo ID
• Tracking numbers for packages and total number of packages
• Move-in information and car hangtag
• VUceptor letter containing contact information and group number
• Directions to campus and hotel

GET THE LATEST INFO AND MORE AT VU.EDU/CLASSOF2027

Visit vu.edu/classof2027 for the most up-to-date information regarding fall programming

SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR THE CLASS OF 2027

Bookmark the Class of 2027 website and visit often for updates you may need in order to prepare for your arrival. This website also features an electronic version of The Road to Vanderbilt and will contain the most up-to-date information available regarding fall programming. You should check this website frequently, in addition to referencing The Road.

THE INGRAM COMMONS WEBSITE

The Ingram Commons website is the news, events, and information hub for all first-year students. Here you will find information about Commons programs, the houses, and the faculty heads.

THE INGRAM COMMONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Residential Colleges on Instagram.You will receive frequent updates about what is happening on The Ingram Commons to prepare for your arrival, and you will become part of the digital community that connects us all. Be on the lookout for #VU2027! Finally, we encourage you to join the Vanderbilt Admitted Student Community to start making friends before the fall semester begins. Find your personalized invitation link on your MyAppVU portal.

To hear from current VUceptors about the transition to Vanderbilt and your first semester on The Ingram Commons, check out VUcept on Instagram. International students can also connect with current international orientation leaders and learn more about their experience by following iLEAD on Instagram.

Since 2008, when the first class moved onto The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons at Vanderbilt, students have found that life on The Ingram Commons is anything but ordinary. The Ingram Commons is a community of first-year students, residential faculty, undergraduate peer mentors, and professionals who live and learn together. With a focus on bolstering intellect, building community, developing skills for personal well-being, pursuing self-discovery, and raising awareness around cultural difference, all members of The Ingram Commons participate in a mutual exchange of ideas and experiences.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

On The Ingram Commons, the intellectual and social intertwine to make this residential experience one of the most innovative in higher education today. By joining our community, we believe that you will:

• Acquire an appreciation for intellectual discovery and creativity outside the bounds of the formal academic curriculum, which will contribute to your academic engagement and success
• Engage actively in building healthy communities on your floor, in your house, in your Vanderbilt Visions group, on The Ingram Commons, and within the university
• Understand and learn to utilize the skills necessary for physical, psychological, and sexual well-being
• Clarify your personal, ethical, spiritual, and civic values through self-discovery
• Explore, live, and appreciate the diverse community of The Ingram Commons

All you have to do is participate!

VANDERBILT VISIONS

Vanderbilt Visions is a key component of the educational programming on The Ingram Commons, encouraging students to be empowered and responsible members of the Vanderbilt University community.

“Visions” is a required fall-semester, university-core program that places small groups of first-year students with an experienced faculty member and undergraduate peer mentor, known as faculty and student VUceptors. All first-year students must participate in the Vanderbilt Visions program. Visions groups meet weekly through late October for hourlong discussions and activities that explore the transitions students experience in their first semester.

THE COMMONS CENTER

The Commons Center is the community crossroads of The Ingram Commons. It includes a 580-seat dining hall and food gallery, a market and café, community space with TVs and pool tables, meeting rooms, an academic support center, group study space, the Office of the Dean of The Ingram Commons, the College of Arts and Science pre-major academic advising resource center, an exercise and recreation room, a post office, and, on the third floor, the Department of Political Science. From the layout to the lights, The Commons Center was designed to be eco-friendly and efficient, earning it Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

THE CAMPUS READING

All incoming students are asked to complete a reflective essay on the Campus Reading prior to the start of classes. These essays will be given to your faculty and student VUceptors for use within the Vanderbilt Visions program. Instructions on how to complete this assignment will be communicated over the summer. Expect to receive the book in the summer to read before you arrive. If you have an international mailing address, you will receive a digital copy of the book, along with instructions for completing the assignment.

VUCEPT

VUcept, a student organization supported by the Office of the Dean of The Ingram Commons, provides peer mentorship during CommonVU Orientation and Vanderbilt Visions. Look for a letter in early August from your student VUceptor.

Make sure you have your student VUceptor’s name and contact information, your group number, and the place and time of your first meeting handy when you arrive on campus.

THE DEAN OF THE INGRAM COMMONS

Melissa S. Gresalfi (she, her, hers) is the dean of Residential Colleges and Residential Education, and became dean of The Ingram Commons in 2019. Dean Gresalfi is also a professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning. Her research considers issues that are also central to incoming Vanderbilt students: the development of identities in relation to academic disciplines. Her research explores how to transform the practices of school mathematics that so frequently alienate students, especially students from socially marginalized backgrounds. Her projects consider how focusing on play, exploration, and design can create learning environments that are more inviting and create deeper and more meaningful opportunities to learn. Her current projects look at middle school math classrooms, textile art, coding, and even state fairs for examples of playful mathematics learning. Dean Gresalfi looks forward to getting to know all of you better through events on The Ingram Commons and at the Dean’s Residence, including dinners, programs, and informal gatherings.

FACULTY HEADS OF HOUSE

Living on The Ingram Commons lends itself to evenings of conversations and camaraderie in each of the 10 houses. Each house is led by a faculty head of house, who opens their apartment for students to converse with visiting guests, discuss hot topics on campus, explore professional interests, or relax at a game night. Just as often, you may find the faculty head of house will be present in the house with their family or colleagues. It is these spontaneous encounters that make The Ingram Commons a truly exceptional experience. You may learn more about each faculty head of house by visiting The Ingram Commons website.

PROGRAMMING ON THE INGRAM COMMONS

The Ingram Commons supports a wide range of educational, social, and cultural events ranging from study groups to dinners with faculty guests to community service projects. Traditions on The Ingram Commons abound, but each year's new students influence the direction of events and outreach efforts. First-year students can directly shape programming by joining their house councils.

One notable tradition is The Commons Cup, which is a yearlong competition between houses intended to promote social and academic acculturation to Vanderbilt. The Commons Cup consists of five categories - Academics, Athletics, Community Involvement, Service, and Sustainability. Students participate throughout the academic year to earn points within each category for their houses. The Commons Cup is awarded to the house that obtains the most cumulative points throughout the year. A banner displaying the winning house's emblem is hung in The Commons Center Dining Hall to commemorate the victory.

RECOMMENDED BY MAY 15

vumc.org/student-health/immunization-requirements

MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION AND TUBERCULOSIS COMPLIANCE:

The Student Health Center maintains a website that outlines the immunizations that you are required to receive before arriving on campus. Tennessee state law and Vanderbilt University regulations dictate that all students comply with the immunization requirements. In addition, students are required to submit a tuberculosis screening survey and testing (if applicable).

Students will not be able to register for classes until their immunization and tuberculosis documents have been received, reviewed, and approved for compliance by Student Health.

IMMUNIZATION COMPLIANCE AND HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS:

Information regarding the compliance process can be found at the Student Health Center website. Please follow the New Student Checklist for completing a Tuberculosis screening survey, submitting acceptable immunization forms, and uploading your documents to the secure Vanderbilt Student Health portal.

For your convenience, the Vanderbilt Student Health Center Immunization Form can be found on vumc.org/student-health/immunization-requirements. This form contains demographic information, emergency contact information, and detailed required and recommended vaccinations.If you are unable to schedule an appointment with your provider for a pre-college physical exam to have our form completed, you may also submit other official immunization records (those including a physician signature or from a state, county, or previous undergraduate institution) or lab reports showing titer immunity tests. The health information submitted is used to create a medical record at the Student Health Center/Vanderbilt University Medical Center for continuity of care during your time at Vanderbilt University.

Forms will not be sent to you.

May 15 is a recommended deadline for submitting both the tuberculosis screening survey form (TB testing only if applicable) - AND - immunization documents. The staff at the Student Health Center must review, approve, and communicate that all requirements have been met before the registration period begins - typically in early June.

If you have questions regarding immunizations, please contact us at studenthealth@vumc.org or review the Frequently Asked Questions.

If you have ongoing health problems or chronic health conditions, you should contact the Student Health Center (SHC) at (615) 322-2427 or the University Counseling Center (UCC) at (615) 322-2571 prior to your arrival on campus to assure the continuity of your care.

We encourage all students and parents to view our website in advance of arrival on campus vumc.org/student-health for the services offered at the Student Health Center.

DUE BY AUG 1

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE AND INSURANCE WAIVER:

vanderbilt.edu/studentcarenetwork/your-health-insurance

All students who have paid the Student Health Fee have access to the Student Health Center. While office visits are free and other services at the Student Health Center have minimal charges, all students are required to have health insurance coverage in the event that hospitalization or care outside the Student Health Center is required.

To ensure that all students have adequate coverage, there is a Vanderbilt-sponsored health insurance plan (SHIP) available to eligible students*. The plan is underwritten by Aetna and administered by Academic HealthPlans (AHP). The cost of the policy is automatically billed to your student account unless you submit an approved online waiver by August 1. The online waiver process requires that you submit documentation of other comparable insurance coverage.

Upon waiver submission, you will receive a reference number that the waiver request has been received. Each waiver is verified for comparable coverage outlined by Vanderbilt University. You will then receive a confirmation email to your Vanderbilt email account of whether your waiver request has been approved. Once it is approved, the charge for the policy will be removed from your student account.

By mid-May, the website for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will be live. AHP will email students directly with comprehensive information about the waiver process. You can also visit the Student Health Center website to learn more about the plan and the waiver criteria. If you need additional assistance, for the quickest solution visit vanderbilt.myahpcare.com, where you may chat live with a representative or review details regarding your school's Student Health Insurance Plan and waiver requirements. Representatives are also available by phone at 855-855-2486 or by emailing SHIP@vanderbilt.edu.

Insurance waivers must be completed by August 1 if you do NOT wish to enroll in (and be billed for) the Student Health Insurance Plan. It is your responsibility to follow up on your waiver status, and to ensure that all information is received by AHP by the deadline. The waiver may be completed online at vanderbilt.myahpcare.com/waiver. Forms will not be sent to you. 

*All International Students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). All other degree and non-degree seeking students (excluding DUS and Consortium students) enrolled in 4+ credit hours, a 0-credit research/dissertation course, or any other course that is considered to equate to full-time enrollment are automatically enrolled in SHIP.

BE SMART–BE SAFE MODULE PROGRAM:

Vanderbilt devotes considerable resources to assisting students in making intelligent choices regarding their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of other students and the larger Vanderbilt community. Among these resources are online education programs designed to provide crucial information about our community’s expectations around topics such as campus safety, preventing sexual assault, making safer and healthier choices about alcohol use, diversity, equity, and inclusion, academic integrity, and protecting vulnerable populations. Student Affairs will contact you via your VU Gmail address with information about the program requirements, access information, and deadlines when the modules are available.

For more information about these requirements, visit the Student Accountability, Community Standards & Academic Integrity website or contact sacompliance@vanderbilt.edu.

We understand that the transition to college can sometimes be challenging, and our goal is to help you manage this transition well. The following recommendations are designed to help students successfully navigate the college transition process.

We encourage you to explore and proactively discover the resources available for a diversity of needs through the Student Care Network and to identify sources of support. To learn more about resources available to Vanderbilt students, please visit the Student Care Network website. Student Care Coordination is also available to help students navigate the Student Care Network.

We also encourage all students to arrive to campus with an understanding of their specific health care needs, including any allergies and associated reactions, and medications, including doses. If you are taking medicine, it is important to ensure that you have an adequate supply and/or refills that you can access while on campus. If you are currently seeing a health care professional for medical and/or mental health concerns, consider discussing a plan for ongoing care, which may include short-term services on campus and/or long-term care off campus. Contact Student Care Coordination before arriving to campus to discuss your existing health care needs and for assistance in developing a plan for ongoing care.

Campus Dining Meal Plans

The First-Year Meal Plan can be used for dining in The Commons Center and 22 other locations across campus. All first-year students are automatically enrolled in the First-Year Meal Plan, which includes the following:

MEALS

A “meal” is a combination of items from the menu, which may differ from one on-campus dining location to another, depending on the menu and type of service offered. At each location, signs will define the items that compose a meal at that particular venue.

COMMODORE CASH VS. MEAL MONEY

Commodore Cash is the primary spending account used by students. It can be used to make debit purchases at any campus retail location that accepts the Commodore Card as a method of payment.

Meal Money is used as an enhancement to the VU Meal Plan. Meal Money is an additional debit spending account available for isolating funds for food purchases. Meal Money can be used at on-campus dining locations, vending machines, and off-campus participating local Taste of Nashville restaurants.

For more information on the Commodore Card, to make a Commodore Cash selection, or to add funds to your Commodore Card, please visit the Card Services website. Click on “University,” then “First-Year Students” for an overview. 

TASTE OF NASHVILLE

This program allows you to use your Commodore Card at local partner restaurants, just as you would a debit or credit card. Purchases at Taste of Nashville locations are debited from your Meal Money. “Meals” cannot be used off campus. Visit the Campus Dining website for the list of participating restaurants.

SPECIFIC DIETARY ACCOMMODATIONS

Vanderbilt Campus Dining can assist you in making wise choices to meet your nutritional goals and is happy to help you navigate food allergies, health conditions, or other dietary restrictions. Several resources are available, including a registered staff dietitian, an online nutrition calculator, an executive chef, and more.

Attend the Special Dietary Accommodations Meeting in August (date and location TBD) if you have specific needs. Visit the Campus Dining website for more details.

DUE BY JUNE 1

HOUSING APPLICATIONS:

Applying for housing is easy. The First-Year Housing Application will be available in early April and is due by June 1. After you obtain your VUnetID and password, and enroll in multifactor authentication (DUO), please visit the Housing and Residential Experience website and log in to the Housing Portal. Once logged in, please click on the Applications menu and complete the First-Year Housing Application. Please see below and visit the 2023-2024 First-Year Student Housing webpage for detailed information about first-year student housing.

First-year students are assigned to double rooms whenever possible; however, several houses contain triple rooms. Vanderbilt matches first-year students with consideration of their responses to a short list of questions included on the first-year housing application. We believe an assignment process that facilitates diverse roommate pairings, rather than one in which students select their own roommates based on preexisting relationships, has important educational benefits and is consistent with the university's commitment to fostering an inclusive campus community.

First-year students are permitted to submit roommate requests. Prior to requesting a specific roommate, students are encouraged to have open and frank conversations regarding living habits and preferences. Each student in the pair must request the other in order for the request to be considered. Please note we cannot guarantee that roommate requests will be honored.

The deadline to submit roommate requests is June 15.

The university's property and liability insurance does not protect you or your guests against loss or damage of personal property or belongings or cover your liability for loss or damage caused by your actions or those of any of your guests. As a resident you are liable to the university and others for loss or damage caused by your actions or those of your guests. You are required to maintain adequate property and liability insurance. More information, including information about fully compliant renters' insurance that you can obtain, can be found on the Housing and Residential Experience website.

Requests for Reasonable Housing Accommodation

DUE BY JUNE 1

REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS:

First-year students seeking accessible housing accommodations for the 2023-24 academic year due to a physical , psychological, or other disability-related limitation should contact Student Access (SA) prior to June 1.

The SA website provides information for students regarding reasonable accommodations, documentation guidelines, and other information about the office. All students who request an accessible housing accommodation due to a disability-related limitation must submit documentation from their diagnosing physician to SA. If SA determines that a housing accommodation is needed for access, they will notify Housing Assignments about your assignment, and you will be assigned to a space that meets your SA-approved accommodation.

Please note that Housing Assignments will not accept any documentation or housing requests related to the student’s disability. The office will make every effort to find an appropriate and reasonable assignment as recommended by SA.