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the Wond'ry

the Wond'ry

50 Ideas to Solutions

50 Ideas to Solutions Logo

In honor of Vanderbilt’s Sesquicentennial and inspired by the university’s “Dare to Grow” motto, “50 Ideas, 50 Solutions in 50 Days” was created by the Office of the Chancellor and the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center. Staff were introduced to the design thinking process by David A. Owens, Evans Family Executive Director of the Wond’ry, and led through a series of steps that would allow them to ideate and create potential solutions with one another. Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and his office also stopped into each session, to hear from Vanderbilt staff, and to provide feedback into their topics and solutions. Below were the 50 chosen ideas.

50 Chosen Ideas:

      1. Active Shooter Preparedness
      2. AED Training
      3. VTS Sense of Belonging
      4. Connecting Campus Veterans
      5. Maximizing PTO Usage
      6. Employee Recognition Strategy
      7. Improved Onboarding
      8. Employee Appreciation Training for Managers
      9. Event Management Platform
      10. One Project Management Tool
      11. Cross-Campus Adoption of One Drive
      12. ChatGPT for Administrative Tasks
      13. Recruiting from a more Diverse Talent Pool
      14. Equitable Contracting of Non-VU Individuals
      15. Subsidized Art/Music Lessons for Staff
      16. Staff Sabbatical
      17. Rotational Opportunities for Staff
      18. Professional Development Pathways
      19. Purchasing Guidebook
      20. Shared Policy Guidebook
      21. Equitable Parking Fees
      22. Improved Strategy for Incentivizing Sustainable Commute
      23. Enhancing/Extending Bus Route Access
      24. Parking Re-Imagined
      25. Pedestrian Pathways
      26. Safer Intersections
      27. Campus Accessibility Maps/Signage
      28. Promoting a Culture of Staff Innovation at Vanderbilt
      29. Equitable Travel Reimbursement
      30. Equitable PTO Practices for all Faiths
      31. Revised Employee Perks/Discounts
      32. Helpful Onboarding Database for Staff
      33. All Staff Digital Registry
      34. EV Charging Solar Panels in Parking Garages
      35. Shared Research Collaborators Repository
      36. Why is Vanderbilt a Great Place to Work?
      37. Extending the Life Cycle of AV Equipment
      38. Clothing Donation Program
      39. Campus Tours for Staff
      40. Automate Public Safety Checks
      41. Oracle Load Times
      42. EA Resources Booklet
      43. Update the Quick Facts Website
      44. Tailgates and Season Ticket Holders
      45. Massage Credits for Full Time Staff
      46. Rec Center Access for Staff
      47. Vanderbilt Venture Capital Fund
      48. Creation of a Biomedical Fund
      49. Conferences and Events at VU
      50. Guidebook for Staff Tuition