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The Commons

The Commons
  2. New Student Information
  3. CommonVU Orientation

CommonVU Orientation

What to Expect

The required CommonVU Orientation offers roughly a week of activities and events for first-year students to introduce them to the living-learning communities of their houses and The Ingram Commons, the faculties and academic classes of their schools, the norms and values of the Vanderbilt community, upperclass students and their organizations, and Nashville. 
  • CommonVU begins on Saturday with Move-In Day, house Dinners, and the first floor meetings in the houses - all to help you begin to get to know your faculty head of house, Resident Advisers, and other residents of your community.  
  • On Sunday, you will meet your faculty and student VUceptors and your Visions group, and your  network  will expand a  little  further. You will then go back to your house for the Community Creed event and Founders Walk where you will start to understand more of Vanderbilt's prestigious tradition of honor and integrity. 
  • On Monday, you meet with the academic deans of your specific school - again your network grows.  You finish the evening with your Visions group, discussing intentionally how you can be a part of building a community of academic integrity at Vanderbilt.
  • On Tuesday, you'll begin the day with the Class of 2022 photo (be sure to wear your class t-shirt) followed by a pep-rally with Vanderbilt Athletics. In the afternoon, you will attend True Life, a presentation and discussion facilitated by members of VUcept.  You finish the  evening  by speaking with university faculty on what to expect from your Vanderbilt education, inside  and  outside of the classroom.
  • The rest of the week continues this trajectory - encouraging you to broaden your networks and engage with one another, with  faculty and staff, and with upperclass students. 

2018 Schedule

For the complete CommonVU 2018 schedule, click here. See below for an abbreviated schedule for 2018. 

 Tuesday, August 14- Friday, August 17:

 International Student Pre-Orientation

Saturday, August 18

Move-In Day

  • Receive Commodore Card and room key

  • Move into house

  • Meet faculty head of house and house residential staff 

  • University Resource and Services Fair

  • Parent and family member/student meetings with school deans 

  • Various information sessions

  • house dinners

  • Mandatory floor and house meetings with resident advisers and Faculty Heads (students only)

Sunday, August 19

Dean's Reception and Farewell Breakfast

Parents and Family Orientation (for parents and family members only)

  • Orientation to The Ingram Commons

  • Health, Safety and Wellness: The When/Why to Communicate

All events from here on are for students only

  • Vanderbilt Visions group meetings 

  • house community building activities 

  • Founders Walk and picnic

  • Floor meetings (mandatory)

 Monday, August 20

Introduction to Academic Life at Vanderbilt 

  • Academic adviser meetings

  • Honor Code signing ceremony and discussion

 Tuesday, August 21

The Ingram Commons and Our Community

  • Class Photo and Pep-Rally

  • True Life Performance & Discussion

  • Profs in the House

Wednesday, August 22

In the Classroom and Beyond

  • First-Year Sunrise

  • First Day of classes

Thursday, August 23

In the Classroom and Beyond

  • First-Year Class Party and Picnic

Friday, August 24

In the Classroom and Beyond

  • Student Involvement Fair 

  • Spotlight Showcase

  • VPB Palooza

 Saturday, August 25

Practicing Social Responsibility 

  • Alcohol Awareness and Community Responsibility

Sunday, August 26

Taking Care of One Another

  • The Commons Addresses Sexual Violence

With additional questions about CommonVU Orientation, please contact the Office of the Dean of The Ingram Commons at commons@vanderbilt.edu or call the New Student Hotline at (615) 322 - 4948.  Parents can also find support by calling the Parent Helpline at (877) 887 - 2736 or emailing parents@vanderbilt.edu.