April 30, 2020 – Introducing the Campus Connection Program
Dear undergraduate students,
I hope you are all well. I am writing to check in as the spring semester comes to a close and we begin looking towards next fall. While there are still many unknowns at this time regarding what next semester may bring, one thing we do know: We’re fully committed to supporting our students.
One new way we are planning to do just that is through the Campus Connection Program. This new program will provide all undergraduate students with personalized support and guidance in navigating the various experiential learning and campus services that are part of your collegiate career at Vanderbilt. The Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs will begin implementation of the program this summer.
Why are we starting a new program? Simply put, the university wants to offer more support to our undergraduate students in these uncertain times. Every new and returning undergraduate student will be assigned a Campus Connector, a professional staff member from one of the offices in my area. He/she/they will be a single point of contact, providing you with support and information, connections to campus resources, and opportunities to reflect on your experiences at Vanderbilt. Collaborating across departments, your Campus Connector will assist you as you navigate your educational journey and work toward your goals from enrollment to graduation.
In July, your Campus Connector will reach out to you with an introduction to the program and its guidelines. Campus Connectors will not advise on topics such as academics, extracurriculars, fundraising, or student health and well-being. They will not replace your academic advisers, your financial aid officer, or a counselor. They will provide connections or referrals to those resources, among others. Much like all first-year students have VUceptors, your Campus Connector will provide a bridge to help connect you to the appropriate resource as quickly as possible.
The launch of the Campus Connection Program is the first of many initiatives we plan to roll out in the coming months as we aim to increase communication and support opportunities that are more important now than ever before.
I am very excited about the opportunities this new program will offer us to become even more closely tied to one another as One Vanderbilt. Interacting with you is a big part of my “why,” and I am looking forward to the many ways that my team—your Campus Connectors—will support you in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Vanessa B. Beasley
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Residential Faculty