The required CommonVU Orientation will take place prior to the start of classes in August. Orientation will include sessions and activities to prepare you for your Vanderbilt journey. Through CommonVU Orientation, you will learn more about your academic program, be introduced to extracurricular opportunities and campus resources, and get to know other members of your class. Additionally, you will meet your student and faculty VUceptors who will serve as guides throughout your first semester at Vanderbilt. More information about the CommonVU Orientation schedule will be shared on this page in early July.

If you or one of your guests require accommodations to participate fully in CommonVU Orientation or Parents & Family Orientation, please contact us at commons@vanderbilt.edu or (615) 322-4948. As much notice as possible is appreciated.

International Student Orientation (ISO) is required for all international first-year undergraduates and begins with international move-in on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. International transfer students and domestic students currently living abroad are also welcome to attend, but it is not required. If you would like to participate, please email commons@vanderbilt.edu by July 15, 2024. New international graduate students should consult with their individual programs and departments for an orientation schedule. After International Student Orientation, first-year international students will also participate in the required CommonVU Orientation.

If you or one of your guests require accommodations to participate fully in International Student Orientation or Parents & Family Orientation, please contact us at commons@vanderbilt.edu or (615) 322-4948. As much notice as possible is appreciated.

The following offerings are specially designed for parents and families on Saturday, August 17.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.     University Resources & Services Fair
Langford Pavilion | Rain Location: Light Hall Lobby
Representatives providing student services from across Vanderbilt will answer your questions one-on-one. This is a drop-in event for students and families.

5:00 p.m.     Family Farewells
At this point, parents and families are encouraged to say their goodbyes, as students begin mandatory student-only programming at 5:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.     Shuttle Service Available
Shuttle service will be available rotating among The Ingram Commons, Langford Auditorium, and the Terrace Place Garage.

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.     Parent & Family Orientation
Langford Auditorium
For parents and family members only. This session will be live-streamed and recorded for those who wish to watch virtually or at an alternate time.

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.     Parent & Family Orientation Reception
Light Hall Lobby and Langford Pavilion
For parents and family members only.

Additional Information

If you require accommodations to participate fully in Parents & Family Orientation, please contact us at commons@vanderbilt.edu or (615) 322-4948. As much notice as possible is appreciated.

View Recording from August 2024 (skip to 35:38 for formal beginning)

Be sure to visit the Parents and Family Programs webpage to stay up to date on upcoming events.

Move-In Day for the 2024-2025 school year is on Saturday, August 17. Students will be provided with a specific move-in time between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. with their room assignment information.

First-year international students should plan to move-in on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, to participate in International Student Orientation.

Room assignment information will be e-mailed to all incoming first-year students on or around August 1, 2024. Prior to move-in day, Housing and Residential Experience will be preparing the halls for your arrival and as a result, will not be able to accommodate early move-in requests. Please plan your travel to Nashville accordingly. For specific details regarding first-year student move-in, visit the Housing and Residential Experience Website.

Watch a recap of Move-In from Fall 2024 below.

From bi-weekly emails, summer webinars, and Instagram reels, Residential Colleges wants to make sure all new students and families feel ready to join the Vanderbilt community. Click the link below to view past content and sign up for future webinars.

Summer Communications Page

Every incoming first-year class has something in common before arriving on campus: the Campus Reading – a text that all students will receive prior to move-in and are expected to read. This assignment forms the basis for a community-wide dialogue that begins during orientation and continues throughout the year and takes place in houses, Vanderbilt Visions groups, and across campus.

For more information, check out the Campus Reading webpage.

Vanderbilt Visions allows groups of new students to discover college life together.

All first-year students will be assigned to one of 85 Visions groups. These groups—each of which is made up of about 20 first-year students—meet weekly throughout the first six weeks of the semester. Visions groups help you form strong connections and support networks with classmates across different houses, schools, perspectives, and geographical backgrounds and assist with your transition to becoming a successful college student. Visions also connects you with a faculty member and an upper-division student peer mentor, called faculty and student VUceptors. Visions encourages you and your classmates to express your questions, ideas, and opinions and learn from and with each other.

Click here to view more information on Move-In and Orientation for Mid-Year Enrollees.