Student Leadership Opportunities

For residents of residential colleges

House Programming Advisory Councils (HPACs)

Each of the ten houses on The Ingram Commons has a House Programming Advisory Council (HPAC), composed of a president and vice president who are elected as well as a public relations chair and service commissioner, who are appointed. HPACs meet with their faculty head of house and program coordinator to advise on house programming and the life of the house. Additionally, HPACs work with upper-division peer mentors and professional staff to enhance inter-house, Commons-wide, and campus-wide living-learning initiatives.

In addition to these formal HPAC positions, each house will also elect a first-year senator to serve in Vanderbilt Student Government. If you are interested in this position, please visit VSG's website.

Elections/appointments to the House Programming Advisory Council occur in early September. For more details email Assistant Director of the First-Year Experience Michael Wallace at michael.wallace@vanderbilt.edu. Steps to apply for HPAC positions will be sent to your Vanderbilt email address and advertised on the Residential Colleges Instagram page.

A brief description of each HPAC role can be found below:

President (elected position)

Serves as the primary executive officer of the HPAC
Facilitates weekly HPAC meetings where initiatives are discussed, concerns shared, and events planned under the direction of the faculty head and with the support of the program coordinator
Meets with the faculty head to discuss how well the HPAC is aligning with the faculty head’s vision for the house
Conceives, plans, promotes, and effects house events in conjunction with the faculty head and the program coordinator - this includes promoting and attending all house events
Works alongside the Residential Colleges staff to plan and execute Commons-wide programming - this includes the annual Commons Ball
Facilitates house participation in the “Academics” component of The Commons Cup
Supports the initiatives of all other members of the HPAC and all Commons programs
Attends the weekly CLC meeting

Vice President (elected position)

Serves as the second executive officer of the HPAC and takes over for the president if the president cannot fulfill the duties of the office
Communicates weekly with the president, faculty head and program coordinator to determine HPAC meeting agendas and review officer efficacy
Maintains regular communication with the other officers of the HPAC to ensure projects are on track and deadlines are being met
Works alongside the Residential Colleges staff to plan and execute Commons-wide programming - this includes a fall and spring program
Facilitates house participation in the “Athletics” component of The Commons Cup
Conceives, plans, promotes, and effects house events in conjunction with the faculty head and the program coordinator - this includes promoting and attending all house events
Supports the initiatives of all other members of the HPAC and all Commons programs
Attends the weekly CLC meeting

PR Chair (appointed position)

Serves as the chief house publicist for all house and Commons-wide events
Makes use of social media, print media, email, and other forms of communication with residents to ensure that all members of the house are informed about house and Commons events throughout the year
Works with the PR chairs from other houses to coordinate advertisement of Commons and house events
Acts as a historian and collector of house photos/videos to share with the respective house, the Residential Colleges staff, and the undergraduate student body
Creates PR materials for programs designed by other working groups
Promotes events planned by other working groups within the CLC and events of The Commons Cup
Facilitates house participation in the “Campus Engagement” and “Commons Community Involvement” components of The Commons Cup
Conceives, plans, promotes, and effects house events in conjunction with the faculty head and the program coordinator - this includes promoting and attending all house events
Works alongside the Residential Colleges staff to plan and execute Commons-wide programming - this may include the End of Year Block Party
Supports the initiatives of all other members of the HPAC and all Commons programs
Attends the weekly CLC meeting

Service Commissioner (appointed position)

Conceives, plans, promotes, and effects Commons-wide service events in conjunction with all other service commissioners and Residential Colleges
Consults and works closely with the faculty head concerning opportunities for continuing or new house service projects if desired by the faculty head
Promotes existing service structures, clubs, organizations, and opportunities to first-year students of the house
Facilitates house participation in the “Service” component of The Commons Cup
Works alongside the Residential Colleges staff to plan and execute Commons-wide programming - this includes Service Week
Supports the initiatives of all other members of the HPAC and all Commons programs
Attends the weekly CLC meeting

College Councils

Each College Council consists of four to five upper-division student leaders: one elected college president, one elected vice president, and two to three appointed college representatives. Each position provides unique leadership opportunities and ensures the success of the respective college.

The College Council represents the interests of college residents, helps design and implement programming, and advises the faculty head of college and the college staff concerning college events. The College Councils also help facilitate the College Cup, a yearlong competition between all five colleges designed to promote community, unity, and partnership between all residents within the residential college system.

A brief description of each College Council role can be found below:

President (elected spring of previous year)

Serves as the primary executive officer of the college council
Attends one study break in the Spring semester prior to taking on their role as president to learn from the prior year’s college council members.
In consultation with program coordinator, sets agenda for and facilitates weekly college council meetings to plan events and pursue college initiatives
Assists with all stages of college event planning for Welcome Back Parties, weekly programs, faculty-led salons, and college-wide special events from the initial planning stage to post-event evaluation
Assists with the interview and selection of College Representatives
Plans, hosts, and delegates tasks for an end-of-year Senior Send-off event
Oversees planning for College Cup participation including the college community service event and competitive event programs

Vice President (elected spring of previous year)

Acting public relations director, managing college social media accounts, adding content that promotes upcoming events and documents life in the college
Attends one study break in the Spring semester prior to taking on their role as president to learn from the prior year’s college council members.
Assists with all stages of college event planning for Welcome Back Party, weekly programs, faculty-led salons, and college-wide special events from the initial planning stage to post-event evaluation
Supports the initiatives of all other college council members
Assists with the interview and selection of College Representatives
Creates an end-of-year project to be displayed to college residents to reflect on, and celebrate, the year

College Representatives (appointed in fall semester)

Attends and records meeting minutes at weekly college council while also representing the interests of the college residents
Assists with all stages of college event planning for weekly programs, faculty-led salons, and college-wide special events from the initial planning stage to post-event evaluation
Supports the initiatives of all other college council members including but not limited to end-of-year projects and social media as needed

For all Vanderbilt undergraduate students

Commons Leadership Council Peer Mentors

The Commons Leadership Council (CLC) Peer Mentors support the development of 40 first-year student leaders who have a leadership role in their house on The Ingram Commons. CLC Peer Mentors facilitate meetings with their assigned first-year student leaders, support Commons Cup programming, and help lead other programming initiatives on The Ingram Commons.

The application process for CLC Peer Mentors begins in late spring. For questions about CLC Peer Mentors please email Assistant Director of the First-Year Experience Michael Wallace.

International Orientation Leaders (IOLs)

International Orientation Leaders are upper-division international and domestic students responsible for welcoming new international students to Vanderbilt University before and during International Student Orientation. IOLs are part of a student organization known as iLEAD, and are overseen by a five member student board as well as a staff adviser. IOLs help new international students acclimate to the Vanderbilt community by respecting different cultures, creating community, and empowering international students. Each IOL will lead a group of approximately eight to ten new international students, providing encouragement and support as they undergo social, cultural, and academic transition. IOLs also assist with the implementation of International Student Orientation as a whole.

Applications for IOLs open in January with interviews taking place in February. For questions about iLEAD and the application process, visit iLEAD's Anchor Link or email Emily Waddell, iLEAD adviser.

Transfer Student Leaders (TSLs)

Transfer Connect is the student organization that oversees the 20+ Transfer Student Leaders (TSLs). The mission of Transfer Connect is to offer support, guidance, and community to incoming transfer students throughout their transition to academic and student life at Vanderbilt. This mission is accomplished through the facilitation of transfer group meetings during Transfer Student Orientation and through ongoing social programming open to all transfer students.

Over the summer, incoming transfers will be assigned a TSL who will serve as their guide at orientation and their peer mentor throughout the fall semester.

During Transfer Student Orientation, students who transfer to Vanderbilt will meet with their transfer group, which will be comprised of approximately 10-12 incoming transfer students, and spend significant time building community and discussing important campus issues and student support resources.

Applications for TSLs open in January with interviews taking place in February. For questions about Transfer Connect and the application process, visit the Transfer Connect webpage or email Grace Hollis, Transfer Connect adviser.

Student VUceptors

VUcept is a peer mentor organization that facilitates the cultural, social, and intellectual growth of Vanderbilt students through CommonVU Orientation, Vanderbilt Visions, and beyond.

Student VUceptors are dedicated to supporting first-year students in their transition to Vanderbilt. They introduce the newest Commodores to Vanderbilt’s traditions, culture, and resources, and foster a brave and inclusive Vanderbilt community. Each student VUceptor serves alongside a faculty VUceptor, and each pair is assigned a Vanderbilt Visions group of 16-18 new students that meets on a weekly basis over the course of the fall semester. During Vanderbilt Visions, VUceptors facilitate discussions about the first-year transition, diversity, equity, stress, and resilience, among other topics. Together, faculty and student VUceptors model a dynamic and meaningful professor-student interaction and help to create a mutually beneficial learning environment for everyone.

Applications for VUcept open in January with interviews taking place in February. For questions about VUcept and the application process email Michael Wallace, VUcept adviser.