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Student Centers

  2. Safety, Security, and Parking

Safety, Security, and Parking

Facility Guidelines

Access: 

  • Student Centers are for the use of students, faculty, staff, guests of the University, and participants in authorized on-campus activities 

Capacity: 

  • Events exceeding fire capacity must take immediate corrective measures or risk suspension or closure 

Accountability: 

** Vanderbilt reserves the right to refuse or cancel event requests that conflict with the university’s mission or present safety concerns 

  • The sponsoring group is accountable for participants’ actions and must comply with all relevant laws 
  • Customer must be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, as amended, including: 
    • 41 CFR 60-1.4
    • 41 CFR 60-250.4
    • 41 CFR 60-741.4 

with respect to nondiscrimination in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin or sex, equal opportunity, affirmative action, employment of disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era, and employment of the handicapped.

Smoke-Free Campus: 

  • Vanderbilt University is a smoke-free campus, prohibited areas include: 
    • Student Centers 
    • Campus grounds with the exception of designated smoking areas 

Emergencies: 

  • In an emergency, Student Centers staff will alert and direct you to safety 
  • Emergency procedures are available in most meeting rooms near entrance/exit doors 
  • Departmental Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs) are maintained by Student Centers and the VUPD Campus Emergency Preparedness Office to ensure safety and well-being during emergencies 
    • Copies of the EOPs are available upon request 

Safety and Security

Security

  • Security is required for events at which alcohol is present, for large events, and for events open to the general public. Consult your event manager and VUPD (615-322-2745) to determine your specific needs, or inquire at the weekly Special Event Registration Committee meeting. Depending on the nature of the event, you may be allowed to hire private, third-party security, as opposed to uniformed VUPD officers. Both VUPD and private security can be arranged through VUPD.
  • Request VUPD Security for your event by completing this form. 
  • The sponsoring group is responsible for security charges

Having an event under a tent?

  • You may need a fire watch if you will have more than 300 attendees. Fill out the Fire Watch Personnel form below and we can determine your event’s specific needs.

Having an event with a fire pit or using a grill?

AlertVU Public Portal

  • The Office of Emergency Management has provided the opportunity for non-affiliated community members to sign up to receive AlertVU notifications. AlertVU sends immediate messages to users in the event of an emergency that poses an imminent threat or danger to the Vanderbilt community via phone call, text, and/or personal email. Visit here to view FAQs and sign up for AlertVU.

For more information, please reference the Student Handbook

Parking

Event Parking:

  • Parking is available on campus for events. In most cases, charges will apply. The fees associated with parking will depend on the location and time of the event, as well as the number of parking spaces requested. For more information on event parking, please contact your event manager. Please note that reserved parking is not guaranteed Monday – Friday before 6:00 PM.
  • Specific arrangements need to be made in advance directly with traffic and parking for any special deliveries or parking for catering trucks, Red Cross blood drives, etc. Some services available include special parking permits for events, barricades, signs for lots, and Traffic and Parking officers.
  • To request parking for your event, click here.

Visitor Parking: 

  • Visitor parking is available across campus. For more information on the location of visitor parking please click here.

Handicap Parking: 

  • Handicap parking is available across campus. A visitor with a state-issued handicap placard may park in any metered space on campus for free. If you have additional questions about parking for a special needs visitor, please contact the office of Parking Services at 322-2554.
  • If you would like to reserve handicapped parking for an event, please contact your event manager.

EV Parking:

  • EV charging stations are available across campus. Please view this map for specific locations and details.

View the Campus Map