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Stay Informed

Stay Connected to What's Going On

The Commodore Connection is the primary vehicle of communications with our parent community. As a monthly e-newsletter, we strive to engage and inform parents of key campus resources and updates with additional consideration of highlighting strategic university priorities such as the residential experience, Opportunity 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ, Experience 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ, Student Care Network, and other university initiatives.

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Receive Our Newsletters

If you are not receiving our monthly Commodore Connection newsletters, please update your contact information or email us at parents@vanderbilt.eduÌýand we will add you to our distribution list.

Commodore Connection Archive

  • Monthly Newsletters

Parent Perspectives

The previous Parent Ambassador Council Chairs, Roseann and Jeff Gapusan, wrote a monthly segment of parent to parent messaging in our Commodore Connection newsletters each month. As two-time 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ parents, they wrote insightful segments that show ways parents can help navigate the college journey with their student.Ìý


Incoming Student Email Series

As the parent or guardian of an incoming first-year student, you'll receive special monthly issues May - September. Featured topics include important deadline dates and introductions to helpful campus offices and resources. Once your student is on campus, you'll receive a regular monthly edition that is sent to all undergraduate parents and families.

  • First Year

    Ìý

  • Transfer

Webinar Archive

  • 2026 Parent & Family Insurance Webinar

    Join us for an informative webinar where representatives from Academic HealthPlans and 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€™s Student Care Network will equip you with essential knowledge on health insurance  and renters’ coverage. Discover the benefits of these plans, learn important insurance terms and receive valuable tips to ensure your student’s safety and well-being. Do not miss this opportunity to gain peace of mind and learn how to safeguard your student’s future.

  • Dialogue and Free Expression at 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ: Inside and Outside the Classroom - Hosted by Francesca Schuler and Mario Rewers

    This webinar offers parents a window into how 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ is preparing students to engage thoughtfully with complex ideas, disagreement and difference—skills essential for leadership, citizenship and life beyond college.

    Francesca Schuler, executive director of Dialogue 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ, and Professor Mario Rewers, assistant dean in the College of Arts and Science and senior lecturer in Public Policy Studies and in Culture, Advocacy and Leadership, will share what’s happening through Dialogue 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€¯and the Free Expression and Dangerous Ideas course, highlighting how students learn to consider multiple perspectives, practice respectful, rigorous dialogue, and navigate disagreement with curiosity, rigor and respect. You’ll hear examples of classroom discussions, campus programs and student experiences that bring free expression to life—not as an abstract principle, but as a practiced skill.

    Parents will leave with a clearer understanding of how 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€¯supports open inquiry while helping students develop confidence, judgment and intellectual resilience.

    Ìý

  • Immersion 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ: Cultivating Knowledge through Experiential Learning - Hosted by Immersion 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ

    Immersion 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ is a degree requirement for all 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ undergraduate students. Through Immersion 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ, students transform ideas into action, explore their passions, and make a difference in the world. Join Carolyn Roberts, Senior Director, Immersion 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ, to learn more about how you can support your student as they engage in their immersive experiences and complete their culminating project

  • From Classroom to Career: What Parents Should Know 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ Business Education - Hosted by Owen Graduate School of Management

    How does a business education set students up for long-term success? Join Tom Steenburgh, Ralph Owen Dean of the Owen Graduate School of Management, and Gary Kimball, Sauereisen Director for the Hoogland Undergraduate Business Program, for an engaging conversation on howÌýtoday’s business programs prepare studentsÌýtoÌýthrive in a rapidly changing world. This session will highlight how 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ Business connectsÌýclassroomÌýlearningÌýto real-world impact.

  • Anchors & Insights: Navigating the HOD Capstone Experience - Hosted by the HOD Capstone Office

    This webinar will provide information about the 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ Human and Organizational Development Capstone program. The HOD Capstone team will share stories about the Capstone Design process and broad range of capstone sites. You will also learn about the many locations students can complete their HOD Capstone semester, including but not limited to Nashville, London and the new 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€“New York City campus.

  • Greek Life at 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ: The Joining Process and Membership Experience - Hosted by the Office of Greek Life

    Office of Greek Life staff members explain the joining process for 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ's four Greek governing councils—Panhellenic Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Interfraternity Council and Intercultural Greek Council. In addition, they will cover the benefits and expectations of membership, provide tips and suggestions for family engagement.

  • Student Insurance Requirements - Hosted by Academic HealthPlans

    As a parent or guardian of a 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ undergraduate student, you want to ensure your student's safety and well-being throughout their college journey. Join us for an informative webinar where representatives from Academic HealthPlans and 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€™s Student Care Network will equip you with essential knowledge on health insurance and renters’ coverage. Discover the benefits of these plans, learn important insurance terms, and receive valuable tips to ensure your student’s well-being. Don't miss this opportunity to gain peace of mind and learn how to safeguard your student's future.

  • How to Empower Your Student's Career Journey - Hosted by 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ's Career Center

    Learn information about Vandy in Communities, the Career Center’s service delivery model of career development, and your students’ career empowerment journey. Additionally, the Career Center will share professional/employer insights and ways parents/caregivers and alumni can engage and support students.

  • Business+Liberal Arts: A Proven Path to Career Success - Hosted by Owen Graduate School of Management

    Discover how a strong foundation in liberal arts, combined with a business education, can propel a career to new heights. At 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµâ€™s Owen Graduate School of Management, we’re building the next generation of leaders through collaboration and a portfolio of world-class programs that focus on helping people discover, grow, and thrive in business and beyond. We offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs—ranging from a three-week summer business immersion to an undergraduate business minor to a one-year specialized master's in accounting, marketing, or finance, plus our traditional MBA and VU2MBA programs.

  • Introduction to Global Safety and Health for Families of Traveling Students - Hosted by Global Safety and Health

    Studying abroad is a transformational experience for many of our students and a lot goes into making their time abroad as successful as possible. This includes engaging with the Global Safety and Health Team (GSH) for the travel safety, health support and guidance we provide. Join us for part two of our Study Abroad Webinar Series to learn more about how we support our students to have a safe and healthy unforgettable experience abroad.

  • An Introduction to Safety and Security at 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ for Parents and Families - Hosted by 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ Public Safety

    17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ is a diverse community representative of cultures, perspectives, experiences, academic interests, and community members from around the world. 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ Public Safety is dedicated to maintaining a campus environment that is safe, conducive to rigorous academic pursuit, and welcoming. Join us to learn more about how we foster a safe learning environment for students and support the forward progression of 17cÆð²ÝÊÓÆµ.

Informational Session Archive

  • 2025 Parents and Family Orientation Session