Faculty volunteers sought for Vanderbilt Visions effort
This year, 13 Vanderbilt University Medical Center faculty members volunteered to take part in a program called Vanderbilt Visions, which helps incoming Vanderbilt University students acclimate to their challenging new environment.
For the school year that begins next fall, organizers hope to increase that number.
“We would like to receive expressions of interest by the end of next week (Dec. 18) from Medical Center faculty who want to participate,” said Frank Wcislo, dean of the Commons and associate professor of History. “The great success of the program this year was because of our 92 volunteers from almost every school at Vanderbilt. The hope is that this process will assure first-year students a diverse body of Faculty VUceptors (mentors).”
“This is a great way to participate in the life of our great University,” said Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.
Interested faculty members are asked to meet with their respective department chair or administrator to inform them of their intention to participate. Volunteers who submit an expression of interest by Dec. 18 must supply the name and contact information of the responsible administrator.
For more information on Vanderbilt Visions and to submit an expression of interest, click here.
Through the Vanderbilt Visions program, faculty members, paired with an upper-class student, mentor a group of 17 first-year students as they explore the transition of moving from high school to Vanderbilt.
This one-semester, University core program begins during CommonVU week on Move-In Day in August, and meets on Mondays or Tuesdays during the semester until Thanksgiving break.