Vanderbilt Names and Places

Keeping track of the latest titles of Vanderbilt University faculty, staff, schools, teams and programs can be a challenge. This guide is designed to help reporters, editors and others who write and report about Vanderbilt accurately refer to its people and places.

The Basics

  • Formal name and appropriate first reference: Vanderbilt University
  • Appropriate second reference: Vanderbilt for the university; Commodores for athletic references
  • Abbreviation: VU, if an abbreviation is required

Administration

Visit the Vanderbilt Leadership webpage for a current listing of Vanderbilt administrators and Board of Trust members.

SchoolS

Vanderbilt comprises 10 schools. First references to each of these schools should be preceded with “Vanderbilt University” or “Vanderbilt.” The schools’ official titles are:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

“Vanderbilt University Medical Center” is an appropriate first or second reference; “VUMC” is the appropriate abbreviation if one is needed. The Vanderbilt University Medical Center includes the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Center for Health Services, Vanderbilt University Hospital, the Vanderbilt Clinic and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (on second reference, “Children’s Hospital.” For more Vanderbilt Medical Center information, visit: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu.

Centers and Institutes

Vanderbilt is home to more than 85 centers and institutes that work to tackle major challenges and meet important societal needs by bringing together faculty from a broad range of disciplines and producing cutting edge research.

View an extensive list of Vanderbilt centers and institutes.