Office Of Federal Relations
-
Vanderbilt students visit Capitol Hill to champion the real-world impact of humanities
On National Humanities Alliance’s advocacy day in D.C., through a series of meetings and a social media campaign, Vanderbilt students advocated for federal funding to support the National Endowment for the Humanities. This effort was part of the Robert Penn Warren Center’s Humanities in the Real World: Undergraduate Advocacy Fellowship in collaboration with Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations. Read MoreMar 26, 2024
-
Amplify your impact: Vanderbilt offers advocacy workshop and guide for students
Vanderbilt University Government Relations is hosting a student advocacy workshop on Thursday, April 4, 2:30–4 p.m. in the Kissam Multipurpose Room. The workshop will be an interactive working session about advocacy best practices to help equip students with practical skills they can use to advocate effectively for their interests. Read MoreMar 25, 2024
-
Dean Krish Roy advocates for federal support and funding of engineering research and education in Washington, D.C.
Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of the School of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor, met with members of Congress in early February to discuss the importance of engineering’s role in improving living standards, socioeconomic growth and global competitiveness. Read MoreFeb 19, 2024
-
Read ‘ON THE HILL,’ Vanderbilt’s government relations report
This biannual report serves as a roadmap to the division’s activities and achievements, summarizing engagements at all three levels of government, as outlined by the Vanderbilt Federal Relations, State Government Relations and Local Government Relations teams. Read MoreSep 20, 2023
-
U.S. Rep. Mark Green meets with VU chancellor, students
U.S. Rep. Mark Green, Vanderbilt’s campus congressman, visited to meet with Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and participate in discussions with School of Medicine students and Bass Military Scholars. Read MoreSep 11, 2023
-
Blackburn and Hagerty introduce Senate resolution honoring Vanderbilt’s Sesquicentennial
The resolution highlights Vanderbilt’s significant role in driving economic growth, promoting research and development, and cultivating a vibrant intellectual community. Read MoreJul 27, 2023
-
Sign up for ‘DCbrief,’ a newsletter from the Office of Federal Relations
Federal policies have a significant impact on Vanderbilt, impacting the academic mission as well as the research enterprise. DCbrief covers the breadth of federal policy issues that could impact the university and provides readers with a concise roundup of important developments. Read MoreJul 26, 2023
-
Diermeier advocates for university priorities at meetings, congressional reception in Washington, D.C.
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier met with members of Congress to advocate for federal investments in research and higher education. He urged for robust federal research funding and student aid programs, and highlighted Vanderbilt’s leading role in building the innovation ecosystem in Tennessee, particularly in the automotive industry. Read MoreJul 21, 2023
-
Undergraduate students tout the importance of NEH funding to their education
In March, humanities advocates converged on Washington, D.C., for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to advocate in person for funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Elizabeth Meadows, associate director of the Robert Penn Warren Center, was joined by two undergraduate students and members of the RPW Student Advisory Council—Coco Randolph and Shunnar Virani—to discuss how the humanities are shaping their education. Read MoreApr 7, 2023
-
Fauchet urges Congress to support engineering education and research
Philippe Fauchet, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering at Vanderbilt University, met with members of Congress last week while in Washington, D.C., to emphasize the integral role that engineering research plays in strengthening the United States’ competitiveness and security. Read MoreFeb 16, 2023
-
Vanderbilt Ph.D. students, postdocs travel to Washington, D.C., for Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy seminar
Nineteen Vanderbilt Ph.D. students and postdoctoral scholars traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month to attend the fifth in-person Federal STEM Policy and Advocacy seminar. While a condensed virtual version of the event was offered in fall 2020 and 2021, this was the first in-person federal STEM seminar since 2018. Read MoreOct 31, 2022
-
Vanderbilt joins higher ed community to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant program
June 23 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant, a federal student aid program that has expanded higher education opportunities for millions of low-income Americans. To celebrate the historic milestone, Vanderbilt has joined with others in the higher ed community to highlight Pell's value and impact and underscore the need for Congress to reinvest in the program. Read MoreJun 23, 2022
-
More than 65 TN college and university leaders urge members of Congress to double maximum Pell Grant award
Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier led 66 other leaders of Tennessee’s colleges and universities today in sending a letter to the Tennessee congressional delegation urging them to make an affordable, high-quality college education more attainable for students by doubling the maximum Pell Grant award and permanently indexing the grant to inflation to ensure that its value will no longer diminish over time. Read MoreJan 26, 2022
-
Interested in federal STEM policy and advocacy? Two virtual seminars offered in November
Several Vanderbilt offices will partner to host two virtual events for undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs focused on federal science, technology, engineering and mathematics policy on Nov. 1 and 8. Read MoreOct 18, 2021
-
Vanderbilt graduate students address legislators to advocate for NSF funding
Two graduate students from Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering and one from the School of Medicine Basic Sciences recently addressed legislators in Washington, D.C., virtually, sharing stories about the important role funding from the National Science Foundation has played in their research and training. Read MoreJun 30, 2021
-
Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond visits Vanderbilt, laying groundwork for future partnership
United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond recently visited Vanderbilt to learn about the pioneering aerospace engineering projects at the university’s research institutes and trans-institutional programs. Read MoreMay 27, 2021
-
Vanderbilt community salutes retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander
Members of the Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center communities pay tribute to retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, BA’62, for his influential roots as a Vanderbilt undergraduate, his many years of dedicated public service, and his legacy of support for higher education, research and innovation. Read MoreDec 17, 2020
-
Vanderbilt-developed exosuit selected for innovation and entrepreneurship showcase in Washington, D.C.
A back-assist exoskeleton developed by Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Karl Zelik at Vanderbilt is being recognized by the Association of American Universities and the Association of Public Land-Grant Universities for their annual innovation showcase. Read MoreDec 7, 2020
-
Vanderbilt University urges federal government to withdraw proposed changes to international student visas
Vanderbilt University is urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to withdraw a new proposal that would limit the duration of international student visas to either four or two years, depending on a student’s home country or country of birth. Read MoreOct 30, 2020
-
Interested in federal STEM policy and advocacy? Two virtual seminars offered in October
Several Vanderbilt offices are partnering to host two virtual events focused on federal science, technology, engineering and mathematics policy Oct. 19 and 29. Read MoreOct 9, 2020