At Vanderbilt, resources supporting student needs are everywhere. Knowing where to look and whom to ask can help students navigate the university and set them on the right course to success.
ACADEMIC TIPS AND RESOURCES:
Get to Know the Instructors
Meeting with faculty members and teaching assistants during their office hours can be a crucial part of understanding the course material. Group study sessions, which are built into the curriculum of many classes, are also helpful opportunities to learn from peers and instructors outside of the classroom.
Academic Advisers and Academic Life Coaches
Each school or college offers academic advising either through assigned faculty advisers or deans. Academic advising is also available in each of the graduate and professional schools. Once students are placed on the correct course path, the Center for Student Wellbeing’s Academic Skills Coaches (for undergraduates) and Academic Life Coaches housed within Alumni Hall (for graduate students) are available to offer guidance on academic and professional development. The coaches also provide helpful advice on time management, organization and handling academic-related anxiety and stress.
Tutoring, Departmental Help Desks and Writing Studios
Tutoring Services at Vanderbilt offers free, individual, appointment-based tutoring to all undergraduates in introductory classes. Help Desks, an extension of Tutoring Services, are offered by specific educational departments and typically run on a generous schedule while cultivating a group study atmosphere. Also, the Writing Studio, located in the Curb Center, offers the Vanderbilt community free, one-on-one assistance for writing projects.
Get to Know the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries
Vanderbilt has the unique opportunity to offer students a Central Library and libraries within individual school or department buildings, including Biomedical, Divinity, Law, Management, Music, Peabody and Science and Engineering. The library staff offers meeting times with students to build their academic toolkit and teach them research techniques. The libraries even provide the means to book individual or group study rooms for students to use.
WHERE TO EAT:
Vanderbilt offers a wide variety of delicious food options supporting a broad spectrum of dietary needs and restrictions. Residential dining halls are one way to grab a nutritious meal. Cuisines can range from the traditional “meat and three” or a quick sandwich to globally inspired dishes. The university also has cafes and markets with a Grab & Go collection of meals, including sandwiches, bowls and even sushi.
HOW TO EXPLORE:
Aside from the usual scooter or bike to get across campus, VandyRide and Vanderbilt’s EasyRide Programs are free for student use. Vanderbilt University Department of Public Safety administers the VandyRide shuttle bus service. Vanderbilt Student Government worked alongside VUPS and the Office of the Dean of Students to enhance this program to improve the safety and convenience. 
Vanderbilt’s EasyRide program with WeGo Public Transit has expanded to include the following enhancements:
- WeGo local buses, WeGo regional buses and the WeGo Star train now offer free rides to the Vanderbilt community.
- The program covers all full-time and part-time faculty, staff, postdocs and students (undergraduate, graduate and professional).
- Trips can be taken at any time, not just for commutes to and from campus.
- Use Commodore (Vanderbilt ID) Cards for all trips.
View current route times here.