When new and returning students fill Vanderbilt’s campus, it’s worth celebrating! The university and supporting centers and groups hosted numerous events with special surprises to ease students into the new academic year and help them feel how valued they are by the Vanderbilt community.
Officer Jack happily joins students in their first day of class photos. (Vanderbilt University)
Students pose for photos on the first day of class of the 2025-26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
Students pose for photos on the first day of class of the 2025-26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
Students pose for photos on the first day of class of the 2025-26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
Officer Jack happily joins students in their first day of class photos. (Vanderbilt University)
Students pose for photos on the first day of class of the 2025-26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
The first day of classes for the 2025–26 academic year were filled with surprise visits from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, first-day photos, fun collectable squirrel pins and lots of welcome back smiles!
Happy first day of classes of the 2025–26 academic year! (Vanderbilt University)
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier visits students on the first day of classes for the 2025–26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier makes time for a first-day-of-classes selfie with students. (Vanderbilt University)
Students picked up special collectable pins to celebrate Welcome Week 2025. (Vanderbilt University)
Throughout the afternoon, students were drawn to the Pavlovian ice cream truck music around campus and received sweet treats to celebrate a successful first day of classes.
G.L. Black, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, passes out sweet treats in our makeshift ice cream truck to celebrate the first day of classes. (Vanderbilt University)
Students drawn by the Pavlovian ice cream truck music around campus received sweet treats to celebrate the first day of class of the 2025–26 academic year. (Vanderbilt University)
WELCOME WEEK (END) CELEBRATIONS
After students completed their first week of classes, it was time for the Class of 2029 to dress up and celebrate with an outdoor party on The Ingram Commons lawn.
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
Class Celebration 2025 takes place on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
VUCEPT SUPPORT
VUcept is a peer mentor organization where student and faculty VUceptors facilitate cultural, social and intellectual connections among first-year students within the living and learning community of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. Here VUceptors connected for training.
2025 student and faculty VUceptors gather for a special training. A faculty and student VUceptor lead a section of Vanderbilt Visions, which is the university’s core transition program for first-year students. (Vanderbilt University)
2025 VUceptor students and faculty come together for a training workshop at The Ingram Commons. (Vanderbilt University)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECEPTION
Students moving to Vanderbilt from around the world and their families came together to learn about all the supports designed to help students transition to Vanderbilt and the United States. Students then came together for a welcome dinner in The Commons Center.
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier speaks with new international students and families at the International Student Orientation and transition essentials event at The Ingram Commons. (Vanderbilt University)
International Student Orientation and transition essentials event at The Ingram Commons (Vanderbilt University)
International Student Welcome Dinner at The Ingram Commons (Vanderbilt University)
TRANSFER STUDENT SOCIAL
Vanderbilt welcomed its largest-ever number of transfer students for this academic year.
Incoming transfer students pose for the Vanderbilt “V” on the Commodores baseball field during Welcome Week 2025. (Vanderbilt University)
Transfer students make the classic Vanderbilt “V” on the Commodores baseball field during Welcome Week 2025. (Vanderbilt University)
Here students had a chance to connect and play as they make Vanderbilt their new academic home.
Transfer students came together for a game night in the E. Bronson Ingram Great Room. (Vanderbilt University)
Transfer students came together for a game night in the E. Bronson Ingram Great Room. (Vanderbilt University)
Transfer students came together for a game night in the E. Bronson Ingram Great Room. (Vanderbilt University)
Students enjoy the 2025 Transfer Student Social on the Commodores baseball field. (Vanderbilt University)
Students enjoy the 2025 Transfer Student Social on the Commodores baseball field. (Vanderbilt University)
The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center joined the Welcome Week 2025 celebrations with a Family Welcome and Harambee March. (Vanderbilt University)
The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center joined the Welcome Week 2025 celebrations with a Family Welcome and Harambee March. (Vanderbilt University)
The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center joined the Welcome Week 2025 celebrations with a Family Welcome and Harambee March. (Vanderbilt University)
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT CEREMONY
The Community Commitment ceremony, formerly known as the Honor Code Signing ceremony, is a Welcome Week tradition. Here, the Class of 2029 signed the student-authored Community Creed, which outlines core values and community standards of academic and social integrity.
First-year students from the Class of 2029 sign the honor code during the Community Commitment event at the Student Life Center. (Vanderbilt University)
First-year students from the Class of 2029 sign the honor code during the Community Commitment event at the Student Life Center. (Vanderbilt University)
CLASS PHOTO
It may be hot and crowded while it’s happening, but the end result of the annual class photo is one of students’ favorite remembrances!
First year students gather for the Class of 2029 photo on The Commons Lawn. (Vanderbilt University)
