Eric Kopstain

Vanderbilt has continued to successfully implement Phase II of its Return to Campus Plan and, as of Aug. 10, will have the criteria and systems in place to begin on-campus classes on Aug. 24 for all undergraduates and many graduate and professional students. Read More

Vanderbilt has announced that PepsiCo will serve as its official beverage provider for Campus Dining operations and vending locations. The new partnership addresses the university’s sustainability goals and changing student needs. Read More

Vanderbilt’s world-class medical and public health experts—who are on the front lines of treating the COVID-19 pandemic and searching for a cure—addressed the latest understanding of the virus, best practices and the science behind public health protocols designed to slow the spread, and the university’s plans for testing and contact tracing in a virtual town hall on July 18. Read More

Vanderbilt’s world-class medical and public health experts—who are on the front lines of treating the COVID-19 pandemic and searching for a cure—addressed the latest understanding of the virus, best practices and the science behind public health protocols designed to slow the spread, and the university’s plans for testing and contact tracing in a virtual town hall on July 18. Read More

Vanderbilt has finalized many new important actions for the fall semester to prepare our campus and to protect the health and safety of our community as much as possible, write Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain in a message to university staff and postdoctoral scholars. Read More

Provost Susan R. Wente and the Faculty Senate will co-host a virtual town hall for faculty focused on classroom safety—including classroom protocols—on Monday, July 20. The live webinar from 11 a.m. to noon also will include a moderated question-and-answer session. Read More

Medical and public health experts from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center will host two virtual town halls focused on the medical aspects of COVID-19 on Saturday, July 18. They will address the latest understanding of the virus, best practices and the science behind public health protocols designed to slow the spread, as well as the university’s plans for testing and contact tracing. The town hall for faculty and staff will take place from noon to 1 p.m. The town hall for student and families will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. Read More

The university fully recognizes the challenges that local school districts' plans for the fall pose for members of the Vanderbilt community with school-aged children and is committed to continuing to help faculty, staff, postdocs and students navigate the ever-changing impacts of the pandemic on daily life, write Provost Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain in a message to the VU community. Read More

Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain will host a virtual town hall for staff on Monday, June 22, at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the university’s Return to Campus Plan. A second town hall for faculty is planned for Wednesday, June 24, at 11 a.m. Read More

In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer and subsequent protests for racial justice in a number of cities, the university will host a series of listening sessions for students, staff, faculty and postdoctoral scholars. Read More

More than 2,700 members of the university community attended a virtual town hall to learn more about Vanderbilt’s four-phased Return to Campus Plan. Read More

Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain will host a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, May 13, to discuss the phased reopening of Vanderbilt’s campus. The online meeting via Zoom will begin at noon CT, and registration is required to attend. Read More

Unless staff are required to be on campus at the explicit request of their manager, they should continue to work remotely beyond Friday, May 8. Due to the need to reduce the density of people and enable physical distancing on campus, remote work is likely to continue for the foreseeable future for most staff whose role and workload enables them to do so effectively. Read More

Vanderbilt is extending “stay at home” orders and authorizations for remote work until Friday, May 8, noting that it is possible the university's first phase of increased campus activity could begin as early as Monday, May 11. Read More

Following the transition to online and alternative learning for the remainder of the spring semester and move out of all undergraduate residential students, the Vanderbilt University campus remains safe and open. Staff are expected to work their normal schedules and should direct questions about schedules or work arrangements to their managers. Read More

In partnership with Vanderbilt Public Safety Emergency Preparedness, department operational continuity plans have been developed in response to COVID-19. Read More

Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain and Vanderbilt Law School lecturer Linda Breggin, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C., and project director for the Nashville Food Waste Initiative, have been named co-chairs of the Nashville Sustainability Advisory Committee.  Read More

Vanderbilt has established a new Sustainability Advisory Council to guide and support the university’s progress toward its comprehensive long-term sustainability strategy. The council will include students, staff and faculty selected by Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain. Read More

Vanderbilt University is developing plans for a potential new university residence to serve as home to future chancellors and as a gathering space for the university community. The plans are part of Vanderbilt’s FutureVU land use framework and would represent a return to the historical tradition of Vanderbilt’s chancellors living on campus. Read More

Andrea George, director of Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office, has been appointed director of Environmental Health and Safety for the university. In this expanded role, she will oversee environmental, health and safety management services for university research and continue to oversee campus sustainability efforts, which remain a top priority for the university. Read More