Office Of Federal Relations

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 More

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 More

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 More

Several Vanderbilt offices are partnering to host two virtual events focused on federal science, technology, engineering and mathematics policy Oct. 19 and 29. Read More

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente recently wrote to members of the Tennessee congressional delegation, urging them to support America’s leading research universities as they work through the ramifications of the COVID-19 global health pandemic. Read More

Before the COVID-19 outbreak necessitated the move to online and alternative learning earlier this spring, undergraduate students Barton Christmas and Miranda Cross traveled to Washington, D.C., and with guidance from the Office of Federal Relations, advocated for robust federal support for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Read More

United States competitiveness, workforce development and university partnerships were the topics of interest for Philippe Fauchet, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of the School of Engineering, and members and staff of the Tennessee congressional delegation earlier this month in Washington, D.C. Read More

Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Jeff Balser, president and CEO at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of the School of Medicine, sent a joint letter last week to members of the Tennessee congressional delegation applauding recent bipartisan efforts to invest in programs that support scientific research, public health and education, and urging Congress to finalize funding for fiscal year 2020. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente emphasized the need to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between the federal government and America’s leading research universities when they met with members of the Tennessee congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., this week. Read More

Vanderbilt School of Engineering Dean Philippe Fauchet was in Washington, D.C., last week to advocate for federal support of engineering education and research, in particular through partnerships with the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the departments of Energy and Defense. Read More

With the start of the 116th Congress, Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations wishes to remind the university community of the current regulations regarding federal lobbying disclosure reports as well as congressional restrictions on gifts, meals and travel. Read More

Nineteen Vanderbilt graduate students and postdoctoral scholars spent two days in Washington, D.C., last week participating in the fourth STEM Policy and Advocacy Seminar. Read More

Congress passed a bipartisan $1.29 trillion spending bill for the current fiscal year on March 23 that includes some of the largest increases in research and education accounts in nearly a decade. Read More

Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities Executive Director Mona Frederick and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations Christina West met with congressional delegates at the National Humanities Alliance’s recent annual meeting and advocacy day in Washington, D.C. Read More

With the start of the second session of the 115th Congress, the Office of Federal Relations reminds Vanderbilt employees of the current regulations regarding federal lobbying disclosure reports as well as congressional restrictions on gifts, meals and travel. Read More

Vanderbilt University, through the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of Federal Relations, today shared an official letter with members of the Tennessee delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives from Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos outlining the university’s deep concerns with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the current tax reform plan under consideration in Washington by federal lawmakers. Read More

Vanderbilt University, through the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of Federal Relations, is working to make its voice heard on Capitol Hill about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the current tax reform plan being considered by lawmakers. Vanderbilt University has serious concerns with the bill, particularly provisions that could erode support for graduate students and affect financial aid. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos thanked members of Congress during a visit to Capitol Hill this week for rejecting the administration’s proposed budget cuts that would cripple American innovation and economic growth. Read More

Congress has reaffirmed the partnership between the federal government and American research universities by enacting a bipartisan appropriations spending package for fiscal year 2017 that preserves and increases funding for key federal research agencies—including a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health. Read More

With the start of the 115th Congress, Vanderbilt's Office of Federal Relations wishes to remind the university community of the current regulations regarding federal lobbying disclosure reports as well as congressional restrictions on gifts, meals and travel. Read More