Community and Belonging

We believe in radical collaboration and a holistic approach to graduate education that is designed to support each scholar’s unique journey. We believe that each scholar brings something unique to our community; we harness the power of this array of ideas and perspectives to enrich the educational experience for all. We are committed to fostering an environment where the brightest minds from every background feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. Belonging is at the heart of everything we do.

Identity Center Resources

The Graduate School collaborates with both on and off-campus partners to achieve our goals to recruit, retain, and graduate the leaders of tomorrow. We understand that support looks different for everyone, so we offer a wide variety of resources to meet each scholar’s unique academic and personal needs.

Initiatives to Support Belonging at Vanderbilt

The Graduate School's Community Initiatives are an ongoing journey to cultivate a sense of belonging at Vanderbilt for every scholar. We invite you to join us in this shared sense of purpose and collaboration, whether you are a prospective student, a current student, a faculty member, or a staff member. Together, we can make a difference, solve the world’s most pressing challenges, and inspire excellence in all that we do.

The Graduate School initiatives below create spaces for exploration, innovation, and shared learning:

  • The Vanderbilt-Fisk Joint Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

    The Vanderbilt-Fisk Postdoctoral Fellowship is a carefully crafted program that provides Vanderbilt PhDs with the chance to develop their teaching and scholarship portfolios. Simultaneously, it offers fellows invaluable mentoring opportunities from faculty members at both institutions.

    Read more about the Vanderbilt-Fisk Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • SEC Emerging Scholars

    The SEC Emerging Scholars Program serves as a pathway and source of mentorship for a diverse cohort of graduate students from across the SEC to prepare for tenured faculty positions in higher education.

    Read more about the SEC Emerging Scholars Program

  • The Leadership Alliance

    Vanderbilt University is one of the partners in the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP). The Leadership Alliance consists of 32 higher learning institutions, including top research and teaching universities. The primary objective of the Leadership Alliance is to cultivate a diverse group of undergraduate students into exceptional leaders and role models in academia, business, and the public sector. The program is designed for undergraduates interested in pursuing a PhD or an MD-PhD, and it provides them with an opportunity to work for eight to ten weeks under the supervision of a faculty or research mentor at any of the participating Alliance institutions..

    Read more about the Leadership Alliance

Below are the steps we take to foster a community where every scholar is valued, supported, and challenged to grow.

  • Recruitment
    • The Graduate School coordinates with the Summer Research programs that give undergraduate students a chance to develop research skills for competitive graduate school applications and to provide them with experiences as a full-time student researcher.
    • We participate in recruitment fairs and visit institutions across the country to connect with potential graduate students.
    • We coordinate with schools to bring talented undergraduates from around the country to our campus and learn about opportunities for graduate study at Vanderbilt.
  • Retention
    • Mentorship is central to the Vanderbilt experience. Scholars work closely with exceptional faculty mentors who are dedicated to each individual’s intellectual and personal development.
    • We bring scholars from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and advice.
    • We support student-led initiatives and partner with student organizations.
  • Collaboration
    • The Graduate School participates in national consortia that advocate on behalf of and promote belonging in graduate education.
    • We coordinate with local colleges and universities to share resources and encourage their students to consider graduate school.
    • We partner with offices and departments across the university to support the unique backgrounds and experiences of each graduate student.