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Programs for Talented Youth

Vanderbilt Summer Institutes – Supervision

Vanderbilt Summer Institutes Supervision Policies

If you have any questions about the policies below, please contact the VSI office at 615.322.8261.

While most high schools were designed with the safety of youth in mind, Vanderbilt’s campus was built for adults. VSI, therefore, follows VU’s policies regarding the presence of minors on campus, and student safety is prioritized above all else.

The VSI daily schedule is highly structured, and the degree of supervision is comprehensive. Students who are accustomed to unsupervised time may find the policies and practices of VSI restrictive. We understand this may not be appropriate for all students and we invite parents/guardians and their students to discuss and agree on the student’s commitment to meeting our program’s expectations prior to applying and attending.

While we understand that students are responsible individuals, VSI requires all activities (with the exception of S.O.F.T times described below) to be fully supervised and every student to be accounted for at all times. To ensure that all students are safe throughout the duration of VSI, students must adhere to the following supervision guidelines. VSI staff will review supervision policies with students on the first night of each session. These policies have been established to uphold the safety and well-being of students while at VSI, and students must be familiar with and abide by them.

TYPICAL DAY SUPERVISION POLICIES:

VSI students will be accompanied by a VSI staff member from the residential halls to breakfast and during all transitions to and from academic classrooms or activities during the academic day.

After the academic day, VSI students will typically have about two hours of S.O.F.T. (Sign Out Free Time). During designated S.O.F.T. times, VSI students will have extended boundaries that include designated off-campus locations. Students often use this time to visit CVS, check out the Vanderbilt Bookstore and explore Hillsboro Village.

During these S.O.F.T. times, students must observe all rules outlined by VSI staff. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Following all sign-out procedures as communicated by residential staff
  • Always wearing a lanyard
  • Always remaining in a group of at least 3 students when outside of Commons boundaries*
  • Having a working cell phone with GroupMe installed (at least one member of the group)
  • Remaining within designated boundaries
  • Making plans with only other VSI students. As S.O.F.T. is a VSI community experience, we ask students not to make plans to meet non-VSI students during this time.
  • Returning to your floor by the designated end time
  • Following all additional guidelines and policies as communicated by VSI staff

Failure to abide by these policies will result in loss of privileges for future activities. VSI staff will provide students with a digital map they can overlay on their phone’s mapping software before S.O.F.T. times. S.O.F.T. times may be suspended or cancelled due to inclement weather or at the discretion of VSI leadership. Students who choose to remain within Commons boundaries during S.O.F.T. times (as identified on the shared digital map) will be free to travel alone to The Commons Center & Commons Center Gym, take advantage of beautiful outdoor lawn space or rest in their hall/room. The Commons Center is a popular location for grabbing coffee at Common Grounds and meeting your classmates to complete afternoon asynchronous work. All areas within the Commons boundaries are fully supervised by VSI staff. After evening activities that are led and supervised by VSI residential staff, students will remain on their residential hall until traveling to breakfast the next morning.