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Anchor Down!

Vanderbilt University

Location: Nashville, TN

Nickname: Commodores

Type of School: Private Research University

Mascot: “Mr. Commodore” (pure bred Naval Officer)

Total student body: 13,575 (Fall 2024)

University Established: 1873

Football Stadium: FirstBank Stadium

Capacity: 40,350

Team Colors: Black and Gold

Alma Mater

On the city’s western border,
Reared against the sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater,
As the years roll by,

Forward ever be our watchword,
Conquer and prevail;
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Vanderbilt–all hail!

Traditions

One doesn’t have to wait long for the traditions to become reality at Vanderbilt University. They, literally, start the moment you move on to campus.

  • Move-in Weekend and Founders Walk

Members of the Vanderbilt community, including students, faculty and staff, lend a helping hand in carrying the first-year students’ belongings to their new rooms on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. At the conclusion of Move-In Weekend, first-year, transfer and Next Steps students participate in Founders Walk, where they form a procession and walk from The Commons Lawn to Alumni Lawn and are formally welcomed by campus leaders. 

  • Community Commitment Signing

Formally known as the Honor Code Signing Ceremony, the Community Commitment signing is hosted by the Undergraduate Honor Council for all incoming students. Students sign the commitment, and the Student Accountability, Community Standards and Academic Integrity office posts the signatures in Sarratt Student Center for the duration of the class members’ time at Vanderbilt.   

  • Commencement

After years of hard work and dedication, the student experience comes full circle at Commencement as graduates ceremonially exit the same gates of Vanderbilt that they entered during Founders Walk.   

  • Anchor Down!

Since 2004, the anchor has been a part of Vanderbilt’s football program and is prominently displayed on game days. During home games, the anchor is carried in the Star Walk procession to the stadium, and a group or an individual is invited to “drop the anchor” at midfield before the game.  

Interesting Facts & Trivia

  • Vanderbilt University was founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1873. He donated $1 million of his own money to establish the institution.
  • The first fraternity chapter, Phi Delta Theta, was established on campus in 1876 but was shut down by the faculty. It was later reestablished as a secret society in 1877.
  • Vanderbilt boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, indicating a crazy level of personalized attention for students.
  • The university’s motto is “Crescere aude,” which translates to “Dare to grow” in English.
  • The university was initially named Central University from 1873 to 1877 before being renamed Vanderbilt University.
  • The university is classified as a “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity,” indicating its strong commitment to research and academic inquiry.
  • In 1928, Morris Frank, a blind Vanderbilt student brought the first seeing-eye dog to the U.S. He started The Seeing Eye Inc. in Nashville a year later. It is the oldest guide dog training school in the world.
  • In 1961, during the Vanderbilt v. U of Tennessee rivalry game, a Vanderbilt University Freshman’s basset hound named George, began chasing Tennessee’s Walking Horse, which was the Vols paraded around the field at certain points during the game. The crowd cheered George each time he did this. Subsequently, the student body elected George, Vanderbilt’s first official mascot. He served until his death in 1965.  R.I.P George!
  • Vanderbilt has the happiest students in the United States! According to the 2015 edition of the Princeton Review, Vanderbilt’s balanced student body and vibrant campus are some of the many factors that contribute to their happiness.
  • Before the first home game of the year the new Vanderbilt Freshman storm the football field to the student section!