Recruitment Events

Interested in joining Vanderbilt Student Government? Attend one of our recruitment events below to meet our leaders, learn about our mission and structure, and discover opportunities to get involved!

How to Join

We have positions available on Committees and in our Senate. Click the tabs below to learn more about the processes to join each of these branches.

What is the Senate?

The VSG Senate is made up of elected representatives from across Vanderbilt’s undergraduate community. Senators bring student concerns to VSG, vote on resolutions and key organizational decisions, serve on a VSG committee, and advocate for the best interests of the undergraduate student body.

What are Committees?

VSG’s Committees work directly on the issues that shape student life, and members are chosen based on their application. Committee members collaborate with fellow students and university administrators to gather student input, develop initiatives, and create meaningful improvements across campus. Our nine committees include Academic Affairs, Campus Culture and Spirit, Campus Partnerships, Campus Services, Diversity and Inclusion, Philanthropy, Public Relations, Public Safety and Transportation, and Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP).

Open Seats

There are 18 Senate seats:

  • 3 First-Year Senators
  • 3 Sophomore Senators
  • 3 Junior Senators
  • 3 Senior Senators
  • 1 Transfer Student Senator
  • 1 Arts & Science Senator
  • 1 Blair Senator
  • 1 Engineering Senator
  • 1 Peabody Senator
  • 1 Connected Computing Senator

You may only run for a constituency you belong to. First-year students may not run for an academic college seat unless there is no interest from upperclassmen.

How to Run

1. Choose your seat
Run to represent your class, academic college, or the transfer student community. You may only run for one seat.

2. Submit your candidate information
Complete the Anchorlink candidate form by September 7 at 11:59 p.m.

3. Collect signatures
To appear on the ballot, collect signatures from students in the group you want to represent:

  • Class Senator — 30
  • Transfer Senator — 10
  • Arts & Science — 40
  • Blair — 20
  • Engineering — 25
  • Peabody — 25
  • Connected Computing — 25

4. Submit your petition & platform
Submit your completed petition and a platform of up to 300 words by September 9 at 11:59 p.m.

5. Campaign & get out the vote!
Campaigning and voting begin September 10 at 8:00 a.m. Campaigning continues until polls close on September 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Important Dates

  • Sept. 7 at 11:59 p.m. — Candidate information due
  • Sept. 9 at 11:59 p.m. — Petition & platform due
  • Sept. 10 at 8:00 a.m. — Campaigning begins + polls open
  • Sept. 14 at 4:00 p.m. — Polls close
  • Sept. 15 at 5:00 p.m. — Results will be released

Campaigning 101

Before campaigning opens, you can collect petition signatures and prepare campaign materials, but you cannot ask for votes or distribute campaign materials.

Once campaigning begins, you can promote your platform, distribute campaign materials, speak at meetings, and ask students for their votes. Candidates have a $100 campaign spending limit and must follow all Elections Commission rules.

Voting

Voting takes place on Anchorlink. The voting link will be shared through VSG email and social media when polls open.

Read the Senate Election Rules

Make sure you read the Senate Election Rules Packet before you begin the campaign process to ensure you understand all guidelines in place for the election process.

Open Seats:

Seats are open on all nine of our committees.

How to Apply:

An application will be available on our website and LinkTree via Microsoft Forms from 9/10 through 9/14. Chairs of the committees who resonated with your application will then call you back for a formal interview where you may further discuss your interest in the position.

Application Timeline:

  • 9/10: Committee Applications Open
  • 9/14: Committee Applications Close at 11:59 PM
  • 9/15 – 9/17: Committee Interviews Take Place in Buttrick Hall
  • 9/20: Final Committees Announced

Questions? Email VSG@vanderbilt.edu.