Since 2002, Vanderbilt has held Employee Celebration Month each year during
September. Employee Celebration Month was filled with festivities such as a
picnic, tailgate, Employee Service Awards, tours, concerts, brown bag learning
sessions, tasting events, fashion shows and many other events to encourage
celebration across the university.
Celebration Month has become a time many staff and faculty look forward to each
year.
However, staff and faculty feedback has consistently demonstrated that
attempting to hold too many festivities during only one month creates schedule
conflicts for those who wish to attend.
Employee Celebration events will now be held throughout the year to maximize
opportunities for participation. After conducting a staff and faculty
Celebration survey, and reviewing hundreds of responses, the Employee
Celebration Committee is implementing a schedule change which will include all
the same great events, and a few changes such as a University picnic in May.
“The committee has done a fine job in evaluating Employee Celebration’s event schedule, reviewing survey data and making recommendations for this
change,” said Jerry Fife, vice chancellor for Administration. “While many of our faculty and staff would enjoy attending events, fall is an
extremely busy time across the University with our students returning. Changes
in the calendar will allow for much better attendance and celebration.”
Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the
School of Medicine, also spoke in favor of the change.
“Employee Celebration has evolved into an important component of Vanderbilt’s culture. Whether announcing our newest Commodore Award winner or
congratulating colleagues for years of distinguished service, Celebration is an
experience which bonds us together as one university,” he said. “Broadening Employee Celebration’s schedule improves our opportunity to acknowledge the significant contributions
of our staff and faculty.”
Employee Celebration Events—September
• Saturday, Sept. 4, 3:30-6 p.m., Rob Roy Purdy Field at the Student Recreation
Center. Tailgate—The annual employee party before a Commodore football game will be before the
Vanderbilt-Northwestern game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m..
• Monday, Sept. 27, Service Recognition Ceremony 3 to 5 p.m., Sept. 27, in
Langford Auditorium
• Throughout the month: Know Your Numbers, in which Health Plus provides a chance
to get a blood pressure check and other important health information. Tuesday,
Sept. 7, noon–2 p.m. One Hundred Oaks, 26102; Thursday, Sept. 9, 3401 West End, suite 380;
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 11a.m.–1 p.m. Light Hall, North Lobby; Tuesday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., VMG Clinic, Edward Curd Lane; Thursday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Law School, Flynn Auditorium; Wednesday, Sept. 29, 7 –10 a.m. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, 2104.
