Due to the successful past year of Vanderbilt Visions with the introduction of The Commons, VUcept will only be making minimal changes, according to VUcept president junior Emilie Strom. The largest adjustment to the program is within the executive board.

"We have redefined the roles and positions of the (11) board members to better serve the VUceptors as well as the first year students," Strom said. "The changing roles are in response to the changing needs of our organization. We re-evaluate the positions on the board to make sure they benefit the VUceptors needs as well as ours."

For instance, Strom said the board created a new position for their True Life presentation, in which upperclassmen discuss challenges and serious topics that arise on campus.

CommonVU, which was a weeklong orientation in August for first-year students this year, is also being modified. The committee looks to shorten the time frame that the first-year students are on campus without upperclassmen. Instead, the program will begin later and will extend into the first week of classes. Strom said next year's first-years will only arrive a few days before classes start.

"Having the upperclassmen on campus earlier will allow for more upperclassmen involvement in CommonVU," Strom said. Other minor changes to specific programs have not been finalized. Prior to having upperclassmen on campus, the first-year students will take part in advising sessions, community building activities and the Honor Code Signing. And during the first week of school, first-year students will attend a True Life presentation, which includes a 45-minute presentation and 45-minute discussion without adults present. According to Strom, the presentation features "difficult issues," such as alcohol abuse.

Spring orientation began this past week for accepted student and faculty VUceptors. The program mainly focused on developing relationships as well as giving the individuals a more precise understanding of next year's program.