Despite two e-mails inviting the entire student body, only three students attended the listening session held by the Chancellor Advisory Search Committee on Oct. 10.
Dean of the Divinity School James Hudnut-Beumler, who was also chair of the committee and chief organizer of the event, said he believed that despite the meager turnout, the discussion contributed greatly to the ongoing chancellor search.
"What we lacked for in numbers, we made up for in quality, both in student leaders and communicators," Hudnut-Beumler said.
Vanderbilt Student Government president Cara Bilotta agreed.
"My theory is that we had a low turnout because students felt they had already given feedback through the (e-mail) survey," she said. "I don't think (the low turnout) has hampered our ability to understand the issues undergraduates feel are important."
Hudnut-Beumler organized this forum as a means to speak face-to-face to students about what they would require of a future leader.
"We've talked to faculty at every school." he says. "We've talked to professors, we've talked to people at the medical center, people in leadership, graduate students and now some undergraduates as well, and through this we've managed to put together a profile of what we expect of a chancellor."
Junior Sean Tierney said he went to the forum because he saw it as "an amazing opportunity to help Vanderbilt shape its future and shape it's future leader."
He wanted to ensure "the new chancellor is able to take what we have and keep pressing forward while preserving our establishment," he said.
All three student at the forum expressed the same concern.
"Whoever the new chancellor is needs to push forward with the intention of making Vanderbilt better while being very careful throughout (not) to change anything that makes students love Vanderbilt," said junior Joseph Williams.
This has been a reoccurring theme among students and faculty alike.
"There are many incredible things in effect here at Vanderbilt that we want to stay the same and other things that we could build on," Hudnut-Beumler said. "What we've learned is that we all want someone who is accessible, approachable, a great manager and a great fundraiser."
Aside from balancing old Vanderbilt traditions and rules while incorporating new ideas, residential life as a chief concern for the new chancellor, Hudnut-Beumler said.
"The most important thing we learned is the importance of continuing the College Halls initiative presence," he said.
Students at the forum expressed similar views.
"A crucial thing the chancellor is going to have to tackle is making the upperclassman experience, when students come out of The Commons, as great as possible," Williams said. "This means improving the facilities we already have so students don't feel gypped or cheated after their freshman year."
All three students also said they wanted the new chancellor to preserve the social aspect of the college experience.
"Preserving a great university and a great education isn't just about SATs - it's about athletics, interaction, socialization and growing as a person rather than a student," he said.
"Vanderbilt's unofficial motto is work hard, play hard," said sophomore Fabiani Duarte. "And we need a leader to support that."