Printable PDF of the below instructions.

For those driving

The address is Nelson Andrews Leadership Center, 3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, TN 37013 (36.0880851,-86.5881031).

If you put the street address into Google Maps, it will take you directly to the building, NOT to the parking lot, so follow these directions below from Smith Spring Road:

Turn onto the main driveway from Smith Spring Road. The Nelson Andrews Leadership Center and Camp Widjiwagan share the same main driveway.

Drive straight, approximately ¾ of a mile. You will park at the first parking area on the RIGHT, the Main Parking. There will be an attendant to help direct you.

After parking: You will see the YMCA Camp Office across the street from the parking lot (big blue building). There will be a walking path leading you past the building to the Nelson Andrews Leadership center path entrance.

Walk alongside the right of the YMCA Camp Office building, and you will see the entrance to the path to the venue.

Continue along the walking path to the Nelson Andrews Leadership Center!

An aerial view of these directions:

For those getting dropped off

Anyone out-of-town whom we’re providing a car service for, they know to drop you off directly to the left of the building. (The address is Nelson Andrews Leadership Center, 3088 Smith Springs Road, Antioch, TN 37013.) For those taking a Lyft/Uber, you can give them the address, which should take them directly to the building venue, where there is a small parking lot/roundabout where they can drop you off.

Details subject to change.

Who will be at the retreat?
All current department members are strongly encouraged to attend: primary/secondary faculty members; administrative, analytical, and IT staff; postdocs, students, and other trainees.

Will we be going over the strategic plan, research directions, etc.? 
Yes. Details will be announced when confirmed.

What should I wear? 
Comfortable business casual. A VUMC photographer will be shooting group portraits for the department website and other publications, so please plan to wear something appropriately professional for those, but the day's agenda will also include a lot of sitting and standing and moving around. The photo shoot will take place outdoors unless rain or snow is coming down. 

Also: there is a slide from the second floor to the first. If you wish to travel down the slide, please wear jeans or khakis or other non-slippery material, and be ready to brake with your hands and feet. (There are also stairs and elevators for individuals who don't wish to slide, and all the official activities are on the first floor or outdoors.)

Will there be food? 
A full breakfast and lunch will be served. Snacks and drinks/coffee will be available throughout the day. 

What accommodations will you make for food allergies/intolerances? 
If you specified your food allergies when you registered, your lunches will be labeled with your name, breakfast will be a buffet with various options to accommodate everyone. No nuts or shellfish will be present at all, although the caterer is not a nut free facility.

I live out of state—what should I do? 
The department will cover travel expenses incurred by your attendance at the retreat, including hotel lodging for one night (checking in Thursday, November 14). We will coordinate your flight and local transportation as well. You can seek reimbursement for meals not provided at the retreat. Please let Jena Altstatt know if you are not local so that she can work directly with you on your travel arrangements.

Is there a wireless network at the venue?
Yes. You'll find the password posted in the lobby.

How do I sign up for the retreat?
RSVP's have been emailed out. Please contact Jena Altstatt if you haven't received an email. If you were employed/enrolled with the department when the initial Save the Date was issued, there is probably a hold for November 15 in your Outlook calendar.

List updated 11.04.2024. Numbers reflect current department total for the group.

Large group portraits - to be taken by VUMC photographer Donn Jones

1. Full department (faculty, staff, students/trainees/interns, visiting scholars/fellows) (182)

2. All faculty & staff (124)

3. All staff (75)

4. Analytical/research staff (53)

5. VBDCC (30+)

6. All students (36)

7. Full graduate program (students, leaders, advisors, etc.) (~67)

8. All primary faculty (49)

9. Vanderbilt alumni (20)

Portraits of smaller groups & individuals will be taken by Peg, Danni, Margaret, and other department members. The link to the sign-up form was sent via emails from Jena and is also listed in the agenda below. The schedule for these small group photos and headshots will be established, sent, and posted the day before the retreat.

Breakfast: a buffet of options for everyone

*Note: no nuts or shellfish in any of the meals, although the caterer is not a nut free facility.

House Made Biscuits

^Vegetarian

Local Peach Habanero Preserves

^{Gluten Friendly | Vegan}

Vanilla Greek Yogurt

^{Gluten Friendly | Vegetarian}

House Made Granola

^{Gluten Friendly | Vegan}

Fruit Salad

^{Gluten Friendly | Vegan}

Scrambled Eggs

^{Gluten Friendly | Dairy Free}

Breakfast Potatoes

^{Gluten Friendly | Vegan}

Bacon

^{Gluten Friendly | Dairy Free}

Sausage

^{Gluten Friendly | Dairy Free}

Coffee, tea and juice

Lunch: a variety of hot boxed lunches to choose from

*Note: no nuts or shellfish in any of the meals, although the caterer is not a nut free facility.

Roast Turkey with Sage Gravy

^{Cornbread Dressing | Green Beans}

Grecian

^{Beef Kofta | Roasted Vegetables | Basmati Rice | Pita}

Chicken Fajita

^{Grilled Chicken Breast | Peppers | Onions | Black Beans & Corn Salsa | Basmati Rice}

The Nashville

^{HOT Chicken | Seasonal Vegetable | White Cheddar Mac & Cheese | Bread Slice | Pickle}

Herb Lemon Verlasso Salmon

^{Rice | Broccoli}

Bollywood

^{Vegan: Chickpea Masala | Indian Spiced Roasted Vegetables | Basmati Rice | Naan}

ARRIVAL

8:00am

The parking lot is about a 10 minute walk from the meeting center, so be prepared to arrive by 8am!

BUFFET BREAKFAST

8:15am-9:00am – Lobby/Great Room

A variety of cold and hot breakfast options will be served, along with coffee, tea and juice.

CHAIR'S WELCOME – Yu Shyr

9:00am-9:10am – Great Room

Chair of department welcome and department updates.

COMMITTEE WELCOME – Rameela Raman and Bryan Blette

9:10am-9:30am – Great Room

Planning committee chairs’ welcome and overview of day.

BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS – Committee Members

9:30am-12:20pm – Great Room

Introductions, four 30-minute sessions with 3 10-minute breaks, followed by a wrap-up and pre-lunch announcements.

DEPARTMENT PHOTOS – Donald Jones (photographer), Peg Duthie (coordinator)

12:20pm-1:10pm – Patio (weather permitting) or Stairwell

We will take a group department photo, and then several smaller group photos. Additional smaller group photos or headshots can be scheduled ahead of time here.

BOXED LUNCH

12:45pm-2:00pm – Commons, Patio, Hallway, Loft

Hot boxed lunch options. Those who indicated dietary restrictions will have boxes with their names.

ACTIVITIES

2:00-3:00pm – Great Room

Indoor Activities: board games, crafts, trivia (requires prior sign-up)

Outdoor Activities: outdoor games, walking trail (requires prior sign-up), archery (requires prior sign-up)

Post-retreat happy hour, organized by Andrew Guide: Tailgate South Brewing (1538 Demonbreun Street, Midtown). Per Andrew, "they have pretty good pizza there... Feel free to bring significant others or anyone else who you think might be interested in joining."

Please review the below themes, definitions and areas of improvements ahead of the retreat. We’ll break up into small teams during the retreat to brainstorm any additional areas of improvement and how to achieve any of them.

THEME 1 – CONNECTION

Definition: The committee has defined connection as getting to know fellow department members outside of “work silos” as well as awareness of what everyone is working on.  

Areas for Improvement (summarized from pre-retreat survey responses):  

• more opportunities for social activities, such as lunches/events/happy hours, in-person social meetings, and virtual social meetings;  
• opportunities for people to collaborate and socialize with department members outside of their “work silos”;  
• better understanding of what everyone is working on, and how our work can connect with others;  
• more opportunities for faculty-staff connection beyond individual teams; 
• more opportunities for staff-student connection. 

THEME 2 – SUPPORT

Definition: The committee has defined support as department leadership, PIs, and team leaders providing department members with opportunities for growth and improvement. 

Areas for Improvement (summarized from pre-retreat survey responses):  

• more resources for career growth;  
• identification of areas to innovate, and support for department members to achieve innovations; 
• involved and structured mentorship, and sponsorship;  
• support from leadership to fill effort gaps;  
• flexibility in defining one’s career and maintaining work-life balance;  
• equal support, access to resources, and experience for everyone, including for remote workers;  
• easy and frequent access to all leadership; 
• protected time 

THEME 3 – INCLUSIVITY

Definition: The committee has defined inclusivity in our department as equitable access to resources and opportunities for every department member. 

Areas for Improvement (summarized from pre-retreat survey responses):  

• broader variety of seminar topics, including topics of staff and student interest and wider range of faculty interest, health and wellness, collaboration skills, leadership and other soft skills;  
• professional development funds and resources for everyone and more flexibility in how they are used;  
• a wider array of awards/opportunities to be recognized, and broader definition of impact;  
• feedback loop and regular opportunities to voice concerns, provide suggestions and contribute to department decisions;  
• opportunities to volunteer for leadership roles and committees;  
• increased diversity in students and employees 

THEME 4 – COMMUNICATION

Definition: The committee has defined communication in our department as clear, established, department-wide information communication practices. 

Areas for Improvement (summarized from pre-retreat survey responses):  

• ways that information is disseminated internally and externally by leadership;  
• transparency in leadership/operational decisions and how leadership positions are filled;  
• transparency in department budget spending, salary, hiring decisions;  
• announcement of changes within the department;  
• understanding everyone’s roles and responsibilities, and who to approach for a specific task; 
• communicating department values and standards