Following a year of strong engagement, Vanderbilt Communications and Marketing is now accepting partner interest submissions for the 2026-27 academic year for the Pin Drop Series.
As momentum continues to build, Communications and Marketing has introduced updated guidelines and submission deadlines to support planning and maintain the cohesive, student-first experience that defines the series.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate in the official Pin Drop Series:
- Submissions must be from an administrative unit or department.
- The event must be for a broad campus audience.
- Requests must be submitted by the semester deadline.
Submission Deadlines
- Fall 2026 drops: May 22
- Spring 2027 drops: September 4
Pin Process Overview
- The Communications and Marketing team will review your request form and contact you to schedule a kickoff meeting to discuss the goals and timing of your event.
- After the kickoff meeting, the team will provide a production schedule that outlines the due date for the backing card text and the date you can expect a proof of the pin design.
- We'll share 2-3 pin design options for you to consider. The designs will reflect a student-first aesthetic.
- After you approve final pin design and backer card text, our team will send the files to the vendor for production. You will receive an email with the tracking link once the pins have shipped.
- Two weeks before your event, our social media team will connect with you to discuss promoting the pin drop. A social announcement will be posted 24-48 hours ahead of the drop.
- During the event, your team will be responsible for hosting and staffing the distribution of the pins. A member of our social media team may attend to help capture content for a post-event recap.
- A couple of days after the event, we will send you a post-event survey to provide feedback on your overall experience with the pin drop process.
Creative Alignment
Communications and Marketing provides creative direction, content support and promotion, while participating partners fund production and host the in-person event. To maintain consistency and collectibility across all collectible pins, final design decisions are made by the Communications and Marketing team.
What if a pin drop isn't a fit for your needs?
If during the process we realize that a pin drop may not be the right initiative for your goal, that's OK! Our team will suggest alternative engagement options and offer other promotional strategies.
Cost of Pins
During our kickoff call, we'll discuss the quantity you'd like to order and provide guidance on what would be best for your drop. On average, we have seen success with an order of 500 pins (estimated cost around $1,200).
We'll provide you with a price quote for approval. Once the cost of the pins is approved, you will need to complete an MOR form.
After the pin design files have been sent to the vendor, we will send you a quote with the MOR number. That quote will be used to obtain a PO.
