Welcome
On behalf of my colleagues in Student Affairs, our president Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., and all of the faculty and staff at Notre Dame, I am delighted that you are a student in our community. Du Lac is a resource that contains official codes and policies of which you are expected to be aware, and it also contains a summary of a variety of campus services that are available to support you during your time at the University. Please consider it an important tool as you participate in and contribute to student life at Notre Dame.
Like other excellent universities across the country and around the world, Notre Dame is dedicated to providing an outstanding education to our students and engaging in the highest levels of research, scholarship, and creative expression. Our Catholic mission, however, differentiates us from these peers in important ways. The University’s founder, Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., was a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and the special characteristics (or “charism”) of the Congregation continue to animate Notre Dame’s community life. The Holy Cross tradition is dedicated to the education of both the mind and the heart, it is distinguished by a familial spirit and hospitality that calls us to be welcoming and inclusive to all, and it asks us to use our talents to serve the needs of others – ultimately making God “known, loved, and served.”
When combined, these aspirations for our community are both inspiring and challenging. They serve as the basis for the policies and expectations that have been established for how we study, live, and work together. I ask you, as a Notre Dame student, to embrace these high standards and live by them. All of the professionals in the Division of Student Affairs, along with all of our faculty and staff, are here to help you develop and grow in ways that are consistent with these ideals. I encourage you to take advantage of the resources that the University has to offer, including academic endeavors, leadership opportunities, spiritual resources, and services that foster your physical and mental well-being. My hope is that you will have a vibrant and fulfilling experience as a student at Notre Dame that ultimately forms a strong foundation for your future.
With best wishes and prayers,
Erin Hoffmann Harding Vice President for Student Affairs