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Community Life

Residential Life

Residential life has a rich tradition at the University of Notre Dame.  The University provides opportunities for students to prepare themselves for constructive and responsible living by fostering an environment which recognizes and values the needs of both the individual and the larger community.  Life in a residence hall allows students to become responsible community members through the process of intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional maturation. The Residential Life Leadership Team provides supervision and guidance over the management of Notre Dame's residence halls and other residential facilities. 

Residence Hall Staff

The community-centered life in each hall is guided by the hall’s Rector.  Rectors include priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross, men and women of other religious orders, and lay men and women.  Rectors are committed to the growth and development of college students.  Each Rector is responsible for selecting and supervising six to eleven staff members and for developing and implementing religious, community-service, social, and educational programs that support the University’s mission. Rector and Assistant Rector contact information can be found on their individual hall websites.
 
Two Assistant Rectors comprise the head staff of each residence hall.  Generally, Assistant Rectors are Notre Dame graduate students.  Assistant Rectors aid the Rector in the administration of the residence hall and its programs.
  
Resident Assistants (RA) are senior or graduate-level students who are members of the residence hall staff and also members of the Office of Student Affairs.  Resident Assistant application packets are available in the Office of Housing beginning in mid-November. Questions regarding specific qualifications for the Resident Assistant position should be directed to the residence hall's Rector or to the Residential Life Website.

Housing

Additionally, the Residential Life office oversees a number of tasks that influence residential life at Notre Dame, including coordinating and assigning housing for all on-campus undergraduate and graduate students, as well as maintaining the wait list for on-campus housing.  The Office of Housing also administers the summer housing assignments for all summer students and guests. Staff work cooperatively with other University departments throughout the year to ensure the physical maintenance and security of the residence halls and to assist with the selection, supervision, and training of hall staff members.

  • Administrative Office: 2nd floor of Duncan Student Center
  • Phone: 574-631-5878

Off-Campus Life

The South Bend area offers a number of opportunities for students to engage in the local community.   

Additionally, the Off-Campus Connector, a website jointly sponsored by Student Government and Student Affairs, is a resource developed by the Off Campus Council which aims to aid and inform students as they explore living off-campus. 

Residential Life employs an assistant director to support students off-campus. For more information, visit the Off-Campus Resources website.

The University of Notre Dame also offers find.nd.edu, a comprehensive website with information about the South Bend Area. The website includes topics such as: arts and entertainment; education and family; food and drink; government and business; health and personal care; housing and home services; parks and recreation; religion and volunteerism; and, travel and lodging.

Office of Community Standards

The Office of Community Standards educates the campus community on expectations for student conduct and administers formative and developmentally-based opportunities rooted in the Holy Cross tradition to challenge students to reflect on their choices, take responsibility for their actions, and understand the balance between the needs of the individual as well as the University community.