Rachel Evans
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, or Notre Dame, is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. The university is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and has a unique spirit that is traditional yet open to change. It is dedicated to both religious belief and scientific knowledge. While the university is heavily residential, with about four in five undergraduates living on campus, it is unclear whether all faculty members are Catholic. In fact, the university welcomes non-Catholic faculty, recognizing their importance to the university's moral and religious integrity, diversity of perspectives, and overall success.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of University | Catholic research university |
| Year founded | 1842 |
| Founded by | Congregation of Holy Cross |
| Current number of faculty members | 500 |
| Highest degree offered | Doctoral degrees |
| Courses offered | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master's, and Doctoral degrees |
| Number of colleges and schools | Seven |
| Colleges and schools | College of Arts and Letters, College of Science, Notre Dame Law School, School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Mendoza College of Business, and Keough School of Global Affairs |
| Number of departments | 20 |
| Areas of study | Fine arts, humanities, and social sciences |
| Number of enrolled students | 11,000+ |
| Religion of faculty | Catholic and non-Catholic |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
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What You'll Learn
The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic university
The university is organised into several colleges and schools, including the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, the School of Architecture, and the College of Engineering. It offers a wide range of degree programs, from bachelor's to doctoral, and is known for its high-quality education and research focus.
The Catholic character of the university is an important aspect of its identity. While the student body and faculty are diverse, with people from various religious backgrounds, the university actively promotes its Catholic values and traditions. Notre Dame's leadership has emphasised the importance of "mission-centred hiring," welcoming scholars from different faiths who respect and contribute to the Catholic intellectual tradition.
The university's commitment to its Catholic identity is evident in its academic programs, campus life, and community. Daily masses are offered, and during Lent, dining halls observe Catholic traditions by not serving meat on Fridays. The university also has centres dedicated to Catholic studies, such as the Institute for Church Life and the Erasmus Institute, which applies Catholic intellectual traditions to research in various fields.
Notre Dame's Catholic heritage has played a significant role in its history, including its well-known football programme. In the 1920s, Notre Dame's football team became a source of pride for Catholics across the nation, especially when defeating teams from schools that symbolised the Protestant establishment. The university's Catholic identity has also made it a target of anti-Catholic sentiment, with a notable clash occurring between students and the Ku Klux Klan in 1924.
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The faculty has a Catholic presence
The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. The university is organised into seven schools and colleges, including the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, the School of Architecture, and the College of Engineering.
The university has a strong Catholic presence, with about 80% of undergraduates identifying as Catholic to some extent. Mass is offered every day, and during Lent, dining halls do not serve meat on Fridays. The university also has several Catholic landmarks on its main campus, including the Sacred Heart Basilica, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Word of Life mosaic mural.
The faculty at Notre Dame also contributes to the Catholic presence on campus. While the university welcomes scholars from diverse religious backgrounds, it has expressed a preference for hiring Catholic professors, particularly for senior positions. Provost Thomas G. Burish has stated that they aim to hire faculty members who are "able to give witness to faith in their lives as well as provide intellectual leadership." The university has also established centres dedicated to Catholic intellectual traditions, such as the Erasmus Institute, directed by Rev. Robert Sullivan.
The university's commitment to its Catholic character is reflected in its mission and values. Notre Dame is dedicated to both religious belief and scientific knowledge, upholding the values of autonomy and academic freedom. This balance has been a topic of dialogue between liberals and conservatives on campus and between U.S. Catholic educational leaders and the Vatican.
Overall, the faculty at Notre Dame contributes to the university's Catholic presence through their scholarship, faith, and dedication to upholding the Catholic intellectual tradition.
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The university welcomes non-Catholic faculty
The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, US, founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. The university is organised into seven schools and colleges, including the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, the School of Architecture, and the College of Engineering.
While the university has a strong Catholic identity, it welcomes non-Catholic faculty members and students. In fact, in his fall address to the faculty, former university president John I. Jenkins stressed that non-Catholic faculty members are "indispensable to the life and success of Notre Dame". He highlighted their contributions to promoting scholarship, building community, provoking debate, pushing for excellence, and ensuring a diversity of perspectives.
The university recognises the value of a diverse faculty and student body, and actively promotes academic freedom and autonomy. This commitment to diversity and academic freedom is reflected in the university's mission statement, which was orchestrated in 1967 by then-university president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh and a group of progressive Catholic educators.
The university's commitment to diversity is also evident in its hiring practices. While it is legally permitted for the university to consider religion in hiring decisions, it prioritises hiring the most qualified candidates, regardless of their religious background. This approach ensures that the university attracts top talent and maintains its reputation as an academic powerhouse.
The presence of non-Catholic faculty members at Notre Dame enriches the academic experience and contributes to a vibrant and inclusive campus community. It also reflects the university's dedication to scientific knowledge and its openness to change, while still honouring its Catholic traditions and values.
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The university has a Catholic student body
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame, is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. The university's main campus of 1,261 acres has a suburban setting and contains landmarks such as the Sacred Heart Basilica, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Word of Life mosaic mural.
Notre Dame is a highly residential university, with about 80% of undergraduates living on campus. The university has a unique spirit that is both traditional and open to change. It is dedicated to religious belief and scientific knowledge, reflecting its Catholic identity. This Catholic identity is also reflected in the student body, with most undergraduates identifying as Catholic to some extent. The university offers a range of Catholic-focused courses and experiences, such as daily mass, Sunday night services in residence halls, and observance of Catholic traditions during Lent.
The university's Catholic character is also evident in its faculty. While the university welcomes scholars from diverse religious backgrounds, it has expressed a preference for Catholic professors in certain endowed faculty positions. These senior scholars are expected to give witness to their faith and provide intellectual leadership in maintaining the Catholic presence at Notre Dame. The university recognizes the importance of non-Catholic faculty in promoting scholarship, building community, and ensuring a diversity of perspectives. However, there is ongoing dialogue and debate about the role of Catholicism in faculty hiring and the ideological profile of the faculty.
The University of Notre Dame has a rich history and a strong Catholic student body and faculty. Its Catholic identity is an integral part of the university's unique spirit and educational offerings, contributing to its reputation as a leading Catholic institution in the United States.
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The university offers Catholic-focused courses
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame, is a private Catholic research university in Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. The university is organised into seven schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, the Notre Dame Law School, the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering, the Mendoza College of Business, and the Keough School of Global Affairs.
As a Catholic university, Notre Dame offers a variety of Catholic-focused courses and programmes. The university's curriculum includes Catholic subjects and topics, and it offers degrees in a range of disciplines, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes. The College of Arts and Letters, for example, offers courses in the fine arts, humanities, and social sciences, with nearly 70 majors and minors available.
The Keough School of Global Affairs, endowed by the Keough gift, is another example of a Catholic-focused programme at Notre Dame. The school funds two chaired faculty positions for world-class scholars committed to the Catholic character of the university. These scholars are expected to be Catholic themselves and to provide intellectual leadership and witness to their faith. The Keough School also provides an office dedicated to enhancing the Catholic intellectual tradition within the faculty.
In addition to its academic programmes, Notre Dame also offers a unique spiritual and religious experience for its students. The university has a long history of Catholic tradition and values, dating back to its founding by the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is known for its dedication to religious belief and its role as a flagship institution of Catholicism. The university offers daily mass and Sunday night services, and its dining halls observe Catholic traditions during Lent.
Notre Dame's faculty plays a significant role in shaping the Catholic character of the university. The university values autonomy and academic freedom, and its hiring process includes a focus on "mission-centred hiring," welcoming scholars from various religious backgrounds who respect and contribute to the Catholic tradition. The university community recognises the importance of diversity in perspectives, with both Catholic and non-Catholic faculty members contributing to its moral and religious integrity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university.
The University of Notre Dame is legally allowed to consider religion when hiring. While the university welcomes non-Catholic faculty, it has been noted that "it is our preference that the holders of the Keough-Hesburgh Professorships be Catholic themselves".
The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, a French Catholic religious community led by Father Edward Sorin. It was formerly a men's university but became co-educational in 1972.
The University of Notre Dame is ranked 12th in the country by College Consensus. It has a unique spirit that is traditional yet open to change, dedicated to both religious belief and scientific knowledge. The university has experienced significant growth and transformation under the leadership of various presidents, evolving from a school known for its football to a top-tier academic powerhouse.
