Life at ND
Residential Life
Residential life is a quintessential element of every Notre Dame student’s life. Through communal living – for even just two weeks during the summer – you will develop skills needed to form lasting friendships, become self-sufficient, and live comfortably away from home.
To help foster a sense of community, all participants share a room with one or more other pre-college students in one of Notre Dame’s residence halls. The women’s and men’s halls are steeped in history and rich with tradition.
Current Notre Dame students and recent graduates are trained as Residential Counselors to aid students in adjusting to residential life. These counselors supervise the students while they are out of class, and serve as the students’ first resource for any questions they have regarding Notre Dame.
While you are on campus as a participant in Summer Scholars, you are a Notre Dame student. As such, you will be expected to follow all of the rules and regulations stipulated by the University and the ND Summer Scholars program.
Extracurricular Activities and Spiritual Opportunities
ND Summer Scholars participants are encouraged to explore the campus and take full advantage of the many opportunities offered at the University. During the course of the program, time will be allotted for activities promoting service, spiritual, and personal development.
Community service is a hallmark of the Notre Dame experience and in Summer Scholars you will have the opportunity to work with various service organizations, including the South Bend Center for the Homeless, Hannah and Friends, Logan Center and the Robinson Community Learning Center. Through these organizations, students have spent time interacting with residents, and have experienced the joy that accompanies serving the less fortunate.
Spiritually, Notre Dame provides an ideal atmosphere for exploration of the Catholic faith. In addition to Notre Dame’s inspiring prayer venues, such as the Grotto and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, students have participated in upbeat and interactive non-denominational prayer services.
In addition to service and spiritual opportunities, students are able to simply relax and enjoy the summer while taking full advantage of the many recreational activities available on campus. These opportunities have included a basketball tournament (modeled after the infamous Notre Dame student “Bookstore Basketball”), a talent show, film screenings, and campus lectures. Planned social events include sports activities such as bowling, white water rafting, a weekend bonfire, and dances.
Regardless of which activities you choose to pursue, Summer Scholars provides you with numerous outlets to broaden your horizons and experience the life of a Notre Dame student.
Meals
Three meals a day are provided by the University and are included in the tuition cost. While on campus, Summer Scholars students eat in Notre Dame’s famed South Dining Hall. One of the greatest Notre Dame traditions is the dining hall. The menus change daily, but you will always find dishes from around the world as well as traditional American favorites.
The University also operates multiple eateries on campus and provides a mini-mart for convenience items. Please plan to pay for additional meals or convenience items with personal funds.
University Services
Notre Dame has often been referred to as a “self-contained city,” and for good reason. At the LaFortune Student Center, students will find everything from restaurants to beauty salons. Notre Dame Federal Credit Union has a branch including an ATM in the basement, located directly across from Sbarro. Upstairs, students will find a Starbucks, Subway, Burger King, and a mini grocery store. The campus even has its own post office and every residence hall has laundry facilities. In addition, University Health Services, Security Police Office, and Fire Department are available for your safety and security. Almost all student needs can be taken care of without ever leaving campus!
Location
The University of Notre Dame is located adjacent to the city of South Bend in northern Indiana, just a few miles from the Michigan state line and in the Eastern time zone. It is easily accessible via major airlines, AMTRAK, and Interstate 80/90 (Indiana Toll Road). Notre Dame is approximately a two-hour drive from Chicago and three hours from Indianapolis and Detroit.
