Support, Resources, and Programming

The Division of Student Affairs aspires to serve as a trusted resource, helping to connect students with information regarding health, development, faith, residential life, extracurricular interests, and future endeavors. For questions or concerns, please email osa@nd.edu.

COVID-19 Updates

Throughout the academic year, the Division of Student Affairs will provide regular guidance and answers to student questions and concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These updates are based on feedback received from student inquiries to University Health Services (UHS) and conversations with members of Student Government.

BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS
A COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection happens when a fully-vaccinated person tests positive for the virus. Breakthrough infections remain relatively uncommon due the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines and the high vaccination status of a particular area. Not only are COVID-19 vaccines effective at significantly reducing the spread of the virus and limiting the severity of the illness, uniformly, highly-vaccinated communities provide a much lower risk compared to those where herd-immunity has not been achieved.

Vaccine efficacy is also reliant on the individual. People who suffer from chronic illness or a compromised immune system are expected to have less of an immune response to the vaccine. By comparison, healthy young adults are expected to exhibit robust immune responses to the COVID-19 vaccines. No vaccine, however, is 100% effective at preventing illness, which is why breakthrough infections are expected and do happen.

People who have been fully-vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19 often have much milder symptoms when symptomatic, and they transmit the viral infection less readily than unvaccinated individuals. The risk of hospitalization and death are also much lower in fully-vaccinated people with breakthrough COVID-19 infections compared to those who are unvaccinated. In 90% of fully-vaccinated patients who test positive, the symptoms are minor and do not require significant medical care.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the vaccinated student population at Notre Dame is extremely low compared to surrounding communities and is steadily dropping each week of the academic year: 22 total COVID-19 positive cases among fully-vaccinated students 3 weeks ago, dropping to 3 cases the next week, and only 2 last week. Additionally, the proportion of positive cases of unvaccinated students on our campus is much higher, compared to fully-vaccinated students (5.9% vs 0.57%, respectively), resulting in a 10-fold increase in risk for unvaccinated students testing positive for COVID-19.

Race Relations Week

Student Government is excited to host Race Relations Week this week to enhance cultural competence throughout the Notre Dame community. Join in this effort by participating in the panels, movie nights, art exhibits, and additional events. View the full schedule here. Made possible with support from SUB, Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS), and the Klau Center for Civil & Human Rights.

Student Activities Office (SAO)

ND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Thursday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Notre Dame Stadium
Join SAO for a night of music performed by some of your favorite student performing arts clubs. Admission is free with NDID and students can enter through Gate E starting at 6:30 p.m. Food trucks will also be on site. 

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS
Friday, Oct. 8, 9 - 11 p.m., Library Lawn
Looking for a study break with delicious food? Join SAO this Friday for free food from Junbuggies, Keims Elephant Ears, and The Rolling Stonebaker. 

ESCAPE ROOMS
Saturday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. - 12 a.m., Library Lawn
Are you up for a challenge? Bring your friends to Library Lawn this Saturday to participate in a fun, immersive, and difficult experience: the Escape Room. Utilize all your teamwork and strategic skills to beat the clock and get out on time. Good luck! 

GRADUATE STUDENT APPRECIATION WEEK
It's time to celebrate our post-baccalaureate students with a week full of events, prizes, and giveaways! Throughout the week, Notre Dame will raise awareness of the vital contributions graduate students make to our campus through teaching, research, service, grant funding, and much more. Take a moment to say thanks and learn more here. #thanksbetograds

RecSports

BROOMBALL REGISTRATION
Monday, Oct. 4 - Wednesday, Oct. 6
Hit the ice! Registration for Broomball is now open. Learn more here.

BROOMBALL OFFICIALS TRAINING
Wednesday, Oct 6., 8 - 9:30 p.m., Duncan Student Center, W246
Broomball Officials Training will teach you the skills to hit the field as an official! Learn more here.

LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR DOMER RUN IS TOMORROW
The 2021 Domer Run is set for this Saturday, Oct. 9. Choose from a 5K, 10K, or 2 Mile Fun Walk. The late deadline for registration is this Wednesday, Oct. 6. Learn more here.

McDonald Center for Student Well-Being (McWell)

MCWELL RECESS: GRATITUDE JOURNALS
Friday, Oct. 8, 12:30 - 2 p.m., South Quad
Recess is in session! Take a break with the McWell Senior Fellows at Recess - a weekly event to discover opportunities for active breaks in your busy life to promote well-being through play, movement, connection, prayer, and rest. This week, McWell will be on South Quad to give away gratitude journals to encourage rest and reflection.

MCWELL GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDENT OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 4 - 6:30 p.m., McWell (second floor of Saint Liam Hall)
As part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, McWell will host a special open house for graduate and professional students. Stop by the McWell office to take a tour of our restorative spaces, eat fresh berries, pick up a sleep kit, play some games, and enter a raffle to win a McWell prize pack and hammock. 

INVITATION TO SOBER TAILGATE AT VIRGINIA TECH
Our colleagues at Virginia Tech have extended an invitation to Notre Dame students in recovery to participate in their sober tailgate prior to the Oct. 9 game. All in the Notre Dame family looking for an alcohol free pre-game experience are most welcome and should contact Mara Trionfero with McWell for details.

GROW GAZETTE
The first edition of the GROW peer educators' wellness Wednesday newsletter, the GROW Gazette, will be released tomorrow, Oct. 6. If you were previously signed up for the Mindful Monday newsletter, you are already on the list. If not, you can sign up to receive this weekly electronic resource with wellness tips, resources, and events here.

University Counseling Center

WORKSHOPS
UCC Workshops are conversation spaces designed to better connect students to a topic that is important to them. View a full list of ongoing workshops for the fall semester, including support space for DreamND students and mindfulness-based skills for handling stressful thoughts and feelings, here.

Campus Ministry

MONTHLY GRIEF MINISTRY DROP-IN
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m., 301 Coleman-Morse Center
If your journey involves grieving the loss of a loved one, Campus Ministry invites you to gather together in a space specifically for prayer and reflection. Together, we will discuss the process of grief as well as what might help you along the way. October's meeting will take place this Wednesday. For more information, please contact Mike Urbaniak.

Center for Career Development

VIRTUAL LAW SCHOOL FAIR
Friday, Oct. 8, 12 - 2:30 p.m., Virtual
The Notre Dame Virtual Law School Fair allows students to meet with admissions representatives from top schools across the country, gather more information about attending law school, gain insights about navigating the application process, and ask questions to help you take the next step in the process. Register here.

ARE YOU CAREER READY? INTERACTIVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERIES 
Are you looking to take a more active role in your own career development process? The next sessions in the Career Development Series will take place this week. Upon completion, students will earn a certificate and can promote their accomplishments to employers on their Handshake profile. Register for all events on Handshake.

• Developing Your Resume (First Years/Sophomores)
  Tuesday, Oct. 5, 5 - 6 p.m.. Duncan Student Center, 512
  In this interactive workshop, learn the basic principles of how to create a professional resume. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about marketing your skills and experiences. Use your laptop to begin creating your resume during the session. Register here. 

• Networking Not as Scary as it Seems
  First Years/Sophomores: Thursday, Oct. 7, 5 - 6 p.m., Duncan Student Center, 512, register here
  Juniors/Seniors: Monday, Oct. 11, 5 - 6 p.m., Duncan Student Center, 512, register here
  One of the most important things a professional can do is cultivate and grow a strong network of advocates and mentors. Starting this early in life will lend itself to a much more fruitful professional career. This session will explore the power of networking and building your social capital. We will talk about tips on how to identify and reach out to people, what to say, the cadence of communication, and the questions to ask. This is meant to be an open discussion so bring your networking questions with you.

• Exploring Consulting for Sophomores
  Thursday, Oct. 7, 6 - 7 p.m., Duncan Student Center, 512
  Calling all sophomores who are exploring consulting as a career path. Consider attending this new informational session where we will cover how to get started with consulting as a sophomore. Topics include: an industry overview, the consulting recruiting timeline, information and resources, and next steps to get started in the process. Register here. 

Founder's Day

Join the Notre Dame community as we mark Founders’ Day on Tuesday, Oct. 12 and Wednesday, Oct.13. Early in the University’s history, Founders’ Day was a campus-wide celebration on the feast day (Oct. 13) of Edward the Confessor, patron saint of Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., the Holy Cross priest who founded Notre Dame. Notre Dame is reviving the celebration as an opportunity to consider our history, understand our present, and imagine our future. To learn more about Founders’ Day events, please visit foundersday.nd.edu.