Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.28
Liaison Geory Kurtzhals
Submission Date Jan. 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Notre Dame
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Geory Kurtzhals
Sr. Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Non-discrimination statement 

Does the institution have a publicly posted non-discrimination statement? :
Yes

The non-discrimination statement, including the website URL where the policy is publicly accessible:
https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/non-discrimination/

The full text is as follows:

The University of Notre Dame does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, or in employment.

The University has designated the Director of its Office of Institutional Equity to handle all inquiries regarding its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX and under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Title IX and Section 504 coordinator may be contacted as follows:


Office of Institutional Equity
414 Grace Hall
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
574-631-0444
equity.nd.edu

Bias response team 

Does the institution have a discrimination response protocol or committee (sometimes called a bias response team)?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s discrimination response protocol or team:
Speak Up is Notre Dame's online reporting system to report concerns of discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, and other issues. This site also offers resources to support students and their friends.
Speak Up is completely confidential.
Website for further information: http://speakup.nd.edu/
The Diversity and Inclusion site details other policies and reporting: http://diversity.nd.edu/resources/

Recruitment programs 

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit students from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs specifically designed to recruit academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

Does the institution have programs designed specifically to recruit non-academic staff from underrepresented groups?:
Yes

If yes to any of the above, provide:

A brief description of the institution’s programs to recruit students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Faculty Initiatives
Moreau Faculty Development Fellowships
This Graduate School initiative seeks to increase the number of scholars who contribute to the intellectual vibrancy, cultural competency, and research excellence of Notre Dame. Recently, three of the program fellows were hired into tenure-track positions at the University. The program has also been expanded to fund the hiring of even more fellows in the future.

Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented Faculty
Each college and school has identified a diversity and inclusion coordinator to assist its dean with monitoring its diversity and inclusion plan and to serve as a liaison to the director for academic diversity and inclusion in the Office of the Provost. The diversity and inclusion coordinators and the director for academic diversity and inclusion work collaboratively to support the recruitment goals of the department chairs and deans.

Director for Academic Diversity and Inclusion
The director for academic diversity and inclusion serves to direct efforts within the academy focused on diversity and inclusion and works with partners across all academic levels to ensure the University fosters an environment in which everyone may flourish. The director focuses on expanding the University’s diversity and inclusion training for faculty, with an eye toward enhancing Notre Dame's faculty climate and integrating such training into new faculty orientation. She also provides leadership to colleges and departments on implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives, and she facilitates recruiting efforts for under-represented populations into faculty, postdoctoral and graduate student positions.

Librarian-In-Residence Program
This two-year program recruits recent library school graduates who can enhance the diversity of the library science profession and the University while developing career interests in various aspects of academic librarianship.

University Committee on Women Faculty and Students (UCWFS)
The UCWFS considers policies, practices, and the general environment of the University as they relate to women faculty and students. The committee serves in an advisory capacity reporting to the president through the provost and may make recommendations for action to the president, or, as he directs, for action by the other officers of the University and the Academic Council.

Academic Council.

The University of Notre Dame is proud to partner with QuestBridge, a nonprofit organization that matches high-achieving, low-income students with scholarships and educational opportunities at over 40 selective colleges and universities across the country.

Notre Dame is dedicated to providing qualified students with a diverse array of backgrounds, talents, and interests the opportunity for an unparalleled educational experience. If you are a high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic ability despite financial challenges, consider applying via QuestBridge. (https://admissions.nd.edu/apply/resources-for/questbridge-applicants/)

Staff Initiatives
ND Voice Survey and Upward Feedback Assessments
Diversity and inclusion questions have been added to both the ND Voice and Upward Feedback assessments to gather feedback from employees and assist with appropriate action planning aimed at addressing issues of diversity.

Director of Staff Diversity and Inclusion
The director of staff diversity and inclusion is responsible for developing new strategies for diversity and inclusion in concert with the work of the University’s Staff Diversity Subcommittee.

Staff Diversity Plans
Notre Dame’s executive vice president and his leadership team meet to review progress on diversity initiatives within their divisions. Goals for the three areas of focus in the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (climate, recruiting/hiring, and training) are being developed and implemented.

Diversity Catalyst Program
Participants will receive formal training on bias and best practices in recruiting and hiring, and general diversity and inclusion activities. Responsibilities within their division include sitting on search committees, assisting Human Resources' Talent Acquisition team in ensuring diversity of search committees, and assisting in facilitating engagement with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) when candidates come to campus.

Diversity Recruitment Review Process
Hiring managers will be required to check with Human Resources' Talent Acquisition team to ensure that all exempt initial interview pools meet or exceed the expected diversity percentage based on market availability data. This process will focus on ensuring sufficient representation of minorities and women in a key stage of the search process from which final candidates are selected.

Employee Resource Groups
Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, these groups support networking and provide social outlets; they also assist the University with recruitment, retention, and educational activities. Current groups include: Adelante Hispanos, Black Faculty and Staff Association, Notre Dame Staff of International Descent (NDSID), Notre Dame Veterans Association, SPECTRUM (LGBTQ), THRIVE! Inspiring ND Women, Young Leaders, Employee Resource Group (ERG).
ERG ambassadors will assist in recruiting efforts, including sharing job opportunities within existing networks and also creating a welcoming and inclusive environment when job candidates are in final interviews.

Diversity Discussions
Designed to be participatory and highly interactive, the Discussion Series presents an opportunity for all Notre Dame staff to share experiences, learn from each other, and ultimately grow to make the University a more diverse and inclusive place where everyone can do their very best work. Visit hr.nd.edu for more information on this series, presented by the Office of Human Resources, the director of Staff Diversity and Inclusion, and Campus Dining.

Office of Institutional Equity
The mission of the Office of Institutional Equity is to provide leadership and support to the Notre Dame community regarding principles of fair treatment and equal opportunity for all students, faculty, staff, and job applicants.

Mentoring, counseling and support programs 

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support, academic support, or other programs designed specifically to support students from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs designed specifically to support academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution have mentoring, counseling, peer support or other programs to support non-academic staff from underrepresented groups on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs designed specifically to support students, academic staff, and/or non-academic staff from underrepresented groups:
Faculty - The University has an affiliation with the National Center for faculty Development & Diversity in which faculty have access to their services throughout the year.

The Office of Student Enrichment (OSE) exists to ensure all students have the opportunity to flourish at Notre Dame.
Born from the heart of the University's mission to care for the whole person, the Office of Student Enrichment is designed to:
Help students acclimate and adjust to a collegiate environment
Provide access to all things that make the Notre Dame experience special
Enable every student to reach their full potential
By offering personal support, social enrichment, and growth opportunities for high-achieving and under-resourced students, the Office of Student Enrichment hopes to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for each student to reach their full potential. Programs address students' academic, social, and professional development needs, and address topics like peer mentoring, financial literacy tools and training, career discernment and resources, helping student navigate Notre Dame and college life, and networking at Notre Dame and beyond.

Notre Dame fosters success, bringing high school students to campus through our Pre-College Programs, which allow them to experience living and learning on campus during the summer:
•Summer Scholars offers rising high school juniors and seniors with outstanding academic records an opportunity to explore one of 13 academic fields of study with some of Notre Dame's finest faculty members.
•Global Issues Seminar offers rising high school seniors with excellent academic records the chance to learn about the future challenges facing young Catholic leaders through a series of lectures by distinguished faculty, group discussions, and collaborative projects.
•Latino Community Leadership Seminar offers outstanding Hispanic students entering their senior year of high school an opportunity to explore the role of Latinos in U.S. society through a series of presentations, discussions, and experiences that will help them develop strong leadership skills.
•Seminar for African American Scholars offers talented, enthusiastic, and open-minded African American students entering their senior year of high school a chance to delve into the rich historical, political, and spiritual legacy of African-American culture.

Notre Dame also offers two TRiO Programs for pre-college students, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound. Notre Dame’s TRiO Programs have been essential to helping thousands of local students lay the foundation for a lifetime of achievement. Through tutoring, mentoring, academic counseling, career exploration, cultural enrichment and community service, today’s students continue to reach higher, dream bigger and expect more of themselves as a result of their experiences with TRiO.

Current students can continue down the path of success through programs supported through the Office of Student Affairs' Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS). The MSPS also works to provide students with access to programs, services, and clubs that will help them to expand and explore cultural diversity and multicultural education. Students will also find avenues to leadership growth, professional development, and academic excellence through MSPS.

Historically underrepresented students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills through opportunities of research, internships, and foreign travel through the Building Bridges Mentoring Program, and they stay connected with the program throughout their time at Notre Dame.

At the beginning of their sophomore year, historically underrepresented students with a highly competitive GPA are invited to become members of the Honors Students and High Achievers Program, and during their time in the program they are encouraged to maintain a competitive academic record, conduct research with faculty, and explore a path that leads to graduate school.

The Gender Relations Center (GRC) promotes moral formation consistent with Catholic identity, mission and values in an effort to create a healthier culture at the University of
Notre Dame. Committed to the spiritual, emotional and intellectual development of all students, the GRC engages women and men in respectful dialogue and seeks to build a
community that fully honors the human dignity of each person as a creature of God. The center exists to serve the Notre Dame community in the following ways:

•Encourage and facilitate dialogue among students about topics related to relationships, gender and sexuality
•Offer programs on topics related to relationships, gender and sexuality, including Prism - ND's first official student organization dedicated to serving the LGBTQ and ally community on campus
•Serve as a campus resource
•Facilitate opportunities for on-going training in the campus community
•Coordinate and provide support to student clubs and organizations concerned with relationships, gender and sexuality

The graduate school provides competitive fellowships to promote diversity. U.S. citizens or permanent residents seeking admission to any division of the graduate school who are first-generation, low-income college students and/or who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic, or Native American are eligible for nomination by their
departments. The Erskine A. Peters Fellowship, for example, is awarded to outstanding African American doctoral candidates in the social sciences and humanities.

We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and vibrant environment through many student activities, organizations, and events. Students can perform in annual talent and variety shows such as the Asian American Association's Asian Allure and the Black Cultural Arts Council’s Black Images. They can learn about the history of Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures through Luau and celebrate the Latino culture through dance and vocal performances in Latin Expressions. Graduate students can also get involved in campus life through graduate student clubs.

Faculty and staff are supported and mentored through seven Employee Resource Groups: Adelante Hispanos, Black Faculty and Staff, International, Spectrum (LGBTQ), Thrive, Veterans, and Young Leaders of Notre Dame.

Support for future academic staff

Does the institution have training and development programs, teaching fellowships and/or other programs that specifically aim to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s programs to support and prepare students from underrepresented groups for careers as faculty members:
The Graduate School of the University devotes a page in its website detailing all the resources available to diverse and underrepresented students:
http://graduateschool.nd.edu/admissions/diversity-of-notre-dame/
The ND Multicultural Student Programs and Services has a number of initiatives:
http://msps.nd.edu/ways-to-get-involved/academic-initiatives/
The MSPS Scholars Program at the University of Notre Dame prepares underrepresented sophomores, juniors, and seniors for graduate school programs http://msps.nd.edu/ways-to-get-involved/academic-initiatives/msps-scholars/

The University of Notre Dame offers the following fellowships to support underrepresented graduate students:
o Clare Boothe Luce Fellowships for Women in Science and Engineering
o The University Presidential Fellowships in Humanities and Social Sciences are open to international students.
o Fernández Fellowships for students from Puerto Rico
o The Joseph L. Gaia Distinguished Fellowship in Latino Studies funds doctoral students in any discipline who choose some aspect of Latino Studies as their area of specialization.
o Deans’ Fellowships are open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents in any division of the Graduate School who are first-generation, low-income college students and/or who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic, or Native American.

Optional Fields 

Does the institution produce a publicly accessible inventory of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution offer housing options to accommodate the special needs of transgender and transitioning students?:
No

Website URL where information about the institution’s support for underrepresented groups is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://diversity.nd.edu/

https://genderstudies.nd.edu/about/bathroom-map/

https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.