Six Notre Dame students sit in a circle on the grass beneath a tree, talking and laughing on a sunny spring day. A flowering tree and a residence hall are visible in the background.

Offices and Initiatives

Notre Dame’s commitment to contributing to the Church and serving the community is shown through a variety of University programs and initiatives. Other examples abound in individual colleges and schools, student groups, and centers and institutes.

  • Alliance in Catholic Education (ACE)

    ACE offers programs that lead to master’s degrees in education as well as professional services to sustain, strengthen, and transform Catholic K-12 schools.

    A teacher wearing a blue sweater holds a book and speaks infront of their class.

  • Campus Ministry

    Campus Ministry provides students and the Notre Dame family an opportunity to grow spiritually through worship, prayer, reflection, service, and faith education opportunities.

    Three people walking on campus, one person in a black jacket holding a candle talking with a person in a dark hoodie walking next to them.

  • Ethics Initiative

    The Ethics Initiative positions Notre Dame as a global leader for the study of ethics, fostering moral understanding, interdisciplinary scholarship, and faith-informed dialogue on today’s most pressing ethical questions.

    A woman standing infront of a green presentation screen with the words 'what do we owe each other'

  • Laetare Medal

    Established at Notre Dame in 1883, the Laetare Medal is awarded annually at to an American Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

    A gold medallion sits on a velvet blue cloth

  • Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs

    The Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs cultivates the University’s Catholic and Holy Cross mission and catalyzes Notre Dame’s service to the Church.

    A priest in white and yellow vestments talks with students during the homily at dorm mass.

  • Sustainability Initiative

    The Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative unites global scholars, students, and partners to develop transformative solutions addressing urgent sustainability challenges—guided by the principles of justice, stewardship, and Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical Laudato si’ (On Care for Our Common Home).

    Woman in large greenhouse tending to plants.

  • Poverty Initiative

    The Poverty Initiative confronts the root causes of poverty through cross-disciplinary research, global partnerships, and solutions-oriented engagement—grounded in the Catholic social tradition and a deep commitment to human flourishing.

    Man and woman sit in a meeting space looking at a laptop in conversation.

  • Health and Wellbeing Initiative

    The Health and Wellbeing Initiative supports research and education that promote health equity, mental health, and holistic wellness—reflecting the University’s commitment to human dignity and care for those most in need, especially through new investments in bioengineering, mental health, and neuroscience.

    Focused shot on a woman with purple bangs talking with a group sitting at a table.