Catalog

Campus Life Division

Raymond Jones, Ph.D., Vice President for Campus LifeRaymond Jones, Ph.D., Vice President for Campus Life

The Campus Life Division enhances student learning at Notre Dame de Namur University through experiential educational programs and student services. Offices, services, and programs coordinated by the Campus Life Division are listed below.


Career Services

Designed to empower students and alumni to prepare for lifelong career success, Career Services provides individual career counseling, job and internship listings, job search assistance (including resume writing, networking, and interview preparation), and a career resource library. Throughout the academic year, Career Services offers classes that provide students with the opportunity to explore values and interests, assess their skills, develop and execute effective job search strategies, create career portfolios, and integrate classroom instruction with practical experience through internships. Career Services also sponsors numerous events including an Internship Fair, Spring Job Fair, Career Week, Etiquette Lunch, and graduate school practice tests.

Center for Spirituality and Social Change

The Center for Spirituality and Social Change engages students in a process that supports their spiritual development and illuminates the connection between spirituality and social change.  Inspired by the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Center strives to create diverse opportunities for all members of the University community to tend the holy in themselves, each other, and the world.  We offer annual retreats, spiritual direction, immersion experiences, and opportunities to participate in liturgy as well as contemplative yoga and spirituality workshops.  We also work closely with the Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement, offering several collaborative, justice-oriented programs each year.  A team of students and staff work together to support this vision.

Center for Student Leadership

Based on NDNU’s mission of values-based learning, the Center for Student Leadership develops students' talents and potential to be effective leaders in diverse and dynamic communities.  The Center for Student Leadership is housed under the Division of Campus Life, and is responsible for advising Student Clubs & Organizations and Student Government (ASNDNU); Leadership Programs; New Student Orientation; Student Activities; Commencement; Family Weekend; and Tabard Inn.

Student Clubs and Organizations
More than 20 student organizations representing a wide array of interests are active at NDNU.  Student organizations are an important part of campus life and allow you to pursue your special interests—both new ones and those you bring to campus.  The CSL works with student organizations in planning on-campus meetings, workshops, speakers, cultural programs, service projects, and other special events. 

Associated Students of Notre Dame de Namur University
The Associated Students of Notre Dame de Namur University (ASNDNU) is the official student governing body of the University.  All students enrolled at the University are welcome to participate in Senate meetings.  ASNDNU’s role is to:

  • Represent student rights, opinions, and needs
  • Enhance student growth on all levels: academic, social, cultural, and spiritual
  • Support the mission of the University
  • Uphold the rights and responsibilities of the students of Notre Dame de Namur University

Through the Senate, students can express their opinions on matters pertaining to their life at the University, be instrumental in making changes, and serve on committees and councils for Academic Affairs, Campus Life, and other governance organizations.

Leadership Programs
The Center for Student Leadership sponsors a number of programs throughout the year to develop and foster NDNU students’ leadership skills.

Leadership Internship
Under general supervision of the Director of CSL and guidance from the Coordinating Team, the Leadership Intern will be responsible for coordinating the planning, publicity, production, and evaluation of CSL programs and events.

Leadership and Public Service Minor

Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, the Leadership & Public Service Minor will provide each student with the opportunity to develop core knowledge about leadership within the larger context of social action and social change and to demonstrate leadership through written, oral and community-based experiences. The Minor is a collaboration between the Center for Student Leadership and the School of Education & Leadership.

Leadership Awards Ceremony

Each spring, the CSL hosts a student leadership awards ceremony to publicly recognize the accomplishments of student leaders across campus. Awards of Excellence are given to outstanding students who have shown depth of leadership in the areas of:

• The Collaborative Community
• The Just Society
• The Whole Person

The CSL Award of Excellence is awarded to the student who shows depth and breadth of leadership in all three categories. The CSL also awards the Inner Fire Award to a faculty or staff member who has supported, provided, and/or encouraged students to develop or enhance their leadership potential.

Leadership Retreats

The Student Leadership Retreat is a weekend program held prior to the start of classes in the fall. The retreat is designed by University professionals to prepare selected and elected student leaders for their duties in the upcoming academic year. The Freshmen Leadership Retreat focuses on team building, diversity, and communication. All activities focus on building community and developing working relationships with their classmates.

Living-Learning Community - Emerging Leaders

The Emerging Leaders community is co-sponsored with Housing & Residence Life. The community is open to first-year students of all academic majors who are interested in reaching their academic and leadership potential. Students will become effective and ethical leaders through programs that develop and enhance the required skills, values, and commitment needed to be successful leaders. Students from this community will have the unique opportunity to develop skills that will prepare them for roles at NDNU such as Resident Advisor, Programming Board member, orientation leader, club or organization officer, athletic team captain, and/or community activist.

New Student Orientation

Orientation offers new students and their families a successful transition into NDNU life. A team of student leaders and professional staff provide incoming first year and transfer students with an introduction to academic and personal resources, encourage student involvement, and establish relationships with the campus environment. The Orientation Team members are selected each fall, and train during the spring semester to facilitate the summer orientation sessions. Training consists of enrolling in a 1-unit course, attending the Region II National Orientation Director’s Association regional conference, attending bi-weekly team meetings, and attending a spring retreat. The Orientation Team is responsible for the Week of Welcome (WOW) program for entering first-year students. WOW is a fun-filled social program of daily and evening events all geared towards acclimating new students to the campus and Belmont community.

Student Activities

The Programming Board produces student activities and events at NDNU to creating a balance in students’ lives by providing fun, educational, and inspiring co-curricular events. The Programming Board is a student team made up of five Special Event coordinators who are responsible for planning and coordinating a calendar of activities for the NDNU student body.

Alumni and Family Weekend

This program connects families with all the different people that make up our dedicated and diverse university community. We value the student’s family as the cornerstone for the student’s ongoing success in their academic pursuits and look forward to making families feel as “at home” with our campus and our community. One of our core values is a commitment to build an interactive, interdisciplinary community of learners, and that can only be accomplish with the support of all those involved in the lives of our NDNU undergraduates. Alumni are invited back to reconnect with their classmates and to offer their insights to current students.

Counseling Services

The primary focus of Counseling Services is to enhance and promote the emotional well-being, personal growth and success of students. Students have an opportunity to discuss problems and decisions with a trained professional. Students explore ways to become more effective in personal relationships, to increase self-understanding and acceptance, to gain support during emotional crises, and to clarify short- and long-range goals.

Dining Services

Bon Appetit Catering provides dining services to all students. Students living on campus are required to select a meal plan that fits their lifestyle. Commuter students can purchase a flex account with the Business Office to buy meals at a discounted rate of 8.25%.


Health and Wellness Services

Health and Wellness Services offers a holistic approach to health education, counseling and support. It provides assessment, nutrition education, stress management, basic care for common health concerns and referrals to local health care providers as appropriate.

Health and Wellness Services also coordinates student health insurance coverage. The office assures that all students who are required to have health insurance (see policy below) will be automatically billed and enrolled in the NDNU Insurance program unless a signed completed waiver form, verifying comparable coverage, is submitted to Health and Wellness Services by the deadline (For waiver criteria, deadline and forms visit http://www.ndnu.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/)

Mandatory Health Insurance Policy:  The following categories of students are required to have health insurance coverage and will automatically be charged and enrolled in the NDNU Insurance Plan:

  1. All students living on campus (undergraduate, full-time or part-time);
  2. All student-athletes; and
  3. All international students (graduate and undergraduate)

Students with comparable coverage may waive out of the NDNU Insurance Plan if the signed completed waiver form is submitted to Health & Wellness Services by the noted deadline.  Students can review criteria for "comparable coverage" and download waiver form at http://www.ndnu.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/.

Optional Insurance
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least six units, and Graduate students enrolled in 3 or more units are eligible to enroll in the NDNU International and Domestic Student Accident & Sickness Insurance Plan. To be insured the student must submit a completed and signed enrollment form to Health & Wellness Services, and have attended classes on campus for 45 days following the date of enrollment. Students can download enrollment form and review Insurance Policy at http://www.ndnu.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/.

Housing and Residence Life

Housing & Residence Life provides a healthy and safe living and learning community that embraces and promotes all forms of diversity, where students are challenged and supported in their development of values, personal responsibility and integrity through programs, staff engagement and leadership opportunities. The University offers students several different living environments: traditional co-educational facilities that accommodate men and women, apartment complexes accommodating upper-division men and women, and suite-style residences with single rooms.

Resident Advisors serve as peer advisors and assist residents in developing their learning skills for community living and in developing competencies needed to live productive and responsible lives in a multicultural world.  Within the residence halls, the staff works with students in planning educational, social, and recreational programs and in utilizing the cultural, intellectual, and athletic opportunities of San Francisco and the extended Bay Area.  Resident students also have the opportunity to exchange ideas in spontaneous discussions, study groups, and cross-cultural experiences.  Resident Directors are professional staff members that live and work on campus.  They assist and supervise the Resident Advisors in their mission to develop communities and individuals.

Required On-Campus Residence Policy:  In the Fall and Spring semesters, any student with freshmen or sophomore standing who is registered full-time (12 or more units) is required to live on-campus.  A student may be granted an exemption if he or she submits an exemption form documenting that he or she meets at least one of the criteria listed below:

  1. Age 22 or more as of the prior August 1; or
  2. Lived on-campus at NDNU or another higher education institution for at least four semesters (or equivalent); or
  3. Lives with immediate family within San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, or Contra Costa counties during the entire semester AND has a medical, financial, religious, or other compelling reason for not living on campus.

For new students, the basis for class standing will be transferable credits on transcripts submitted to the Office of Admission.  For continuing students, the basis for class standing will be academic units reflected on the NDNU transcripts.  Any student requesting an exemption must submit an exemption form to HRL for approval.  Failure to attain an approved exemption from the HRL will automatically result in the posting of the semester housing and meal plan charges to the student's NDNU account.

Office of Student Development and Responsibility

The Office of Student Development and Responsibility (SDR) promotes and develops student learning, personal responsibility and conflict resolution skills through staff engagement, programs and leadership opportunities. The Office collaborates with other university offices in the development and implementation of student-related policies, procedures, and initiatives based on emerging student development trends. SDR manages the University's student conduct system and its processes. It coordinates the Student Conduct Board, which hears cases of alleged policy violations of the student code of conduct. SDR oversees the publication of the Student Handbook and reinforces "Students' Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities". SDR also oversees the Conflict Resolution Center, the Sexual Assault Response Network and an alcohol education program.

Public Safety


Public Safety Officers patrol the campus 24/7 providing security and safety services to ensure a safe living, learning, and working environment for the University community. Public Safety oversees the parking management program.

 

Campus Life Contact Information