University Services

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned an advisor who is a faculty or staff member within the student's major field of study. In areas with staff advisors, a faculty mentor is assigned. The mentoring relationship with a faculty advisor is a central feature of the NDNU experience. Academic advisors help students with program planning and direct students to University and external resources as needed. Faculty advisors/mentors help students to clarify academic and career goals and take appropriate steps to meet those goals.

Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center provides learning and support services for day, evening, accelerated, undergraduate, and graduate students to reach their academic goals while attending NDNU. The Academic Success Center uses the resources of the NDNU community of students, faculty, and staff to encourage the development of the whole person. Services include accessible, user-friendly, positive learning environments, individualized assessment of learning strengths, and individualized learning strategies based on learning strengths. There are highly trained faculty, staff, and tutors to assist students in their learning, along with study skills workshops and courses in areas like time management and goal-setting strategies, critical thinking fundamentals, test-taking and note-taking skills, and textbook reading.

Program for Academic Success and Services (PASS) 

The Program for Academic Support and Services (PASS) is dedicated to improving the educational development of students with documented disabilities and to enhancing understanding and support within the campus community. To ensure that our students receive equal access to all NDNU programs and services, PASS as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, makes every reasonable effort to provide appropriate accommodations and assistance to students with disabilities.

Tutorial Center

As a place to study and find help, the Tutorial Center meets students' needs ranging from building basic study skills to preparing for admission to graduate schools. With the goal of helping students become independent and effective learners, the center provides friendly and free learning support services to all NDNU students. The Center is a part of the Academic Success Center, located on the Quad in Campus Center.

Writing Center

Offered both as a course and as a drop-in resource, the Writing Center helps students to develop as writers, focusing on the writing process: brainstorming, clustering, outlining, freewriting, editing, and revising. The Center offers individual tutoring in grammar, research, and essay organization. The Writing Center also addresses the specific needs of international students, emphasizing revision of essays and individualized instruction in idiom, mechanics, and grammar.

Career Services

Career Services provides a full range of career resources, including individual career counseling, part-time and full-time job listings, job search assistance and a career resources library. Career Services also offers classes that provide the opportunity for students to explore personal values and interests, assess their skills, and explore job and career options . See course listings in the School of Business and Management. Career Services also sponsors several career-related events throughout the year, including a fall Internship Fair, a spring Job Fair, Kaplan Graduate School practice tests, Career Center Open House, and an etiquette lunch.

Student Life and Leadership

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

Programming Board

The Programming Board produces student activities and events at NDNU to create 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.

Student Clubs and Organizations

More than 20 student organizations representing a wide array of interests are active at NDNU. Student organizations, ranging from student government to cultural and special interest clubs, are an important part of campus life. The Center for Student Leadership works with student organizations in planning on-campus meetings, workshops, speakers, cultural programs, service projects, and other special events.

Counseling Services

The primary focus of Counseling Services is to enhance and promote the psychological well-being, personal growth and academic success of students. The Counseling Services Office provides students an opportunity to discuss concerns and generate options with trained professionals. In a confidential setting, students can 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.

Dean of Students

The Office of the Dean of Students promotes student learning and development as part of the educational process. 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. The Dean of Students advocates for student and community needs and provides support and assistance to students with concerns or problems.

Dining Services

Bon Appétit Catering provides dining services to the campus community. 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.

Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement

In support of the University's mission to educate for social justice and global peace, the Dorothy Stang Center at NDNU offers students opportunities to develop and to participate in mutually beneficial partnerships between the University and organizations in the surrounding communities. A key component of the work of the Center is support for and encouragement of community-based learning, a method of integrating community involvement activities into academic courses and student leadership programs. Faculty, staff, and students work in partnership with local communities so that students can reach learning objectives while participating in meaningful community activity. Guided by a committee of faculty, staff, and students, and an Advisory Board of community representatives, the Center promotes the education of students as both present and future community leaders.

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.

Housing and Residence Life

Housing and 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 residence hall facilities with double and triple rooms, single gender apartments for upper-division undergraduates, and single gender suite-style residences with single rooms.

International Student Assistance

Academic Affairs staff assists international students with their academic, cultural, and social transition and development.

Library Services

The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Library of Notre Dame de Namur University provides materials and services that support and enhance the University's undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Access to the library is open to all faculty members, students, staff, and alumni of NDNU. Librarians are available throughout the day and evening to assist with reference services.

Orientation

New Student Orientation offers incoming students and their families a successful transition into NDNU life. A team of student leaders and professional staff provide 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 provides Week of Welcome (WOW) programming 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. Online orientation is now available for evening, intensive and graduate students.

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.

Registrar

The Registrar’s Office is the official recorder and keeper of student academic records.  Records are maintained in compliance with federal privacy regulations (FERPA).  The office is charged to help maintain NDNU’s academic integrity through effective communication of, adherence to, and administration of university policies.  Services provided by the office include registration, degree audit, enrollment verification, and transcripts.

Spirituality 

The Center for Spirituality 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 to the holy in themselves, each other, and the world.  The Center offers annual retreats, spiritual direction, immersion experiences, and opportunities to participate in liturgy and spirituality workshops.  The Center also works 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.

Student Conduct

The Coordinator for Student Conduct manages the University’s student conduct system and its processes, including coordination of the Student Conduct Board which hears cases of alleged policy violations of the student conduct code. The Coordinator oversees the publication of the Student Handbook and reinforces “student rights, freedoms and responsibilities.”