For the Week of December 16
Christmas Wishes and Preparations for the New Year
This is the last student issue for 2024.
We wish you safe travels, joyful moments with loved ones, and a relaxing Christmas break!
∙ The first student digest in the new year will be sent Sunday, January 12.
∙ The first faculty/staff/postdoc digest in the new year will be sent Monday, January 6. Please send all entries for that 2025 version by the extended deadline of noon Thursday, January 2. Thank you.
Arts and Performances
AAHD Gallery Exhibition: New Faces
The AAHD Gallery presents New Faces, an exhibition celebrating the creative talents of first-year MFA students in studio art and design. This showcase features exceptional works by Sara Abdolmotallebi, Alejandro Mejía Andrade, Emma Brooks, Grace Gao, and Claire Murphy. The exhibition will run until Friday, January 10.
Monday through Friday, Dec. 16-20; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 214, Riley Hall of Art
Thursday and Friday, Jan. 2-3; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday, Jan. 6-10; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Athletics and Sporting Events
Visit the Athletics composite schedule for events this week.
Awards and Competitions
Public Domain Day 2025: Music Contest
Public Domain Day happens on January 1 of each year when new works enter the public domain. Create a musical project highlighting some of the new material available in the public domain. Some project examples include mash-ups, remixes, oral histories over one or more songs, original music with public domain sampling, and playlists around a theme. Learn more.
Thursday, Jan. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 16, as a virtual contest.
Annual Black Excellence Awards
Notre Dame's Annual Black Excellence Awards are now accepting nominations. Celebrate Black students, faculty, and staff who exemplify: Excellence (outstanding achievements), Impact on the Black Community (positive, measurable influence), and MLK Jr.’s Values (service, justice, leadership). Submit nominations before the Sunday, January 19 deadline and help honor those who inspire our community!
Thursday, Jan. 30; 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Dahnke Family Ballroom, Duncan Student Center
Crucifix Initiative Student Art Competition
The Crucifix Initiative is accepting submissions of original student-created crucifixes for its second student art competition. The initiative seeks to reinforce the universalism of Catholicism and the internationalism of Notre Dame through an expanding collection of crucifixes from artists around the world. Winning pieces from the contest will join the collection and be displayed on campus and on the website, along with earning a cash prize. Submissions are due Tuesday, March 18. Please visit campuscrucifixes.nd.edu for more information.
Closures, Limited Hours, and Cancellations
Hesburgh Library Christmas Break Hours
Hesburgh Library will have limited hours during Christmas break. From Saturday, December 21, through Saturday, January 11, it will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the exception of closure on Tuesday through Thursday, December 24–26, and Tuesday through Thursday, December 31-Thursday, January 2. Find all branch and service desk hours at library.nd.edu/hours.
Basilica Schedule
The Basilica will be closed from Thursday, December 26, through Saturday, January 11. Review the Christmas services schedule.
Deadlines or Registrations
Notre Dame Global Health Case Competition
All students are invited to participate in Notre Dame’s Global Health Case Competition, an annual event that brings together students from multiple disciplines to creatively address critical challenges in global health. Applications to participate are now open, and the deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. Friday, December 20. For more details and the link to the application, please visit the case competition website.
Justice and Asia Grants
The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies seeks to fund projects as part of its thematic cluster “Justice and Asia.” Proposals can be submitted by ND faculty and undergraduate and graduate students. Individual and group submissions are eligible. All applications are due Friday, January 17.
ProjectConnect Spring Semester Sign-Ups
ProjectConnect brings together small groups of students to hang out and form genuine connections. It’s a laid-back, peer-led space where you can meet new people, strengthen friendships, and feel like you truly belong. Groups meet for one hour each week for five weeks and follow up with a celebration. Sign up now for spring semester information.
Meetings begin Monday, January 27
Call for Proposals: 2025 Notre Dame Student Peace Conference
The 2025 Notre Dame Student Peace Conference committee announces “Unified Paths for Peace: Empowering Collaborative Peacebuilding.” The committee is accepting proposals until Friday, January 24, from students interested in presenting at the conference in April. Students from all fields of study are invited to submit original work that intersects with themes of peace, conflict, and justice. There is no cost to submit or attend.
Friday, April 11; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies
Saturday, April 12; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lectures and Presentations
Webinar: “Character, Leadership, and Professional Education”
Sanford “Sandy” Shugart served as the fourth president of Valencia College. He is the author of Leadership in the Crucible of Work: Discovering the Interior Life of an Authentic Leader. This conversation will consider the broad landscape of higher education—particularly preprofessional and professional education for flourishing within community colleges—along with issues of leadership and character. Register here for the Virtues & Vocations webinar.
Monday, Dec. 16; noon to 1 p.m. online
Safety, Parking, and Traffic
Parking Office and Policies During Gameday and Christmas Break
· Friday, December 20: College Football Playoff, ND vs. IU—Gameday parking rules apply.
No vehicle access to residential halls; no inner-campus parking.
· Sunday, December 22: Residence halls close at noon for the Christmas break.
· Parking Office closed Friday, December 20, through Thursday, January 2.
Campus Access
The East Gate will close at 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24. The East Gate will be open from 6:00 a.m. through noon Christmas Day. The East Gate will remain closed until Tuesday, December 31, when it will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Starting Wednesday, January 1, the East Gate will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Drivers with enhanced hang tags will be able to access the inner campus through the East Gate when the gatehouse is unattended. The inner campus will be accessible through the Main Gate 24 hours a day through the Christmas break for faculty, staff, and visitors.
Moose Krause Circle Parking Spaces Closed
From Monday, December 16, through Saturday, December 21, parking spaces—including ADA spots—will be closed on Moose Krause Circle along the north end of Notre Dame Stadium. For those that normally use these parking spaces, there will be temporary ADA spaces added to the Bulla Fac/Staff and Bulla Student Lots. People can then take the daily shuttle running from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the Bulla Lots to Library Circle, then to Snite Circle.
Social Gatherings
Chef Sinai Vespie’s Gingerbread House
Sinai Vespie, executive pastry chef at Three Leaf, is pulling out all the stops this holiday season with her larger-than-life gingerbread house. Stop into the Morris Inn lobby this holiday season to see this year’s creation! Uncover the holiday fun!
Hesburgh Libraries Study Breaks: Relaxation Stations
Unwind at Hesburgh Libraries’ relaxation stations with puzzles, coloring books, sudoku, games, and more during normal operating hours at the Architecture Library; Hesburgh Library, first-floor north entrance; Mahaffey Business Library; and Music Library.
Hesburgh Libraries Study Breaks
Notre Dame undergraduate and graduate students are invited to join in for a study break and enjoy an espresso coffee cart and grab-and-go snacks. Special guest Órla the comfort K-9 will make an appearance from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 16; 1 to 5 p.m. in the first-floor entrance gallery, Hesburgh Library
Klau Institute Snack Break
Take a break during finals week and have a snack with the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights. Klau Institute belt bags will also be given away!
Tuesday, Dec. 17; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the student lounge (Room 4120), Jenkins Nanovic Halls
’Twas the Night Before Playoffs: Student Events
· Movie Night
All students are invited to DPAC the night before the playoffs for fun activities and a free screening of the movie Elf. Starting in the DPAC lobby at 7:00 p.m., students can pick up their tickets, stuff a plush, and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies. Theater doors will open at 7:30 p.m., and the movie will begin at 8:00 p.m. All tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all students must pick up their own ticket (one per student).
Thursday, Dec. 19; 7 to 10 p.m. Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
· Aux Cord Wars
All are invited to join a live musical game show where two students will face off as DJs to control the auxiliary cords and create their own playlists. The crowd will decide the winner of the musical war, and to the winner goes the spoils!
Thursday, Dec. 19; 9 to 11 p.m. in the Dahnke Ballroom, Duncan Student Center
· Midnight Drummers’ Circle
On Thursday night at midnight, the Notre Dame Drumline will hold its traditional Drummers’ Circle in front of the Main Building.
Thursday, Dec. 19; 11:59 p.m. in front of the Main Building
· Gameday Programming
Prepare for the Fighting Irish to take on the IU Hoosiers with free food and giveaways! Junbuggies, Decadent Flavor, and Bill’s Grill food trucks will be on site, and giveaways include blue, green, gold, and black beanies, gloves, hand warmers, and more.
Friday, Dec. 20; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Fieldhouse Mall
· Bingo All the Way
Students are welcome to enjoy free coffee and snacks while playing bingo for big prizes perfectly suited for the holiday season.
Saturday, Dec. 21; 1 to 3 p.m. in the Hagerty Family Café, Duncan Student Center
Tech Tips, Tools, and IT Maintenance
Canvas Tip: Student Tips for Online Exams
Taking exams online requires preparation that goes beyond studying. Whether your course finals are in Canvas or another online system, go to class with a fully charged laptop and fresh browser.
Canvas Tip: Access to Past Courses
Once a course has concluded for the semester, Canvas places it in an archived, read-only state, but in most cases, students still have access to it. Previous course links are listed under Past Enrollments in the Courses tab of Canvas.
Also This Week ...
Hesburgh Library Finals Hours
The library stays open through 11:00 p.m. Friday, December 20. Find all branch and service desk hours at library.nd.edu/hours.