COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Notre Dame
Since the late winter of 2020, the operations of the University of Notre Dame, a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, have been affected by the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On February 28, 2020, the University of Notre Dame issued its first coronavirus-related suspension of in-person academic program, that of a study abroad program in Rome, Italy. On March 11, 2020, Notre Dame announced that it would suspend all in-person academic programs, and the university began virtual instruction on March 23, 2020. In May 2020, the university announced that in-person instruction would resume during the fall semester 2020. Notre Dame resumed in-person instruction in August 2020, temporarily suspended in-person instruction later that month following a surge in COVID-19 cases, and once again returned to in-person instruction by early September.
The fall semester of 2020 was a time marked by changes at Notre Dame. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, which had previously been independent since its 1887 inaugural season, joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for the duration of the 2020 college football season. Students returned to school two weeks early and did not have their usual fall break.
In October 2020, university president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., tested positive for COVID-19 after having attending the White House Supreme Court nomination ceremony for Notre Dame professor Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Jenkins had been photographed at the ceremony while not wearing a mask, leading to mixed reactions from students and faculty.
Students experienced high levels of stress throughout the fall semester, with an October survey conducted by Notre Dame revealing that over two-in-five undergraduate students experienced moderate to severe stress throughout the semester.
Academics and student life
Initial response
On February 28, 2020, the University of Notre Dame issued its first coronavirus-related suspension of in-person academic program, that of a study abroad program in Rome, Italy. The student had not returned to the university's main campus after arriving in the United States. At the time, a university spokesman stated that the comments "clearly violate Notre Dame's underlying principle that affirms the transcendent dignity and worth of every person, from conception to natural death, regardless of race." On May 26, Jenkins published an op-ed in The New York Times in which he argued that, by following precautions and scientific advice, Notre Dame would be able to "keep our campus environment healthy". According to a study written solely by University Notre Dame faculty that was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report investigating the COVID-19 response at the University of Notre Dame, the university's preparations for the fall semester also included "rearranging physical infrastructure in high-traffic areas, reducing population density in classrooms and common spaces, enhancing cleaning and disinfection protocols."
On July 27, 2020, the university announced that it would no longer host the first 2020 United States presidential debate, due to concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Return to campus
Notre Dame began returning students to campus in August 2020 to attend in-person classes. On August 7, Notre Dame had sent an email to students announcing that an active case of COVID-19 had been identified. In-person classes began on August 10. At that time, Dr. Mark Fox, the St. Joseph County deputy health officer, told the South Bend Tribune that off-campus behavior would be an urgent threat to campus and that If a bunch of people get sick because of off-campus behavior, it's going to pose a threat to the entire university community and the continued operations, at least in person. The potential ramifications are huge." On August 13, the university said in an email that a spike in cases was emerging and that cases could "be traced to a single off-campus gathering" where "individuals at the gathering were both outside and inside, together for some time, not wearing masks, in a crowded space, and drinking".
Temporary suspension of in-person classes
On August 18, University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. announced that, in response to high rates of transmission associated with an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, in-person classes would be suspended until September 2.
On August 28, Jenkins announced that eighty-seven students were being made subject to campus disciplinary proceedings due to violations of campus rules regarding COVID-19 in a video message to address to students, faculty, and staff. In the week prior to the announcement, Notre Dame had seen a significant uptick in the number of cases diagnosed.
Spring semester 2021
Mass gatherings
Students engaged in several mass gatherings during the spring semester 2021, posing new challenges to Notre Dame's attempts to control the spread of COVID-19.
On February 10, 2021, over 300 students were present at a special event held at crowded bar in South Bend, Indiana. According to local health officials, only 20% of students in attendance were wearing masks and most students were failing to abide by physical distancing guidelines. Over 300 students were reported to have been at the restaurant, Students would not be required to receive the vaccine, though they would be encouraged to do so through an on-campus vaccination clinic.
The University of Notre Dame will require all students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to matriculate for the fall semester 2021. Notre Dame was one of the first universities within the United States to announce its plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccination as a requirement for enrollment.
Athletics
Football
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, which had previously been independent since its first season in 1887, joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for the duration of the 2020 college football season.
Students at the University of Notre Dame and members of the university community were permitted to purchase season football tickets and to attend home football games alongside their roommates, with six feet between groups After the field storming, every student at the University of Notre Dame was required to receive a COVID-19 test before leaving campus for their winter break. The editorial noted that, "the University administration has largely blamed the COVID-19 outbreak on students attending off-campus parties." Students responded to the lower quality food, which was served take-out only until October, by reducing the frequency by which they went to dining halls for their meals. Following this, a petition was released for the university to implement an option for students to elect to take their classes as pass/no-credit, citing challenges to mental health posed by the pandemic and the campus response thereto. The petition gathered over 1000 signatures in the day following its release, gathering a total of 1300 signatures before Notre Dame's student senate passed a resolution in support of the petition by a vote of 30-4 with one abstention. Students particularly took issue with requirements that students present their full defense to allegations against them within 24 hours of receiving them. On that day, which was one month after Jenkins tested positive for COVID-19, the majority of Notre Dame's undergraduate student senate voted in opposition to the petition. Jenkins was also criticized by the faculty for not following the strict health policy he imposed on campus while in Washington, for traveling while he had forbidden the faculty and students to do so, and for opening Notre Dame's reputation to political exploitation.
The fall semester of 2020 was a time marked by changes at Notre Dame. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, which had previously been independent since its 1887 inaugural season, joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for the duration of the 2020 college football season. Students returned to school two weeks early and did not have their usual fall break.
In October 2020, university president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., tested positive for COVID-19 after having attending the White House Supreme Court nomination ceremony for Notre Dame professor Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Jenkins had been photographed at the ceremony while not wearing a mask, leading to mixed reactions from students and faculty.
Students experienced high levels of stress throughout the fall semester, with an October survey conducted by Notre Dame revealing that over two-in-five undergraduate students experienced moderate to severe stress throughout the semester.
Academics and student life
Initial response
On February 28, 2020, the University of Notre Dame issued its first coronavirus-related suspension of in-person academic program, that of a study abroad program in Rome, Italy. The student had not returned to the university's main campus after arriving in the United States. At the time, a university spokesman stated that the comments "clearly violate Notre Dame's underlying principle that affirms the transcendent dignity and worth of every person, from conception to natural death, regardless of race." On May 26, Jenkins published an op-ed in The New York Times in which he argued that, by following precautions and scientific advice, Notre Dame would be able to "keep our campus environment healthy". According to a study written solely by University Notre Dame faculty that was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report investigating the COVID-19 response at the University of Notre Dame, the university's preparations for the fall semester also included "rearranging physical infrastructure in high-traffic areas, reducing population density in classrooms and common spaces, enhancing cleaning and disinfection protocols."
On July 27, 2020, the university announced that it would no longer host the first 2020 United States presidential debate, due to concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Return to campus
Notre Dame began returning students to campus in August 2020 to attend in-person classes. On August 7, Notre Dame had sent an email to students announcing that an active case of COVID-19 had been identified. In-person classes began on August 10. At that time, Dr. Mark Fox, the St. Joseph County deputy health officer, told the South Bend Tribune that off-campus behavior would be an urgent threat to campus and that If a bunch of people get sick because of off-campus behavior, it's going to pose a threat to the entire university community and the continued operations, at least in person. The potential ramifications are huge." On August 13, the university said in an email that a spike in cases was emerging and that cases could "be traced to a single off-campus gathering" where "individuals at the gathering were both outside and inside, together for some time, not wearing masks, in a crowded space, and drinking".
Temporary suspension of in-person classes
On August 18, University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. announced that, in response to high rates of transmission associated with an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, in-person classes would be suspended until September 2.
On August 28, Jenkins announced that eighty-seven students were being made subject to campus disciplinary proceedings due to violations of campus rules regarding COVID-19 in a video message to address to students, faculty, and staff. In the week prior to the announcement, Notre Dame had seen a significant uptick in the number of cases diagnosed.
Spring semester 2021
Mass gatherings
Students engaged in several mass gatherings during the spring semester 2021, posing new challenges to Notre Dame's attempts to control the spread of COVID-19.
On February 10, 2021, over 300 students were present at a special event held at crowded bar in South Bend, Indiana. According to local health officials, only 20% of students in attendance were wearing masks and most students were failing to abide by physical distancing guidelines. Over 300 students were reported to have been at the restaurant, Students would not be required to receive the vaccine, though they would be encouraged to do so through an on-campus vaccination clinic.
The University of Notre Dame will require all students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to matriculate for the fall semester 2021. Notre Dame was one of the first universities within the United States to announce its plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccination as a requirement for enrollment.
Athletics
Football
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, which had previously been independent since its first season in 1887, joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for the duration of the 2020 college football season.
Students at the University of Notre Dame and members of the university community were permitted to purchase season football tickets and to attend home football games alongside their roommates, with six feet between groups After the field storming, every student at the University of Notre Dame was required to receive a COVID-19 test before leaving campus for their winter break. The editorial noted that, "the University administration has largely blamed the COVID-19 outbreak on students attending off-campus parties." Students responded to the lower quality food, which was served take-out only until October, by reducing the frequency by which they went to dining halls for their meals. Following this, a petition was released for the university to implement an option for students to elect to take their classes as pass/no-credit, citing challenges to mental health posed by the pandemic and the campus response thereto. The petition gathered over 1000 signatures in the day following its release, gathering a total of 1300 signatures before Notre Dame's student senate passed a resolution in support of the petition by a vote of 30-4 with one abstention. Students particularly took issue with requirements that students present their full defense to allegations against them within 24 hours of receiving them. On that day, which was one month after Jenkins tested positive for COVID-19, the majority of Notre Dame's undergraduate student senate voted in opposition to the petition. Jenkins was also criticized by the faculty for not following the strict health policy he imposed on campus while in Washington, for traveling while he had forbidden the faculty and students to do so, and for opening Notre Dame's reputation to political exploitation.
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