This guide is meant for incoming faculty fellows of the NDIAS as they begin to prepare for their fellowship and life at Notre Dame and in South Bend.
Remaining questions should be directed to Kristian Olsen at kolsen1@nd.edu.
Contents
Intro to Notre Dame
Getting Here
Getting Around (AKA: Do I need a car?)
Getting Started at Notre Dame
Your NDIAS Office
Housing
Mail Delivery
Childcare and Schools
Health Care
Research Funds
Masterclasses and Work in Progress Sessions
Things to Do around Campus
Things to Do around Town
Restaurants - An Opinionated Guide
Football (Go Irish!)
Intro to Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame was founded in November 1842 by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a French missionary order. It is located adjacent to South Bend, Indiana, the center of a metropolitan area with a population of more than 315,000. Chartered by the state of Indiana in 1844, the University was governed by the Holy Cross priests until 1967, when governance was transferred to a two-tiered, mixed board of lay and religious trustees and fellows. Notre Dame has grown from the vision of Father Sorin, who sought to establish a great Catholic university in America, and has remained faithful to both its religious and intellectual traditions. Learn more about Notre Dame at nd.edu/about.
The Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (NDIAS) was founded in 2008 by Notre Dame Research. Located in Flanner Hall on the north side of campus, the NDIAS aims to promote issue-engaged, inclusive, and interdisciplinary study of questions that affect our ability to lead valuable, meaningful lives. Each year, the NDIAS convenes a diverse group of faculty fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate scholars to participate in a residential research community, with topics organized around an annual theme. The NDIAS also organizes regular academic programming—including research seminars, public lectures, symposia, and conferences—on the theme. Since the Institute’s inaugural fellowship class in 2010, more than 190 faculty and graduate students have served as NDIAS Fellows.
Getting Here
The NDIAS is located on the 11th floor of Flanner Hall on the north side of campus on Holy Cross Drive. Here’s a handy campus map.
There’s temporary (90-minute) parking on the north and west sides of the building (enter through the East Gate). Here’s a map.
There’s lots of longer-term parking near Flanner Hall (see map), but you’ll need a permit. Fortunately, Faculty Fellows are eligible for a FREE (!) year-long parking permit. See these instructions for how to get one.
If you want to learn all the ins and the outs of parking at Notre Dame, start here.
Traveling to South Bend
Air
South Bend has an international airport (airport code “SBN”). It’s small but is serviced by four airlines and often has affordable flight options.
If you fly into the South Bend airport, you’ll need to take a taxi to get to Notre Dame (it’s about a 15-20 minute drive from the airport to campus). Both Uber and Lyft work in South Bend. Or you can keep it old school and use a traditional taxi service.
The other flight option is to fly into Chicago O’Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) and then take a taxi, train, or bus to South Bend.
Train
If you are in Chicago, you can take the South Shore Line from Chicago to the South Bend airport. Once at the airport, you’ll then need to take a taxi to get to campus.
Car
Not much useful to say here: just put in “Notre Dame Flanner Hall” into Google maps and follow the directions.
Bus
There is a Greyhound Bus stop at the South Bend airport. Once there, you’d then need to take a taxi to campus.
Getting Around (AKA: Do I need a car?)
While most of our faculty fellows bring a car with them, some have found it possible to get by without one.
If you plan to have no car, you’ll definitely want to live on campus (ideally in the Fischer Visiting Faculty Apartments) or really nearby. (See below for info on housing.) The NDIAS is a short walk (about 5 minutes) from Fischer.
There is a Trader Joe's within easy walking distance of campus, and there's a small convenience-store-like shop (The Huddle Mart) on campus as well. The nearest full-scale grocery story (Martin’s on SR23) is about a 25-minute walk from Fischer, which is a pretty long walk if you have groceries to carry. A better option might be to bike or have your groceries delivered.
Bikes, in general, are nice to have whether or not you also have a car since campus is enormous. There are also some nice biking trails around town (though many are really only accessible if you also have a car and bike rack).
There are a few Zipcars on campus that can be used by fellows; however, there are only a few available, so they are tough to rely on entirely.
Uber and Lyft both operate in South Bend. It can sometimes take a bit of time to locate a driver, but it's usually not a problem.
South Bend does have a bus system, and it is quite reliable and free to use with your Notre Dame ID. However, only one route goes directly to campus (route 7), so unless you want to go to the mall or to downtown South Bend, you’ll need to transfer buses.
In sum, life in South Bend without a car will require some extra patience and planning, and it is not recommended if you are looking to do a lot of exploring off campus. However, if you are mostly looking to stay on campus (where there is plenty to do, see below!), it’s possible to cobble together enough transportation resources to make it work. Indeed, we typically have one or two fellows each year who manage without a car.
Getting Started at Notre Dame
There are a few things you’ll want to do shortly after you arrive on campus:
1. Check in at Human Resources (at 200 Grace Hall–Grace is conveniently located right next to Flanner Hall, where the NDIAS lives). There you will:
- Fill out various forms: I9, W4, and direct deposit forms, if applicable.
- Visit Card Services, where you will get your University ID (AKA Irish1 Card). Spouses are also eligible for a spousal ID (which provides access to the library, gym, etc.), so if you have a spouse, you may want to bring him/her with you when you first check in at HR. You will also need to bring your marriage certificate to obtain a spousal ID.
- Set up your after-hours PIN so you can research in your office in Flanner hall non-stop. IMPORTANT: if you forget your PIN, you can reset it here.
2. Activate your NetID and set up a password (this can also be done before you arrive). Activating your NetID gives you access to your Notre Dame email and many other things. Look for an email (sent to the email address you provided) with activation instructions. You will also want to set up Notre Dame’s two-step authentication (Okta).
3. Get a parking permit (if you plan to have a car on campus).
4. Get on WIFI. Once you have your NetID, you should be able to get Eduroam (go to eduroam.nd.edu for installation). Until then, you can log on to ND Guest. Eduroam is more secure though, so you should start using that as soon as you can.
5. For overachievers: check out the New Employee Guide for other things to do (you’ll need your NetID for full access to this guide though).
Your NDIAS Office
We will provide you with a private office at the NDIAS in Flanner Hall with the usual office gear–desk, chair, bookshelves, file cabinets, a reading chair, etc.
We will also supply you with either a Mac or PC desktop–we will do our best to accommodate your preference. If you prefer to work from your laptop, we can provide you with standard peripherals if needed (monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, cables, etc.). Your office also comes equipped with a great view. The 11th floor of Flanner has some of the best views on campus!
In addition, you will have access to our newly-renovated conference room, which is equipped with a big TV and conferencing capability. It’s a good place for in-person or virtual meetings up to around 10 people. We have comfy lounge furniture in there, so it’s a good place for reading too.
The NDIAS offices surround the most important engine of research: the kitchen, of course! There you will find kitcheny things–fridge, microwave, toaster, water cooler, and most importantly a Keurig machine and an espresso machine. A steady supply of coffee drinks and LaCroix flow from our kitchen to our fellows at all times.
Housing
Faculty fellows from outside the Michiana area receive a housing subsidy as part of their fellowship. Most use it to live in the Fischer Visiting Faculty Apartments. The main advantage of Fischer is its location: it’s located on the north side of campus very close to Flanner Hall (where the NDIAS lives). The two-bedroom apartments at Fischer are fully furnished and include utilities, weekly housekeeping service, trash removal, local phone service, washer/dryer, and wireless internet and cable service. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed.
The Fischer Visiting Faculty Apartments are part of a larger graduate housing complex, and it is the home to many faculty, postdocs, and even upper administrators (ask us about that!). If you choose to live in Fischer, NDIAS staff will help you coordinate the details. If you are coming to South Bend with a family and are wondering whether Fischer is right for you, contact us and we can discuss it.
You are free to use your housing subsidy to live somewhere other than Fischer, but if you’d like to take this option, you’ll need to find the place yourself and coordinate the details. You will submit your rent payment receipt each month for reimbursement in the amount of the housing subsidy.
Mail Delivery
If you choose to live in Fischer Visiting Faculty Apartments, there is no mail delivery there. Instead, you should have your mail delivered to you at the NDIAS, using the following address:
1124 Flanner Hall
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Each fellow is provided a mailbox at the NDIAS. Having your mail delivered to the Institute is safe, fast (we receive deliveries on weekdays around midday), convenient, and carries no cost to you.
Alternatively, you could rent a mailbox at the U.S. Post Office on campus (right across the street from the NDIAS) and have your mail delivered there. This option would affect only your personal mail; campus mail will still be delivered to your mailbox at the Institute. Because of the requirements associated with post office box rentals, this alternative cannot be arranged until after you arrive on campus.
Some of our past incoming fellows have found it necessary to begin having their mail forwarded to Notre Dame during the summer, prior to their arrival on campus. Those of you who may need to do so can begin having mail (including parcels) forwarded/delivered to the Institute’s address (see above) as early as July 15. If you need to have mail sent or forwarded earlier than July 15, please contact us.
Childcare and Schools
If you are coming to the NDIAS with children who need schooling or childcare, contact us and we can give you guidance based on your specific needs. Here are a few general things to know about childcare and schools in our area.
A nice benefit of working at Notre Dame is the ability to use Notre Dame’s Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC), which enrolls children ages 2-6 and is located right on campus. Space is limited though, so you’ll want to work with us ASAP to try to get your child a spot.
As for schools, there are many options to consider, including South Bend public schools and Catholic/private schools, such as those on this handy list.
Health Care
Notre Dame has an oncampus health center, the Notre Dame Wellness Center, that provides convenient primary care for Notre Dame faculty and staff. However, NDIAS Fellows who are on a Visiting Faculty Agreement and are receiving health insurance from their home institution, are not eligible to use the Wellness Center. These fellows will need to find healthcare elsewhere in South Bend. Here are a few commonly used health care facilities, though Fellows should check with their health insurance for details about using these facilities out of network.
Hospitals:
Memorial Hospital
615 N Michigan St, South Bend, IN 46601
574-647-1000
St. Joseph Mishawaka Medical Center
5215 Holy Cross Pkwy, Mishawaka, IN 46545
574-335-5000
Primary Care Providers:
Beacon Health System (multiple locations)
South Bend Clinic (multiple locations)
Urgent Care Providers:
Medpoint Urgent Care Main Street
6913 N Main St, Granger, IN 46530
574-647-1550
Physicians Urgent Care
505 W Cleveland Rd Mishawaka, IN 46545
574-235-3135
South Bend Clinic Urgent Care
301 E Day Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545
574-204-7243
Pharmacies:
Walgreens
1351 N Ironwood Dr, South Bend, IN 46615
574-234-5046
CVS
2210 Edison Rd, South Bend, IN 46615
574-472-3234
Right Med Pharmacy
303 S Main St # 100, Mishawaka, IN 46544
574-383-5911
Research Funds
As a faculty fellow, you have $1,000 of research funds that you can use to advance your research and professional development during the year. Here are some examples of the sorts of items, activities, and services that you might use this account for. Please note that purchasing equipment (e.g., computers, cameras) is not an acceptable use of the research fund. If you have questions about ideas not on this list, please contact Angie Appleby Purcell (apurcel1@nd.edu).
Examples:
Research related tools:
- Books
- Software
- Subscription to a database or journal
Travel:
- Travel for presenting at a conference (submit the conference program with receipts)
- Registration fee for conference where you are presenting (in-person or virtual)
- Travel for research trips
Professional Development:
- Society membership/annual dues
Publications:
- Images and image rights
Masterclasses and Work in Progress Sessions
During the fellowship year, faculty fellows will have the opportunity to present their work twice in our weekly research seminar, once each semester. There are two styles of presentation: Masterclass and Work in Progress Session (fellows are expected to present one of each type):
Masterclass
A masterclass is a two-hour session, with a 10-15 minute coffee break. The faculty fellow will prepare a two hour session aimed at teaching the rest of the NDIAS about an element of their funded research project. The fellow can suggest up to one hour of background reading (either PDFs of articles or pre-read seminar drafts). But otherwise the fellow should not presuppose any background on the topic and should prepare the time so as to teach the rest of the institute the key concepts and debates and to engage the institute in seminar-style discussion of the issues. Format is at the discretion of the fellows but typically will employ a combination of slides, handouts, and planned interactive elements.
Masterclass sessions are empathetic – they take into account the starting points, needs and interests of the institute audience. And they are generative – they lead to deeper engagement with the fellow and their research afterward and increase the institute’s fluency and understanding of the relevant discipline and debate.
Work in Progress Session
Work in progress sessions are more informal “brown bag” lunch sessions where 1-2 fellows share for 15 minutes each about what they are currently working on and an idea or problem for which they’d like feedback and discussion from the other fellows. These are two hour sessions with the first ~30 minutes devoted to lunch, which is provided by the institute.
Things to Do around Campus
There’s an endless supply of things to do on campus. Once you are subscribed to TheWeek@ND, you’ll receive an email every Monday morning with a nearly exhaustive list of everything going on around campus during the week.
More generally, here are a few things you’ll definitely want to do during your time at Notre Dame:
- Visit the Main Building (AKA: the Golden Dome) and the Basilica. Majestic buildings! You must walk through them at least once.
- Reflect at the Word of Life mural. You’ll undoubtedly find your way to the Hesburgh Library many times while you’re a fellow (though you can just have your books delivered to your office…). Still, don’t forget to check out the mural on the south face of the library and the adjacent reflecting pool. Try to guess why its nickname is “Touchdown Jesus.”
- Light a candle at the Grotto.
- Walk around the lakes. The two lakes on the north side of campus (unsurprisingly named the St. Mary and St. Joseph lakes) have a beautiful walking path around them. There’s an entrance to the path conveniently located right across the street from the NDIAS. We can show you the way.
- Go to a show at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The DPAC hosts musical concerts, artistic performances, and theatrical shows throughout the year. It is home to several incredible event spaces, e.g., the Leighton Concert Hall.
- See a movie at the Browning Cinema. Yes, there’s a movie theater right on campus! It features a nice mix of popular films and weird art-house stuff. (Ask Meghan about the popcorn.)
- Visit the Snite Museum of Art. Yes, there’s also an art museum on campus!
- Go to a football game. See the section on football below.
Things to Do around Town
South Bend was recently named one of the 10 Most Beautiful and Affordable Places to Live in the U.S!
There are several good resources for things to do in South Bend (and neighboring Mishawaka), like this one, and this one.
Here are a few of the best places to visit:
- South Bend Cubs. South Bend has a minor league baseball team, and games are quirky and fun. On Saturdays they give out free TVs between innings. Good food and beer, bouncy slide and splash pads for kids.
- Fernwood Botanical Garden. Beautiful garden in Niles, MI. Nice lights display during the holiday season. Combo a visit here with the nearby River St. Joe restaurant.
- Biking Trails. There are several nice biking trails in the area, such as the Pumpkinvine trail and the Bendix Woods mountain biking trail. You can also bike river paths throughout South Bend, Mishawaka, and Niles.
- Studebaker Museum. South Bend used to be the center of Studebaker production. Learn all about the history at the museum.
- Morris Performing Arts Center. Regularly features Broadway-type shows, symphonies, and special guests. David Sedaris sometimes comes here.
- St. Patrick’s County Park, Potato Creek State Park, Central Park. Nice places for easy hiking and walking.
- Howard Park. Big park for kids. Ice skating in the winter. Restaurant adjacent.
- Lake Michigan Beach Towns. About a 45-minute drive from South Bend, you find charming beach towns, wineries, and breweries. Swimming and surfing without the sharks. We recommend Three Oaks, Sawyer, and New Buffalo.
- East Race. Pretty much your only option for whitewater rafting in South Bend. Make sure to check them out early because they close for the season after the second weekend in September.
- Potawatomi Zoo. Small, but they have giraffes!
- Chicago. Instructions: go to the South Bend airport; get on the train; get off in Chicago.
Restaurants - An Opinionated Guide
It's smaller than Chicago of course, but South Bend and the surrounding area has some pretty great restaurants. Here’s where we, the staff, like to eat:
- Pinellia: good vegan Asian. Get the smoked teriyaki seitan. People mostly get take out here, but they have a few tables too.
- The Elder Bread: this is where you go to get a great loaf of sourdough. Part of the Cloud Walking Collective, you can also get local coffee, chocolate, macrons, and ceramics.
- Roselily: best restaurant in South Bend. The 5-course tasting menu is a must (with wine pairing of course).
- Fiddler’s Hearth: Irish staples–the fish and chips come wrapped in the pages of the local newspaper. Live music on the weekends.
- Rocco's: a legendary South Bend pizza parlor decorated with Notre Dame and Catholic kitsch. The “veggie combo” pie is a classic. It doesn’t have any meat… but also doesn’t have any veggies.
- Crooked Ewe: famous for brewing their own outstanding beers, but they also have great menus for omnivores and vegans. The brisket is as close as you’ll get to Texas up here. The fried buffalo-style artichokes are incredible.
- Java Cafe: a favorite coffee shop in South Bend. Nice people working there with lots of seating. Great place to work and sip on a bougie latte.
- Ragamuffin: Visit Abby for the best cookies, croissants, and cinnamon rolls in the Bend. The unofficial sugar supplier to the NDIAS seminars.
- Venturi: The best authentic Neapolitan pizza in the area, and some say the state! You have to drive to Goshen (about 45 minutes), but it's totally worth the trip.
- Early Bird Eatery: delicious breakfast and brunch place downtown. The best corned-beef hash and biscuits!
- Vanilla Bean Creamery: incredible homemade ice cream. They specialize in flavors that incorporate homemade baked goods. A top suggestion is Pecan Pie. It's about a 12-minute drive to Granger.
- Cre-Asian: a favorite for staff lunches. Recommendations include the Three Cups chicken and the green beans with tofu. About a 30-minute walk from the Fischer Residences.
Football (Go Irish!)
As you might expect, home football games are a big deal at Notre Dame. On game-day Saturdays in the fall, 100,000+ people come to Notre Dame and the surrounding area to attend the game, tailgates, watch parties, and other football-related activities. You can find the Notre Dame football schedule here.
There is a lot to do on campus on game days besides the game itself. There are many beloved game-day traditions to witness, such as the sounding of trumpets in the Main Building, the singing of the glee club, the marching of the players from the library to the stadium, the practicing of the band on the steps of Bond Hall, and much more. You can find a list of game day events here.
There are also three public lecture series on game-day weekends. The Ahead of the Game series occurs on Fridays before the game and features Notre Dame faculty in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Science Exploration occurs on game-day Saturdays and features faculty in the sciences, and Saturdays with the Saints features faculty in Theology.
Campus is packed on game days, but it’s worth experiencing the game-day magic at least once, even if you don’t want to go to the game itself.