CASE STUDY | UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Focusing efforts to better understand and connect with the community around Notre Dame.

We worked with the University of Notre Dame to audit, expand, and nurture the connections to local and global communities that their students, faculty, and staff collaborate with to better the experience and quality of life for community members.

In the photo: Students show work to educators at the Kgosi Neighbourhood Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, a long-time partner of the University.

SITUATION

The University of Notre Dame’s Office of Public Affairs and Center for Social Concerns were looking for a partner to help explore the full breadth of Notre Dame's relationship to the local, regional, and global communities it serves. They wanted to maximize societal impact from the University; leverage nonprofit, corporate, and civic partnerships to increase impact; and decrease redundancies and resource needs.

OUR WORK

  • Conducted a University-wide audit of community partnerships and efforts.

  • Carried out extensive research with key stakeholder groups (over 40 interviews and 15 focus groups).

  • Architected University's Community Engagement Coordinating Council (CECC), a group that sat across the University system with a mission to enhance the quality of community-based learning, impact, and partnerships.

IMPACT

  • Coordination across populations, geographies, and needs are coordinated across the University. Over 7,500 participants are collaborating on 315 projects with community partners through the CECC.

  • Increased funding and skills training for nonprofit partners.

  • Helped students learn the critical importance of reciprocity and true partnership when working within communities.

  • Produced and leveraged positive media coverage for Notre Dame.

  • Enhanced quality of life within communities that Notre Dame serves.

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