There’s more to college life than work and study. In fact, the most involved students are often the happiest students.  At Notre Dame, there are so many ways to get involved—with a choice of more than 40 clubs, organizations and academic honor societies, there is something for everyone.

Participation in organizations on campus enables students to develop leadership skills, supplement career preparation, explore new interests, meet new people and have a lot of fun! And, our clubs and organizations are open to all students, whether you live on or off campus.

In a community as close-knit as ours, you don’t remain a stranger very long, even if you are a commuter student.  This sense of belonging and mutual support is rare on a college campus today, and sets us apart in the best possible way.

Aside from our wonderful clubs and organizations, students can participate in a number of traditional events, helping celebrate milestones in the year and in their college careers, while creating memories to last a lifetime.

The Student Association
The purpose of the Student Association is to provide a vehicle for every Women's College student to participate in the life of the College. Through self-government, participation in college-wide decision making and planning a vibrant social life, the Student Association exists to ensure that every student can contribute to a rewarding college experience.

The Executive Committee
There are five organizations within the Student Association coordinated by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is comprised of the elected leadership from the Student Senate, Inter-Organization Council (IOC), the Apportionment Board, the Honor Board (HB) and the Board of Trustees Representative.

• The Student Senate
  The Student Senate provides a channel to voice concerns related to the academic and co-curricular life of the College. Senators are elected from each class and bring to the Senate concerns voiced by class members. The Student Senate works to address those concerns by researching and writing legislation that is directed toward improving the quality of campus life. The vice president for students affairs is the adviser to the Senate.
• The Inter-Organization Council (IOC)
  The Inter-Organization Council (IOC) coordinates programming and activities on campus. More than 20 student groups make up the IOC. They work together to make the campus a vibrant place. The director of campus activities is the adviser to IOC.
• The Honor Board
  The Honor Board serves to educate the College community about the Honor Code and hears allegation of violations of the academic and behavioral standards, including Residence Life regulations and other campus policies. Honor Board members are elected by the student body and advised by the associate academic dean and the associate dean of students.
• The Apportionment Board
  The Apportionment Board is responsible for allocating the student funds to IOC member organizations so that quality programs and services are offered to students. The Apportionment Board is comprised of the Comptroller, Secretary and four Senators. The associate dean of students advises the board.
• The Board of Trustees Representative
  The Board of Trustees Representative is elected by the student body and is responsible for representing the student body to the Board of Trustees. 

IOC Member Organizations

Art Society: serves to increase students appreciation of art by exploring galleries and local exhibits and by attending lectures and workshops.

Association of Women in Communication (AWC): a national organization of students and professionals who work to promote the advancement and development of women in communication fields. Open to all students interested in pursuing a career in communication fields, members must have above average academic records and must be accepted by the campus chapter and national headquarters.

Beta Beta Beta (Honor Society): To be eligible for active membership, a student must be a biology major who has completed at least one semester of her sophomore year and has completed at least three semester courses in biology with an average grade of B+. Other students are invited to be associate members if they are interested in life science but are ineligible for active membership.

Black Student Association (BSA): heightens awareness of African culture through Afrocentric programming. BSA provides a forum for expressing campus concerns and fostering communication. BSA connects Black students with the larger community.

Business and Economics Society (BES): prepares students for the business world by developing professional skills through lectures, workshops and fund raisers.

Campus Ministry Team: plans programs and prayer experiences that foster spirituality for students of all faiths.

Class Representatives:elected representatives from each class that plan and organize events for fellow students.

Chemistry Club: focuses on advanced study and research in chemistry.

Columns:The student-run newspaper, Columns, reports regularly on campus news, events and issues. The staff writes and edits feature, athletics and news stories; sells and manages advertising; handles photography and graphics; and designs page layouts. Students can participate at any level—from writing a single article to serving on the editorial staff. Visit Columns website at ndmcolumns.com

Community Service Organization (CSO): works to serve those in need by helping the homeless, spending time with senior citizens, building houses or organizing an on-campus blood drive, for example.

Commuter Committee: helps students who do not live on campus feel part of the Notre Dame community by encouraging and supporting them to join campus activities.

Concert Choir of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland:presents concerts on- and off-campus, performs music for selected events at the College and has several recordings and concert tours, both in the United States and abroad, to its credit.

The Dance Team: The Dance Team provides an opportunity to express creativity while promoting school spirit and unity among students of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. The duties of the Dance Team include providing entertainment at school functions, including sporting events and all other appropriate activities.

Damozel: Original poetry, plays, short stories, essays, artwork and photography are featured in Notre Dame?s annual creative magazine, Damozel. The staff of students considers submissions by any interested individual from the Notre Dame community.

Delta Mu Delta: is the Epsilon Rho chapter of the National Honor Society in Business Administration.

Eta Sigma Phi: is the Beta Kappa Chapter of the National Classical Honor Society. Eta Sigma Phi is open to students who have at least one semester of Latin or Greek and who maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Hall Council: provides social activities in the residence halls and provides a forum for community building.

Hispanic Society: provides a network within the Notre Dame community for those interested in Hispanic culture or language, as well as promoting unity among students of Hispanic heritage through social and cultural activities. The Hispanic Society works to educate the entire Notre Dame community on Hispanic culture.

Hypatian Society: includes the Maryland chapter of the National Mathematics Honor Society and is open to students who have an interest in the study of mathematics.

Maryland Student Legislature: Maryland Student Legislature is a program made up of more than 100 students from many of the colleges across maryland. In it's function as a mock General Assembly, the Maryland Student Legislature convenes as many as three times to debate student-written legislation. For more information, please feel free to view the MSL website at www.msl.org.

Music Educators National Conference: (Notre Dame Chapter) promotes interest in music through performances on campus, on-site public and private city and county schools, outreach programs in nursing homes, field trips to cultural events and the sponsorship of the annual S. Theresine Lectures.

Phi Alpha Theta: is the Nu Pi Chapter of the International History Honor Society. Students must have a B or higher in four history courses and a 3.0 or higher grade point average.

Psi Chi: Founded in 1929, Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in psychology, encourages members to be scholars in all fields, particularly psychology.

Sigma Tau Delta: Chartered in 1984, the Alpha Alpha Chapter of the International English Honor Society is open to English majors and minors who have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have completed two English courses beyond freshman English.

Student Environmental Organization: promotes environmental awareness and protection through recycling and other conservation projects.

Transfermations: provides support and encouragement for transfer students at the College.

WCND Radio Station:  is the campus radio station operated as a lab by the Communication Arts Department and is open to all students. There are elected and staff positions and possible academic credit through COM 202 and 302.

WCND-TV: is the campus television station operated as a lab by the Communication Arts Department and is open to all students. There are elected and staff positions and possible academic credit through COM 202 and 302.

Ye Merrie Masquers: promotes theater by producing stage productions, sponsoring theater trips and hosting workshops.

Other Student Groups

Alpha Sigma Lambda: the Delta Chi Chapter of the National Honor Society for Continuing Higher Education Students is open to any student in the Continuing Education (CE) Program who has a minimum of 30 credits at Notre Dame with 15 credits outside the major field of study and a GPA of 3.5.

Continuing Education Student Organization (CESO): supports CE women by providing activities that meet social, academic, career and networking needs.

Kappa Delta Pi: an international Honor Society in Education that is committed to recognizing excellence and fostering mutual cooperation, support and professional growth for educational professionals. Undergraduates students with a GPA of 3.5 and graduate students with a GPA of 3.75 are invited to apply for membership.

Lesbian and Friends (LAF): provides a support system for those who are gay or know someone who is gay.

Liturgical Choir and Music Group: provides music for all liturgical celebrations and special occasions.

Orientation Crew: makes sure that the anxiety-filled days of first year and transfer students are eased by welcoming and orienting them to the Notre Dame community.

Student Health Educators (SHE): provide health-related programming for the campus community.

Student Team of Admissions Representatives (STARS): as the student arm of the Admissions staff, STARS serve as tour guides and assist in special events for prospective students and their parents.

Traditional Events

Orientation
Unfamiliar faces, unusual places. . . everything’s bound to look new and different during your first few days of college. That’s why Orientation is designed with you in mind. You’ll meet new students, discover new sights in the city, and meet your academic advisors.

Family Weekend
After a whirlwind month of adjusting to new people and places, Family Weekend gives you a chance to revisit familiar faces. It’s a time for you and your family to enjoy each other. The highlight of the weekend, Honors Convocation, provides the opportunity for you to be officially welcomed to Notre Dame.

Winter Ball
Put away your jeans and T-shirts. Pull out your party clothes! The fall semester draws to an end with something spectacular: the Winter Ball. It’s an evening of romance, fun, and dancing.

Christmas Celebrations
To ring in the holiday season, students, faculty, and staff join together in Doyle Hall to bless and decorate a tree. In this candlelight ceremony, each student organization places a decoration on the tree, followed by the annual Christmas dinner served by faculty and staff. After dinner, if you like to sing Christmas carols, you and your classmates will have a joyous time. You’ll get to contribute your own versions of the season’s songs.

Winterim
Do you want to continue your quest for knowledge in a mini-semester? Winterim (Winter Interim, during break time in January) allows you an innovative outlet for learning. Take a class to satisfy a special interest. Do independent study. Go on field trips or a short term academic experience abroad. Intern for a company.

100 Nights
This event is celebrated annually by each graduating senior class to mark the 100 nights until graduation day.

Notre Dame Day
It’s a day that brings students, faculty and staff together to honor those who made the Dean’s List during first semester and to present special awards to students for leadership, service, and academic achievement.

Spring Formal
Is there any other night of the year for which you’d spend months shopping for the perfect dress, days choosing the right shoes and earrings, and hours applying make-up? By the time it’s all over and you’re watching the sun come up, you’ll realize that memories are made of times like this.

Lantern Chain
Carrying lighted lanterns, sophomores sing a farewell serenade to departing seniors in front of Meletia Hall. Four years draw to a much-awaited end for the graduates.