There are 18 million adults in the United States who do not possess a high school diploma. In many states, after age 21 they are no longer eligible to receive one, and must get a GED, which typically offer less promising outcomes.Goodwill saw this gap and launched the Excel Center, an adult, tuition-free adult charter school that also offers services like childcare and life coaching, to ensure the success of their students.They saw what they believed was great success at their flagship, Indianapolis location, but they lacked data to help it grow, so they invited Notre Dame’s Wilson-Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to assess their program.Its study showed graduates from the Excel Center saw a 40 percent increase in earnings in five years. Graduates were also more likely to move into jobs that became careers, and to support their families long-term.Based on this data, states like Arizona have changed their legislation and pledged money to build Excel Centers.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/ImproveEducationPolicies

The Notre Dame student body gifted Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., with a new set of vestments for his inauguration as President of the University.Each time Fr. Dowd celebrates Mass, the vestments will be a reminder of the support and prayers of the Notre Dame student body.

An introduction to Notre Dame's 18th president from the people who know him best.

University of Notre Dame President, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., delivers the homily at the 2024-25 Opening of the Academic Year Mass in Purcell Pavilion on August 28, 2024.

Heather Christophersen (https://www.nd.edu/about/leadership/council/heather-christophersen/) , vice president for Notre Dame Human Resources, was our very first guest on the NDWorks Podcast, and we had the opportunity to talk to her again about the NDHR transformation. In this episode, she updates us on the reimagined onboarding process, which is another phase of that transformation.---This episode of NDWorks Podcast was hosted by Natalie Davis Miller, managing editor of NDWorks, and was edited by Michael Wiens, visual media coordinator, with original music by Alex Mansour.Thanks to NDHR and Heather Christophersen.

How do you tackle "forever chemicals"? Notre Dame is the perfect place to find out.We're identifying environmental impacts, developing new ways to measure and manage contaminated water supplies, and exploring new methods of treatment.