Notre Dame began as a bold act of faith, a belief that a one-room cabin in the Indiana wilderness could one day shape minds and serve humanity. That same sense of conviction drives us today. At Notre Dame, faith and inquiry are never at odds. Excellence is expected and elevated by our desire to serve the common good. So students are taught not just how to think, but how to live. We foster intellectual growth and moral character in equal measure pursuing breakthroughs in research, leadership in every field, and purpose in all that we do.