Changes

Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., (born 1917) served as president for 35 years (1952–87). In that time the annual operating budget rose from $9.7 million to $176.6 million, the endowment from $9 million to $350 million, and research funding from $735,000 to $15 million.  Enrollment increased from 4,979 to 9,600, faculty from 389 to 950, and degrees awarded annually from 1,212 to 2,500.  

Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., (born 1917) served as president for 35 years (1952–87). In that time the annual operating budget rose from $9.7 million to $176.6 million, the endowment from $9 million to $350 million, and research funding from $735,000 to $15 million.  Enrollment increased from 4,979 to 9,600, faculty from 389 to 950, and degrees awarded annually from 1,212 to 2,500.  

In 18 years under President Malloy (1987-2005), there was rapid rapid growth in the school's reputation, faculty, and resources. He increased the faculty by more than 500 professors; the academic quality of the student body has improved dramatically, the average SAT score rose from 1240 to 1360; the number of minority students more than doubled; the endowment grew from $350 million to more than $3 billion; the annual operating budget rose from $177 million to more than $650 million; and annual research funding improved from $15 million to more than $70 million. Notre Dame’s most recent capital campaign raised $1.1 billion, far exceeding its goal of $767 million, and is the largest in the history of Catholic higher education.

In 18 years under President Malloy (1987-2005), there was rapid rapid growth in the school's reputation, faculty, and resources. He increased the faculty by more than 500 professors; the academic quality of the student body has improved dramatically, the average SAT score rose from 1240 to 1360; the number of minority students more than doubled; the endowment grew from $350 million to more than $3 billion; the annual operating budget rose from $177 million to more than $650 million; and annual research funding improved from $15 million to more than $70 million. Notre Dame's most recent capital campaign raised $1.1 billion, far exceeding its goal of $767 million, and is the largest in the history of Catholic higher education.

==Catholic status==

==Catholic status==

Since 1967 it has been controlled by a lay board, and not by the Catholic Church. The trustees are to select presidents from the pool of C.S.C. priests (that is, members of the Holy Cross order). President Hesburgh orchestrated the change to head off too-tight Church control.  The University's conferral of an honorary degree on President Obama in May 2009 led to protests by some bishops, who disagree with Obama's positions.  

Since 1967 it has been controlled by a lay board, and not by the Catholic Church. The trustees are to select presidents from the pool of C.S.C. priests (that is, members of the Holy Cross order). President Hesburgh orchestrated the change to head off too-tight Church control.  The University's conferral of an honorary degree on President Obama in May 2009 led to protests by some bishops, who disagree with Obama's positions.  

In the decade after the Second Vatican Council (1963) the university’s basic Catholicism did not change, but its ways of emphasizing it did. Instead of merely trying to perpetuate the institution and keep its adherents obedient to the institutional church, there was an attempt to develop a laity which is informed and dedicated.  Many previously ignored topics such as compulsory celibacy for the priesthood, birth control, and ecumenicity were discussed without limits.

In the decade after the Second Vatican Council (1963) the university's basic Catholicism did not change, but its ways of emphasizing it did. Instead of merely trying to perpetuate the institution and keep its adherents obedient to the institutional church, there was an attempt to develop a laity which is informed and dedicated.  Many previously ignored topics such as compulsory celibacy for the priesthood, birth control, and ecumenicity were discussed without limits.

Although the faculty was well over 85% Catholic before 1970, search practices have broadened. In recent years about half the new faculty hires have been Catholics, and Catholics now comprise 52% of the faculty.<ref>At the top 50 research universities in the U.S. about 6% of the faculty are Catholics. John T. Mcgreevy, "Catholic Enough? Religious Identity at Notre Dame," ''Commonweal'', Vol. 134, September 28, 2007</ref>

Although the faculty was well over 85% Catholic before 1970, search practices have broadened. In recent years about half the new faculty hires have been Catholics, and Catholics now comprise 52% of the faculty.<ref>At the top 50 research universities in the U.S. about 6% of the faculty are Catholics. John T. Mcgreevy, "Catholic Enough? Religious Identity at Notre Dame," ''Commonweal'', Vol. 134, September 28, 2007</ref>

Notre Dame has 12 men's and 12 women's sports teams.<ref name="sports"/> The football program has won 13 bowl games (while losing 15) and 13 national championships.<ref>http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/notredame_database.htm</ref>  The football program is one of the few remaining that is not affiliated with a major sports conference (though it has a rough affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference, in which its remaining major sports programs are members).  Notable football rivalries include USC (one of the first transcontinental rivalries, played on the final weekend of the regular season), Miami (known as "Catholics vs. Convicts" due to Miami's historically poor sportsmanship and frequent brushes with the law, the rivalry has waned in recent years but due to Miami's ACC affiliation and Notre Dame's working relationship with the conference, the rivalry has returned somewhat) and Navy (during World War II Navy leased the Notre Dame campus for V-12 training, saving the school from closure; Notre Dame has extended an offer in perpetuity to play them in football – renewals are a mere formality though the games are usually one-sided in favor of the Fighting Irish).  The team is also known for its golden helmets (the helmets are repainted before every game and the paint actually contains flakes of gold).

Notre Dame has 12 men's and 12 women's sports teams.<ref name="sports"/> The football program has won 13 bowl games (while losing 15) and 13 national championships.<ref>http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/notredame_database.htm</ref>  The football program is one of the few remaining that is not affiliated with a major sports conference (though it has a rough affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference, in which its remaining major sports programs are members).  Notable football rivalries include USC (one of the first transcontinental rivalries, played on the final weekend of the regular season), Miami (known as "Catholics vs. Convicts" due to Miami's historically poor sportsmanship and frequent brushes with the law, the rivalry has waned in recent years but due to Miami's ACC affiliation and Notre Dame's working relationship with the conference, the rivalry has returned somewhat) and Navy (during World War II Navy leased the Notre Dame campus for V-12 training, saving the school from closure; Notre Dame has extended an offer in perpetuity to play them in football – renewals are a mere formality though the games are usually one-sided in favor of the Fighting Irish).  The team is also known for its golden helmets (the helmets are repainted before every game and the paint actually contains flakes of gold).

George Gipp was the school’s legendary football player during 1916-20. He played semiprofessional baseball and smoked, drank, and gambled when not playing sports. He was also humble, generous to the needy, and a man of integrity. It was in 1928 that famed coach [[Knute Rockne]] used his final conversation with the dying Gipp to inspire the Notre Dame team to beat the Army team and "win one for the Gipper." The  1940 film, "Knute Rockne - All American," starred Pat O'Brien as Knute Rockne and [[Ronald Reagan]] as Gipp.

George Gipp was the school's legendary football player during 1916-20. He played semiprofessional baseball and smoked, drank, and gambled when not playing sports. He was also humble, generous to the needy, and a man of integrity. It was in 1928 that famed coach [[Knute Rockne]] used his final conversation with the dying Gipp to inspire the Notre Dame team to beat the Army team and "win one for the Gipper." The  1940 film, "Knute Rockne - All American," starred Pat O'Brien as Knute Rockne and [[Ronald Reagan]] as Gipp.

A mural visible from Notre Dame's football stadium that depicts the resurrected [[Jesus Christ]] has been given the nickname "Touchdown Jesus" (as the mural features Jesus with outstretched arms, similar to the signal for a touchdown).  Some consider this sacrilegious because it minimizes the [[Resurrection]] and possibly implies that Jesus actively involves himself in matters of football.

A mural visible from Notre Dame's football stadium that depicts the resurrected [[Jesus Christ]] has been given the nickname "Touchdown Jesus" (as the mural features Jesus with outstretched arms, similar to the signal for a touchdown).  Some consider this sacrilegious because it minimizes the [[Resurrection]] and possibly implies that Jesus actively involves himself in matters of football.