FAQ

What impacts have COVID-19 had on the ACE Teaching Fellowship?

In April 2021, the University of Notre Dame’s Executive Officers mandated that all graduate students, including ACE teachers, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enroll as students. Except for minor adjustments to adhere to local and university health safety guidelines, our eight-week summer graduate coursework, programming, and formation returned to its pre-pandemic form – in-person coursework, retreats, etc.

ACE teachers continue to live and serve in their respective school communities during the academic year, as well. Despite shifting circumstances, our academic faculty and pastoral team have continued to provide an unwavering commitment to support our ACE teachers as they seek to be present to the students and families entrusted to their care.

How are ACE teaching fellows prepared to serve in diverse communities, often times dissimilar to the communities they were formed in? What diversity & inclusion programming is embedded into teacher formation?

ACE is founded on three pillars: forming professional educators, building community, and growing spiritually. We seek to integrate these pillars in as many aspects of formation as possible, including our diversity, equity, & inclusion efforts.

Practices of cultural responsiveness and sustenance, for example, are integrated into the M.Ed. coursework. Teachers’ first summer includes a workshop on Christocentric Cultural Responsiveness to begin reflecting on the role of personal identity within community. Additionally, there are multiple opportunities to extend those reflections as teachers learn about the communities and individuals they serve including implicit bias trainings, book studies, and discussion groups on topics such as building an antiracist ontology.

This year, the academic faculty are piloting a two-year series of workshops designed to build upon formation provided during the summer session. Workshops are designed to concretize steps ACE teachers can take to become more inclusive educators within the context of their school and (arch)diocesan communities. Examples of such workshops include, but are not limited to, Liberatory Consciousness and Identity & Intersectionality as a Catholic School Educator.

Teachers are encouraged to communicate with staff regarding other opportunities they desire. Much of the content of these formation experiences is shaped by this ongoing dialogue, and we look forward to our continual growth together.

What do ACE Teachers do after graduating from ACE Teaching Fellows?

ACE Teachers have gone on to become teachers, physicians, entrepreneurs, engineers, financial leaders, attorneys, Fulbright scholars, law review editors, university professors, superintendents, leaders of scholarship foundations, presidents and principals of schools, priests, and national science grantees. From whatever professional or personal path they pursue, ACE graduates continue to advocate for Catholic schools and for the needs of children in low-income communities.

If you’re interested in learning more about the various paths our graduates have gone onto, we would encourage you to join us for one of our #WhereACETakesYou panels or check-out our library of previously recorded panels.

What are the possible application timelines? What are the major differences between the Fall Timeline and Spring Timeline?

Prospective applicants may choose to apply either on our Fall or Spring application timeline. These two application timelines are outlined below:

• September 7th: Application Opens

• April 8th – 10th: ACE April Orientation Retreat at Notre Dame
• May 27th – 29th: ACE 28 Move-in & Opening Retreat
• May 31st: First Day of Classes

The application process for both timelines mirror one another. The only difference between the two application timelines is that prospective applicants who choose to apply on the fall timeline will be asked to respond to an offer of admission without knowing the specifics of their teaching placement (developmental level and/or subject area). Those who apply on our spring timeline will be notified of the details of their placement decision prior to their commitment deadline.

Do I apply to both ACE and the Notre Dame Graduate School? Is the GRE part of my application?

Applicants apply to ACE via the University of Notre Dame Graduate School application system. Therefore, when applying to ACE an applicant is also applying to Notre Dame’s Graduate School. The Notre Dame Graduate School has once again waived the GRE requirement for the 2021-22 academic year; therefore, the GRE is not required for admission.

However, per the Indiana Dept. of Education, all applicants to ACE Teaching Fellows must demonstrate basic skills for teacher licensure. There are multiple options to meet this requirement, including the ACT, SAT, or Praxis; you can find the necessary score requirements here. If your ACT, SAT, and Praxis scores do not meet the minimum requirements, we do ask that you submit GRE scores.

Is there a specific GRE score ACE looks for? What about GPA?

Per the Graduate School, ACE has no specific GRE or GPA requirements required for admission. Last year, the middle 50% GPA range for ACE 28 was 3.50 – 3.84. When evaluating applicants, the selection committee considers an applicant’s academic history, record of service, leadership experience, community involvement, hunger for spiritual growth, application essays, recommendation letters, among other factors.

When evaluating applicants, the selection team considers an applicant’s academic history, record of service, leadership experience, community involvement, openness to spiritual growth, application essays, recommendation letters, and interview, among other factors.

Does ACE have an early admission process? What if I have been accepted into another program but I really want to do ACE?

In addition to our fall application timeline, ACE is happy to work with prospective applicants to conduct an expedited application and interview process if another offer conflicts with the presented ACE application timelines; ACE will need written documentation of the offer and its deadline. If prospective applicants think this scenario may arise, they are encouraged to contact Michael Comuniello (; 574.631.6561) as soon as possible.

What if I do not graduate until June? Is it possible for me to do ACE?

It is possible, but it will require some flexibility. The ACE teacher may have to sacrifice his or her final week on campus, take final exams early, etc. Some ACE teachers have had to come to Notre Dame’s campus and then return to their undergraduate institution for graduation. The first week of ACE’s summer coursework is essential and cannot be made up.

How am I notified about the decision to whether or not I am accepted?

Applicants will receive either a phone call or e-mail notification between December 10th – 17th, 2021 (Fall Timeline) or March 1st – March 9th, 2021 (Spring Timeline). In this communication, applicants are told whether they have been accepted, deferred (Fall Timeline), wait-listed (Spring Timeline), or rejected.

If I am placed on the waitlist, what does this process look like? How is the waitlist ranked?

The waitlist for ACE Teaching Fellows is not ranked. Due to the specific requests made by our partner (arch)diocesan schools, ACE revisits the entire candidate pool before extending an offer to an applicant on the waitlist.

What can I do as an underclassmen to prepare for ACE?

ACE encourages underclassmen to speak with current or former ACE teachers, members of the ACE team (most of whom are graduates of ACE), and others who have a strong understanding of the program. ACE also encourages prospective applicants to gain experience working with students (e.g. through tutoring, coaching, or mentoring programs), seek leadership roles at their colleges and universities, and engage in faith-based service. Underclassmen may also consider attending ACE events on their respective campus or participate in our #WhereACETakesYou programming.

Do I have a choice in where I am placed?

Applicants rank their preferences for developmental level (2^nd/3^rd, 4^th/5^th, Middle School, and High School) and content area on their application. The dynamics of placement preclude us from guaranteeing placement preference. This process includes the following considerations:

• The specific requests made by our (arch)diocesan school partners; and
• An applicant’s undergraduate course of study.

The selection team is wholeheartedly committed to placing participants in environments that will allow them to thrive and will maximize their skill sets.

Are certain academic majors preferred?

ACE welcomes candidates from all academic disciplines. We place teachers

• in self-contained elementary classrooms (2^nd through 5^th grades)
• in middle school content areas (6^th through 8^th grades)
• in high school content areas (9^th through 12^th grades)

Major content areas include the following::

• English & Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

Many ACErs teach a combination of these subjects (e.g., middle school Math and Science).

I have a major other than the four content areas. Can I still teach high school?

Potentially, but it all depends on the applicant’s ability to pass the content test required for licensure per the Indiana Dept. of Education; typically, one’s undergraduate coursework is a good predictor. Applicants are encourage to contact the ACE staff for transcript reviews or advice about teaching qualifications and requirements.

What if I’m an education major? Can I still apply?

Absolutely! ACE welcomes candidates from all academic disciplines, including education. 

What kind of professional support can an ACE Teacher expect?

All ACE teachers have at least four support resources at their disposal throughout their two years in the program: an academic supervisor from the Faculty of Supervision and Instruction, a pastoral administrator, their school principal, and a designated mentor teacher in their local school.

Principals, as well as academic supervisors, provide ongoing formative and summative evaluations of an ACE teacher’s teaching. Mentor Teachers serve a non-evaluative role by helping ACE Teachers orient to their new city and school, conferencing with them about instructional and curricular goals on a regular basis, and reflecting with the ACE Teacher about successes and struggles in and out of the classroom.

Local support resources also include other school faculty, the (arch)diocesan superintendent, former ACE teachers who may remain in the area, and the Notre Dame Alumni Club who welcome the ACE teachers to their local communities. 

Are there opportunities to coach and lead extracurriculars while teaching in ACE?

Yes, ACE teachers will regularly assume leadership positions throughout the school, offering their time and talents in areas such as athletics, student government, Campus Ministry, and many others.

Do I have to find my own housing?

No, housing and furnishings are provided. ACE teachers need simply to bring personal belongings to campus for the summer session, where they will live in on-campus residence halls, and to their communities.

Do I need a car?

No, an ACE teacher does not need a car; nor should transportation, or lack thereof, keep applications from applying! ACE teachers certainly do not need cars during the summer sessions at Notre Dame. Many ACE teachers find it helpful to have a personal car at their sites due to school commitments and extracurricular activities. Still, many ACE teachers carpool. Please contact a member of the ACE team about transportation if you have questions and/or concerns.

Are all ACE schools under-resourced?

ACE is committed to sending faith-filled, committed teachers to Catholic schools. While the biggest poverty served in ACE schools is socioeconomic, ACE also serves schools that are in need of strong faith-filled role models.

I am not Catholic. Am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, ACE invites all applicants for service to Catholic education. All participants should demonstrate a lived commitment to their faith tradition and should be willing to live and work in community, as well as contribute to the spiritual formation of their students.

What opportunities for spiritual growth do ACE Teachers have?

As Catholic school educators, ACE Teachers will have the opportunity to form and guide their students in their faith lives, which in turn will shape their own.

Summers at Notre Dame offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth including retreats, liturgies, and prayer services. All ACE Teachers will take one of two classes – Introduction to Teaching Religion or Teaching in Catholic Schools – to better prepare them to serve as a spiritual resource for their students.  

Members of each ACE community together develop their spiritual and prayer lives, embracing personal experiences and inviting each other to grow in faith. In addition, ACE Teachers often find spiritual support, direction, and challenge from the pastoral team.