The University of Notre Dame is acknowledged as one of the premier educational institutions in the country.  Throughout 2011 Notre Dame was recognized for its academies, programs, faculty, and staff.  For a complete summary of the many acknowledgements which Notre Dame received, visit Notre Dame Year in Review.  Listed below are just a few of the many accolades awarded Notre Dame  this year.

Mendoza College of Business

• ranked # 1in Bloomberg Businessweek's 6th annual survey of "Best Undergraduate Business School."
• included in the survey, the College received the # 1 ranking in ethics, # 2 in sustainability, and top ten rankings in nine other categories.
• the MBA program ranked # 4 in the world for ethics and social impact by the Aspen Insitute.
• the MBA program was ranked as one of the best in the country for MBA students seeking careers in "green" industries.  The MBA program was honored for its sustainabilty courses by "Entrepreneur Magazine".

Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) began construction on a new nuclear accelerator. This is the first accelerator the National Science foundation has funded in nuclear physics in nearly a quarter century. 

LEED certification was awarded by the United States Green Building Council to the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center (Gold certification) and to Innovation Park (Silver certification).

Athletics

• The Notre Dame Fencing Team claimed its eighth NCAA National Championship in March.
• Muffet McGraw, Head Coach of the Notre Dame Women's Basketball Team, was iinducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June.
• 18 of 22 Notre Dame athletics programs have graduation rates of 100%, and none were below 93 %, according to the NCAA Graduation Success Rate measurements.