Notre Dame Launches New '4 For Forever' Student-Athlete Support Program

The University of Notre Dame Athletic Department’s Office of Student-Athlete Services (formerly referred to as the GLD Center), whose mission is to holistically support the student-athlete experience by providing unique opportunities to help them grow personally, lead effectively and prepare for life after graduation, has announced the 4 For Forever program. 

The 4 For Forever program will focus on four pillars: Career and Connection, Community and Belonging, Life Skills and Life After Notre Dame. 

• Career and Connection: Showcases the power of the Notre Dame network through mentorship programs, legacy weekends and resume/job search workshops. 
• Community and Belonging: Actively builds a safe and inclusive environment through community service opportunities, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and connection through various other affinity groups at the University and throughout the local community. 
• Life Skills: Empowers and prepares student-athletes to thrive during their time at Notre Dame and beyond graduation by focusing on financial literacy and well-being development, participation in the Rosenthal Leadership Academy and NIL education. 
• Life After Notre Dame (LAND): A continuation of services for student-athletes to fulfill the 4 for Forever promise. LAND will help with post athletic career transitions, mental wellness, physical healthcare navigation/rehabilitation and emergency assistance along with innovation and entrepreneurship training. 

“The change to our name will allow us to better define what our office is here for – providing services to student-athletes,” senior associate athletics director Jen Vining-Smith said. 

“In the ever changing landscape of college athletics, it was important for us to narrow our scope and focus on four main pillars that will help bring to life the 4 for Forever promise. The 4 for Forever Program will provide each student-athlete a minimum of baseline skills in each area of focus and the opportunity to explore each area further if they are motivated to do so.” 

Notre Dame Athletics is officially partnering with LAND, an organization focused on supporting former student-athletes in their lives after Notre Dame, as part of the 4 for Forever program launch. The goal of LAND is to coordinate services that are focusing on overcoming the unique challenges of post-athletic transitions. LAND can provide emergency financial assistance, career and entrepreneurship training, mental health navigation and physical help rehabilitation.

“Our collaboration with LAND will greatly benefit the 4 for Forever promise we make to our student-athletes at Notre Dame,” University Vice President and James E. Rohr director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua said. “Supporting our student-athletes not just during their time on campus, but through their entire lives is fundamental to being part of the Notre Dame family.”

LAND was founded by former Notre Dame football student-athlete Jack Shields and also features former Irish football players Pat Eilers as a founding board member and Dr. Tom Carter III as CEO and President.

“Before the Irish take the field, it’s tradition to hit the “Play like a champion today” sign,” Shields said. “LAND is about extending that for life – play like a champion today – and be equipped to live like a champion tomorrow.  Because Notre Dame doesn’t just produce great athletes. It produces great leaders in companies, families and communities.”