About Catholic Higher Ed
More than 200 colleges and universities in the United States are designated by their religious congregations or bishops as Catholic institutions. Among their common characteristics:
What makes our institutions Catholic?
In 1990, Pope John Paul II issued Ex corde Ecclesiae, an apostolic constitution that identifies the common characteristics of all Catholic colleges and universities. According to that document, Catholic institutions of higher learning are defined by:
- Shared Christian vision and goals.
- Reflection in the light of faith.
- Fidelity to tradition.
- Commitment to service.
Blessed John Henry Newman, originally a priest in the Church of England before converting to Catholicism, has long been an influential figure in Catholic higher education. His book,
The Idea of a University, was first published in 1852 but remains a work considered "a living document that can guide Catholic colleges and universities through tumultuous times and unforeseen challenges."
1 Newman will be proclaimed a saint on October 13, 2019, and ACCU has gathered selected resources to
celebrate Newman's canonization.
1 Source: Boegel, Ellen. "A Framework for Success: Newman's Recipe for Right Relationships between Catholic Colleges and Universities and Their Increasingly Non-Catholic Administrators, Faculty, and Students," Journal of Catholic Higher Education, winter 2012, vol. 31(1), Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
Visit our other web pages for more information about the
values — and value — of Catholic higher education!