All the first universities were—St. Thomas Aquinas would tell us—Catholic ones. But in this modern day, it takes intentionality to maintain the rich tradition of Catholic education.

In a talk recorded for HeightsCast, Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, president of The Catholic University of America, spoke to families at The Heights about what it means to be a Catholic university. He first consults the experts: Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, John Paul the Great, and Pope Benedict XVI. He then offers examples from his own career in school leadership, and how to put the exhortations of popes and saints into action on campus.

6:14 Universities: a Catholic inheritance

8:06 Newman and Aquinas on universities

11:58 Papal directives for Catholic universities

15:56 Theodrama vs. egodrama

19:16 Getting these ideas on campus

19:36 Mission-enthusiastic faculty

21:26 Mission-integrated curricula

24:12 Counseling with a Christian anthropology

25:01  Teaching a professional call to holiness

26:21 Campus ministry

28:15 The distinctive value of Catholic education

31:10 Q1: Technology and the next 50 years

36:13 Q2: College affordability and value

The Idea of a University by St. John Henry Newman

Ex Corde Ecclesiae by Pope St. John Paul II

Regensburg Address on Faith, Reason, and the University by Pope Benedict XVI

“The Real Cost of College Education—for Students, Families, and the Nation” by Jamie Merisotis

Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life by Andrew Abela

Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth by Catherine Pakaluk

Receiving Beauty: A Liberal Arts Education featuring Dr. George Harne

Considerations for the College-Bound Student featuring Dr. Peter Kilpatrick

The Idea of the Liberal Arts University, Part I featuring Dr. Thomas Hibbs

Rethinking College: Why go? How? When? featuring Arthur Brooks