Story perspectives

Austin's Millennials Spark New Catholic Studies Program

10/12/2025

Summary

Story summary

Austin's millennial population, now nearly 41% of residents, prompts Jesuit educators led by Father Matthew Baugh to establish a Catholic studies program at the University of Texas at Austin.
The program aims to provide rigorous academic formation in a secular environment.
Christian Hardigree was named president of Texas A&M University–Victoria, which joined the Texas A&M System, while the Trump administration proposed the Compact for Academic Excellence.

History

Historical Context

Established in 1887, the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was founded to integrate faith and reason in higher education, following Pope Leo XIII's approval. This initiative reflects a broader trend among Catholic institutions to maintain religious identity within secular academia, as seen in recent efforts at the University of Texas at Austin, where nearly 41% of residents are millennials.

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Story summary

Austin's millennial population, now nearly 41% of residents, prompts Jesuit educators led by Father Matthew Baugh to establish a Catholic studies program at the University of Texas at Austin.
The program aims to provide rigorous academic formation in a secular environment.
Christian Hardigree was named president of Texas A&M University–Victoria, which joined the Texas A&M System, while the Trump administration proposed the Compact for Academic Excellence.

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