On August 15, 1990, Pope John Paul II issued his text on Catholic higher education, Ex Corde Ecclesia (From the Heart of the Church). The document outlines in general terms the papal vision of the identity and mission of Catholic universities and sets forth specific norms to accomplish this. From the viewpoint of this document, Benedictine University is an institution that is a Catholic university and the principles of the Apostolic Constitution do apply.

• Ex Corde Ecclesia – Link to the official Vatical document
  
  
• National Conference of Catholic Bishops Ex corde Ecclesiae – The Application to the United States
  
  
• Ex Corde Ecclesiae And its Application to Benedictine University – The Context in Which Ex Corde Ecclesiae was written
  
  
• Ex Corde Ecclesiae Notes on Underlying Assumptions, Implementation, and Flexibility – University Seminar, "The Catholic University and the Catholic Church"
  
  
• Ex Corde Ecclesiae and Its Application to Benedictine University – Summary of Work at Benedictine University

During the 2003-2004 school year, a committee was formed with the charge to review Ex Corde Ecclesia and to develop an implementation / assessment system.

Members of the committee are: (in alphabetical order)

• Abbot Hugh Anderson, O.S.B.
• John Kevin Doyle, Ph.D.
• Ralph D. Meeker, Ph.D.
• Martin J. Tracey, Ph.D.
• Fr. David Turner, O.S.B., Ph.D., D.Min. (Prin.)