Summary of Policy-Making Structure

Ultimate management and control of Centre College rests with a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, which elects the President of the College to serve as its executive officer and as the chief executive officer of the College. The President “shall have all authority necessary to conduct the programs of the College, except that which may be expressly withheld by the Board” (Appendix A: By-Laws of Centre College of Kentucky, Article VI.3). The President reports to the Board of Trustees and is responsible for submitting to it “a comprehensive annual budget for the operation of the College.” Once this budget has been approved by the Board, the President “shall be authorized to conduct the affairs of the College in accordance therewith and to conduct any transactions embodied therein.” (By-Laws, Article VIII.1)

The Faculty of the College -- which consists of all full-time employees of the College with faculty rank, with the Director of the Library as an ex-officio member -- has been delegated by the Board exclusive responsibility for recommending candidates for graduation to the President and the Board of Trustees. The Faculty shall oversee and recommend to the Dean of the College policies governing the selection, retention, promotion, and professional growth of members of the Faculty. The Faculty has been delegated the “primary responsibility and authority, subject to the general governing authority of the Board of Trustees, to establish policy and adopt regulations governing matters of curriculum, academic standards, methods of instruction, examinations, research, and requirements for graduation.” (The Faculty, and Appendix B)

The College Council -- which consists of 15 members of the Faculty, elected by the Faculty; eight students, elected by the Student Government Association; and eight members of the staff, elected by the Staff Congress, as well as the following ex-officio voting members: the President of the College, the Dean of the College, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, the Athletic Director, the President of the Faculty, the President and Speaker of the House of the Student Government Association, the President of the Staff Congress and the chairs of standing committees of the Council -- has been delegated the “primary responsibility and authority subject to the general governing authority of the President of the College and the Board of Trustees, to establish policy and adopt regulations on matters of concern to the College community as a whole.” (The College Council, and Appendix C)

NOTE: The By-Laws of the Faculty and the Council are included in PART VII: APPENDICES, Appendices B and C.