A Centre education is intensely personal and deeply engaging. It enables students to excel as undergraduates and to go on to achieve extraordinary success in advanced study, careers, and life. Many elements contribute to Centre's outstanding education: talented students; challenging and supportive teachers; excellent facilities; financial strength; an alumni body known for national leadership, achievement, and loyalty; the friendly, family-like atmosphere; a living sense of connection with the past; and a vision of new levels of achievement for the future. Our combination of first-quality academics and a supportive, stimulating environment gives students the intellectual and social skills they need to succeed—while at Centre and later in graduate and professional schools and in their careers. One sign that our alumni appreciate the educational advantages they received at Centre: the Alumni Factor named Centre graduates “the happiest group of graduates in the country.” U.S. News regularly names Centre to lists for "best undergraduate teaching" and "best value." For more information about Centre College, visit www.centre.edu.
Shared Responsibility
Among the abundant opportunities for growth and experience that Centre offers outside the classroom, perhaps the most significant is shared responsibility in campus governance. At Centre, students, faculty, and staff members work together to create a community that brings freedom and responsibility into a healthy balance. Through careful attention to the organization of a strong student government and by making positions of significant responsibility available to students, Centre gives concrete meaning to terms such as democratic values and civic duty. Students take an active part in College decision-making through their roles in student government or—with faculty and staff—as members of the College Council. Students serve with faculty on each major's program committee, advising on curriculum and major requirements. They also take the primary responsibility for regulating the conduct of their peers through the Student Judiciary. Such shared decision-making and responsibility are an essential part of the Centre education. It is a liberal arts and sciences education in the true sense, educating the whole person, building self-esteem and self-confidence, and teaching concepts such as democracy and civic responsibility on a practical level.
Campus Governance
The College Council. Although Centre is legally governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees, its academic and community life is governed in part by the College Council. The council consists of representatives from the faculty (15), staff (10), and students (10), as well as designated College administrators. Student members are elected by the Student Government Association. Two student representatives serve on the steering committee of the council. Students are appointed in reasonable proportion to all committees of the council and carry equal responsibility with other members. The one exception is that they do not participate in consideration of matters involving the confidential records of other students.
Student Government Association. The Student Government Association is the official executive and legislative body for student discussion, decision, and action. It is composed of elected student representatives and student senators, and the executive committee. A major responsibility of the SGA is to allocate funds to student organizations. The SGA president serves as a nonvoting representative to the board of trustees. The SGA represents the student body primarily in matters relating to the standards and practices of nonacademic student activities and services.
The Student Judicial System. The judicial powers of the Student Government Association are exercised by the Student Judiciary. The Student Judiciary is a panel composed f 16 students elected by the student body, which hears cases involving violations of College policy or other misconduct.
The Fraternity and Sorority Systems. By its approval of the Interfraternity Council constitution, the College has granted a substantial degree of self-governance to the campus fraternity system, of which the Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the executive and legislative body. The IFC regulates and coordinates the affairs and activities of the six social fraternities on campus in conformance with the published campus and residence regulations of the College. Both the IFC and the College subscribe to the policies and positions of the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, North-American Interfraternity Conference, and Fraternity Executives Association. The Panhellenic Council regulates and coordinates the affairs and activities of the five social sororities on campus in conformity with the published campus regulations of the College. The Panhellenic Association subscribes to the National Panhellenic Conference guidelines as outlined in the Manual of Information. A special contract between the men’s and women’s Greek organizations and Centre is spelled out in the “Statement of Mutual Responsibility.” Alleged violations of Interfraternity Council regulations are heard by the judiciary committee of the IFC, and alleged violations of Panhellenic Association regulations are heard by the executive committee of the Panhellenic Association.
Athletics
Participation in athletics is important because it contributes to the education of the whole student. Athletics serve as a learning experience, as a healthy activity, and as just plain fun. Centre’s program offers competition options for the novice, the expert, and everyone in between.
Intramurals. An active intramural sports program gives Centre students the chance to meet on the playing field with fellow students as well with the faculty and staff members who participate in the program.
Intercollegiate Competition. Centre sponsors 24 intercollegiate teams, providing an opportunity for nearly 600 student-athletes annually to participate in college athletics. Centre is a member of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division III. All SAA member institutions adhere to a policy of not awarding financial aid to a student for participation in athletics.
Residence Life
To promote the atmosphere of closeness and community that is an important part of Centre, the College normally requires that students live in College residences and take their meals on campus. The main dining hall serves three meals daily. All meal plans include Flex Dollars that can be used at the Flame Café and the Hall of Fame Café.
Health Services
On-campus health services are available in the Parsons Student Health Center, on the first floor of Sutcliffe Hall across from the pool entrance. Parsons is a small health clinic which provides medical care on a walk-in basis for acute common illnesses and minor injuries. Parsons Student Health Center can also provide continuing maintenance of medication for routine chronic ailments. Parsons staff can find specialists in the community when needed for illnesses that require more extensive treatment than can be provided through the clinic. Parsons makes available certain routine medications at minimal expense in order to save students both time and money.