Statement of Purpose
The following statement of purpose, framed by a group of students, faculty members, and administrators, was affirmed by the Council of Centre College and approved by the Board of Trustees. It sets forth the goals and mission of the College not only as an academic enterprise but also as a comprehensive educational community.
Centre College is a small, independent, and selective educational community dedicated to study in the liberal arts as a means to develop the intellectual, personal, and moral potential of its students. Centre nurtures in its students the ability to think logically and critically, to work creatively, to analyze and compare values, and to write and speak with clarity and grace. It acquaints students with the range of accomplishments of the human mind and spirit in a variety of arts and theoretical disciplines. It enables students to choose and fulfill significant responsibilities in society. In short, Centre’s highest priority is to prepare its students for lives of learning, leadership, and service.
A long and rich tradition of tolerance, freedom of enquiry, and community informs all aspects of college life. Centre accomplishes its goals in an atmosphere of caring and respectful relationships among faculty, students, and staff, aided by its broadly conceived, nonsectarian, Judeo-Christian heritage. This tradition commits Centre to a belief in the unconditional value of each human being, to an appreciation of the differences among people, and to a recognition of the close connection between responsible self-development and community well-being.
Mission Statement
First adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1999 and reaffirmed in 2015, the College’s mission stems from the broader Statement of Purpose. Centre College’s mission is to prepare students for lives of learning, leadership and service.
Statement of Community
We pledge continuing efforts to build and strengthen a community enriched by our differences and founded upon our common humanity. Centre respects the right of all members of the community to express their individuality in a manner that is consistent with the dignity and welfare of others. Centre strives to create an environment where differences are celebrated rather than discouraged, where individuals have the opportunity to exchange ideas and share in the richness of mutual experience. By valuing the individual’s total character over any single characteristic, Centre will maintain its unique community.
The Centre Commitment
The Centre Commitment guarantees students who meet the College’s academic and social expectations an internship or a research opportunity, study abroad, and graduation in four years. If a student is unable to secure the components of the Centre Commitment within four consecutive years of enrollment, the College will provide up to an additional year of study tuition-free.
Non-Discrimination Statement/Title IX
As a fundamental policy and in compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Centre College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, veteran's status, or genetic information in the administration of any of its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. Centre College hires and promotes its employees and admits its students on the basis of merit, qualification, and character.
Inquiries may be directed to Jamey Leahey, Vice President for Legal Affairs and Gift Planning, who is designated by the College to coordinate compliance efforts and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, as well as those under Section 504 and other applicable non-discrimination laws. You may reach Mr. Leahey at 859-238-5224. You may also reach him by mail at Centre College, 600 West Walnut St., Danville KY 40422. Further inquiries may be directed to the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation, Memberships and State Licensure
Centre College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Bachelor of Arts degree and Bachelor of Science degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Centre College.
Centre also holds membership in the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Associated Colleges of the South, the College Board, the American Council on Education, the Council of Independent Colleges, the Council on Undergraduate Research, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division III). We are associated with the Presbyterian Church through a formal covenant with the Synod of Living Waters.
Centre College is licensed to operate as an independent institution in Kentucky by the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education (CPE). To file a complaint against an institution licensed by CPE, please submit your complaint in writing to Sarah Levy, Executive Director of Postsecondary Licensing, Council on Postsecondary Education, 1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Frankfort, KY 40601 or sarah.levy@ky.gov.