catalog2015-16

Introduction
Statement of Purpose
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.
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, Director of Postsecondary Licensing, Council on Postsecondary Education,
1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Frankfort, KY 40601 or sarah.levy@ky.gov.
Statement of Community and Non-Discrimination Statement
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
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