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. Accreditation, Memberships, and Non-Discrimination Statement Centre College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097; telephone number 404-679-4501) to award the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Bachelor of Science degree. It 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, 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. As a fundamental policy, Centre College hires and promotes its employees and admits its students on the basis of merit, qualification, and character and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status in the administration of any of its educational or employment policies. Catalog Home