Statement on Community, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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.
We pledge continuing efforts to build and strengthen a community enriched by our differences and founded upon our common humanity. 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.
Centre embraces the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral to the college mission. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to teaching, learning, service, scholarship, and community to stimulate creativity, critical thinking, leadership, discovery, love, and global citizenship.
- Diversity is the complex representation of factors such as ability, age, citizenship status, class, ethnicity, faith background, gender expression, gender identity, geographic region, national origin, neurodiversity, race, and sexual orientation that comprise individual and group expressions of identity (alphabetized and not ranked).
- Equity is fair treatment, access, and advancement for all people. Equity begins with an understanding of the root causes of disparities and injustices within our society. It then requires identifying and removing barriers and exclusions in structures, policies, practices, decisions, and norms that hinder or deny equitable access to opportunities, resources and justice.
- Inclusion is diversity activated and consists of intentional acts to foster belonging. Belonging is the feeling of security and support to be one’s authentic self. Inclusive environments are those in which a person is welcomed, valued, empowered, and able to thrive and fully participate.
Board of Trustees Statement on Diversity
We Trustees hold this to be true for all parts of the Centre community: The Board of Trustees, the faculty, the staff, and the student body. Pertaining to the Board of Trustees itself, we affirm that diversity and inclusion are critical to the Board’s effectiveness in leading the College. Thus, as the Board exercises its responsibility to select the best and the brightest individuals to serve as trustees, we recognize that diversity in its membership is an essential priority. In addition, the Board will endeavor to set policies, identify resources, and encourage sound practices designed to achieve diversity among the faculty, staff, and the student body.
Non-Discrimination Statement
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 education or employment policies. Centre College hires and promotes its employees and admits its students on the basis of merit, qualification, and character.