International Student Services

Centre boasts a strong alumni network that spans the globe, and as our international student body on campus grows, so does our international alumni! For all Centre graduates, you can request access to the Colonel Connection, our alumni directory that can put you in contact with fellow Colonels based on factors such as region, class year, or directory. Prospective students can be on the lookout for events hosted by Centre alumni in their general area. There is also the Worldwide Centre Social, an annual event hosted throughout the world that brings Centre alumni together to celebrate their alma mater.

More information on alumni services

International students are eligible to work on-campus for up to twenty hours per week while school is in session and forty hours per week during holidays without special approval and without applying for OPT (Optional Practical Training). Jobs on campus are sometimes difficult to find, however, and no student should assume they will be able to work on campus. No international student may accept an internship or job off-campus without applying for OPT (job) or CPT (internship).

Students who work WILL need to apply for a social security number. This can be done at the local Social Security Office; trips to this office will be provided for international students during the first few weeks of the fall term.

Yes! All students are encouraged to get involved in any clubs or organizations on campus. Participation in extracurricular activities is a great way for international students to connect with their fellow peers outside of the classroom. In addition to Greek organizations, Centre offers a wide variety of clubs that fall under several categories: academic and professional, cultural, governmental, honor societies, performing arts, political, service and social awareness, spiritual and religious, sports and recreational, and student media and publications. EXPO during the first week of classes is a great time to get information about any club or organization you have interest in.

This program was created to help integrate international students into all aspects of Centre life, including classroom learning, extracurricular activities, campus organizations, and more; to create an atmosphere of support—academically, culturally, and personally—for new international students; and to provide new international students with a fellow student’s perspective on both academic and personal life at Centre.

During the first semester on campus, each international student will meet with their student mentor at least once a week whether it is for a meal, a convo, a local outing, or another activity. After Christmas, students will most likely meet with their mentors less often, although all are welcome and encouraged to spend as much time with their mentors as they would like. The student mentors are fellow students who truly want to get to know Centre’s international students and help them in any way possible.

This program is designed to introduce international students to American family life. Although Centre students won’t live with their host families, they will have the opportunity to spend time with them, whether it is during meals, local outings, or other activities.

Host families are chosen from both the Centre College community, such as college faculty, as well as from the greater Danville community. Pairings are made during the summer based on questionnaires answered by both the international students and the potential host families in order to take into account both parties’ preferences. More information on the Host Family Program will be provided to accepted International Students during the summer and New International Student Orientation.

We acknowledge the difficulties of studying far from home in college and we are committed to providing a variety of services and supportive structures. Our Parsons Student Health Services provides professional resources in a walk-in clinic style. International students are also highly encouraged to speak with the International Student Advisor, Jessica Leonard, located in Old Carnegie as well as other faculty on campus. The Host Family Program and the Student Mentor Program can also serve as additional forms of support.

Centre is a top-50 liberal arts college with professors dedicated to encouraging and challenging students academically. With over 40 majors and minors, students are encouraged to double major or minor, as well as participate in internships, collaborative research projects, and study abroad trips. International students can expect smaller-sized classrooms that foster class discussion and participation. For one-on-one advice, professors hold regular office hours throughout the week. For guidance relating to academic issues, such as class selection, each student will have an academic advisor. If there are ever concerns about English proficiency, our Language Specialist, Sean Flaherty, holds office hours for one-on-one assistance and hosts weekly conversation groups.

Centre operates on a 4-1-4 semester plan. There are two full semesters in the Fall and Spring terms. In between these full terms, we have a January-term, or “CentreTerm”. During this shorter semester of roughly 3 weeks, students are offered both classes that pertain to their majors and minors as well as exciting and unusual classes that are not regularly offered over the regular semesters. This shorter term is spent attending this one course for three hours a day, every day, in order that students can receive a full 3-hour credit. CentreTerm is also a wonderful time to study abroad as there are many trips not regularly offered during the full semesters.

Centre offers various meal plans, all of which include weekly swipes to be used in the Cowan Dining Hall and flex dollars that can be used at the Everyday Cafe or the Hall of Fame Cafe. Cowan Dining Hall offers a variety of foods and stations in an all-you-can-eat style. Monthly, the International Student Association (ISA) hosts a “Country of the Month”-themed night in which the dining hall serves several dishes inspired by that country. In addition to the dining hall, there is also the Everyday Cafe and the Hall of Fame Cafe. As mentioned above, Danville and surrounding cities offer a variety of restaurants. International students also enjoy communal kitchens in every dorm where they can prepare their favorite foods for themselves or to share with others. 

Danville is a charming town that offers the benefits of both city and small-town life. Danville is unusual in that it offers much of what you’d expect to find in a big city: Fortune 500 companies; a major medical complex; a variety of dining options from fast food to bistros to full-service restaurants with bars. And with Centre’s Norton Center for the Arts, Danville presents world-class entertainment. At the same time, many international students have found the small-town atmosphere perfect for studying and focusing on academics.

In addition to all that Danville has to offer, Centre is less than an hour away from Lexington, the second-largest city in Kentucky and the “Horse Capital of the World.” This city adds endless options for students whenever they want to venture out from Danville and Centre’s campus. Kentucky, in general, offers natural beauty that can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons, world-famous horse racing events, the world’s longest-known cave system inside Mammoth Cave National Park, and a rich history of unique culture and music.