Convocations

Welcome to the Convo Page!

 

See below for

academic policies,

proposal information,

upcoming Convocations,

& more!

 

Convocation Policy 2025:

 

Students must swipe in and out of every convocation - no exceptions. 

 

Students who attend 12 Convocations in one academic year

will have one hour of “A” figured into their grade point average and noted on their transcript,

thereby boosting their GPA.

 

Students who do not attend 12 Convocations will remain unaffected.

 

For more information on the Convocation policy, please refer to the bottom of this page

 or reach out to the Convocation Manager, Erika Sengstack (erika.sengstack@centre.edu).

 

For reminders about upcoming events, see below or

follow on Instagram (@centreconvocations).

 

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UPCOMING PROPOSAL DEADLINES:
  • Fall '26 Early Review: Tuesday May 6, 2025
  •  
 
 
 

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Spring Convocations

(information is subject to change - visit

this site frequently for the most up-to-date information)

 

 

 

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Does Legal Mobile Sports Betting Affect Mental Health?

Friday April 18, 2025 | 7:30pm – Young 113

 

This Convocation event will feature a presentation on the impact of legal mobile sports betting on mental health and financial well-being, drawing on data from the Household Pulse Survey. The lecture will explore the effects of the staggered legalization of sports betting across U.S. states, focusing on its influence on self-reported mental health and financial distress. Contrary to widespread concerns, the findings suggest that legal access to online betting has no significant average impact on these measures at the population level. The presentation will also discuss the absence of significant differences across demographic groups that are more likely to engage in sports betting. This talk will provide timely insights into an ongoing policy debate regarding the societal implications of legal sports betting.

 

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Gender, Transnational Repression, and Perils of Technology (D&I)

Tuesday April 22, 2025 | 7:00pm – Young 113

 

Me Me Khant is a poet and human rights activist from Myanmar and a Centre alumni from Class of 2020. In this convocation, she will share her experience advocating for human rights at the intersection of gender, digital repression, and emerging technologies in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Myanmar's ongoing civil war. Drawing from firsthand experience and research, she will discuss the important role women play in Myanmar's democratic movement, and on the flip side, how women activists are increasingly targeted through digital harassment and transnational repression. The discussion will also explore the new and fast-changing vulnerabilities for women human rights defenders and diaspora communities through the lens of the rise of generative AI and other emerging technologies. She will examine cases from Myanmar and its neighbors, particularly focusing on how policies and regulations in the US – not only from the government but also from technology platforms – can have a sweeping impact in the human rights landscape in the region.

 

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James W. Barton RICE Symposium

Wednesday April 23, 2025 | 7:30pm – Vahlkamp

 

The James W. Barton RICE Symposium convocation features a panel of Division I, II and III alumni. They speak about how research at Centre helped prepare them for their career. We have a series of questions prepared, which we share ahead of time, that each panelist answers from the point of view of their experience in their professional field.

 

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How to Save Ourselves

April 23, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

April 24, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

April 25, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

April 26, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

 

The Farm Theater - College Collaboration Project –

A New Play by Enid Graham

April 23-25 @ 7:30pm

Directed by Jennifer Goff

How to Save Ourselves is the story of six mis-matched 20-somethings who come together to volunteer for six weeks at the Love Your Neighbor Food Initiative in the not-so-distant future. They all have their own reasons for being there, but Stephen and Antonio (who run the food bank) are just glad to have the help. In a world where climate emergencies, refugee crises, and violence seem like daily occurrences, it's sometimes hard to imagine how volunteering one day a week in one little food bank can make any difference at all. But when they find themselves in the midst of their own emergency, it turns out that maybe they have each other to turn to. And maybe, in this world, that might just be a miracle.

 

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John C. Young Honors Symposium (D&I)

SESSION I: Saturday April 26, 2025 | 9am -10:45am – Vahlkamp

SESSION II: Saturday April 26, 2025 | 11am – 12:45pm – Vahlkamp

 

This event showcases the exceptional research of the six seniors chosen as 2024-2025 class of John C. Young Scholars. Each scholar is briefly introduced by their faculty mentor, with whom they have been working closely on their project for a year or more. Then, the scholar presents part of their research to the audience for 25-30 minutes, followed by five minutes of Q +A. Traditionally, at the end of the symposium, the 2025-2026 scholars are announced. Our program typically does three presentations during Session I (taking roughly 90-95 minutes), then a break, and then three more presentations during Session II. Students can earn up to two convocation credits (one per Session).

 

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Kentucky Traditional Ensemble

Monday April 28, 2025 | 7pm – Combs Warehouse

 

This acoustic band, comprised of Centre student musicians, explores the ballad-singing and string-band traditions of the Appalachians, the bluegrass tradition of Central Kentucky, and more recent music inspired by these traditions.

 

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Kentucky Contemporary Ensemble

Tuesday April 29, 2025 | 7pm –  Combs Warehouse

 

The Kentucky Contemporary Ensembles performs music from 1950 to the present with connections to the traditions stemming from Kentucky and the American South, ranging from country, to blues, to soul, to pop and beyond.

 

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African Drumming Ensemble - Spring 2025

Monday May 5, 2025 | 7pm – Newlin Hall

 

This concert is a fun, vibrant, culturally exuberant, energized night where students show off their percussive talents for the Centre community, as well as the Danville community at large.

 

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Honors Convocation - Spring 2025  (2 credits!)

Wednesday May 7, 2025 | 7:30pm – Newlin Hall

 

Honor's Convocation is an opportunity for campus to come together at the end of the academic year to celebrate the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff members. 

 

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Spring Dance Concert 2025

Thursday May 8, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

 

The annual Spring Dance Concert is an exciting and entertaining evening of dance, performed by students enrolled in dance classes through Centre's Drama Program. The concert presents a variety of choreographic works by regional dance artists as well as students.

 

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Agathe & Adrien: N.Ormes Performance (D&I)

Monday May 12, 2025 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre

 

Blurring the lines between circus show, contemporary dance and performance art, N.Ormes invites audiences to question preconceived ideas. In this physically impressive and touching creation, duo Agathe Bisserier and Adrien Malette-Chénier push the limits and expectations of their own bodies and gender norms. Recent graduates of the famed Circus School of Québec, Agathe and Adrien have developed a unique, highly physical circus and dance vocabulary. The duo has worked with renowned cirque companies on European tours and circus festivals worldwide. N.Ormes will challenge you to question your own assumptions through a touching and intimate journey that will move you with a perfect blend of tears and laughter.

Recommended for ages 17 and older. Includes mature themes and brief nudity.

Important Info for Students, Staff, and Faculty

Tips, Tricks, and FAQ’s

 

  • Time Management: Plan your Convo schedule at the beginning of the term when the calendar goes out – and remember to double-check the details before the event to be sure nothing has changed.
  • Event Details: sometimes they change, so be sure to check the Convo page on Centrenet or follow @centreconvocations on Instagram for the most up-to-date information.
  • Arrive early- If you think the Convocation might reach capacity, arrive early to secure your seat.
  • Can I arrive late? No. Convocation Workers are instructed to stop scanning as soon as the event begins.
  • How do I know I’ve scanned in? When scanning your student ID, your photo should display with a green background; a red background indicates an invalid scan. 
  • I didn’t get my credit!! Any discrepancies in credit should be communicated to the Convocation Manager, Erika Sengstack, as soon as possible. To receive credit after an event, you will need a faculty/staff member to verify your attendance. 

 

 

 

 

Academic Policy

ALL full-time students who attend Centre for the entire academic year can earn a total of 12 convocation credits. Students who fulfill the requirement have one hour of ‘A’ figured into their grade point average and noted on their transcript. There will be no penalty if students do not attend convocations, although some faculty may assign them as part of their curriculum. Students who are not enrolled on a full-time basis for the full academic year still may complete the requirement by accumulating 12 credits. (NOTE: Convocation credits are not credit hours and do not count toward the 110 credit hours necessary for graduation.)

Students may submit a written appeal to the Convocation Committee Chair if extenuating circumstances may affect their ability to complete the convocation requirement. The petition must explain all the circumstances of why the student did not fulfill the 12 credit requirement. This appeal must be submitted by the last day of classes, to allow time for consideration before final grades are due. (NOTE: Appeals will rarely be approved, as there is no penalty if a student does not earn 12 credits.)

Students are required to follow the letter of the policy and be very careful about monitoring convocation credit.

 

Convocation Expectations

Students who abuse the system by swiping a card for a person who is not present, swiping multiple cards, or by behaving in violation of stated policy will lose convocation credit. Such deceit is considered a serious violation of academic honesty and the people involved are subject to disciplinary action by the Associate Dean or the Student Judiciary.  

As members of an audience, students are expected to be attentive and demonstrate mature, polite, and civil behavior. Computers and books should not be brought to convocations and cell phones should be turned off during the presentation. Students exhibiting inappropriate behavior will be told to leave by members of the audience, faculty, staff, or student convocation workers and will not receive convocation credit.

Convocation Credit System

To receive convocation credit, students must:

  • 1) scan their own Centre College ID card at a convocation station; 

  • 2) be seated before the program begins; 

  • 3) remain present throughout the full program; 

  • 4) scan their own Centre College ID card before leaving the event. 

Convo credit can only be given if ID cards are accurately scanned in and scanned out. Student ID cards may need to be replaced in the Student Life Office if the card does not register in the computer system. It is the student’s responsibility to bring Centre ID cards to convocations and to make sure the card scans accurately. This policy will be strictly enforced, and convocation credit will not be given to students who arrive late or who leave early or whose cards do not work in the convocation system. 

Students participating onstage or working backstage at an event can receive convocation credit if their supervisor (a faculty or staff member) sends a list of participants to the Convocation Manager, Erika Sengstack (ext. 5424).

Most events given convocation status are worth one credit.

Special events designated as campus-wide convocations are worth two credits.  Normally, Opening and Honors convocations are worth 2 credits.

Convocation Credit is entered and maintained by computer.  Students may check their convocation credit status by going to CentreNet, selecting the “Academic” tab, clicking “Academic Affairs,” then choosing “Convocations” and “Convocation Credits” from the drop down menus on the right side of the page. The individual student is responsible for verifying the online record’s accuracy and for notifying the Convocation Manager, Erika Sengstack, within one week of the convocation in question if there is a discrepancy. Students are urged to check their convocation credits frequently throughout the academic year. Students are encouraged NOT to wait until the end of the year to attempt to obtain the required 12 credits.

 

Convocation Credit Abroad

Students participating in Centre sponsored off-campus study programs receive convocation credit as follows:
• Fall term: 6 credits

• CentreTerm: 1 credit

• Spring Term: 6 credits

Students who participate in off-campus internships or non-Centre study abroad programs may petition the Convocation Committee for convocation credit. The Convocation Committee will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis.

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