The purpose of the SECL is to host a speaker who would lecture to the university community, teach a class in their respective field, and have dinner with students. Centennial Fellows selected by the SECL have represented a broad range of fields and interests. The SECL has hosted a number of famous speakers including the noted journalist Bill Moyers, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, astronaut Robert Crippen, author Larry McMurtry, and Oscar award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones.

The SECL was created by the students, for the students, and is run by students. Nearly all programming choices are decided upon within the student-run committee that is advised by a representative of the University's Dean of Students office. Centennial Fellows are selected through student polling and SECL Committee deliberation.