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King's College (New York City)

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This article is about the Christian liberal arts college in New York City. For the undergraduate college of Columbia College, see Columbia College, Columbia University.

The King's College (TKC or simply King's) is a private non-denominational Christian liberal arts college in New York City.

The King's College
Arms of The King's College
TypePrivate liberal arts college
Established1938
AccreditationNone
Religious affiliation
Non-denominational Christian[1]
PresidentSteven French
ProvostHenry Bleattler
Location
New York City
,
New York
,
U.S.

40°42′24″N 74°0′44″W / 40.70667°N 74.01222°W / 40.70667; -74.01222
CampusUrban
ColorsBlue and white
NicknameLions
Sporting affiliations
USCAA
HVIAC
MascotLion
Websitetkc.edu

The King's College was founded in 1938 in Belmar, New Jersey, by Percy Crawford. The college re-located to the State of Delaware in 1941 and then to Briarcliff Manor, New York in 1955. Following its loss of accreditation in December 1993, the college closed in 1994.

After being taken over by Campus Crusade for Christ and acquiring Northeastern Bible College, The King's College re-opened in Manhattan in 1999. The college became independent of Campus Crusade in 2012. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the college faced financial challenges. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education withdrew accreditation from The King's College on August 31, 2023. The college did not open for the fall 2023 semester, but does not intend for its closure to be permanent. As of January 2024, the college was not accepting applications for admissions.[2]

History

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Early years

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Percy B. Crawford founded The King's College in 1938 in Belmar, New Jersey.[3] The school re-located in 1941 to a Lexington mansion on the 65-acre former estate of Major Philip Reybold near Delaware City, Delaware,[4] and again in 1955 to the former Briarcliff Lodge site in Briarcliff Manor, New York.[5] At Briarcliff, The King's College sponsored the King's Tournament, a sports tournament in which East Coast Christian college athletes competed each year.[3]

 
The Briarcliff Lodge, the main facility of the school's former Briarcliff Manor campus, c. 1980s

After Crawford's death,[6] Robert A. Cook became the college's second president in 1962.[7] The college prospered under his leadership, with enrollment growing to a high of 870 students in 1980.[8] After 23 years as president, Cook retired and became the college's chancellor in 1985, a position which he held until his death in 1991.[7] Friedhelm Radandt succeeded Cook to become the college's third president.[9] Nine years later, in December 1994, the New York Commissioner of Education ordered the college to shut down after the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the school's accreditation.[10][11] By 1994, the college had experienced years of declining enrollment, financial troubles, and the deterioration of the Briarcliff campus.[8] The college had purchased property for a new campus at Sterling Forest, but was prevented from selling the Briarcliff campus in a timely fashion. The college declared bankruptcy, owing more than $25 million to its creditors, mostly from the mortgage on the new campus.[12]

Reestablishment in New York City

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The King's College, New York City.

The college charter first granted by the New York Board of Regents in 1955 remained in force.[13] In 1997, the college's charter was amended to make Campus Crusade for Christ the sole member of the corporation.[13] Together with Campus Crusade founder Bill Bright, J. Stanley "Stan" Oakes, then the director of Faculty Commons,[14] a Campus Crusade ministry, began work to pay off the institution's debts and re-establish it in New York City. Instrumental in this process was the acquisition of Northeastern Bible College, which had experienced a decline and closure similar to that of King's.[15] In 1999, King's leased 45,000 square feet (4,200 m2) of space on three floors of the Empire State Building in New York City for classrooms, a student recreation center, and administrative offices,[5] and the College re-opened.[16] Radandt remained president, with Oakes as chairman.[13] In January 2003, Oakes became the fourth president. Five years later, Oakes became chancellor and board member Andy Mills served as interim president.

Beginning in 2009, the college was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation was reaffirmed in 2015.[17]

Following treatment for brain cancer, Oakes reassumed the presidency on January 1, 2009 although by December 2009, Andy Mills was again serving as served as interim president.[18]

On August 23, 2010, the college announced the appointment of the conservative Christian writer Dinesh D'Souza as its new president. This proved to be a turbulent time for the college as much of the faculty did not agree with D'Souza's far-right media associations. On October 18, 2012, D'Souza resigned his post at the school shortly after it became known that he booked a room at a hotel with a woman who was not his wife. D'Souza claimed to be engaged to be married[19] despite the fact that he was still married to his estranged wife.[20] While a search committee was formed to select a permanent president, Andy Mills filled in for a third time.[21]

In 2012, the college relocated from the Empire State Building to a new location one block south of Wall Street on Broadway. The college also became independent of Campus Crusade in 2012.[1][22]

On July 11, 2013, the college announced the appointment of Gregory Alan Thornbury, former dean of the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, as the sixth president of the institution.[23]

On November 21, 2017, the college announced that Thornbury would become its chancellor and retired Air Force Brigadier General Tim Gibson would serve as interim president.[24] In June 2018, the college purchased a former hotel in the Financial District to become a student residence. Gibson was formally appointed the seventh president of King's on August 21, 2018.[25] Gibson resigned in August 2022.[26][27] Stockwell Day, former finance minister for the Canadian province of Alberta, was appointed as the interim president.[28][29] On May 8, 2023, Steven French was appointed interim president.[30]

2023 financial struggles and loss of accreditation

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In February 2023, the college's accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) sought additional information regarding its "teach-out plan".[17] In March 2023, the MSCHE placed the college on "show cause" status after rejecting its plan.[31][17][32] This action required the college to demonstrate its compliance with MSCHE standards by April 18, 2023, or face the loss of its accreditation.[32]

In March 2023, King's began notifying students that it might soon close due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An emergency loan extended the school's operations through the end of the spring 2023 semester, however students living in apartments arranged by the college received eviction notices due to rent non-payment by the college to the landlords.[33][34][35] King's pursued negotiations with seven other colleges to create preferred transfer agreements.[36]

On May 26, 2023, the MSCHE withdrew its accreditation of The King's College; the withdrawal of accreditation was made effective as of August 31, 2023.[17][37] The college appealed this decision on June 12, 2023.[17] One week later, the college announced that it would not hold classes in the fall of 2023 and reduced the number of faculty and staff positions. The college also noted that it did not intend for the closure to be permanent.[38][39][17][40] On July 27, 2023, the MSCHE noted that it considered King's to be closed and that the closure of the college terminated the college's June 12 appeal.[17]

The college's financial challenges were documented in the 2023 Demise of the Crown podcast, produced by the Empire State Tribune, the King's student-led news outlet.[41][42]

Still, as of January 2024, The King's College claimed they intend to, "challenge the Middle States Commission on Higher Education's action to withdraw accreditation" and continues to fundraise.[43] The New York State Education Department lists King's as a "potential closure" and that since July 2023, the college has not had any students.[44]

Presidents

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Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ a b "King's to become independent of Campus Crusade". The Empire State Tribune - The Award-Winning Student Newspaper of the King's College. October 11, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  2. ^ "Admissions". The King's College. June 21, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "About King's – The King's College". Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Crawford, Dan (2010). A Thirst for Souls: The Life of Evangelist Percy B. Crawford (1902–1960). Selinsgrove: Susquehanna University Press. ISBN 978-1575911489.
  5. ^ a b Segal, David (February 20, 2008). "God And The City". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  6. ^ The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. "'As This Is Our First Broadcast...': Biography of Percy B. Crawford". Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  7. ^ a b Narvaez, Alfonso A. (March 16, 1991). "Rev. Robert Cook, Author, Dies at 78; Led King's College". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Briarcliff Lodge and The King's College". www.hudsonvalleyruins.org. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "History". The King's College. November 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Bird, Warren (November 14, 1994). "State Closes King's College". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "The King's College to Close This Month". The Chronicle of Higher Education. December 7, 1994. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Carnes, Tony (February 9, 1998). "King's College Resurrection Signals Big Apple's Renewal", Christianity Today, p. 60. Retrieved November 10, 2009
  13. ^ a b c "Regents Item". www.regents.nysed.gov. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Our History | Faculty Commons". www.facultycommons.com. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  15. ^ Aviv, Rachel (April 4, 2006). "On High." The Village Voice. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  16. ^ "History". The King's College. November 12, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "King's College, The". Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "The Inside Story Of The King's College Death Spiral Of 2023". Religion Unplugged. May 12, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dinesh D'Souza Resigns as President of The King's College". October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  20. ^ Peretz, Evgenia (May 2015). "Get a Rare Glimpse of Dinesh D'Souza's Life After Conviction". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  21. ^ "Staying the Course – The King's College". October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  22. ^ Leedy, David (May 4, 2012). "The End of an Era". The King's College. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Gregory Alan Thornbury Named as Sixth President – The King's College". July 11, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  24. ^ "The King's College Board of Trustees Announces Leadership Restructuring – The King's College". The King's College. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  25. ^ "Tim Gibson Named Seventh President of The King's College – The King's College". The King's College. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  26. ^ Giatti, Ian M. (August 23, 2022). "'Time for a change': Tim Gibson to step down as president of The King's College". The Christian Post. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  27. ^ Huspen, Melinda; Garcia Au, Myrian (August 14, 2022). "President Tim Gibson Resigns from The King's College". Empire State Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "Stockwell Day". The King's College. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "'Different Campaign, Different General' – Q&A With King's Interim President, Stockwell Day". Empire State Tribune. September 15, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Steve French". The King's College. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  31. ^ Moody, Josh (March 30, 2023). "The King's College Hit With Show Cause Order". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "MSCHE Requires The King's College (NY) To Show Cause". Middle States Commission on Higher Education. March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023.
  33. ^ Stack, Liam (March 17, 2023). "The Second Life of a Christian College in Manhattan Nears Its End". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  34. ^ Chang, Clio (March 10, 2023). "Christian-College Students Got Eviction Notices at Their Luxury Dorms". Curbed. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  35. ^ "The Importance of Christian Higher Education". Empire State Tribune. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  36. ^ Huspen, Melinda (March 2, 2023). "King's Reveals Seven Transfer Schools at Latest Community Update". Empire State Tribune. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023.
  37. ^ Biever, Nicole (May 26, 2023). "MSCHE Withdraws Accreditation from The King's College (NY)". Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  38. ^ Moody, Josh. "No Classes, No Accreditation, No Closure?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Gryboski, Michael (July 21, 2023). "The King's College of NYC won't hold classes this fall after losing accreditation". The Christian Post. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  40. ^ "The King's College students grapple with fall plans". WORLD. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  41. ^ "Broadway & Exchange". Spotify. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  42. ^ "Empire State Tribune". Empire State Tribune. August 8, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  43. ^ "The King's College in New York City". The King's College. November 19, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  44. ^ "Closures of Degree-Granting Institutions". New York State Education Department. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  45. ^ "Office of the President". The King's College. June 21, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2023.

Further reading

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