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The King's College, New York City is a private, non-denominational, Christian institution of higher education, located in the Empire State Building in New York City. King’s is a Christian college but also, in comparison to the academic mainstream, a conservative one – and is listed as such in 2007’s Intercollegiate Studies Institute guide to the top 50 colleges. [citation]

The college’s mission statement is: “Through its commitment to the truths of Christianity and a biblical worldview, The King’s College seeks to transform society by preparing students for careers in which they help to shape and eventually to lead strategic public and private institutions, and by supporting faculty members as they directly engage culture through writing and speaking publically on critical issues.”

The class entering in 2006 had the fourth-highest SAT average of any Christian college in the country (after Wheaton, Patrick Henry, and Grove City); its score would put it in the 51st-75th rank in ‘‘US News and World Report’s’’ annual survey of over 1,000 American colleges. [citation]

History
The King’s College was founded by Percy Crawford in 1938. In 1991, King’s purchased land in Tuxedo, New York, with the intent of moving there from its Briarcliff Manor campus. The deal went sour and the college was forced to close its doors in 1994, but it kept its charter. Attaining a higher education charter in New York is difficult and Stan Oakes, who would eventually become the King’s president, saw opportunity among the embers. Mr. Oakes had over a decade of experience working with secular academia and desired to start a competitive college where students would learn not only the Bible but universal questions asked by those who reject the Bible – with the goal of helping students speak biblical truth in a compelling way. Oakes wanted students to learn economics that emphasized opportunity rather than government-mandated redistribution. He wanted students to understand that politics is more than popular sovereignty, and liberty (as Lincoln stated) is more than the ability to do anything with anyone: It must include the freedom to do what’s right. [citation for Lincoln] Oakes wanted philosophy to be the exercise of God-given reason for illuminating God’s created order, not for denying that order. Mr. Oakes joined forces with Friedhelm Radandt, the King’s president who was striving to reopen the school. In 1996, Oakes personally borrowed $100,000 (at 18 percent interest) in the belief that he could raise that amount and more to get the College started. His faith was not unfounded. Donor’s excited about the vision for the college came forward even though (at the time) King’s had no building or professors. “People contributed to the ideal,” Oakes now recalls. [Citation] Key donors stepped up. In 1998, one said “I’ll give you $5 million if you can match it in four months.” Oakes did it, and King’s lived again – but where?

The next step was deciding the College’s location. In 1999 Oakes had what he calls an “epiphany” to start the school in the city. “New York City was the more strategic [than a rural setting]. Just look at Wall Street, media, the United Nations, 100 languages in Queens.... Christians were coming to do ministries in the city, but it was only for the poor. I wanted to have a college for everyone.”

The King’s College officially re-opened in 1999 in the Empire State Building with 17 students, all from New York City. [citation] Stan Oakes’s spunky wife Ginger recalls King’s beginnings in the ESB: “The lower level was a dripping, dirty basement until we could renovate it. But it was so much fun, every step of the way, God was keeping us alive.” The “dirty basement” became five new classrooms, a small but inviting library, and eating area for students, and offices for admissions and student services. King’s also created a student lounge on the floor above, and fifteen floors above that, administrative offices.

Each subsequent class brought more students from more locations in the US and around the world. The College was growing slowly but surely. At the end of 2002 Dr. Radandt retired and Mr. Oakes became president. The King’s academic program also grew as professors strong in theory and earnest about teaching found Philosophy, Politics and Economics a comfortable home. By 2005 it was providing nearly 250 students an intellectually coherent education.

Changes at King’s in 2007 included appointment of Dr. Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-Chief of World magazine and University of Texas professor, to be Provost. [citation] In May 2007, President Oakes received a diagnosis of cancer, and Andy Mills, chairman of the board, assumed administrative duties. In January 2008, successful treatment allowed Mr. Oakes to return to the College as the newly appointed Chancellor.

Academics
A King’s College education emphasizes intellectual breadth and practical applications founded in the truths of Christianity and a biblical worldview. The college has purposely fought cultural impulses to abandon or trivialize ideals of economic, political, and religious freedom. Two of the most powerful ways it does this is through refining students’ capacity for abstract thought and principled communication.

The location of the College provides numerous opportunities to learn and engage. To harness this ability, courses whenever possible include a New York City component. King's students study contemporary society not only in the classroom but also in Times Square and Central Park, on Wall Street and Broadway, and at the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, the TriBeCa Film Festival, the Bowery Mission, and television network headquarters.

Common Core
The “intellectual center” of the King’s College’s academic program are twenty “Common Core” classes that acquaint students with “the best ideas, the most important arguments, and the most influential traditions.”  The courses are spread through the student’s four-year education so that each course builds on the one before. By the time they graduate, students are equipped to communicate clearly and engage important issues through the “written and spoken word” in whatever career they pursue.

The “Common Core” is a recognition that “some subjects are more fundamental than others; that subjects are best learned in a specific sequence; and that truly advanced courses must be built on secure foundations.”

Philosophy, Politics and Economics
The PP&E program has melded a prestigious program begun at Oxford University during the 1920s with an emphasis on a Christian worldview. Politics, Philosophy and Economics weaves together the academic disciplines that examine the nature of human communities. “Politics deals with the question, ‘How should we govern ourselves?’ Philosophy asks, ‘What can we know through reason?’ And economics asks, ‘How can the community prosper within the constraints of the material world?’” Students read The Federalist Papers and Alexis de Tocqueville, Plato and Aristotle, Adam Smith and Milton Friedman. The emphasis is decidedly decentralist in politics, classical in philosophy, and free market (with biblical ethics) in economics. “All PP&E courses at The King’s College have a strong theological component. It is based on the idea that Christianity gives powerful insights into the key questions that political theorists, philosophers, and economists pursue.” [citation] Students in the PP&E program prepare for public debate and advocacy. The curriculum places persuasive writing and speaking at the center of nearly every course. The aim is to prepare graduates who are not just knowledgeable about the world, but ready to act in the world. [citation]

Business Management
The Business Management Program teaches King’s students “not just the techniques of management, such as accounting and marketing, but also how to understand the social, political, and economic foundations of free markets.” It is not enough for students to become wealthy, they must be equipped to act wisely in prosperity, face the ethical questions their success brings, and use what they have for the betterment of society. This can only be done through a “commitment to personal integrity.”

To give students this training, King’s “Business Management classes are taught both by full-time faculty members and people currently working in the fields they teach. Faculty members include a venture capitalist, a former bank executive, and a Wall Street investment specialist. The program aims to prepare students to manage both profit and non-profit organizations.”

PP&E Concentrations
PP&E students may use five of their electives to concentrate in Media, Literature, Theology, or Foundations of Education. Concentrations are opportunities for students to investigate disciplines or fields of study they may wish to study in a graduate program or as a vocation. [citation]

Media
“The Media Concentration focuses on the history, economics, and cultural and political influence of mass communication. The PP&E Concentration in Media is ‘‘‘not’’’ technical training in media production. Rather it offers students the opportunity to examine in some depth what the media are and how they shape our society. “Throughout five courses, students in the Media Concentration meet journalists, writers, editors, TV and film producers, and other figures who work in the media in New York.” [citation]

Literature
The Literature Concentration program of five courses is “designed for students who seek to gain a broad familiarity with arts and letters. This Concentration equips students with a firsthand knowledge of great works of literature and allows those works, as much as possible, to speak for themselves.” [citation] King’s Literature Concentration is different from the literature programs of other colleges in that it “is focused almost entirely on reading original works by great writers.” The focus of this concentration is on literary works, not modern ideas about literature or imposing modern ideas onto classical literature. Students learn to read, interpret, and grapple with the issues presented in the texts for themselves. [citation]

Theology
“In the Theology Concentration, students study Christian Scripture and tradition with the goal of being conformed to the mind of Christ. Through biblical scholarship and historical and systematic theological reflection, our faculty helps students develop a lens through which to understand the modern world.” [citation] The courses are grounded in the history of the Old and New Testament combined with “hermeneutical tools to interpret [them] in light of contemporary epistemological challenges.” Students study both the history of the church, “the experience of the faithful in various times and places, and the complexity of the world’s religious traditions.” [citation] “These courses are offered in the context of a liberal arts program, and they aspire to affirm all that is worthy in human knowledge, culture, and experience. Throughout, students are challenged to integrate faith and learning and to develop a deeper knowledge and love of God.” [citation]

Foundations of Education
The Foundations of Education Concentration consists of five courses that provide an overview of education. “This concentration is intended for students who may wish to pursue careers in teaching, school administration, or educational policy. It is ‘‘‘not’’’, however, a teacher-training program. Students who take the Foundations of Education Concentration do not receive teacher certification.”

Students study the history, theory, and practice of modern education to learn its influence on the politics, philosophy, and economics of today. [citation]

Semester in the City
Semester in the City is a one-semester program that provides the opportunity for students to study in New York City. Students live in housing near the Empire State Building and take five classes, specially selected around a chosen theme, by distinguished King's professors. Fall 2008's theme is Journalism and the city is integrated into the curriculum as students interact with leaders in the news media.

"The Semester in the City program combines the best of The King’s College with the uniqueness of New York City to create an intense and powerful educational experience."

For more information, visit the King's website.

Faculty
Engagement, not separation, is a key policy at King’s. Professors are expected to put their students in touch with urban reality as well as theory. One King’s economics professor, Alex Tokarev, grew up in Bulgaria and saw firsthand what Marxism wrought, so he emphasizes free-market economics. He wants his students to be able to critique strong proponents of the other side, not straw men, so he invited to speak in his class a neo-Marxist who had founded the Union for Radical Political Economics. Students proved able to critique her arguments. Urban studies professor Anne Hendershott agreed to leave her longtime, tenured post at the University of San Diego to teach a course on New York City for all entering King’s freshmen in fall 2008. A former legislator with a Ph.D. will soon be joining the politics-teaching staff – and so on. [citation]

Professors at King’s are expected not only to teach students in the classroom but to show students how to engage American culture by appearing on and writing in the pages of mass media. Manhattan is not the ideal place for a professor who merely wants to write in his office. If one goal, though, is to teach not only in the classroom but through interviews on television network news shows that originate just down the street, the location makes sense. To stay a professor at King’s, each faculty member has to be an excellent teacher, and beyond that walk either the scholarly path (which could mean journal articles, although readable books are better), the public intellectual path (media appearances, newspaper and magazine columns), or the college service path (every institution needs a few people to do the heavy lifting on committees). For a full list of faculty at the King’s College, visit the King’s website.

Internships
Accessibility to internship opportunities is a strategic part of a college education in New York City. The experience gained from these positions is invaluable in gaining a sense of the working world and a foot in some doors. King’s students taking five intensive courses, especially if they need to work for income, do not have time for priceless but also cashless internships.

A policy change starting January 2008, allows many students to gain academic credit for their internship, which means they can take four courses rather than five and have the time to intern. King’s students have already done internships year round at powerful institutions such as NBC, ESPN, Sony, ABC, and FOX News. With the changes making life as an intern a little bit more accessible, the College looks forward to seeing even more students take part in these once-in-a-lifetime experiences. [citation]

Campus
Students live in the Herald Towers and the Vogue, two high rise buildings off of Herald Square, only a short walk walk from the school. Both buildings are near Macy’s department store and it is a favorite student pastime to attend Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The King’s College’s classrooms and administrative offices are located in the Empire State Building, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The art, history, and culture in Manhattan are a living learning experience that King’s students engage every day. The campus is a ten minute walk from The New York Public Library, while the headquarters of the New York Times, Condè Nast Publishing, Time Warner, the Hearst Corporation, HarperCollins, Random House, Simon & Schuster, ABC, CBS, NBC, MTV, Fox News, HBO, Comedy Central, are within a slightly longer fifteen minute walk. Then there is Times Square, Central Park, Wall Street, Broadway, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, the TriBeCa Film Festival, the Bowery Mission, and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

Guest Speakers
King’s uses its central location and connections to bring in speakers and discussants, Christian and non-Christian, who connect theory with the world outside classroom walls. In fall, 2007 Michael Gerson, Amity Schlaes, Myron Magnet, Hanna Rosin, and other authors all dropped in for conversation with students and professors. Dinesh D’Souza and Christopher Hitchens debated Christianity and atheism in a King’s event that not only drew students but hundreds of New Yorkers, plus the cameras of C-SPAN, FOX News, and many others. [citation]

Student Life
Like every other aspect of King’s the philosophy of student life is different from other schools. Students at King’s are not children learning their vocation for when they are “all grown up.” The moment they enter the doors they are treated and expected to behave like responsible adults. Instead of living in defended dorms, the students inhabit apartments in huge buildings across from Macys. They live alongside New Yorkers of every race and creed – and no one tells them what music they can listen to or which movies they can watch.

A survey of King’s students in 2006 showed that they liked the Manhattan location and the emphasis on teaching students ‘‘how’’ to think rather than just ‘‘what’’ to think. They liked the simple Honor Code – don’t lie, cheat, or steal -- that stood in place of pages of minute rules about what to listen to or watch. [citation]

Despite being an active Christian college, there is no compulsory chapel at the school, opening the door to student-generated spiritual activities. King’s pays more attention to changes in students’ minds and hearts than what they wear or what hour is bedtime.

Student Organizations

 * ‘‘The Artisan’s Guild’’ is the longest currently operating student organization at King’s. It is a student run collective of artists from all media backgrounds that puts on annual events showcasing student art and talent. [www.tkcartisans.org]
 * “BreadBreakers” is a student group that meets weekly for potluck-style dinners. Many of King’s students participate in this group and it has become a great place for student community. [www.tkcbreadbreakers.com]


 * “The King's Dancers” is a student led organization that seeks to build community through dance practices, performances, and outings.


 * “The King's College Film Society” gathers to watch and discuss thought-provoking and controversial films. Through the selected films and the dialog that follows, they examine the ideas that shape media and culture.


 * “The King's Council” is the student government at the King’s College. It supports the student body by appropriating funds, planning the spring formal, and enabling student initiatives.


 * “Student Voice” is the King’s College’s official student newspaper.


 * “The Tent” is a student initiated and run time of Christian worship and prayer. Attendance is not mandatory, yet it remains one of the most popular organizations on campus.


 * “The King's College Intramural Table Tennis League” is a student-organized table tennis tournament that lasts five weeks.


 * “The King’s College Running Club” provides an opportunity for students and staff to train together and find other runners who challenge them.

House System
A House system within the big apartment buildings encourages students to disciple each other and develop leadership skills by managing budgets and generating activities. All students enrolled at the college are enrolled in houses, in lieu of sororities or fraternities. King’s believes community and not hazing or “rush week” should be the center of student interaction. Houses provide opportunities for students to connect in the giant metropolis of Manhattan. Each house is run by upper-classmen and two faculty/staff members of the College.

Houses are communities in which students develop strong ties and discover the meaning of friendship. Whether it’s connecting in small groups, praying for each other, or working together on a project to influence people in New York City, houses provide multiple opportunities for Christian growth. The house system also supports the intellectual life of King's and teaches students invaluable lessons about teamwork and influence. Members also work together to influence New York City by reaching out to local high schools, coordinating blood drives, or mentoring urban youth. [citation]

House Names
The nine houses are named after influential, historic figures.
 * House of C. S. Lewis
 * House of Clara Barton
 * House of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 * House of Elizabeth I
 * House of Margaret Thatcher
 * House of Ronald Reagan
 * House of Sojourner Truth
 * House of Susan B. Anthony
 * House of Winston Churchill

The Policy Center
King’s College rhetoric professor (and former Jersey City mayor) Bret Schundler launched a policy center in 2007 to market podcasts of the best public policy speeches and author conversations. Schundler, helped by King’s students, organizes these into modules with commentary that will help listeners grasp the complexities of issues without having to spend weeks watching C-SPAN and Book TV. Subscribers will also automatically receive a web-feed and periodic new audio or video files. [citation]

Interregnum
Interregnum is a mid-semester, special focus event during which TKC students explore a single topic of national importance. Each year’s interregnum is focused on a different subject of discussion and investigation. Past topics include: truth, secularism, and difficulty. Students arrange events, including lectures from distinguished scholars, formal debates, art exhibits, and historical sketches.