Statement of Accreditation Status
King’s College, The
- CEO: Mr. Steve French, Interim President
- Accreditation Liaison Officer: Mr. Christian Stempert
- Commission Staff Liaison: Dr. Presence Product Group, Vice President
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus » Four-year, very small, highly residential
- Control: Private (Non-Profit)
- Phase: Formerly Accredited
- Status: Unapproved Institutional Closure
- Candidacy Granted: 2007
- Accreditation Granted: 2009
- Last Reaffirmation: 2015
On July 27, 2023, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education acted to acknowledge the institutional closure of The King's College (NY) while on adverse action status. Accreditation ceased effective August 31, 2023. As of September 1, 2023, The King's College (NY) is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org. Additional information will be added to this site. Please continue to visit as more information becomes available.
- August 24, 2023
To note that the institution failed to submit the required substantive change request for institutional closure directed by Commission action on July 27, 2023. To note that the Commission liaison guidance visit did not occur because the institution failed to be responsive to the Commission request on July 27, 2023. To note that the institution failed to update public disclosures pursuant to Commission policy and procedures. To note that the institution has failed to meet its membership responsibilities (Dues and Fees Policy and Procedures and Bylaws 4.04). To remind the institution of its obligation to be responsive to Commission requests and meet due dates for information (Standard II). To require the substantive change request for institutional closure due September 6, 2023. To note that accreditation will cease on August 31, 2023. - July 27, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report. To direct the implementation of the approved teach-out plan and teach-out agreements. To require that the institution submit a substantive change request for institutional closure by August 11, 2023. To further note that the substantive change request for institutional closure is required by the Commission's Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and Substantive Change Guidelines. To require that the substantive change for institutional closure also include (1) evidence that student records have been transferred to the final repository (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures); (2) an update on the surrender of degree granting authority from the New York State Education Department (Requirement of Affiliation 1); and (3) an update on the orderly closure of the institution (Substantive Change Policy and Procedures and Requirement of Affiliation 2). To note that Houghton University, Houghton, NY has been designated as the final repository of all The King's College student records. To note that students may obtain academic records at Houghton University, One Willard Ave., P.O. Box 128, Houghton, NY 14744. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. To note that the date accreditation will cease will be determined following the substantive change request due on August 11, 2023. To remind the institution of its obligation to inform the Commission immediately about any and all significant developments that may impact the institution's closure (Standard VII). - July 27, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of The King's College's notification to the Commission on July 14, 2023, that it will not offer instruction in the fall term of 2023. To note that the Commission will consider the institution closed and no longer operational with students actively enrolled as of the fall term of 2023 (Requirement of Affiliation 2). To note this institutional closure terminates The King's College's appeal of the May 26, 2023, adverse action to withdraw accreditation. To further note the institution will receive an accounting of expenses incurred and a return of the remaining deposit in accordance with the Commission's Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures. - June 28, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the institution's Notice of Intent to Appeal submitted on June 12, 2023. To note that the Administrator of the Appeal has determined that the Notice of Intent to Appeal was timely received, materially complete, and properly filed with the required deposit against expenses. - June 7, 2023
To note the institution received the notification of adverse action of May 26, 2023 and a hardcopy of the action notification with delivery confirmation on May 31, 2023. To acknowledge receipt of the institution's Acknowledgement of Adverse Action and Option to Exercise the Right to an Appeal on May 31, 2023. To note the acknowledgement was timely received, and that the institution must submit the Notice of Intent to Appeal by June 12, 2023, in accordance with the Commission's Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures. - May 26, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the show cause report. To note the show cause visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 56 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 on April 27-28, 2023. To take an immediate adverse action to withdraw accreditation from The King's College. To note that the Commission has determined that an immediate adverse action is necessary because the institution no longer meets Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement) and Requirement of Affiliation 11; the institution has failed to demonstrate the capacity to make required improvements; the institution has failed to demonstrate that it can sustain itself in the short or long term (Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures); and the institution is in imminent danger of closing. This decision is based on the institution's recent accreditation activities, including: (1) a supplemental information report submitted on March 13, 2023; (2) a rejected teach-out plan and agreements submitted on March 13, 2023 that was not comprehensive or implementable; (3) a show cause report and updated teach-out plan and teach-out agreements submitted on April 17, 2023; (4) the report of a subsequent visit by Commission representatives on April 27-28, 2023; (5) the institution's response to the representatives' report; and (6) failure to submit a substantive change request for institutional closure (Substantive Change Policy and Procedures). These institutional reports and responses have failed to document that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with the Commission's standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements, including Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement) and Requirement of Affiliation 11. To note that the opportunity to appear before the Commission when it meets to consider the institution's show cause report is no longer available because this is an immediate adverse action to withdraw accreditation. To note that any adverse action is subject to appeal in accordance with the Commission's Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures. To require The King's College to submit a supplemental information report due June 2, 2023, providing evidence of (1) executed teach-out agreements; (2) implementation of the teach-out plan; (3) completed and issued transcripts for any students wishing to transfer to another institution; (4) appropriate arrangements for the permanent disposition of student records so that students and alumni will be able to obtain accurate and complete transcripts in the future (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures); (5) notification of the Commission's action to The King's College community, including all governing board members, students, faculty, staff, and others with significant roles; (6) immediate notification to current and prospective students of the immediate withdrawal of accreditation; and (7) accurate information regarding the institution's accreditation status with MSCHE on its website and wherever accreditation is referenced on the institution's web pages, publications, announcements, and in all other appropriate places and venues (Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures). To note the institution will maintain accreditation for the sole purpose of implementing the teach-out plan and agreements. To note the following conditions are in effect: (1) the institution does not enroll new students; (2) the institution does not market or recruit new students; (3) the institution maintains a clear and accurate statement about its accreditation phase and accreditation status for the public on its website in accordance with the Commission's Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures and Appeals from Adverse Actions Procedures; and (4) the institution has an approved teach-out plan with teach-out agreements and is implementing it according to that approval. To note that if the Commission determines that the institution has violated any of the conditions listed above, or any other of the Commission policies and procedures, standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, or federal regulations, the Commission will take additional action. To acknowledge receipt of the updated teach-out plan. To approve the teach-out plan. To approve the teach-out agreements with: (1) Houghton University, Houghton, NY; (2) Cairn University, Langhorne Manor, PA; (3) Providence Christian College, Pasadena, CA; (4) Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA; and (5) St. Joseph's University, New York, New York, NY. To note that Houghton University, Houghton, NY has been designated as the final repository of all The King's College student records. To note that students may obtain academic records at Houghton University, One Willard Ave., P.O. Box 128, Houghton, NY 14744. - March 27, 2023
To reject the supplemental information report. To require the institution to show cause, by April 17, 2023, to demonstrate why its accreditation should not be withdrawn because of insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance with Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement) and Requirements of Affiliation 2 and 11. To note that the institution remains accredited while on show cause. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance. To require a show cause report, due April 17, 2023, documenting evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Commission's standards, requirements, policies and procedures, and federal compliance requirements. The show cause report must include evidence that the institution: (1) is operational, with students actively enrolled in its degree programs (Requirement of affiliation 2); (2) has sufficiency of resources to fulfill its mission and goals and to support its educational purposes and programs (Standard VI and Requirement of Affiliation 11); and (3) uses planning, processes, and resources to fulfill its mission and goals, and to support its educational purposes and programs (Standard VI and Requirement of Affiliation 11). To reject the teach-out plan because the institution failed to provide sufficient information required by the Commission's Teach-Out Plans and Agreement(s) Policy and Procedures. To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by April 17, 2023, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan, with teach-out agreements (Teach-Out Plans and Agreement(s) Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education, if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation, and include any teach-out agreements that the institution has entered into or intends to enter into with another institution. To direct a show cause visit following submission of the report. The purpose of the show cause visit is to verify the information provided in the show cause report and the institution's ongoing and sustainable compliance with the Commission's standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies and procedures, and applicable federal regulatory requirements. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. To note that the institution will be invited to present before the Commission when it meets to consider the institution's show cause report. The date of the next evaluation will be determined upon reaffirmation of accreditation. - March 27, 2023
To reject the teach-out plan because the institution failed to provide sufficient information required by the Commission's Teach-Out Plans and Agreement(s) Policy and Procedures. To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by April 17, 2023, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan, with teach-out agreements (Teach-Out Plans and Agreement(s) Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education, if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation, and include any teach-out agreements that the institution has entered into or intends to enter into with another institution. - February 27, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due on March 13, 2023, that provides additional information on Standard VI (Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement); and Requirements of Affiliation 2, 11, and 14. To require that the institution complete and submit for approval by March 13, 2023, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and agreements (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education and include any signed teach-out agreements that the institution has entered into or intends to enter into with another institution. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - March 4, 2021
To note that the Mid-Point Peer Review has been conducted. To request that the next self-study, in preparation for a visit in 2023-2024, provide further evidence of (1) adequate fiscal and human resources, including physical and technical infrastructure, to support operations (Standard VI); (2) improved financial viability and sustainability (Standard VI); and (3) demonstrated strategies to measure and assess the adequacy of institutional resources to support mission and goals (Standard VI). - November 17, 2016
To accept the monitoring report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2023-2024. - June 25, 2015
To reaffirm accreditation. To request a monitoring report, due October 1, 2016, documenting further development and assessment of program-level student learning outcomes in all programs (Standard 14). The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2020. - June 30, 2014
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and include the online B.S. in Business Administration and B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, Economics degrees within the scope of the institution's accreditation. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015. - November 21, 2013
To accept the progress report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015. - March 7, 2013
To acknowledge receipt of documentation of approval from the Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department, to note the visit by the Commission's representative, and to affirm the inclusion of the change of ownership within the scope of the institution's accreditation. To remind the institution that the progress report, due September 1, 2013, should document (1) the impact of the new financial arrangements and of enrollments on the institution's finances (Standard 3) and (2) the implementation of the new governance structure (Standard 4). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015. - March 7, 2013
To note the visit by the Commission's representative and to affirm the inclusion of the relocated main campus at 52 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 within the scope of the institution's accreditation. - July 2, 2012
To acknowledge receipt of the substantive change request and to note the institution's decision to re-locate its main campus from 350 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10118 to 50-52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, pending a site visit to the new campus within six months of commencing operations at the site. The Commission requires written notification within thirty days of the commencement of operations at this campus. In the event that operations at the campus do not commence within one calendar year from the approval of this action, approval will lapse. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015. - June 28, 2012
To acknowledge receipt of the complex substantive change request and to include the change in control resulting from a change in ownership provisionally within the scope of the institution's accreditation, effective upon receipt of required federal and state approvals and pending a required site visit within six months of the effective date of the change of ownership. To request a progress report, due September 1, 2013, documenting (1) the impact of the new financial arrangements and of enrollments on the institution's finances (Standard 3) and (2) the implementation of the new governance structure (Standard 4). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015. - November 17, 2011
To accept the monitoring report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2014-2015.
- Distance Education
Approved to offer programs by this delivery method - Correspondence Education
Not approved for this delivery method
Approved Credential Levels
The following represents credential levels included in the scope of the institution’s accreditation:
- Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Included within the scope
- Main Campus
King's College, The
56 Broadway
New York, NY 10004-0026
The following are links to sites that are not maintained by the MSCHE. These are provided as additional external resources about each institution that the MSCHE accredits.
