Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo College , also known as K College or simply K , is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo , Michigan . Founded in 1833 , the college is among the 100 oldest in the country . Today , it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U . S . academic institution , and ranks in the top one percent for number of graduates who go on to earn a Ph . D . The school was founded by American Baptist ministers , but today maintains no religious affiliation . Kalamazoo College is a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association . It is listed in Loren Pope ' s " Colleges That Change Lives " . In 2012 , Forbes rated it 65th of America ' s Best Colleges . , the highest ranked in Michigan as a private college . History . Kalamazoo College was founded in 1833 by a group of Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute . Its charter was granted on April 22 , 1833 , the first school chartered by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan . Instruction at the Institute began in fall 1836 . In 1837 , the name of the fledgling college was changed to the " Kalamazoo Literary Institute " and school officials made their first attempt to secure recognition as a college from the state of Michigan . In 1838 , however , the University of Michigan opened the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan , providing a local competitor to the Literary Institute . In 1840 , the two schools merged , and from 1840 to 1850 the College operated as the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan . In 1850 , the Kalamazoo Literary Institute name was restored and in 1855 the school finally received an educational charter from the State of Michigan , establishing explicit recognition of the school as a college . After receiving its educational charter , the school changed its name to Kalamazoo College . James Stone , the first president of Kalamazoo College , led the school from 1842 through 1863 and was responsible for instituting the high academic standards that allowed the College to receive its charter . Shortly after becoming president , Stone proposed the addition of a theological seminary to increase the supply of ministers in the region . With the support of the Baptist church , classes at the Kalamazoo Theological Seminary began in 1848 with 11 students . At the same time , the Female Department continued to expand under the watchful eye of Lucinda Hinsdale Stone . In 1845 - 46 , almost half of the 90 students enrolled in Kalamazoo were women . The Stones also played a role in the creation of the Republican Party . A meeting of disgruntled Michigan Whigs , Democrats , and abolitionists at the Stones ' Kalamazoo residence set the date for an anti - slavery convention in Jackson , Michigan , which resulted in the formal birth of the Republican Party . The first known student of African descent to attend Kalamazoo College was ex - slave Rufus Lewis Perry . Perry attended Kalamazoo Theological Seminary from 1860 – 1861 , but left before he received a diploma . He was ordained a Baptist minister in Ann Arbor in 1861 , and later earned a Ph . D . from State University in Louisville , Kentucky . Jamaican - born brothers Solomon and John Williamson were the first black graduates from " K , " receiving their diplomas in 1911 . Kalamazoo College also served as a pioneer in coed education , granting its first degree to a woman , Miss Catherine V . Eldred , in 1870 . In 1877 , Kalamazoo College students published the first edition of " The Index " , a student - run newspaper that continues to publish today . The college also publishes " The Cauldron , " an annual literary - arts journal ; and " The Passage " , an annual compilation of students ' work from study abroad . Kalamazoo College ' s reputation as an academic powerhouse and a leader in international education was built during the presidency of Weimer Hicks , who served from 1954 to 1971 . Hicks conceived of the " K Plan " program under which most Kalamazoo students spend at least one term abroad and spend at least one term working in an academic internship . As part of the original " K Plan , " Kalamazoo College students could attend school year - round . One typical pattern was : Variations to this schedule — such as spring - term study - abroad programs , full - year study - abroad programs , and winter SIPs — were also common . However , the college scrapped its summer term in 1996 due to the difficulty of attracting students to a year - round college . Academics . Academic distinctions . Kalamazoo College is among the 100 oldest colleges and universities in the United States . It offers 28 majors spread across the fields of Fine Arts , Humanities , Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures , Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Physical Education , and Social Sciences . There are 11 unique interdisciplinary majors as well . It is consistently considered as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country for experiential learning , study abroad , and academics . It is ranked number five in The Washington Post ' s Hidden Gem ' s college list , as the best school in Michigan and 52nd best college in the nation by Forbes , 68th in U . S . News & World Report ' s category of national liberal arts colleges , and is listed in Loren Pope ' s Colleges That Change Lives . A recent study by Higher Education Data Sharing lists Kalamazoo College in the top 1 percent of colleges and universities whose graduates go on to earn a Ph . D . According to this study , Kalamazoo College is ranked number nine among all private colleges and — when compared with all academic institutions — it ranks number fourteen in Ph . Ds per capita . Among all undergraduate institutions , Kalamazoo College was # 1 per capita in 2005 for recruitment of Peace Corps volunteers . The student - to - faculty ratio is 12 : 1 . Ninety - five percent of Kalamazoo College ' s faculty have doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields . On January 3 , 2006 , Kalamazoo College opened the new Upjohn Library Commons which includes the completely renovated skeleton of the older library , and an extension which adds to its volume capacity . The K Plan . Kalamazoo College is an academic leader among national liberal arts colleges and emphasizes the importance of experiential education . The academic plan — known as the " K plan " — consists of a rigorous liberal arts education supplemented by experience abroad and in the Kalamazoo community . Students at Kalamazoo College must fulfill specific degree requirements in order to graduate , as well as completion of three Shared Passages Seminars during the first , sophomore , and senior years at Kalamazoo . First - year seminars focus on developing writing and communication skills , sophomore seminars emphasize international culture and experience in preparation for study abroad , and senior seminars focus on major specific or interdisciplinary topics to cap a student ' s education experience . Upon graduation , students must demonstrate a proficiency in a second language at an intermediate level , satisfy a quantitative reasoning requirement , and complete a senior individualized project which may take the form of a thesis , an artistic performance , or any other work - intensive project of a student ' s choosing . These experiences are supplemented by one or more terms abroad , service learning projects during school terms , and internship opportunities during the summer . Service - Learning . Kalamazoo College initiated the service - learning program in 1997 . In 2001 , Trustee Ronda Stryker dedicated to her grandmother the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service Learning . This Institute was created to house several Service - Learning programs in the school . The current director of the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute is Alison Geist . In 2008 , Kalamazoo College had twenty - three on - going service - learning programs . There are several courses in the college that incorporate service - learning into their curricula . The programs in service - learning include Community Advocates for Parents and Students ; Helping Youth through Personal Empowerment ; Academic Mentorship In Giants On - going Success ; the Woodward School ; Keeping the Doors Open ; and Farms to K . Study abroad . US News & World Report America ' s Best Colleges 2003 ranked Kalamazoo College ' s study - abroad program number one in the country . Nearly 85 % of Kalamazoo College students spend at least one term abroad and the college maintains partnerships with over 50 foreign universities on six continents . Center for Career and Professional Development . In 2009 , the Center Career Development merged with the Guilds of Kalamazoo College to create the Center for Career and Professional Development . The CCPD ' s mission is to create meaningful connections to the world of work , empowering Kalamazoo College students to explore , identify and pursue their diverse interests , values and passions , and to develop a framework of skills , networks and knowledge for successful lifelong career planning and professional development . Unique opportunities through the CCPD include the Discovery Externship Program and the Field Experience Program . Athletics . The college ' s sports teams are known as the Hornets . They compete in the NCAA ' s Division III and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association ( MIAA ) . As of 2009 , the Hornet tennis squad have won their conference ' s championship 71 consecutive years . Kalamazoo College competes in the following sports : Football . College football has been played at Kalamazoo since 1892 , when the school completed a record of 0 wins and 2 losses , both to Olivet College . The school ' s first win came two years later in 1894 with a 16 – 4 victory over the Kalamazoo YMCA . It was 1895 before the school defeated another college football team with a 12 – 8 victory over Alma . In 1897 , the first coach came to the program with Charles Hall who led the team to a record of 7 wins and 1 loss , earning the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship . The current coach is Jamie Zorbo . Men ' s Tennis . The Kalamazoo College men ’ s tennis team has won 75 consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships ( 1936 – 2013 ) with a record of 426 - 2 in the MIAA from 1935 - 2007 . Kalamazoo has won seven NCAA Division III national championships and has made 25 consecutive NCAA III tournament appearances . National Runners - up - NCAA Division II : National Championships - NCAA Division III : National Runners - up - NCAA Division III : Men ' s Swimming and Diving . Men ' s swimming and diving at Kalamazoo College has an impressive history . The team is known for producing individual national champions in the pool and on the boards , and also for maintaining a national presence with regular appearances as a top - 10 team at the NCAA Division III national championships . Their highest finish was 4th in 2010 . The swimming and diving team is the second most successful athletic program at Kalamazoo College , after the men ' s tennis team , and it is also one of the top - 10 most - successful teams in the MIAA with 27 MIAA championships . Men ' s basketball . Basketball dispute . In 2001 , the Kalamazoo College men ' s basketball team was at the center of a lengthy dispute regarding the outcome of a January 20 game with league rival Olivet College . With Olivet leading 70 - 69 , Kalamazoo College center Kevin Baird made a shot at the buzzer that was initially waved off by referees . The referees reviewed videotape of the game and determined that Baird had , in fact , released his shot before the buzzer and then awarded Kalamazoo College a 71 - 70 victory . After the game , Olivet filed a protest with the conference commissioner , claiming that officials had misapplied the way in which videotape may be used . On January 23 , the conference upheld the protest and awarded Olivet the victory . Kalamazoo then filed a protest with the NCAA , claiming that Olivet ' s protest was in violation of NCAA bylaws . On February 1 , the NCAA upheld Kalamazoo ' s counter - protest and again awarded the game to the Hornets . The dispute between Olivet and Kalamazoo received national attention and Baird ' s shot was shown repeatedly on ESPN . Fight song . The words to the college fight - song , " All Hail to Kazoo , " were written by A . G . Walton ( 1911 ) with music by D . R . Belcher ( 1909 ) , arranged by Burton Edward Fischer . Student life and traditions . Student organizations are one of the main sources of entertainment for the student body . They routinely bring in speakers as well as stage performances , dances , and movie showings . During the fall quarter , there are two main events : Fall Fest and Homecoming dance . In Fall Fest , student organizations provide activities for the students , such as pumpkin carving and bobbing for apples . During the winter quarter , the college holds the annual Monte Carlo night , on which the student body raises money by gambling in a makeshift casino where the professors are the dealers . They play for scrip redeemable for prizes . Crystal Ball . Kaleidoscope ( formerly known as the Gay , Lesbian , Bisexual , Transgender , and Ally Student Organization , GLBTSO ) hosts the Crystal Ball each spring . Crystal Ball is a college - sponsored dance in which attendees dress in drag or unusual costumes . A long - standing tradition at K College , this event was created to educate the campus about GLBT issues and celebrate the persons who make up the GLBT community . This very popular event features live music , dancing , and contests . The Quad . The campus is built around a grassy hill known as " The Quad " . The Quad is also the site of numerous large scale events throughout the year , including Homecoming , Spring Fling , Convocation , and Commencement . Furthermore , at the top of the hill lies Stetson Chapel , which is a favorite location for alumni wedding services . The Quad is home to another popular Kalamazoo College student tradition , " streaking the Quad " , a noisy , late - night descent from the Chapel , down the hill , and back to the top again . Tradition dictates that students must touch the school sign before returning to the top . There is a mass - streak after the spring performance by Frelon , the Kalamazoo College dance group , and also during the day by the senior class . This often coincides with a wedding . Day of Gracious Living . Since 1974 , the college has upheld a springtime tradition of canceling all classes for a “ Day of Gracious Living ” ( DOGL ) . While it was originally instituted ( despite the Student Commission ' s rejection ) as a day for students to relax and have fun , the 1980 Kalamazoo tornado prompted students to spend that year ' s DOGL helping clean up after the storm and giving back to their community . Many students enjoy the day at the North Beach in South Haven , MI . The date is determined by the president of the Student Commission and kept secret from the student body , though it is usually on one of the Wednesdays during weeks 7 - 9 . On the morning of the Day of Gracious Living , the bells of Stetson Chapel ring , announcing the day to the student body . Recycling program . Kalamazoo College has become a leading institution in the area of recycling and environmental awareness . A crew of student workers operates one of the nation ' s most successful recycling programs and organizes the school ' s participation in the annual RecycleMania event , a competition among over 400 colleges and universities across the United States . In 2005 , Kalamazoo College came to national prominence with a 3rd - place finish in the Grand Champion category . While annually placing in the top 5 in a variety of categories , in 2008 Kalamazoo College placed 1st in both the Grand Champion and Stephen K Gaski Per Capita Classic competitions . Sustainability . Kalamazoo College signed the President ' s Climate Commitment in 2007 and has completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory . The college ' s Hicks Student Center is partially powered by wind and solar energy , and the student group D . I . R . T . ( Digging in Renewable Turf ) maintains an organic garden on campus . The spring 2009 Energy Sting competition encouraged students to reduce their energy consumption . Kalamazoo received a B on the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card . Presidents of Kalamazoo College . In 2005 Eileen Wilson - Oyelaran became Kalamazoo College ' s 17th President and first female president , as well as the first African - American president of the school . She is the 22nd President overall , including interim and acting presidents . Her immediate predecessors are Bernard Palchick , who served as interim president and returned to the administration , and James F . Jones , who departed to become President of Trinity College , in Connecticut . References . Historical Sketch of Kalamazoo College by : Rev . C Haskell http : / / dspace . nitle . org / bitstream / handle / 10090 / 5549 / HistoricalSketch . pdf ? sequence = 1