dˈʊɹɹɪŋ hɪz tˈɛnjɚɹ æz pɹˈɛzɪdənt ʌv kˈælɐməzˌuː kˈɑːlɪdʒ, hˈɪks wˈɜːkt tʊ ˈɪmplɪmənt ðə "kˈeɪ plˈæn", ɐn ˌækədˈɛmɪk pɹˈoʊɡɹæm ðæt sˈɜːvz æz ðə bˈeɪsɪs fɚðə lˈɪbɚɹəl ˈɑːɹts ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən wˌɪtʃ stˈuːdənts ɹᵻsˈiːv æt ðə skˈuːl.
During his tenure as president of Kalamazoo College, Hicks worked to implement the "K Plan", an academic program that serves as the basis for the liberal arts education which students receive at the school.