April is Community College Month
Together with the nearly 1,000 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley will celebrate Community College Month in April. This month-long campaign is designed to improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges and to break the stigma associated with public two-year colleges.
Community colleges are a uniquely American educational model that was designed to guarantee access to affordable, high-quality higher education for all. They serve as an onramp to bachelor's, master's and higher-level degrees for many students, and particularly for the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students.
This is your invitation to join us for a Community College Month celebration of Kalamazoo Valley, its programs, students, alumni, faculty, staff and the local businesses who employ our graduates.
Report: Kalamazoo Valley Community College Ranks No. 1
Most Popular Among Kalamazoo County College-Bound Students in Class of '22
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - According to a recent report, the most popular college destination for class of 2022 graduates is the same for every school district in Kalamazoo County. Kalamazoo Valley Community College was the No. 1 choice in the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) service area.
Results of the MI School Data Report were published on April 19 by MLive.com. The full story can be found at https://bit.ly/ValleyRanks1.
"We are gratified that students and their families are continuing to embrace the high-quality educational programs and support services offered by Kalamazoo Valley," said College President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. "This top ranking comes as no surprise to us because we work diligently to make sure that the college is a great place where all students can learn, grow, thrive and find success."
Kalamazoo Valley Community College was established in 1966 by the overwhelming approval of voters in nine local school districts. It is a comprehensive, fully accredited, public, two-year college with enrollment of about 10,000 students. Kalamazoo Valley offers 50 certificate programs and associate degrees in 60 areas of study. In addition to associate degree and certificate programs in business, health care, human and public services, math and the sciences and technical and industrial occupations, the college operates the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Center for New Media, student-run restaurants and an urban farm and food hub.
"Especially during our celebration of Community College Month in April, this is great news," said Paige Eagan, Ph.D., provost and vice president for instruction and student services at Kalamazoo Valley. "I am proud of our faculty, staff and administrators who together serve all students. We work closely with K-12 partners, community members and organizations to make sure Valley is a great place for learners of all ages and backgrounds."
Summer semester classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College begin on May 8 and fall semester classes begin on Sept. 6. More information is available at www.kvcc.edu/register.
About MI School Data
MI School Data is the State of Michigan's official source for pre-K, K-12, postsecondary and workforce data to help residents, educators and policymakers make informed decisions to improve student success.
The site offers multiple levels and views for statewide, intermediate school district, district, school and college level information. Data are presented in graphs, charts, trend lines and downloadable spreadsheets to support meaningful evaluation and decision-making.
April 1: Fretboard Festival Boomerang Concert and Lecture
5 p.m., Dale B. Lake Auditorium, Kalamazoo Valley Community College Texas Township Campus.
Join the Fretboard Festival for a special encore performance featuring Jake Blount, Nic Gareiss and Laurel Premo. These award-winning folk performers have joined forces in a bewitchment of rich tones, deft movements and stories long untold. Through traditional songs familiar and arcane, this new trio celebrates the deep rhythms and subtle harmonies of America's oldest music.
https://kalamazoomuseum.org/full-calendar/fretboard-festival-boomerang-concert
April 3: Fall Semester Registration Opens
Register for classes this Fall starting April 3. Additional detail can be found here.
April 7: NoViolet Bulawayo
Kalamazoo Valley Community College alumna NoViolet Bulawayo, the author of "We Need New Names" and "Glory," is returning to the college for special programs on April 7. Her first book "We Need New Names" was recognized with the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the Pen/Hemingway Award, the LA Times Book Prize Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, the Etisalat Prize for Literature, the Fred Brown Literary Award, the Betty Trask Award, the Barnes and Noble Discover Award (second place) and the National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" Fiction Selection.
"Glory," her second novel, was published last year to rave reviews. Bulawayo moved to the United States from Zimbabwe and graduated from Kalamazoo Valley in 2003. She completed her education with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Cornell University. There, she was a recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. She also was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, where she formerly taught as a Jones Lecturer in Fiction.
At 6 p.m. at Anna Whitten Hall, Bulawayo will present a reading from "Glory." At 6:45 p.m., she will be available to sign books at the Center for New Media.
April 7: Campus Band Concert
The Campus Band will present its Spring Concert, Americans We, in the Dale B. Lake Auditorium on the Texas Township Campus. Open to the public, the concert is free at 7 p.m. James Roach directs the band. Prelude music begins at 6:45 p.m.
April 11: Taps on Tuesday
This is your invitation to join us on Tuesday, April 11 for a special "alumni edition" of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Taps on Tuesday!
TAPS ON TUESDAY is held in the college's 418 Restaurant in the Culinary and Allied Health Building at 418 East Walnut Street on the Bronson Healthy Living Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.
Just $10 per person provides you access to delicious student-chef created tastings and two beverage tickets. All proceeds benefit the scholarship fund for culinary and brewing students.
The event, hosted by the Kalamazoo Valley's Alumni+ group, is designed to help you reconnect with friends and learn more about all the great things happening at the college. Plus, the 2023 Distinguished Alumni will be announced that evening during a short program. Kalamazoo Valley culinary and brewing graduates will also be honored that evening.
If you completed even one class, you are a part of the Kalamazoo Valley Alumni+ family! Everyone is welcome - we are all friends of Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
No advanced registration required. Join us for Taps on Tuesday, special Alumni edition on April 11! The fun starts at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit www.kvcc.edu/foundation.
April 10/15: Foodways Symposium at the Food Innovation Center
See kalamazoofoodways.org for more information.
April 12: Annual Respecting Differences Workshop
The theme is Disability Bias and Ableism; Implications for a Fully Inclusive Community - Modern Ableism is rooted in the assumption that people living with a disability require "fixing," defines them by their disability and is a form of systemic oppression.
Two sessions: 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Miller Auditorium on Western Michigan University's Campus
2200 Auditorium Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Parking is free and the event is free and open to all. Registration is not required.
Modern Ableism is rooted in the assumption that people living with a disability require "fixing," defines them by their disability and is a form of systemic oppression.
This presentation will enable participants to:
- Recognize the impact that ableism and unchecked biases have on professions and communities.
- Learn the steps to remedy disability bias and ableism.
April 13: Kalsec/Kalamazoo Valley Culinary Student Competition "Food for Thought"
The second annual Food for Thought student culinary competition sponsored by Kalsec will be hosted by Kalamazoo Valley Community College on April 13 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building in downtown Kalamazoo.
Guests will be entitled to a variety of student created appetizers created for the competition and two drink tickets.
Proceeds from the event will help fund culinary scholarships to provide the highest level of educational opportunities for students. Join us!
Order tickets to the event here: https://quikpayasp.com/kvcc/commerce_manager/payer.do?orderType=CulinaryCompetition
April 21: Automotive Department Open House
The Automotive Department at Kalamazoo Valley will host an open house on Friday, April 21 from noon to 6:30 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Texas Township campus behind the auto labs. Cars, bikes, and motorcycles will be on display. Attendees will be able to meet some of the future professionals of the automotive community, have lunch, tour the labs, and meet with prospective employers.
April 29: Statewide Astronomy Night
Astronomy Night at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the evening of Saturday, April 29. FREE Planetarium shows and special guest lecture.
April 30: Commencement, 2 p.m., WMU's Miller Auditorium
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2023 AS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH
WHEREAS, the more than 1,000 community and technical colleges, public and private, in the United States have contributed enormously to the richness and accessibility of American higher education. Nearly half of all undergraduate college students in the nation today are enrolled in community colleges; and
WHEREAS, by providing educational opportunities at costs and locations accessible to all who are qualified, community and technical colleges have greatly enhanced the opportunity for every ambitious student to enter a postsecondary school program. As community-based institutions, our institutions provide varied programs and offer specialized training for thousands of occupations; and
WHEREAS, this community has been served by Kalamazoo Valley Community College since 1966 supports the advancement of Southwest Michigan by developing strong industry partnerships and providing state-of-the-art training and educational experiences; and
WHEREAS, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is an accredited institution by the Higher Learning Commission and is accredited by several nationally recognized accreditors, including American Culinary Federation, Master Brewers and Brew Pub Permit, Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions, Medical Assisting Education Review Board, Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, Commission on Dental Accreditation, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, American Alliance of Museums, Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, Michigan Sheriffs' Association, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation and Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council; and
WHEREAS, approximately 10,000 students of all ages and backgrounds annually attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College to receive a superb education and earn degrees, certificates and training that help them become skilled members of the workforce that propels economic growth and encourages learning and culture; and
WHEREAS, Kalamazoo Valley Community College has been instrumental in revitalizing the City of Kalamazoo with the Arcadia Commons Campus, Center for New Media, Kalamazoo Valley Museum and Bronson Healthy Living Campus; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
We, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees, recognize April 2023 as Kalamazoo Valley Community College Month.
