April 1, 2024
Greetings students,
Together with over 900 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley will celebrate Community College Month during April. This nationwide, monthlong initiative was designed to improve awareness about the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges.
We are delighted that you have chosen to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College. You are a part of a large group of intelligent and determined individuals who recognize the unmistakable value of attending Valley. Community colleges like ours should be the first choice of many college-bound students, because, in addition to offering quality education from caring instructors who love to teach, we are vital to our local and state economies.
I am proud of our staff and faculty and I am proud of you! More than 310,000 students have enrolled at the college since 1966. Many of our graduates stay in the area after degree completion and help make our region prosperous and growing.
Therefore, during this month of celebration, I celebrate you and thank you for making Kalamazoo Valley your choice.
Congratulations and thank you for positively influencing our community!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Fall Registration Opens Week of April 1
Registration for the Fall 2024 semester begins the week of April 1 and is based on earned credit hours. Click here to view the course schedule. Fall registration dates are as follows:
- Students with 36 or more credit hours | April 1 at 8 a.m.
- Students with 24 or more credit hours | April 2 at 8 a.m.
- Students with 12 or more credit hours | April 3 at 8 a.m.
- Registration for all other students | April 4 at 8 a.m.
Payment is due July 15 by 7 p.m., when registration temporarily closes for non-payment cancellations. Upon reopening on July 18, classes that are not paid for, on a payment plan, covered by financial aid or covered by a third-party will be dropped after five business days of registration.
Advisors and counselors are available to help students select the correct courses for each degree plan. To schedule an appointment, call 269.488.4040.
Open Scholarship Applications
Attention students! Kalamazoo Valley scholarship season is here, and the doors to financial support are wide open April 1.
Don't miss out on your chance to apply for scholarships that can help fund your education. Whether you're pursuing STEM, the arts or anything in between, there's an opportunity waiting for you. Visit www.kvcc.edu/admissions/finaid/scholarships/ or www.kvcc.edu/foundation.
Transfer into Widener University Engineering
If you are preparing to transfer to a four-year university to complete your Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical or Robotics Engineering, or Construction Management, check out this opportunity from Widener University in Chester, PA, April 2 from 7 - 8 p.m. via Zoom. A faculty advisor will review your transcript and design a semester-by-semester plan to reach your degree. You can get your questions on transfer credits, scholarships, admission requirements, career and student services answered.
PTK Celebrates Winter 2024 Induction Ceremony
Congratulations to the newest members of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter. An induction ceremony for new members was hosted on March 21 at the college's Texas Township Campus.
PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Membership is recognition of academic achievement and offers access to exclusive scholarships and professional development opportunities. Click here to see more photos from the ceremony.
PTK Student Receives Silver-Level President's Volunteer Service Award
Kalamazoo Valley Community College student and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) member Dusti Morton recently received a Silver-Level President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
The award is U.S. presidential acknowledgment of outstanding volunteer service.
"I was very excited to learn that I won," Morton explained. "Volunteering provides a connection with the community that is otherwise unseen It helps people hear voices that they might not have heard before. I'm so grateful for all the things I've accomplished and for the things I've learned." more
Heather Weinert Named Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter member Heather Weinert has been named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.
"I am deeply honored and grateful to have been selected as a Silver Scholar of the Coca-Cola Academic Team," Weinert said. "This award represents not only my academic achievements but also the support and encouragement I've received from my mentors, teachers and community. I couldn't have done it without them." more
Looking for a Job, Internship, Apprenticeship and/or Volunteer Opportunity?
Student Employment Services assists students with job searching, resume writing and interview practicing. Visit Career Coach, Kalamazoo Valley's online job board, to see if there is something that interests you. If you are looking for something other than what is listed, we can help. Call 269.488.4040 or email careercenter@kvcc.edu to schedule an appointment.
Here are some of the jobs currently posted on Career Coach:
Business Pathways (Accounting/Business/Information
Technology/Marketing/Administrative Assistant)
Computer Science Intern - Walther Farms
Office Assistant - Charter Township of Kalamazoo
IT Intern - Green Bay Packaging
Elementary Attendance Secretary - Portage Public Schools
Office Manager - Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
Shipping and Receiving - Burchett Quality Tool LTD
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement/Public Service
Fire Hose Technician - FireCatt
Culinary/Brewing (Sustainable Food Systems)
Cook - Vineyard Assisted Living
Culinary Intern - Greenleaf Hospitality Group
Multiple opportunities at Greenleaf Hospitality Group
Brewer - Upper Hand Brewery - Bell's Brewery
Education
Full-time reading tutor positions - AmeriCorps
Education Coordinator - Community Homeworks
Several education related openings
Engineering & Skilled Trades
CNC Machinist - Smith Metal
Associate Machinist - Stryker
Maintenance Technician - Ram Partners, Willow Creek Apartments
Apprentice Electrician - ControlNET
Metal Fabricator - Specialized Staffing Solutions
Welder - Specialized Staffing Solutions
General Studies
Atrium Attendant, Room Attendant and similar positions - Greenleaf Hospitality Group
Health Careers
Dental Hygienist - several postings
Student Nurse Intern - Ascension Borgess
Medication Technician - Vineyard Assisted Living
Human Services/Social Sciences/Public Services Sustainable Horticulture
Several opportunities including Paid Internship - BrightView Landscapes
Volunteer/Unpaid Internship Opportunities
Various remote volunteer and internship opportunities with The Borgen Project
Companionship Volunteer - Elara Caring
May 2024 Art Exhibit - Student Celebration
Faculty and staff at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Center for New Media are gearing up to share and celebrate the hard work and creative achievements of students who have taken Studio Arts and Applied Media Arts and Media Technology classes.
The 2024 Year-End Student Celebration Exhibit will open during Art Hop on Friday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. and will showcase art and design works created by students from the Studio Arts, Animation and Game Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Web Design and Development programs. The exhibit is open to any student who has taken an art class. It will remain on display through the end of the month.
Entries for the show are due Thursday, April 25 at 4 p.m.
A physical and digital representation of student pieces must be submitted for the Arcus Gallery exhibit and the virtual social media presentation. Students must prepare, finalize and deliver their work on their own and in conjunction with all other guideline requirements. See the forms at www.kvcc.edu/artexhibits.
Girls on the Run Volunteers Needed
The annual Girls on the Run 5K is May 18 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Two waves of runners will be on campus: morning (Opening Ceremony at 9 a.m.) and afternoon (Opening Ceremony at 1 p.m.). There are over 1,000 participants from 50 sites in the Greater Kalamazoo Area and close to 300 coaches and practice volunteers. Many more volunteers are needed.
To volunteer, go to 5K Volunteer Registration or to the GOTRGK website. For more information, send an email to info@girlsontherunkazoo.org.
English Department Essay Contest for 2023-2024
Students, turn your prose into profit and get published! Enter your essays in the Kalamazoo Valley Community College annual essay contest to be eligible to compete for cash awards and publication in the 2023-2024 edition of "Winning Essays," which will appear online, not in printed form. This publication becomes part of the Kalamazoo Valley library's permanent collection. Entries should be essays written in English 098, 099, 110, 111 and 160, and in any 200-level English literature class. Winners will be notified by mail during the summer of 2024 as soon as the judges have made their decisions.
The Ron Miazga Memorial Award for Descriptive Writing, a category introduced in the 2012-2013 essay contest, will be part of this year's competition as well. The $150 award for this category's winner will recognize the essay or short fiction piece that best captures a sense of place. The winner should demonstrate effective descriptive writing, which includes such elements as specific detail, figurative language and an appeal to multiple senses. Freshness, vividness and inventiveness in language that put the reader in the place the writer has experienced or imagined is critical to this effort. Essays entered in this category should have been written in English 110, 111, 160, or 220 during the summer and fall of 2023 and the winter of 2024.
Faculty Instructional Awards
Kalamazoo Valley Community College welcomes all students to participate in the 14th Annual Faculty Instructional Awards nomination process. The awards are designed to recognize instructors who actively encourage students' intellectual curiosity, engage them in the enterprise of learning and have a lifelong impact. The deadline to participate is May 17. Click here to nominate your instructor.
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries: Citation Guide and Database Spotlight
Citation Guide
For questions about paper formatting and citation - MLA and APA - check out our online Citation Guide.
Database Spotlight: JSTOR
New this year to our collection of research databases is JSTOR, a comprehensive collection of over 12 million journal articles, books, primary sources and images in 75 disciplines, including the sciences and the humanities. Visit the How to Use JSTOR research guide or ask a librarian for an introduction. The Libraries also subscribe to JSTOR Daily, an award-winning digital magazine that gives context to current events by highlighting research found on JSTOR.
Hours and Contact Information
Home Games for Baseball and Softball April
Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a baseball or softball game! Come out to cheer on the Cougars at the following home games in April. Home games are always free to attend here at the Texas Township Campus. Visit athletics.kvcc.edu for the full schedule and scores.
BASEBALL
- THURSDAY | APRIL 4 | 2 & 4:30 p.m. vs. Kellogg Community College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 13 | 1 & 4 p.m. vs. Lake Michigan College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 20 | 1 & 3:30 p.m. vs. Lansing Community College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 27 | 1 & 4 p.m. vs. Glen Oaks Community College
- TUESDAY | APRIL 30 | 2 p.m. vs. Jackson College
SOFTBALL
- SATURDAY | APRIL 6 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 13 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Lake Michigan College
- FRIDAY | APRIL 19 | 3 & 5 p.m. vs. Lansing Community College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 20 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Jackson College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 27 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Glen Oaks Community College
LGBTQ+ Student Talk Planned April 2, Game Night April 9
Join us for an educational and enlightening panel discussion with LGBTQ+ students from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College on Tuesday, April 2, from noon to 1 p.m., in Room 4240 at Kalamazoo Valley's Texas Township Campus. The discussion is open to everyone, including students, staff, faculty and the public. Lunch will be provided. Then, just announced, is a LGBTQ+ Diversity Club Board & Video Game Night for all students on Tuesday, April 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., in Rooms 4370 and 4380 at the Texas Township Campus. Preregistration is not required for either event.
Recycling Event Planned for April 19
Continuing a partnership with the City of Kalamazoo and Green Earth Electronics Recycling, the college will once again be hosting an Earth Day recycling event on Friday, April 19 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus. EPS foam (commonly known as Styrofoam) and electronics will be accepted. The event is open to both the public and the college community. Volunteers are needed to help assist with the collection of the materials. If you are interested in volunteering, please email facilities@kvcc.edu for more information.
Free Foodways Symposium Showcases African Cuisine April 5 - 6
Enjoy free African cuisine and culture on April 5 and 6 at the 2024 Kalamazoo Valley Foodways Symposium, an annual food celebration sponsored by Kalamazoo Valley Community College. This year focuses on African heritage foodways. Festivities open with a keynote address and exploration of the gardening of some delicious plants of Africa on Friday, April 5, from 6 - 8:30 p.m., at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Expect hands-on cooking classes, lectures, African dancing, youth activities, a brewery open house and more on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, located at 418 E. Walnut St. in downtown Kalamazoo. Visit kalamazoofoodways.org to view the schedule and register for cooking classes.
Museum Offers Opportunities to View the Solar Eclipse on April 8
Want to join others in viewing the April 8 solar eclipse? Head to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on the day of the eclipse to participate in indoor and outdoor viewing opportunities. They're even giving out free solar eclipse viewing glasses! Pick them up now at the museum or at the event. Choose to witness the solar eclipse in totality as a live feed in the museum's Mary Jane Stryker Theater from 1 to 4:30 p.m., or, join the crowd outdoors from 1:45 - 4:30 p.m. in front of the museum and behind Anna Whitten Hall, which is next door. More details at kalamazoomuseum.org.
Join Statewide Astronomy Night April 12 at the Museum
Mark your calendar for Statewide Astronomy Night Friday, April 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., at our Kalamazoo Valley Museum! Staff and volunteers will engage guests with a host of FREE astronomy-themed games, crafts and interactive demonstrations, ideal for adults and teens. Even enjoy free experiences in the planetarium! Planetarium games begin at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., visitors can go on a sky tour in the planetarium to explore the wonder of the night sky and learn about noteworthy stars and constellations visible in the evening skies of early April. SWAN is coordinated by Michigan State University's annual Science Festival.
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