kalamazoo valley community college

InFocus: news for the kalamazoo valley community college students

MISSION STATEMENT
Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.

Dec. 4, 2023

Greetings Students,

One of the sure signs of nearing the end of the semester is celebrating student success during Commencement!
 
The college community will commemorate student success during Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 17. We expect great participation and a large crowd of family members and friends at Miller Auditorium beginning at 2 p.m. We hope that you will attend and enjoy the ceremony; graduation is one of life's landmark events and will be a key part of your life's timeline. It's a symbol of change, progression and moving on to a new life.
 
For those of you graduating, congratulations! You've proven to yourself and to the world that you know how to work hard and that you can see things through to the end. For those of you who continue to press forward, we are cheering for you and can't wait to celebrate you at a future commencement!
 
Soon we all will be celebrating the end of the fall semester, so until then, stay focused on the goal.


Sincerely,

signature: L. Marshall Washington
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President


student employment services
Learn How to Enhance Your Resume at Dec. 6 EmployU Workshop
Are you in the process of updating your resume? Join Student Employment Services for this month's EmployU Workshop on Dec. 6 from 2 - 3 p.m. via Zoom. The event will provide useful tips and tricks for enhancing resumes. Pre-register by emailing careercenter@kvcc.edu with your name and Valley ID number. Those who sign up will be emailed a link to join the event virtually.
 
EmployU Workshops are designed to equip participants with knowledge and skills that prepare them for entering today's competitive workforce. Email careercenter@kvcc.edu to learn more about upcoming events.

transfer resources
Kalamazoo Valley gold rush to WMU. wednesday decemeber 6, 10 am to noon at the texas township main campus student commons area. bring official transcripts to the even on decemeber 6 for a potential onsite decision. contact steve case at steven.case@wmich.edu for more information. if you plan to apply and attend, reach out to steve for an application fee waiver code. visit wmich.edu/transfer/apply to start your application.
student financial services
MI ECHO Scholarship Applications Accepted Through Dec. 31
Students who face barriers accessing federal financial aid due to immigration status are encouraged to learn more about the Michigan Equality, Courage, Hope and Opportunity (MI ECHO) scholarship. The program covers the cost of tuition, contact hours and other mandatory fees associated with obtaining a certificate or associate degree in the state of Michigan.
 
To qualify, students must live in Michigan, be a DACA recipient, have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum pending, Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) or an immigration status preventing them from qualifying for federal financial aid. Those receiving federal financial aid, the Futures for Frontliners scholarship or who receive awards from the Michigan Reconnect program are not eligible.
 
"This is a very unique scholarship opportunity for students who typically cannot access federal financial aid," said Kristina Pudasaini, Kalamazoo Valley international student coordinator. "It allows them to have a tuition-free pathway. I would encourage any student who meets the criteria to apply." more

cougar cafe
Image is of a wadded ball of page atop and background of multiple hand scrawled doodles. Text in front of the image reads studying? Find us for a recharge. 99 cent any café fountain drink. December 4 through 14. With purchase of a café food item. Excludes subway purchases.

 
student development services
Image is a photo of cans of food, one filled with beans, one filled with peas, one filled with corn. Text reads canned food drive. Did you know that one in six kalamazoo residents face daily hunger? Kalamazoo valley’s student development services is committed to making a difference and is hosting a canned food drive from November 20 to December 18. Donation services are located at Texas township campus room 9300, president’s office and the library; groves campus main office; anna whitten hall main entrance; Marilyn j. schlack culinary and allied health building main entrance. Items needed included canned vegetables, canned fruit, beans, soups, rice, and pasta. Contact Allison lay if you have any questions.
student life and engagement

Get Involved on Campus

The Office for Student Life and Engagement is here to connect you with a number of events on campus. From meeting with transfer colleges and making a budget to learning about your strengths, our office offers learning opportunities outside the classroom. Meet new people and connect with campus contacts to make your college experience more meaningful. For more information, contact Miranda McDowell. Check the college calendar for other upcoming opportunities.
Happy Holidays spirit days december 5 at the center for new media 11am to 2pm in the downstairs lobby student lounge. December 6 in anna whitten hall 11am to 2pm in the main lobby. December 7 in the Texas township campus 11am to 2pm cafeteria. Come relax and celebrate the end of the semester by decorating ornaments and enjoy light refreshments like coffee, hot cocoa, and cookies. The office of student life and engagement will have a drawing to enter at each building to win a prize.


Student Organizations
Did you know Kalamazoo Valley has a number of student clubs and organizations? From Gaming Club to Valley Writers Association, there is something for everyone. Clubs are a great way to meet people! Check out the complete list here.

Image is of hand-drawn hearts, flowers, and wavey lines that are rainbow colored. Text reads LGBTQ+ diversity club. Join the LGBTQ+ diversity club at kalamazoo valley community college! We have bi-weekly meetings and host events for LGBTQ+ students and allies. Come build community, engage in advocacy/education or just hang out. To sign up, request more information find out when the club meets or to join our discord server, contact club advisor misti mahon at mmahon@kvcc.edu or club president Austin lyons at alyons0356@mail.kvcc.edu


Image is of a hand holding a number 2 pencil in the process of completing a multiple choice dot test card. Text reads “Test anxiety workshop, December 5, 3 to 4pm at the Texas township campus room 4230. Join us and develop skill to help ready your mind and your nerves for future exams and tests. This workshop will discuss how to prepare for high level of stress before, during and after the test. For more information, contact us at promiseservices@kvcc.edu.

College Social Media
Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn for all of the latest campus news.


Image is of the state of Michigan atop a vertical blue bar that is exploding into musical notes in the middle on each side. The text reads kalamazoo valley community college campus band presents that music always ‘round me. Mishigamaw. 2023 fall semester concert Wednesday, december 6, 7pm dale b lake auditorium on the Texas township campus. Prelude music at 6:30pm.


Kalamazoo VALLEY™
BOOKSTORE
20% OFF
HOLIDAY SAVINGS FROM DEC. 6 - 7 ONLY.
GET 20% OFF NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THE
BOOKSTORE AT THE TEXAS TOWNSHIP CAMPUS.
Buy stocking stuffers, art supplies, backpacks, jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, T-shirts and baseball caps, plus mugs, water bottles (even Hydro Flask) and more.
Receive a FREE drawstring, college-branded backpack if you spend at least $25!
Use “PROMO CODE: holiday” for online purchases at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
Electronics, course materials and candy are excluded.

a display shelf in a bookstore with several commencement and graduation items.

Time to Buy Commencement Caps, Gowns, Honors Regalia
December graduates can buy commencement regalia until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at the Bookstore on the Texas Township Campus. Also for sale are diploma frames, graduation yard signs and mortarboard graphics. The graduation ceremony is Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University.


student services
No Evening Hours Week of Dec.18
All student services, including Student Development Services, Admissions, Registration and Records, Student Financial Services, Learning Center, Libraries, Testing Center and the Wellness and Fitness Center, will close at 5 p.m. the week of Dec. 18.
 libraries
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries:
AWH Library Closure, Research & Citation Help, Study Spaces & Returns

Arcadia Commons Campus Library Closure: Dec. 18 - Jan. 5
The Arcadia Commons Campus library will be closed temporarily starting the week of Dec.18 through the week of Jan. 1 for carpet replacement. AWH Room 308 will be available for students to return library material and the computer lab in the Center for New Media will be available for computing and printing. The library will reopen Jan. 8.

Research and Citation Help
Those research paper due dates are looming. Do you need some help getting started, finding appropriate research or formatting citations? Visit us in person to talk to one of our reference librarians. From off campus, you can call or email us. For assistance during non-business hours, the Ask a Librarian 24/7 Chat is always available.

There are also research and citation guides online. Access our How-To Videos for short tutorials on searching our ValleyCat online catalog, navigating article databases and more. Our Citation Research Guide will show you why, when and how to cite as well as provide links and instructions for other resources such as Zotero, a free online reference manager and citation generator.

Study Spaces
Both libraries feature quiet, cozy and convenient study spaces in unique environments. We have tables, computers, comfy armchairs and isolated study cubicles with plenty of room to situate yourself and your belongings. The Texas Township library has closed study rooms for extra privacy-ask about availability. The Anna Whitten Hall library features a unique scenic lookout over downtown Kalamazoo, and the TTC library offers a panoramic two-story view of the surrounding nature preserve.

Returns
In all the end-of-the-semester hustle, don't forget that it is time to return borrowed library materials. Please return any items that are due. To return books and media, please drop off materials at any book drop or library service desk. A convenient 24/7 book drop is located outside the tower entrance at the Texas Township Campus. Laptops and hotspots should be returned to the circulation desk at either library location.
 
Hours and Contact Information

wind turbine technician academy
Wind Turbine Technician Academy to Celebrate Graduation on Dec. 15
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Wind Turbine Technician Academy (WTTA) will celebrate its 28th graduating class on Friday, Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. at the Groves Campus. The ceremony will be hosted by Thomas Sutton, director of wind energy and technical training services, and will include welcome remarks from Craig Jbara, vice president for strategic business and economic development.
 
The academy's newest graduates include:
  • Anna McClurkan - Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Matthew Prentice-Sao - Plainwell, Michigan
Developed with input from industry leaders, Kalamazoo Valley's nationally accredited program is one of the country's leading academies for aspiring wind turbine technicians. Over the years, the WTTA has attracted students from across the U.S. and around the world. Graduates experience active careers and travel internationally to accommodate employer needs. more
 athletics 
a photo collage of four images each showing people gathered in a room with tables full of blue and silver balloons.
Volleyball Team Awards Banquet Celebrated Players' Dedication
Volleyball team members and their families and friends took a moment to reflect on the hard work of the recently completed season at an awards banquet held on Nov. 16. A big highlight was honoring players who had achieved two years on the team. The recipients of the Second-Year Awards were sophomores Raine Atherton and Rylie Glass. Congratulations to the team, the honorees and the coaching staff! A special shout-out to Rhonda Sturgeon on the completion of her first season as head coach.

Check out Pre-Season Women's & Men's Basketball Home Games
Conference play officially begins on Jan. 13, but there are opportunities to see the players at non-conference home games in December. Cheer on the women's basketball team at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. The men's team will play at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4; 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 8; and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. All home games take place in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Admission is free. Find the full season schedule at athletics.kvcc.edu

 what's happening at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. the kalamazoo valley museum is operated by kalamazoo valley community college and is governed by its board of trustees.
 
adult discovery series and retro café
Museum Launches Adult Discovery Series and Retro Café
Join the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for its new monthly adult series. The next session is Tuesday, Dec.12 at 2 p.m. Cost is $3. This month's two-hour long program will explore the museum's charming General Store exhibit. It includes a Mystery Artifact demonstration and ends with light refreshments. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required at kalamazoomuseum.org or 269.373.7990. Registered guests are encouraged to bring an artifact to share. The series will be offered the second Tuesday of the month through March 2024.

 

a photo of three children interacting with a touch screen display at a museum exhibit

Closing Dec. 30: 'Wonder Media' Exhibit that Builds News Literacy
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum's "Wonder Media: Ask the Questions!" exhibit invites pre-teens, teens and adults to engage in critical thinking about news and media literacy topics by interacting with 14 highly interactive activity stations, providing a fun and hands-on way to build skills to better spot misleading news and information. It'll be ending a 1½-plus year run on Dec. 30. Admission is free to the exhibit and the museum. Click here for more details about the exhibit.

 

An image of a vintage television set. Over the image, in white letters, is text that reads Off the shelves: exploring the kalamazoo valley museum’s furniture collection. October 31, 2023 to January 21, 2024

NOW OPEN - Furniture Exhibit Featuring Two Centuries of History
For a limited time, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides a rare peek at its unique items in storage, some never seen publicly at any point since the museum's founding in 1881! The FREE, "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection" exhibit showcases the museum's furniture collection spanning over 200 years of history, from mass-produced to one-of-a-kind pieces, like a replica of King Tut's throne! Also see Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades; and other pieces that all tell stories. The exhibit runs through Jan. 21. Entry to the museum and exhibit are free.

 

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Texas Township Campus
6767 West O Avenue
PO Box 4070
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
269.488.4400