June is always a busy month! This year is no exception. However, you may be able to accelerate the completion of your degree or certificate

MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive. June 12, 2023 Greetings Students,   June is always a busy month! This year is no exception. However, you may be able to accelerate the completion of your degree or certificate if you are able to squeeze in just one more class this semester. Additional summer classes start June 27. Please check your schedule to determine if you are able to take advantage of this opportunity. I know that many of you are juggling jobs and the care of family members along with the demands of your work at the college. I get it. To help you stay organized, I encourage you to check the college calendar and news postings on the homepage of our website for the most up-to-date information about what is happening at the college. Be sure to follow the college on social media. And remember to check your Canvas notes. If you need assistance, please talk with your instructors during office hours or schedule an appointment with a Student Development Services team member by calling 269.488.4040. We are doing our part to keep you informed. Please do your part to access and act upon the information we provide.   Sincerely, L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. President Input Needed! How Can We Serve You Better? The Student Development Services office at Kalamazoo Valley Community College is dedicated to the holistic development of our students by offering services which include: counseling and advising, strengths training, transfer resources, career exploration and connecting students to life resources and student organizations. Please complete the following survey to help us better meet the needs of Kalamazoo Valley students. Supporting the Mental Health of our LGBTQ Friends and Family Friend and family support plays a crucial role in the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals. Many LGBTQ+ individuals face unique challenges and experiences related to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which can impact their mental health. Here are some ways friends and family can support the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals: Open communication: Encourage open and honest communication with your LGBTQ+ friend or family member. Create a safe and non-judgmental space where they feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. More Pool Summer Hours See the sunrise and get a few laps in before you start your day! Now through Thursday June 30, the pool will be open: Monday 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Tuesday 6 - 8 a.m. Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3 - 6 p.m. Thursday 6 - 8 a.m. The pool is open to Kalamazoo Valley employees and students currently enrolled in classes. How to access the pool: Go to the lower level under the basketball courts. Check in at the window between the locker rooms. You will need your valid Valley ID and have completed the Wellness and Fitness Center Orientation. Additional amenities are the full-service locker room with lockers and shower towels available upon request. Questions? Call the Wellness and Fitness Center front desk at x4184. Hours for July will be posted soon. LGBTQ+ Diversity Club Meets Every Other Monday The LGBTQ+ Diversity Club at Kalamazoo Valley Community College is an organization where LGBTQ+ students and allies can connect and form community on campus. From social events to education and advocacy, this club does a little bit of everything! Any student interested in joining should email DEI program coordinator and club advisor Cat March. Learn more about March here. Meeting times: Biweekly Mondays from 3 - 4 p.m., Texas Township Campus, usually in Room 4240, but occasionally this will change based on space availability. The next meeting will be on June 19 in Room 4240. Jai Smith at the Sisters in Business banquet. Student Profile: Jai Smith Jai Smith started taking law enforcement classes at Kalamazoo Valley before the culinary school was opened, but wasn't as passionate about police work as she was about food. After taking a break from college, she returned to take culinary arts classes. She earned a culinary arts and sustainable food systems certificate and will graduate in December 2023 with an associate of arts degree in culinary arts and sustainable food systems. The mother of three opened Black Truffle Catering and Events in 2018 and is now the culinary director at Pretty Lake Vacation Camp in Mattawan. More Next safeTALK Training Offered June 13 at Anna Whitten Hall Kalamazoo Valley is hosting safeTALK suicide intervention training on June 13 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 128 in Anna Whitten Hall on the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. safeTALK training helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resource people who can help them. These resources could include health care professionals, first responders or crisis line workers, among many others who have suicide intervention training. safeTALK participants will learn to: Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts may be present Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss and avoid suicide Apply the TALK steps: Talk, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe Know community resources and how to connect to them The training is open to faculty, staff and students. For more information or to register, contact Trice Batson, tbatson@kvcc.edu, or Cat March, cmarch@kvcc.edu. Director of Wind Energy and Technical Services Tom Sutton, graduates Chase Villani, Dan Givens, Hailey Hudson, lead instructor Tony Parcher (not pictured Forrest Maxwell) Wind Turbine Technician Academy to Celebrate June 16 Graduation Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Wind Turbine Technician Academy (WTTA) will celebrate its 27th graduating class on Friday, June 16 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 welcoming remarks from Craig Jbara, vice president for strategic business and economic development. More The academy's newest graduates include: Daniel Givens - Kalamazoo, Michigan Hailey Hudson - Kalamazoo, Michigan Forrest Maxwell - Elkton, Michigan Chase Villani - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bookstore Offers Low-Cost Shipping for Online Orders  Did you know the Bookstore can ship your web order to you anywhere in the U.S.A., from Allegan to Albuquerque, for only $5? Order any time of day or night on its website at bookstore.kvcc.edu. No need to make a trip to campus just to pick up items purchased online when UPS can deliver your order to your door.   Summer Reading Whether you are hitting the beach or hanging around at home, a good book makes summer better. The Libraries have a great selection of recreational reads to choose from. Browse the online ValleyCat library catalog or check out what's fresh on the New Books virtual display. If you are looking for suggestions, explore the ValleyReads virtual display for recommendations from Kalamazoo Valley staff members.   Collection Spotlight: Sports & Recreation If you are into sports or just looking for some summer activity ideas, you might want to browse the Libraries' sports and recreation collection. There you will find fascinating biographies of influential players and personalities in the sports industry, histories and discussions of your favorite games, and pointers to improve your own. If camping, hiking, or swimming are what you are into, there are plenty of recreational activities addressed here as well. Browse all that this collection has to offer in the ValleyCat online catalog. Study Spaces The Libraries are great hot-spots for keeping cool this summer. Both libraries feature quiet, cozy air-conditioned 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.   Research & Citation Help Remember that library staff are here to help with any research projects you might be working on. Don't get hung up - ask the experts! We can help you find sources in the library and our online research databases, properly format your paper and citations, or even help decide what your topic is. Call (269) 488-4328 to get assistance over the phone or to schedule an in-person or Zoom appointment with a librarian. You can also email us at libraries@kvcc.edu or walk in at either Texas Township or Anna Whitten Hall libraries.  We look forward to connecting with you! Visit us online Call 269.488.4328 Email Chat with a college librarian 24/7 Zoom by appointment, please email Follow us on Instagram (@kalamazoovalleylibraries) Faculty member Aubrey Rodgers at last month's Farmers Market. Join the College at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market June 17 You are invited to join the college at the Bank Street Kalamazoo Farmers Market on Saturday, June 17 anytime from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Stop by for hands-on activities and fun for the family. Kalamazoo Valley will be at the market on the third Saturday of each month and will offer various activities during every visit. Transportation, Child Care Assistance Available Are you or do you know of someone who is experiencing barriers to completing an education or finding employment? If so, help may be available with Mi-LEAP funding to pay for training, credit programs and receive supportive services such as transportation, childcare and other assistance that leads to job placement or advancement. To learn more, reach out to Adam Westhouse, program navigator, at awesthouse@kvcc.edu. Planetarium Show Shares Queen's Biggest Hits in June Eleven of Queen's biggest hits, such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Another One Bites the Dust" and "You're My Best Friend," have been paired with incredible full-dome graphic visuals to create a memorable planetarium experience. The 38-minute "The Queen Light Show: From Mercury With Love" will be presented every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in June. Watch the trailer now. The show is intended for grades five and up. The cost is $3, with free general admission to the museum. Click here to buy tickets and to learn more about the show. Get the Buzz about Flyswatters at New Exhibit Opening June 17 A unique exhibit featuring more than 1,000 flyswatters from overseas collector Iza van Riemsdijk opens June 17 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. "Splat! The Buzz About Flyswatters" tells the history of this household object and how it became an important tool against communicable diseases spread by flies. You can meet van Riemsdijk at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, when she delivers a talk about her collection. Entry is free to the exhibit, the talk and to the museum. Mental Health and Delta Sigma Theta Exhibits Close in June The last day to experience the "Mental Health: Mind Matters" traveling exhibit is June 18. Through a series of interactive activity stations, visitors explore misconceptions about mental illness, participate in empathy-building exercises and find out how to be kind to their minds. Watch a video tour here. Then "50 Years of Service, Scholarship, Sisterhood & Social Action: The Kalamazoo Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta," a locally-created mini pop-up exhibit, ends June 25. The exhibit celebrates the half century of contributions in the area by the Kalamazoo chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, an international women's service organization founded 110 years ago at Howard University in Washington, D.C., a historically Black college. It features historical photos, articles, proclamations, memorabilia, scrapbooks, members' personal mementos, sorority paraphernalia and more. Admission to the exhibits and to the museum are free. Learn more about both exhibits at kalamazoomuseum.org.   Texas Township Campus 6767 West O Avenue PO Box 4070 Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070 269.488.4400