May 4, 2023
Greetings Students!
I was so pleased that hundreds of graduates joined us on Sunday, April 30 for the 88th Commencement Ceremony at Miller Auditorium. It was a wonderful celebration of student success! I told our graduates that all of us at the college were very proud of their achievements.
As you prepare to attend summer semester classes at Kalamazoo Valley, I welcome you! For our returning students, welcome back and to our guests and first-time students, thank you for choosing Kalamazoo Valley. Your decision to attend Valley was a great one! In fact, you join others from the area who made Kalamazoo Valley the No. 1 choice for college. You can read more about that here.
On behalf of our faculty, administrators and staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you to summer semester at Kalamazoo Valley. We wish you much success!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Need Assistance? Student Services Can Help!
Click here for a list of student services offices that can offer you assistance throughout the semester. You can contact them to schedule:
- In-person appointments
- Virtual appointments
New to Kalamazoo Valley? Get Your Valley ID Card Now
As a new student, you are required to get a Valley ID card. A Valley ID card is needed for many student services, parking validation, testing center, class roster and security verification, fitness center and door access at our downtown campuses. You can also get some great discounts with your student ID Card when used at participating restaurants, art organizations and businesses.
Getting your Valley ID card is easy:
- Upload your photo and required information at our Virtual ID station at the link on your MyValley page here (you'll need to log into your MyValley account). We will mail your ID card directly to your home.
- Come to the Student Service Desk at TTC ( 269-488-4100) or AWH (269-373-7800) to obtain your card by drop in or by appointment.
You must be registered for classes in order to obtain your Valley ID Card. Your ID will remain valid for every semester that you are enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley.
Need Help with Your Schedule?
Advising and counseling will be serving students via drop-ins Tuesday, May 9. Starting Tuesday, May 16, our Tuesday advising and counseling appointments will return to same-day appointments. Students can call 269.488.4040 or stop by the SDS offices starting at 7:30am to secure their same-day appointment time. We encourage students to call early in the morning to secure their same-day appointment slot! Please note, that same-day appointment times are abbreviated meetings, some services may require a longer appointment. A member of our support team will help you schedule an appointment that will best serve your needs.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Remember to check in on your mental health. As a reminder, professional help is available. On campus, counseling services are available for all students. Please call 269.488.4040, email counseling@kvcc.edu or visit Student Development Services, Room 9300 on the Texas Township Campus. Off campus, or for a friend or family member, please contact one of these crisis hotlines:
Year-End Student Art Exhibition Opens Friday
The Center for New Media's Year-End Student Celebration exhibit opens during Art Hop on Friday, May 5 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 will be open until 8 p.m. on May 5 and it will remain on display throughout the month. It will also be displayed on the CNM's Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Pictured: Sophia Shaffer's �Grace and Nobility."
New Course Offerings for Fall 2023
A total of 11 new course offerings have been added for the Fall 2023 semester in the areas of education, computer information systems, biology, chemistry and energy systems applications.
The new education courses include EDU 112, Teaching Lab Seminar III; EDU 207, Physical Science for Elementary Ed; and EDU 217: Inclusive Practices in Elem Ed. In W2024, we will also offer EDU 230, Early Childhood Teaching and Learning and additional math and science courses for Early/Elementary Education students. More
Community Bike Celebration
Join us for a community bike celebration May 13 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The event, at 200 S. Rose St., in downtown Kalamazoo, will feature cool bikes from throughout the decades. Like a car show, but for bikes! There will be live music, food trucks and information on biking activities in Kalamazoo. The first 100 attendees will get free ice cream from the Red Tricycle Ice Cream Company. more
Need food? Valley Food Share can help. Valley Food Share is an initiative designed to meet the immediate food needs of Kalamazoo Valley students. Through the program, currently enrolled students can pick up a box, or a "share," which includes food grown locally and sourced through our own Food Innovation Center as well as nonperishable items from Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, to take home. The college has provided students with shares once a week for the last year.
Valley Food Share distribution is a drive-thru service on Thursdays between 2 - 4 p.m., alternating between the Food Innovation Center and the Texas Township Campus. You will receive an email each Thursday afternoon with a link to sign up for a box of food for the next week. If you come by car, we ask that you remain in your vehicle and the share will be placed in your trunk by college employees. If you have any questions, please email foodshare@kvcc.edu.
Need School Supplies or Textbooks? Visit the Bookstore
The Texas Township Campus Bookstore sells everything you need to be a successful student. It has textbooks, computers, backpacks, binders, pens, markers, glue sticks, art supplies, a variety of calculators and more, even candy and snacks starting at 10 cents! Note that summer hours are now in effect. The Bookstore will be open 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from May 8 to Aug. 4. Shop in person or online. Online orders may be picked up at TTC or the Anna Whitten Hall Library at the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo, or mailed to any address you want. Shipping is $5.
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 Ezra Bell. Check the college calendar for upcoming opportunities.
Student Organizations
Did you know Kalamazoo Valley has a number of student clubs and organizations? From dance club to anime, there is something for everyone. Clubs are a great way to meet people! Check out the complete list here.
College Social Media
Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for all of the latest campus news. And every Tuesday, you can check us out on TikTok!
English Department Offers Unique Fall Classes
Our English classes have different content depending on the instructor. Literature classes also rotate every semester, so here's an explanation of what English class students can expect to study during Fall 2023 Semester.
Workout for Free on Campus
The Wellness and Fitness Center, located in Room 6060 on the Texas Township Campus, is free to enrolled students. The spacious center is open 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday and includes:
- 40+ pieces of cardio equipment
- Complete lineup of selectorized strength equipment
- Easy-to-follow full-body circuit
- Spacious yoga room
- Complimentary towels available
- Lockers upon request
- Locker room access with showers
- Free weight room
First-time users will be required to complete a brief orientation. A Valley ID is required.
Former Cougar Volleyball Standout Named New Coach
Kalamazoo Valley Community College alumna and volleyball standout Rhonda Sturgeon has been named the college's new head volleyball coach. Sturgeon has over 30 years of coaching experience, and won many accolades for her volleyball skills while a student at Kalamazoo Valley, including the Dale B. Lake Award, the institution's highest honor for a student-athlete.
"It's kind of surreal," Sturgeon said. "I get to return home, where I loved playing ball and I get to coach it. I get to be with young women who want to be good athletes and good humans." more
Transportation, Child Care Assistance Available
Are you or do you know of someone who is experiencing barriers to completing his or her education or getting 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 may lead to job placement. To learn more, reach out to Adam Westhouse, Program Navigator, at awesthouse@kvcc.edu.
Hundreds Attended Foodways Outdoor Festival
More than 500 people attended the April 15 outdoor festival of the sixth annual Kalamazoo Valley Foodways Symposium, which Kalamazoo Valley Community College and its Kalamazoo Valley Museum hosted at the college's Food Innovation Center in downtown Kalamazoo. Event organizer Hristina Petrovska, food systems program coordinator at Kalamazoo Valley, called the turnout amazing.
"To build a strong and resilient food system, we need a strong and resilient community," Petrovska said. "Celebrating together is one way to cultivate that. Bringing together farmers, local food vendors, music, educational opportunities and family-friendly activities cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie. We are part of a community college, and the 'community' is a big part of it. We want people to know that this space exists for them." Read the full story here.
Visit www.kalamazoofoodways.org for more information about this year's event. Also watch the website for updates about the 2024 Foodways Symposium, which will celebrate the cuisines and cultures of the African continent. Click here for more photos from the outdoor festival.
SAVE THE DATE! Museum Hosts Juneteenth Black Film Fest June 16
Enjoy a free showing of the "Summer of Soul" documentary and a community discussion with Kalamazoo-based musicians when the Juneteenth Black Film Fest comes to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Friday, June 16, from 5 - 8 p.m. The film highlights the legendary, but little-known Harlem Cultural Festival, of summer 1969, that celebrated African-American music and culture. The screening is organized by Soul Artistry LLC. Find out about the other local Juneteenth events happening that weekend by visiting @Juneteenthkzoo on Facebook.
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