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April 1, 2022
Greetings,
Together with the nearly 1,000 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will celebrate Community College Month during April. This monthlong campaign was designed to improve awareness about the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges and to break the stigma associated with public two-year colleges.
Community College Month is an opportunity to demonstrate not only that community colleges, like Kalamazoo Valley, should be the first choice of many college-bound students, but also why community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies. Community colleges are a uniquely American educational model 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.
I am proud of the impact that our staff and faculty make on the lives of our students and their families. More than 300,000 students have enrolled at the college since 1966 and many of our graduates stay in the area after degree completion and help to make the region prosperous and growing!
Kalamazoo Valley Community College employees are among the most dedicated individuals in higher education. You have helped to make the success of our students possible. Your unwavering commitment to the college mission is admirable.
Therefore, during this month of celebration, I celebrate you and thank you for making Kalamazoo Valley a great place for every student, employee and guest to learn, belong and find success! For a full list of Community College Month activities, go to kvcc.edu/ccmonth.
Thank you.
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
As a part of Community College Month, more than 15 people tell their stories about the college in special messages available now on the college YouTube channel.
Examples include student athlete, Justin Bushu, sharing why he chose Kalamazoo Valley, alumna Micah Makoni talking about finding her career pathway and her husband at the college and employer Jim Williams, supervisor at Eimo Technologies, talking about the quality of Kalamazoo Valley graduates.
Jim Williams, Micah Makoni and Justin Bushu
Take a look and share your story on the college's Facebook page.
Kalamazoo Valley Hosts Foodways Symposium April 5 to 9
The 2022 Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium will take place April 5-9. The event is meant to inspire and empower the greater Kalamazoo community to honor its agricultural history and heritage cuisines, celebrate good food and work together to build a just and healthy future for all.
This year's theme of "Central American and Mexican Foodways" will be explored with experts both online and in person through lectures, workshops, demonstrations, food tastings and an outdoor Foodways Festival.
The virtual keynote presentation with chef Claudia Albertina Ruíz Sántiz, can be viewed live from a personal electronic device or at Kalamazoo College's Arcus Center from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5. Experience live online cooking demonstrations during the evenings of April 6, 7 and 8. Participants will learn from expert instructors about fascinating cultural and heritage food topics as well as how to cook the food at home. Registration for these live virtual sessions is available at kalamazoofoodways.org. more
The Employee Engagement and Wellness Committee was created for the purpose of nurturing employee engagement and wellness with the understanding that these two features are interconnected and vital to a healthy workforce who is prepared to serve our students, one another and the community.
Employee Meetup Opportunities for Fun, Wellness:
Walking and Meditation Meetup: Join us for a 30-minute walk outdoors (weather permitting). And then a 10-minute silent meditation. Some very brief guidance on the meditation will be given. Email wellness@kvcc.edu if you would like to join us!
- TTC, starting April 5 at noon sharp. Meet at the flag entrance and wear appropriate shoes for walking.
- AWH, starting April 6, at noon sharp. Meet in the back courtyard.
Running Meetup: Join us for a 30-minute run (weather permitting) and then 10 minutes of stretching. All running levels are welcome! There will be a route mapped out for each meetup, and we will all meet in the grassy field next to the track for stretching after the 30 minutes. Email wellness@kvcc.edu if you would like to join us!
- Every other Wednesday, starting April 6, at noon sharp. Meet at the flagpole entrance and wear appropriate shoes and attire for running.
Counselor Faculty Dr. LaSonda Wells to Speak at WMU
Kalamazoo Valley counselor faculty LaSonda Wells, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, presents "Filling Others' Baskets Without Emptying Yours." Time: 9:30 - 11 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m. on April 6 at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.
Contact Director of Diversity and Inclusion Trice Batson for more information and to register for this in-person event.
Enjoy Lunch at Student-Run Restaurant
The Havirmill Cafe is open from 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday - Thursday through April 21 with lunch service starting at 11:30 a.m. All food items are packaged as grab-and-go and there is limited seating in the cafe for lunch. Offerings include hot meals, sandwiches and salads. There is also fresh produce from the Food Innovation Center available to purchase. Reservations are not needed for the cafe.
418 Restaurant is open for reservations from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, now - April 21. Please contact Yvonne Cooley at 548.3203 or Terri McDonald at 548.3205 to make a reservation.
Check Out Statewide Astronomy Night on April 8
You're invited to the free Statewide Astronomy Night on Friday, April 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St., downtown Kalamazoo. It is coordinated by Michigan State University's annual Science Festival. "Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries" will be shown in the planetarium at 5 and 8 p.m. This award-winning show highlights the country of Chile's grand observatories and the people who operate them. At 6:30 p.m., guest speaker Renae Kerrigan, curator of science and planetarium director at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, discusses her trip to see some of the observatories located high in Chile's Atacama Desert. Preregistration is encouraged as seating is limited. Masks are required. Visit kalamazoomuseum.org for more information and to register.
The Gilmore Film Series 2022 Starts April 30
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum hosts The Gilmore Film Series 2022. Step into a unique, free public film series about pianos and the passion, music and people they inspire. Experience five different films from April 30 through May 7 at the museum, which Kalamazoo Valley Community College operates. Four films will be shown weekdays at 12:30 p.m., with an animated film for the whole family at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Seating is limited, so advanced reservations are encouraged. Films, pre-registration and other details can be found at kalamazoomuseum.org.
Summit Proposals
Attention staff: Do you have something you'd like to share with Kalamazoo Valley's faculty? Perhaps a new initiative or something you'd like for them to share with their students? Submit a proposal now to present at the faculty staff development day May 6. The theme of the faculty-only Summit is Compassionate Community. Proposals are due by April 8. Questions? Contact Gail Fredericks.
Annual Ned Foskey Poetry Prize Deadline is April 8
Entries in the Annual Ned Foskey Poetry Prize Contest are being accepted until April 8. All registered Kalamazoo Valley students are eligible to enter. Foskey was a tutor in Kalamazoo Valley's Writing Center. The contest was established by his family and friends to honor his memory and to encourage the students he enjoyed helping.
Prizes are: 1st place, $150; 2nd place, $100; and 3rd place, $75.
Students may submit up to three previously unpublished poems. Poems must be typed. The student's name should not appear on the poems themselves. Poems and an accompanying cover page should be dropped off at the Faculty Reception Desk on or before the deadline or mailed to:
Ned Foskey Poetry Prize
English Department
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
P.O. Box 4070
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
Mailed entries must be postmarked by the deadline. If you would like confirmation that your mailed entry has been received, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.
Entries will not be returned, so students should keep a copy.
Students can access the contest submission form here.
Two Career Fairs Planned in April for Students
Kalamazoo Valley Community College students are invited to career fairs focusing on business and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pathways. Details are below. All students are welcome. Registration is NOT required, but encouraged. Sign up for the business fair here, and register here for the STEM fair. For questions, contact Mary McConnell at 269.488.4046.
- Tuesday | April 12 | noon - 2:30 p.m.: "Business Career Fair: Real People Real Careers," first floor lobby, Kalamazoo Valley's Anna Whitten Hall, 202 N. Rose St., downtown Kalamazoo
- Wednesday | April 13 | 2 - 4:30 p.m.: "STEM Career Fair: Real People Real Careers," Student Commons at Texas Township Campus
College Strategic Planning Continues
There is still time to join President Washington for a discussion about strategic priorities for the college. Two sessions will be held on April 14:
April 14, 9 - 10 a.m. at TTC 4240 (changed from March 31)
April 14, 2 - 3 p.m. at AWH 128 (changed from March 31)
Seating is limited so please register to reserve your spot using the Faculty and Staff Development portal.
Author Tommy Orange to Visit Kalamazoo Valley on April 19
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's "About Writing" Visiting Writers Series welcomes Tommy Orange on April 19 or for two events: an on stage conversation at 10 a.m. and a reading and on stage conversation at 2:15 p.m. in the Student Commons Theater, Room 4240, at the Texas Township Campus. Both events will be followed by a book signing.
Orange is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel "There There", a multigenerational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few have ever seen: the lives of urban Native Americans. "There There" was one of The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year, won the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. more
 Citation Help
Could you use some help with citation? Kalamazoo Valley Libraries are fully equipped to provide the assistance you need. The citation resources and services we offer are:
- Citation Research Guide - a concise guide to MLA or APA styles designed to convey the basics of citation fast.
- Citation Resource Page - You can access Purdue Online Writing Lab through our handy listing for detailed citation guidance or login to NoodleTools to auto-generate your citations in MLA or APA format.
- NoodleTools How-To Videos - brief tutorials to get new users up and running with Kalamazoo Valley's citation generator in minutes.
- One-on-One Help - Join forces with a library staff member to learn how to cite sources properly and present your paper in the correct format. Staff are available virtually and in person to help you master citation skills. Our 24/7 Ask a Librarian chat service means there is assistance at any hour.
Citation can be intimidating. Let the friendly experts at Valley Libraries help you master it.
Sharing the View at Texas Township
The Texas Township Campus Library is famous for its wall of windows overlooking the campus woods. Students consistently name the beautiful view as a reason they come to the library to study. In April, learn more about the trees and wildlife outside the windows and the benefits of our nearby nature. All month, browse our display of nature guides and complete some self-directed activities about trees (and earn a limited-edition "Share the View" button).
On Tuesday, April 12, join Dr. Sara Tanis, director of the new Horticulture and Sustainable Landscaping Program and Librarian Amy Brandt on a guided nature walk in the woods behind the library. Dress for the weather and meet in the lower level of the TTC library at noon. (Rain date is Monday, April 25 at noon.)
Growing capability at Anna Whitten Hall
With the help of the staff at Kalamazoo Valley's Food Innovation Center, the library at Anna Whitten Hall has converted an old atlas case into a small "grow case" for microgreens and plant starts. All winter long, the case has provided fresh microgreens for students and staff to enjoy. It's been wonderful watching the growth cycle of these small plants even through the cold months.
With spring's arrival, the grow case will transition to a variety of seedlings and plant starts that will be freely available to staff and students for planting in their gardens in late spring. In the future, students in Kalamazoo Valley's developing Sustainable Horticulture and Agriculture Program will get valuable hands-on experience outside the classroom helping to tend, plan and maintain the plants in the library grow case.
Please stop by the library on the third floor of Anna Whitten Hall to check it out and talk plants!
April Book Displays
Looking for a good read? Come to the Texas Township library to browse our book displays, or check out the online virtual versions of them. In April, witness the mysterious superpowers of the written word with our featured National Poetry Month display.
Visit us online
Call 269.488.4328
Email: libraries@kvcc.edu
Chat with a college librarian 24/7: https://www.kvcc.edu/library/asklib.html
Zoom by appointment, please email libraries@kvcc.edu
Follow us on Instagram @kalamazoovalleylibraries
As part of the college's overall strategic plan, the Diversity and Inclusion strategy strives to ensure that underrepresented populations have access to faculty and staff positions. To help accomplish this goal we are requiring college employees to participate in and complete our internal bias training before serving on a search committee.
A search committee is a group of employees representing a variety of areas from the college who are assigned the task of interviewing and recommending qualified candidates for continued consideration for hire. It is a college goal to hire the most diverse, qualified candidate pool possible.
The role of a search committee member is to review application materials and to participate in interviews, identify and share candidate strengths and weaknesses and assure that all candidates are considered equally based upon the job/position requirements and qualifications.
If you think you'd like to be considered for an upcoming search committee, please sign up to take the Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Process workshop. The training is designed to help identify and mitigate bias while gaining a better understanding of how our search committees work. Find the workshop on the college's Staff and Faculty Development Page in the employee portal.
For more information contact Trice Batson.
An Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony will be held on April 29 at 9:30 a.m. to honor the memory of faculty and staff members who have passed away in the last year.
The Arbor Day holiday is meant to encourage the planting of trees to benefit and beautify the environment. Kalamazoo Valley has participated by holding a memorial tree planting on Arbor Day since 2010. This year's ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Texas Township Campus in the memorial tree garden near the south storm ponds (behind the Advanced Technology Center). The ceremony will include music, a reading and special words of tribute.
"The celebration of Arbor Day gives us a chance to recognize and appreciate our beautiful campus while remembering those who have recently passed away by planting trees in their honor," said Vice President for Campus Planning and Operations, Dannie Alexander.
Take Your Child to Work Day
Kalamazoo Valley Community College would like to invite employees to participate in the Bring your Child to Work Day Activities. Kalamazoo Valley will schedule interactive activities for children and parents on both April 27 and 28. Take Your Child to Work Day is on April 28 this year. The job shadowing day is intended to give children a glimpse into the working world through the guidance of their parents. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was developed by a foundation of the same name.
It's a non-profit educational foundation designed to promote Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, a day that revolves around the exploration of future job prospects. It's designed to inspire and build a strong educational foundation for young children.
Celebrate this holiday with us by arranging for your child to come into the office, your classroom or to follow you on your daily tasks. We're sure it will have a positive lasting effect.
Please watch for a sign-up sheet and necessary waivers that will identify the available activities and conditions for participation. For additional questions, please contact DeMecia Russell at 269.488.4450.
Ron Young Business Scholarship Recipient Devin Wyatt Says Assistance Helped Pave the Way for Her Success
Going back to college was a last-minute decision that 27-year-old Devin Wyatt made in 2018. She had enrolled at two other community colleges before she became a student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. "Registration at the other colleges was so difficult," she said. "I got there, but they weren't willing to help me get through it."
She encountered a different story at Kalamazoo Valley. "People were very helpful. They walked me to where I needed to go. Kalamazoo Valley right away made it possible for me to complete school," she said. "Everything fell into place and the Ron Young Scholarship made my life so much easier."
The Eaton Rapids native now lives in Portage and earned associate degrees from Kalamazoo Valley in accounting and business administration. She is currently a junior working on her bachelor's in business administration degree through Davenport University in the college's University Center.
In addition to being a Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) participant, Wyatt received the Ron Young Business Scholarship. "Thanks to the scholarship, I can continue moving closer to my bachelor's degree without the financial stress of tuition and book costs," she said. "As I work closer to graduation, I find it more and more difficult, financially, to pursue my degree, making the scholarship award that much more meaningful and appreciated." more
Days Of Giving Gifts To Benefit Students With Financial Needs
People who work daily with our students know better than anyone else that a scholarship can make the difference between goal achievement and dropping out of college.
That is why the KVCC Foundation is bringing back its Days of Giving scholarship fundraising campaign. The goal of the April 19 and 20 campaign is to raise $15,000. A Foundation board member has already pledged to match the first $5,000 in donations.
Please consider making a donation or payroll deduction pledge. All donors will receive a Kalamazoo Valley lapel pin as acknowledgment of their gift.
Throughout the day on April 19 and 20, gifts will be collected at AWH, The Groves, Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building and on the Texas Township Campus. At the end of the two days, a random drawing from all donors will be completed. Five donors will receive a college sweatshirt! To count toward the celebration, pledges or donations must be received before 4 p.m. on April 20. Gifts may be made by using a provided donation envelope or by visiting the Foundation webpage at www.kvcc.edu/foundation. Use the Days of Giving pulldown to make your gift.
During Community College Month, join with the KVCC Foundation and help raise funds for students with financial needs.
Each year, the President, with input from the President's Cabinet, may consider and review the summer work schedule. With an eye toward energy conservation, moderating cooling costs and benefiting employees, it has been determined that the college will adopt a four-day workweek during the period below:
Summer Hours
May 9 - August 5, 2022
Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(With 1/2 hour for lunch)
We are well aware that information technologies, facilities services, public safety, financial services and other departments with evening hours will adjust schedules to ensure coverage of important functions.
In cooperation with the department supervisor, individuals may be able to adjust their four-day workweek schedule to Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Employees who have earned paid vacation time will take that time in half day blocks (4.5 hours) or full day blocks (9.0 hours). This is pro-rated for employees working less than 40 hours per week.
Maintaining exemplary services for our students and guests throughout this summer work schedule is a high priority. For additional questions, please contact Amy Reynolds, director of human resources, at x4576 or areynolds2@kvcc.edu.
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